Everything that's wrong with sports today.

[Erik]

I was in line at the deli and overheard another customer and the attendant arguing over an NBA  fact. I don't usually do this because I don't get involved in "LaVar Ball stupid talk" about how I can beat Michael Jordan 1v1, but I let them know who was correct because I figured it might help me get my salami faster. A few minutes later of them joking around, one of them turns to me and says "So who do you got this year?" I said "What?" He said "Who are you rooting for to win this year?" I said. "Same team I've always rooted for. Why would I change teams?" They both looked at me like I was from another planet.

A while ago during the finals, I had some guys deliver furniture and they were arguing over who was going to win Golden State or Cleveland. For the longest time, I didn't think a "Bronsexual" was an actual thing, but throughout the discourse I learned that the Cleveland guy just roots for whatever team LeBron is on and the other one just roots for whatever team is most likely going to win. I asked him "what's the point of that?" He said, and I'm not joking, "at least my team never loses and I can brag about winning."

It used to be offensive to call someone a bandwagoner. If it were proven true, it was very shameful. I grew up in an era when the Celtics *sucked*. I was too young for Bird, and Michael Jordan was already dominating the NBA. I felt dirty watching Bulls games enjoying the destruction. But I was 12 (not grown men like in these examples), and when the Celtics played the Bulls and got destroyed, I'd stop watching halfway through in disgust.

What the hell happened to people? Unless you have lived that same gut punch that we all got in 2010, or the absolute joy in 2008, how have you ever been able to enjoy sports?

Anyways, just felt like I'd share this here since we're all waiting to see which 2nd round pick ,that doesn't even matter for both teams, is going to be passed on so both sides save face. From a long time fan, I haven't been this excited about a Celtics team since 2008, and this time it feels even better. I think that this team is going to grossly exceed expectations. I hated the Tatum pick, but now with a full roster reshuffle, he might have more of a home here than I had previously imagined.

[18isGREATERthan72]

I'm a Celtic fan first, and an NBA fan second.  I enjoy good basketball.  GSW play good basketball.  I feel no issues rooting for them.

However.... When they play the Celtics, I don't care how beautiful their basketball is.  Celtics every time.

[Donoghus]

Plenty of front-runners, bandwagoners, & fans who choose players over teams out there.  I don't particularly understand why people do this and I certainly wouldn't find it enjoyable but plenty of people out there choose that way of fandom.

[Fafnir]

I agree people judging others for what they enjoy is what's wrong with sports today.

[Moranis]

Maybe they didn't grow up in Boston.  If you grow up in a city that doesn't have a team, it is pretty easy to not have a real connection with any particular team.  I was born in Columbus, Ohio (and then in elementary school moved to Toledo, Ohio), at the time the only professional team in the city was the Columbus Clippers Triple A baseball team (they were the Yankees affiliate then - they are now the Indians affiliate).  Toledo had the Mudhens (Triple A team for Tigers) and an independent minor league hockey team.  That was before the internet, redzone channel, nba was barely on tv, etc.  The only baseball team I could regularly watch on tv was the Atlanta Braves, so I grew up a Braves fan, but without TBS I'm not sure I would have grown up watching a team and thus might have taken far more to players or stories then an actual city.  My dad was a diehard Celtics fan, which is how I started watching them, but without my dad's influence my ties to a professional any particular NBA team in my childhood probably would have been non-existent.  I went to college in Cincinnati and lived there for 15 years or so and I now live in the greater Cleveland area, it is a lot different in Cincinnati and Cleveland then Columbus (though Columbus now has a MLS and NHL team).  Having a local team (or teams) will do that for you.  It is just a lot easier to fall in love with a team when you see that team all the time. 

[jambr380]

Since only one of 30 teams wins the championship each year, it is pretty easy to understand how people can switch the teams they root for. It is difficult to be a fan of a perennial loser. Even though the Cs have gone through some tough times, they have almost always been competitive; the same goes for the Lakers (although it must have been tough in the early days against the Cs).

And for those of us who stood by the Patriots for all those losing years, we have been lucky enough to reap the benefit for the past 17 years...and frankly before that when Kraft bought the team and Bledsoe was qb.

[fairweatherfan]

Unless you actually work in the field sports are just entertainment. If you're following sports in a way that consistently entertains you, you're doing it right. If the way somebody else does it isn't for you, don't do it that way. I don't really get the idea of being upset that someone's enjoying something ultimately meaningless in a different way.

[timpiker]

I'm a Browns fan and have been since 1964.  I've been a C's fan since the early '70's.  all of my teams have been since the '60's.  I hate the NBA and the NFL.  If it wasn't for my teams I'd never watch another game after Tom Brady retires.  I have no respect for sports fanatics that change teams during their life.   None.   There is absolutely no legitimate excuse in my opinion.  When the Browns were out of the league I quit the NFL.  If u change teams you're a Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline..  I grew up in Dayton when there were no Bungles.  In my mind if you're my age and from Dayton and root for the Bungles you're not to be trusted or respected.