Time goes by and people change, but this raises a highly
debated question: should a person’s sports team alliances change? The diehard
sports fan would answer this question with a resounding “no,” while the casual
sports fan may be a bit more nonchalant with their rules. The stereotypical guy
falls somewhere in between these two extremes and has their own set of
guidelines for when it is acceptable to switch your alliances. Here are my
guidelines:
- If your hometown did not have a professional
sports team within a 100 mile radius and you move to a new location, then you
may switch your alliances to the team(s) that calls your new location home.
- If your hometown did not have one of the four
major sports teams, then you may adopt any team of your choosing in that
particular sport. In the event of a move, you may switch alliances to the team(s)
that calls your new location home.
- If you move to a new location, you may root for
the team(s) that calls your new location home, but must root for your original
home team in all head to head battles.
- If you move to a new location, you may switch
any team alliance to the team(s) that calls your new location home after you
have lived in that location longer than your original hometown residence.
- If you move to a new location, you may switch
any team alliance to the team(s) that calls your new location home if you have
a child in the new location. The bond of a child must always be held in higher
esteem than your sports alliance.
By following the above guidelines, any guy should be free of
ridicule and torment with regards to their sport alliances. By not following
these guidelines, all hell may break loose. By painting your face like the guy
below or getting a tattoo of your “new” team after only living in the city for
a few years, expect to be called a traitor. Expect to receive some fun loving
jabs from those friends that shared beers with you while cheering on your now “old”
team.

Fellow fans are like teammates, and it isn’t easy to see someone
leave your team and go to another. It’s like seeing your favorite athlete in a
different jersey or seeing your ex with a new man (or woman). Switching team
alliances can be tough on all parties involved, but a few things are certain.
Ridicule and jabbing from friends are going to happen. It’s what guys do. We
love to tease. If it’s not about your “new” team, then it will be pointed toward
your mom, sister, or declining physique. At the end of the day, guys will
always resect what is true. So to all guys, stay true to the teams that are in
your heart. Everyone respects people with a big heart!
Coop