I don't follow college sports, but if asked, I say Wolfpack all the way. Pedro and I both have degrees from there, though, so, of course. Before I got my MA, though, I would tell people I pulled for my alma mater, a private women's college. They had a great women's field hockey team when I was there. Can't argue with that, I suppose.
I have always pulled for the Red Wings in hockey because they were the nearest team to where I grew up and my brother watched all their games. Now I also root for the 'Canes because in spite of myself I have been impressed with the way they play -- the may not always win, but they are classy and very sportsmanlike. Nothing like a good clean game, and the fans keep it classy too.
I was moved to tears at game 4 of the playoffs back in '03 (I think it was) when they were losing their last game of the series to New Jersey. We were in the stands for that game, and the 'Canes were down by 2 with minutes to go in the third. They were still playing hard, giving us our money's worth to the bitter end. With two minutes to go, the crowd started applauding, and as the clock hit the 90 second mark the whole audience was on its feet, not yelling or cheering or booig the Devils, just offering a standing ovation to our hometown team, as if to say, "Thanks for a great season, we'll see you next year."
When they lost to Detroit at the Joe in the final round of the Cup playoffs the following year, Pedro and I went to the airport to meet them off the plane. They spent an hour signing jerseys and posters for people after a late flight home, and the fans were shaking the players' hands and telling them we were proud of how far they'd gone this year even if they didn't bring home the cup. "We'll get it next time," was the general sentiment. (And they did.)
The players, too, are real parts of the community, even if they didn't grow up here. Hell, *nobody* who lives here grew up around here, so they're just more Yankee transplants like the rest of us. But they do a lot of charity events as a team, and some of them coach kids' league teams on their own time. A few even volunteer with the hockey team for special needs kids we're thinking of putting our son into next fall. And any time there's a local charity auction or fundraiser, the 'Canes are donating signed jerseys or sticks to help raise money for Cause XYZ.
So that's why I'm a 'Canes fan. They haven't been doing too hot lately, though, so I guess that releases me from accusations of bandwagon-jumping.
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Topic: Bandwagon jumping (Read 4864 times)