Why do you support your team?

[LingeringRegime]

Growing up I was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Charlotte didn't have an NFL team at that time. As for why I liked them, I really have no idea. Perhaps it was the color scheme.

I still remember Montana to Clark dashing my hopes as a little boy. I remained a fan until 1995.

That is when we were awarded the Carolina Panthers. I will be a Panther Fan till I die, or if they move into another market. Hopefully, that will never happen.

[muggins]

I was born in Buffalo, so I've been a Bills fan my entire life. I've lived in Michigan most of that time, so it makes it tough, but I've had NFL Sunday Ticket the last few years. Before that I listened to Bills games on Sirius.

I follow the Bills because I just can't quit them. Being a Bills fan means not having to say you're sorry. (Wait... actually it means everyone saying sorry to you).

Bills fans are just the best. Zubaz is a Bills tradition. The front pocket Starter jacket can still be seen at games. Going to a game at RW Stadium in the winter is like nothing in the world.

The only way I'd give up on the Bills is if they moved at some point. If they moved to Toronto, I don't think I'd follow them anymore, and I'd probably give up on the NFL for a few years. Toronto has shown in the few games there that they definitely don't deserve the Bills. I'd also have to think about getting my Bills tattoo removed, lol.

[TexasBorn1]

Quote: Originally Posted by SPTO

Jerruh is Snyber before Snyder so you should've stopped being a fan in 1996

Haha, Jerry has his problems, but he is no Snyder. That man is far and away the worst owner in the NFL

[lonewolf371]

Grew up in Indiana, though born in Florida. Been a Colts fan all my life.

[sb24]

Wow! Well Doc thanks for starting the thread.

We got a bunch of stories as to why you picked the team, but I would love to hear stories of what guys would do if the team moved/changed owners? When does the loyalty fade? ARe you expected to just stick with a team even if you have an owner you know doesnt even want to win?

Let me give you guys my story and go from there. I put in spoilers for those dont feel like reading that much.

Spoiler

I was born in MD and loved the area teams (Redskins, Orioles). I moved to VA before the Ravens went to Baltimore. I should have switched then since I was a Balitmore guy not a DC guy. Either way stuck with the Skins since it was the family team. I didnt really understand/watch football until the 2000 season. Thats right about the time the Snyder era started.

Now over the last number of years, I have been getting more and more frustrated with the owner. He has made some really stupid decisions and made our team a joke. Now he is nowhere near close to being the worst owner as a poster just said (Especially since he tried to make it seem Jones and Snyder are a different style owner .) but he keeps making decisions that leave you scraching you heard. To be fair, it does appear this man tires to do anything in his power to win. He just doenst understand that the Super Bowl is won by players, not business decisions. (yes few exceptions) Again to be fair, he has at least gotten a playoff win within the last 5 years, something other teams have take years to get.

Now as for the current situation. I am truely starting to have some hope come back. Look at the Haynesworth/McNabb situations. If any coach pulled this under Synder, they would have been fired midseason. To me Shanahan is giving a big "**** YOU" to the owner. He is daring him to fire him. If he does, Snyder continues being the joke he has made himself. If he keeps him for 4 years, it will show that Snyder has learned to give things time and not try to have his hands all over the operations. The next few years are going to show me if I can stay a fan or not. I dont care how well Shanahan does, I only care if Snyder has learned to give a coach some space.

So in summary, I am close to giving up on the Redskins because I hate their owner(and to be honest their name as well). Since the owner has the most control, how do I keep up support for a guy that will own the team until I am in my 60's. I can stick it out through bad teams, coaches, players, and just bad luck, but I dont know how to keep standing behind a team with an owner you can almost never say a good thing about. Let me make it clear, I am not bailing yet, I just keep finding myself asking, "why do I support this team?"

Thats my story back to the others......

Rams fans, were you able to follow the team each time it moved? At least when the Raiders moved it was in state.

Titan/Oilers and Ravens/Browns fans what did you do when the team moved? What did you do when a new team replaced the team that moved away? Crazy to think that if orginal Browns fans decided to support the Ravens, the ended up supporting a division rival

[The GIGGAS]

I don't know what I'd do if Jacksonville moved (which ain't happening). I have no ties to the town other than the team, so I suppose I'd follow it. I'd be really disappointed though, because they'd probably get rid of the Jaguars name and the teal, which would really suck.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Third-gen Seattle native...toured the Kingdome with my grandparents in 1976, and hopped on with the Seahawks at the very beginning. I bleed green and blue...through thick and thin.

I love my Seahawks, but they can be SO frustrating to watch sometimes LOL.

But, they are ALWAYS interesting...and Pete Carroll makes this true X100.

The darkest time for us was in the 90's under Behring's ownership when he wanted to sell the team and move them to SoCal. That would have resulted in a city-wide conniption. Thank GOD for Paul Allen!

[SPTO]

If the Bills were to leave Buffalo i'd stop being a fan especially if they come to Toronto. I'd feel like my city ripped the heart of our neighbors just because of our greedy lust for NFL football.