When is it okay to switch the team you root for?

Question

Sports fans are fiercely loyal. Much credit to those that stick with their teams through the bad times.

Consider this hypothetically...

But if you're a Royals fan, and the ownership isn't doing anything to put together a winning franchise, year after year, aren't they just exploiting the loyalty of their fans?

Is it then okay to cancel your season tickets and start going to Cardinal's games?

OR

If you're a Miami Hurricanes or Colorado Football fan, and you see that the school is doing nothing to stop criminals and thugs from coming to the school, is it okay to start wearing another school's colors?


This is a good question. Thoughtful answers only, please.

Answer 1

To assist in your question:

A while ago, on eBay, a disgruntled Royals fan sold his allegiance to the Royals, which he had retained since the days where George Brett was a rookie, for around $200. He allowed the winner to pick his new team of allegiance, because he was fed up with the Royals' apparent lack of will to improve.

As a cruel punishment, the winner chose the Nationals.

Personally, I view allegiance to a sports team somewhat like marriage. You've chosen your bride, and you must honor her in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, through sub-500 seasons and championships, til death or relocation do you part.

Answer 2

If you want to be able to call yourself a fan, then it is never ok to switch. But given that a lot of people do, I would say if you were making the switch due to being unhappy with the way the team was being handled or treated by owners, then I suppose some people could say it was a justified switch. But if you're doing it just because the team hasn't had a good season in a while, well, then you're a disgrace to whatever sport it is. And you have no right to call yourself a fan of any kind.
Personally I'm a baseball fan. And I am also an A's fan. Through the good years, and the many bad, I have always been true to my team.

Answer 3

It's never really ok to switch loyalties. All the years of losing only builds character, makes it all the more sweeter when they finally break through. You choose the team you root for, they call it rooting for a reason, the longer you're with a team the deeper those roots go. You're right that sports fans are fiercely loyal.

You mention the criminal/thug angle. The Oakland Raiders have been my team since I could pick up a ball, in recent years, the silver and black has been adopted by quite a few gangs. I've been stopped by police for wearing my colors, all I have to do is start rattling off players and stats from the 60s and 70s and they know I'm a TRUE fan. Would I consider NOT wearing my teams colors? Only if my life were threatened and I'm not sure if I would stop even then...


THINK BLUE!!!

Answer 4

If you're a true fan, you should be voicing your displeasure with ownership, the front office, etc., in hopes of making the team better. Fans are only "exploited" if they allow themselves to be exploited, and in that case they're not true fans. True fans won't switch unless the team moves.

The exception is if you move to a different market; you may gradually find yourself switching to the new team or rooting for both, and that's ok because you have attachments to both.

In the case of college teams, it's a bit different. If you graduated from a school, you have to remain true to that school forever, and you can never root for that school's arch rival. If you didn't go to the school then you have no real attachment to it and can switch anytime.

Answer 5

Interesting question.Found it in your profile. I don't think switching your allegiance is ok.That is why it is called an allegiance.Think of the "Pledge of Allegiance" if you will.If you are mad at your country is it ok to switch your allegiance to another one?No I am not trying to stir up anything political so don"t everyone start a political debate here after reading this but you used the word allegiance in your question.I also liked the analogy to marriage.That was good.You don't have to like the owner to be a fan of the team,nor do you have to agree with bad decisions made on behalf of or by some of the players,but if you truly like the team you should stick with them.It is ok to like other teams but most of us definately have our favorite.GO YANKEES!!!!!!!
They are my team no matter what.Always have been.Doesn't mean I can't appreciate other teams when they are playing well.It definately doesn't mean I have to like Steinbrenner-I DON'T-but he isn't the team.The guys on the field working their butts off are the ones I am pulling for.

Answer 6

You have to be loyal. Where is the honor in switching your teams. Be loyal and voice your objections. Don't give up on the team you love. And besides, why can't you root for two teams. I like the Twins and Tigers, does that make me an enigma of the sport? I don't care.

Answer 7

Well...if you were a Detroit Lions fan...it would have been a good idea to switch teams a long time ago.

Other than that....You should be loyal to your teams...I'm a Carolina Panther fan and I'm stuck here in Wisconsin now...Sure I root for the Packers because it's my state now...but I'll never pick them over my Panthers....

Answer 8

should be a lakers fan lmao, yet I say bypass for it. in case you experience undesirable about rooting for yet another crew purely root for the opposing crew of your determination crew to lose. Thats what I do! Lol

Answer 9

if its just because the team is losing than u could but u would be a bad fan but if it is the way the team play,if they don't try or don't play with any drive than yes it is

Answer 10

i think you can switch the team you root for whenever you feel like it. if you're rooting for a team, and find yourself starting to think that another team is really good, and the team you're currently rooting for isn't impressing you, it's okay to switch. but dont switch to a team because they are doing well, only switch if you truely like them.