I have lived in many places in the United States during my life. One thing in common each had is that I absolutely despised their hometown sports teams. The homers turned me off, made me sick. They have an undying and somewhat pathetic loyalty to their local pro sports teams, so I am the type personality that purposely takes the opposite tact. I hate the teams they love. Aren’t I annoying?
I grew up in New Jersey just across the Hudson River from New York City. I hated the NY Yankees through one World Series championship after another. I loved the Dodgers, even though they had bolted for the West Coast. Same for the SF Giants. I liked the Pirates, too. In football, I hated the NY Giants. I liked the Baltimore Colts and Green Bay Packers. I didn’t like the NY Knickerbockers, instead my allegiance went to the Philadelphia Warriors and big Wilt Chamberlain. And yes, I also didn’t like the NHL’s NY Rangers, instead being a devoted Montreal Canadiens fan. As you can guess, I was very popular in school. Not.
In high school and college I lived in suburban Boston. Needless to say, I hated the Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics. Oh, I especially hated the Celtics as they won title after title. I got in many verbal spats concerning the merits of Wilt over Bill Russell. However, once the dynasty broke up and the Celtics became a .500 team, I became a big fan. Why? Because the homers turned on them. I guess I like the underdog. And I like my role as an anti-homer.
When I later lived in San Diego, I predictably didn’t like the Chargers or Padres. I did, however, like the San Diego State Aztecs football team. I am a loyal local college and high school fan. I guess that’s because the homers tend to stick to pro sports. No matter where I lived, I liked the nearby high schools and the in-state college teams. One exception – I have never and will never like UCLA. Screw them!
Now I live in South Jersey and all the locals are obsessed with the Philadelphia sports teams. I hate the Eagles (they call them I-G-G-L-E-S). When they lost in the first round of the NFL playoffs yesterday, it made my year. That’ll shut up all the “this is our year” idiots. Revenge is sweet!
My favorite NBA team is now the Celtics. I kinda like the 76ers, but that’s because they’re incompetent. I also kinda like the Phillies, but that’s because they were cellar dwellers most of my life. I cheered them to their World Series victory a couple years ago. As for the Flyers – who cares. The NHL is all Eastern Europeans and Nordics now, so I’ve lost total interest.
In boxing, I hated Cassius Clay. Oh, I heard he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. His fight style was boring and his mouth was too big. I liked Joe Frazier and George Foreman. I did and still do like Mike Tyson, but he was a tragedy waiting to happen and we didn’t have to wait too long. I sympathized with the guy.
The PGA Golf Tour shows my disdain for the top dog. When Arnold Palmer was on top, I liked Julius Boros and Doug Ford. When it was Jack Nicklaus, I loved Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez, and Gary Player. Now that they are the elder statesmen of golf and no longer dominate, I do like Palmer and Nicklaus. I even admire them. As for Tiger Woods, I never liked him. Too cocky, too aloof, too “I’m great”. And my dislike has nothing to do with all those hot chicks. I could care less about that, although I cheered because now lots of people hate him as much as I do. But, maybe someday, around 2040, I might begin to accept him as a legend.
No, I’ll be gone from this earth by then. That’ll give all the homers something to cheer about.
- Mountain Man
