Why this decision? Well my friend Brian is likely to blame as he just did a similar thing and declared support for the KC Royals. My coworkers and father in-law are all into a bevy of sports, and it's nice to be able to join in conversation. The straw however, is that I do find sports interesting enough to check-in while drinking a beer at a friends or bar, and it always helps to have a team to root for when doing that.
Why baseball and why am I picking teams now? I already have a football team. I grew up a huge Buffalo Bills fan from my father's influence and while I'm no longer a huge NFL fan - the Bills will always have a special place.
I had a short lived Hockey obsession in middle school that led me to purchase a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, and right now I don't really care enough about hockey to change that.
As far as basketball goes, I'm a fan of the NCAA tournament, but the pro's just don't do it for me. I never had an NBA basketball team growing up, so maybe I'll pick one someday, but not today.
Baseball - I like baseball, I enjoy the atmosphere, I played baseball growing up, I never had a team. I dabbled with the Mets, A's and Dodgers, but never really followed any of them. These preferences had no real basis and I was mainly just echoing friends. I think I became an A's fan because I happened to get a Reggie Jackson baseball card and someone told me he was good.
So that's why I've decided to start fresh and pick a new team. Also I'm in the market for a new hat and thought that if I'm going to get a baseball hat, it might as well have a team on it.
THE CONTENDERS:
The Kansas City Royals
Pros:
Undoubtedly the nearest team to Lincoln. Omaha boasts their minor league counterpart. I have family in Kansas City and try to visit as often as possible. Plus I really like the city.
Cons:
Too close for comfort. I've always hated the Chiefs and may find it difficult to root for a different Kansas City team.
The Chicago Cubs
Pros:
Currently my favorite midwestern city that I've visited. My family has some roots in Chicago starting when my grandma got off the boat. Love that Old Style beer. Associated with the best hot dogs in the world, which are inherently tied to baseball.
Cons:
Lots of people are Cubs fans and seeing as how they are doing well this year, I would be branded a Bandwagon Fan for life.
The Milwaukee Brewers
Pros:
I fancy myself a homebrewer so it just fits. Given the city's history and great lake adjacent location - I think it is a town I could support. They play in Miller Stadium and I love my High-Life. They have a sprig of barley on their hats.
Cons:
Don't know much about them. Only time I've spent in Milwaukee is in their airport, which is really nice.
I'm looking for advice - please comment! I'm hoping to make this decision by the 4th of July.
14 comments:
I would NEVER root for the Cubs. Ever. Although your hot dog connection has me second guessing that. Great observation.
I chose KC, for reasons you pointed out, because they are close and their minor league team is here.
Milwakee was one of the teams I thought about following. I would not let your lack of knowledge of a team and its players sway your decision. I knew nothing about the Royals when I started watching them this season, but now I can tell you who the manager is and where he came from, a few guys on the pitching staff, the couple of guys who have come up from the Omaha Royals recently and I went to a home game a couple of weeks ago. Not too shabby. Your knowledge of the team you choose to follow will come, which is what will make it fun.
Also, the decision must be your own.
Thanks Brian - the proximity of the royals is definitely a perk. The likelyhood of them being on TV is likely much higher than say the Brewers.
Tough decisions.
I'm going to use the word "likely" at least three times in the next post.
Good point with the TV time. The Cubs are on WGN and the Royals are on FSN.
Great topic. Post who you go with.
Looks like your Brewers are making big trade today....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080707/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_indians_brewers_trade
Thanks Brian - I saw that. Apparently it looks like the Brewers may give the Cubs a run for their money in the NL central. Guess it's a good thing I decided to start rooting for the Brewers!
i see you've chosen the Brewers. it'll be much like rooting for Buffalo, you wont get much info and they wont be that good.
I'm glad you didnt go w/ the Cubs. Cubs fans are a dime a dozen and most are posers.
KC would have been a good choice b/c of the reasons you listed. i grew up a KC fan and as i studied the history of Baseball became a Yankees fan, but KC is my #2 team and George Brett was my all time favorite player growing up.
by the way... it think that this should lead to us all going to some sort of baseball even that involves beer. just a thought.
I'm all for it! I've been to one saltdogs game this year and even though they got pounded it was a good time. I haven't been to a omaha royals game in years.
It was a tough decision between the cubs and brewers. Like your yankees, the cubs have history and I like to root for the underdog. At the same time I prefer to go against the masses, so I went for the brewers. The royals are cool and I'll claim them for my favorite AL team, but I just couldn't pic them for my favorite overall team.
Good idea Jason, beer and baseball, I'd be all for it.
Brewers vs. Cubs series is coming up soon! And it has IMPLICATIONS! I too would like baseball and beer, but I have not chosen an alliance.
First, I would like to offer condolences for your Brewers poor outing against the Cubs. Second, I am officially declaring my loyalty to the Washington Nationals as my team. Mostly cause I lived in the area for a few years, but more mostly because I have one of their hats. Go Nats!
Thank you for your condolences on the "Milwaukee Massacre" as it has been called as the Cubs beat them at home. All is not lost, the Brewers are still only 3.5 games behind the Cubs and they play them 6 more times before the end of the season.
Congrats on your new alliance - the Nats! I am still up beer and baseball so we need to make that happen. I'll actually be partaking in both myself tonight at the Saltdogs game. Now I'm afraid I need to offer you condolences as the Brewers just swept the Nats - sorry.
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