Different Teams, New Teams?

One of the most difficult sports situation I have dealt with is watching different teams on a regular basis.  It's not that watching a different team is difficult for me, it's watching a different team and actually getting invested in them that is the problem.  I will always hold allegiance to any Detroit team over any other team, no matter where I live.  I would say the exception is the Pistons, but we all know how I feel about basketball (hint:  IT SUCKS!)

Living outside the state of Michigan, and being a fan of sports, you tend to start watching other teams because they are always on television.  Living in Wichita, I started to follow the Royals.  One thing that really got me into the team was the television commentators.  They were good.  They stayed focused on the game that was at hand, they provided the right information at the right time, and they didn't have any stupid catch phrases that they worked into every game.  They stuck to the fundamentals.  While some may find it boring, I find it refreshing.  The Royals aren't the best team in baseball, so why watch them?  Just for the sport, but also for the other teams that they were playing.  It was beneficial that they play in the same division as the Tigers, so I did get to see about a dozen games that weren't broadcasted nationally.

When we moved to Minnesota, it's the same thing.  I have started to pay attention to the Twins a little bit more because they are always on.  Same situation as before:  good commentators, not the best team, and I get to see them play the Tigers (either in person or on television).  One thing we were deprived of living in Kansas was hockey.  Not so much here.  We went to a game this year when my family came into town and the Wild were playing the New York Rangers.  Two teams in years past that I could care less about.  I wouldn't have paid to go see them if I were visiting the city, but because I watched the Wild play over the course of the year, I felt the need to go see them live.  So when they scored goals, when a player made a nice check or the goalie made a great save, I found myself cheering for them.  It felt good to have a second home team.  If they were playing the Red Wings, obviously I would have been cheering for them.

One thing that you will not see me do is run out to the store and start purchasing hats or shirts with Minnesota logos on them.  I will watch them, but I will not wear any of their gear.  That is where I draw the line.  Once you start to wear their insignia, it's all down hill from there. 

I was discussing with my sister the situation about watching a new team.  She has never lived outside the state of Michigan, so she hasn't really had to deal with this.  It's hard to convince her that it is okay to watch another team and even cheer for them, as long as you don't root for them when your real team comes to town.  My brother now lives in Seattle and follows the Mariners, but his heart is still with the Detroit teams.  I feel that the moment I start to cheer for another team that is playing the Tigers or Wings or Lions, is the moment that my family needs to disavow me.  I will rely on my sister and dad to make sure that happens, but it never will.  I'm a Michigander til the day I die and nothing will convince me to cheer for another team that plays against them.