This is exactly why I hate the Cubs

(click on the headline to read the related story)

Freakin bandwagon jumpers. I've jumped on a few in my lifetime, most recently the Celtics, but when I did jump on one I didn't pretend to be a die-hard fan, and if they won or lost, I thought "oh well."

I think it's inevitible to jump on a few BW's in life, but it's funny how quickly those BW's turn into semi-trucks of domination that everyone outside that particular city (or group of states, e.g. "New" England) grow to hate that team after it wins a couple championships. For example, look at Boston. 6 years ago, the Red Sox couldn't beat the Yankees, and the Patriots seemingly came out of nowhere to slay the mighty Rams. Now, the Pat's are the most hated team in sports (even without the whole spying fiasco - and, no, I don't like putting "-gate" on the end of every sort of controversy) and the Red Sox have been the most dominant baseball team of the past half decade. Rooting for either of those teams now isn't "jumping on the bandwagon," it's just simply being a sheep and following the crowd.

I think if you're going to pick a team to inexplicably root for (one nowhere close to your location or home), you should adhere to a few guidelines. I give you a point/counterpoint for examples.

1) It's OK to pick a team because of one player, provided you keep rooting for that team after said player retires. I started rooting for the Packers in the mid-90's because I was sick of all the crap the Cowboys players got away with, and plus, I needed to break away from a team simply because my dad rooted for them (which isn't necessarily what you should do... sports are a bond. but that's another post.) I loved Brett Favre, so I started rooting for Green Bay. He's now gone, and I'm ready for the Aaron Rodgers era (or year, whatever it turns out to be). I'm sticking with my green and gold.

1) (counterpoint) Did anyone outside of Chicago a) root against the Bulls in the mid-90's, and then b) root for the Bulls after Jordan retired? I'll give this counterpoint a counterpoint of its own. When team management dismantles a team and basically lets it slide into mediocrity, it's ok to abandon the team. Or at least pick a team that's worth rooting for. (See the Florida Marlins).

2) If you're going to pick a team to jump on, pick one that hasn't been there before and is on the rise with a legitimate shot to be built into a winner in the next few years (regardless of if it's possible they'll win because of how stacked another team may be). Pick someone like the Tampa Bay Rays, or the Cleveland Cavs, or even my beloved Browns!

2) (counterpoint) Don't pick someone who has had 100 chances to win and still hasn't ever gotten there (cough cough, Cubs, cough cough). I know, they've won a series, but was anyone alive when they did?

There are a variety of ways and reasons a person can root for a team that's half the country away and be a legit fan. I like the Yankees because I grew up hearing the fairy tales about Mickey Mantle from my grandpa, who grew up with the Mick in Commerce back in the 30's and 40's. A guy I went to OU with is a die-hard Virginia Tech fan because his family is from Virginia. G-Spence is probably more devoted a Dodger fan than most of the whole of SoCal. Geographics don't matter, but if you decide to start rooting for a team, just remember to stick with them. Unless it's the Cubs. You should switch now... I won't even say a word to you about it. It'll be the like Prodigal Son returning home.