As a fan, why do you follow your team?

On Metsblog recently there was a mailbag question that asked "Why should we as fans watch baseball this year? I am not sure I can see a real reason. Sell us fans on why we should watch.”

This led an interesting discussion with two camps of thought: Fans that just enjoy Mets baseball (yes we exist), and those that are only interested in seeing a championship.

So I wanted to pose a similar question to everyone on the boards: Why do you follow your team in the MLB? Would you still watch baseball year to year if your team was rebuilding, and poised to finished last in the division?

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Brooklyn Brawlers
Adam Napack
brawlers@fp-baseball.com

If the team was dreadful, with no promise of getting better, I wouldn't watch. I call this being a Knicks fan.

If the team was dreadful, but had a few promising prospects, I would be much more inclined to watch, as I would have something to root for. I call this being a Rangers fan.

David Furstein
GM New York Jaywalkers
david.furstein@gmail.com

WTF we're in first! dreadful my ass! I'll kill you!

The NBA sucks.

As for baseball, I think you first have to enjoy the game. Do you enjoy the sport? Does the premise of it make you happy? That's wyh I can watch any football game, because i think it's such an amazing and natural human concept.

Dave
GM Baldwin Bombers
bombersfpbl@gmail.com

I'm talking about past Rangers teams...this year has been awesome. I have a Swedish flag in my living room at home... Long live King Henrik! Länge leve Kung Henrik!

David Furstein
GM New York Jaywalkers
david.furstein@gmail.com

I enjoy the game of baseball. Though I was born and raised in Southern California, I am a Cubs fan. As a child, I rooted for the Dodgers because they were the local team, but as I became more aware of the business side of thing, I grew disenchanted with the Dodger culture and their big mouthed leader, Tommy Lasorda. At that time (1983), I also saw my favorite player, Ron Cey, traded to the Cubs. That coincided with the arrival of WGN cable to our household.

As for the 2012 Cubs, I know they aren't going anywhere this year, but I like their potential and will be interested in seeing how they do. Had the Cubs not made changes, I probably wouldn't have bothered to attend any games, but since they are at least making an effort, I will probably get to one or two.

I watch whatever game is free on MLB.TV, unless the Yanks are on broadcast TV

win or lose...

Righetti forever!!

JW Bersani
Maine Black Bears
parkbench@gmail.com

I was just having this discussion today with a friend. I enjoy watching a team good, or bad, watching guys grow, or crumble.

The debate was mostly 'Would you rather be a Marlins fan (with two scattered WS on your belt, with pretty bad seasons, and no owner willingness to win around it) or an A's fan (until very recent, a generally competitive team without the financial ability to put them over the hump)' The conversation wasn't historical just in retrospect since the inception of the Marlins.

But it digressed into what is more important, winning, or just enjoying the sport. As a Phils fan (recent winning excluded) I always had fun watching young guys coming on the scene, debating potential, and laughing at move likes adding Jeffries to the roster make Ziele more comfortable in the clubhouse. Or the fact that Bowa can effectively manage a team, he can't.

So Adam, enjoy your atrocious Mets...I will!

Ive been a brewers fan my entire life... and I'm only 21 years old so I wasn't around to see yount and molitor. So up until very recently the crew has been awful... But it's the love of the game. I cant begin to describe the feeling I get when I walk through the gates and get a glance of home plate while absorbing the sounds and smells of the ballpark. I know the question is why do I follow my team and for me its simple... they are my hometown team. Jimmy Fallon said it best in fever pitch 'They never let you down' no matter what is going on in life the brewers are there. watching them lose so many years just makes watching them win so much more special. That stadium was INCREDIBLE when Tony Plush hit us into the NLCS. one of the best experiences of my life. I'll stop ranting now but I guess you could argue that I follow them more for the love of the game...

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Richie Cook
Milwaukee Beers
CookRC08@uww.edu
@RCC_THREE

Please for the love of god, never quote Jimmy Fallon, or Fever Pitch ever again.

I'm a Mets fan, I once broke a bat into a million pieces after they lost in 07. I dont know why I root for the mets, but honestly, why change now. They've never won in my lifetime (86 doesnt count, I was 0), for some reason they always seem like the unwanted little brother in NY media. But theyll always be the lovable losers. Unlike some of my other teams (Jets). Rooting for the MEts these days is kind of like rooting for the Islanders. Young talent up the wazoo (more so in the Isles case), but just hoping they will win and that you wont have to worry hopping on the bandwagn.

21 and not born in 1986??? SHIT! am I keeping the average age of the league up, in this league too??

I remember watching game six in 1986 on TV, live!!!

JW Bersani
Maine Black Bears
parkbench@gmail.com

Maine Black Bears Wrote:
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> 21 and not born in 1986??? SHIT! am I keeping
> the average age of the league up, in this league
> too??
>
> I remember watching game six in 1986 on TV,
> live!!!

I was 4. I don't remember any of it.

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Brooklyn Brawlers
Adam Napack
brawlers@fp-baseball.com

Im only 25... im a youngin I guess