I think the stories of why people become fans of certain teams are fascinating. There must be some deep-rooted sociological things at a work when the reason is something more than "the team was close by."
I'm a Mets fan through and through, to the point of obsessing over tiny newsbites over them during the winter. But I didn't always follow them so closely...I ignored them for a good two years after they traded Cone. And it's a lot harder to be a good fan if you're out of the area or if your cable sucks. Lucky for me I moved back to NYC just last year. Good timing on my part. In late 2003 and 2004 you could have mistook me for a Sox fan, but that's acceptable behavior for a card-carrying Yankee hater (at least at the time, I've softened somewhat).
I've always been a Jets fan, but I've only been to one game. I started paying attention to sports in 1986 - the year the Mets and Giants won. Why do I like the Mets and not the Giants? Because Jets rhymes with Mets? Because I was the first Mets fan in the family, but they were already Giants fans?
I used to like the Celtics, but back then, there was no point in following anyone but the Celtics and Lakers. I tried to like the Nets, for the rhyme, but screw that. When the Knicks challenged Jordan's Bulls, I got caught up in it...especially since all my other teams sucked. I'm starting to think they could be good in a few years.
When I was a kid, I must have listened to a full season of Isles hockey without ever seeing a game on TV. Back then they were the remnants of the greatest American hockey dynasty ever. I get really into them if they're in playoff contention, but I can only follow so many sports on a day-to-day basis.
