Was thinking about this the other day. I don't know how I would be able to root for a guy like Barry Bonds if he were a Met. But then I thought, maybe I'd love him, simply because he was on the team I rooted for. My question is this: What would drive you to stop following and pulling for your favorite sports team? Would players you don't care for on the rooster do the job? How bout an owner who refused to put enough money into the team? Criminal acts by players? Or will you be a die hard fan blindly, regardless of the above???

There's nothing that has made me stop liking the Philly teams, but I have boycotted the Phillies over the last 2 seasons because of the arrogance of the ownership. I watch the games on TV but I don't go to the games or buy merchandise anymore.

The Sixers are headed in that direction with screwup after screwup ever since 2001. They also have my favorite athlete maybe ever on the team which keeps my interest.

To me, years incompitence and uncaring of ownership is about the only thing that would stop me from rooting for my team. It had gotten very close with the Phillies in the Wade era but I think they are headed in the right direction (this season Gillick is feeling things out).

If Kobe Bryant somehow ended up on the Sixers I would stop rooting for them on the spot. I have never disliked an athlete more.

tough call. i am sure there is a way to make me hate the Mariners or Seahawks, but it hasnt happened yet. 25 years of loyalty, it might take something big to change my mind.

That mut you have playing 3B might be enough to do it.

lol

teh reason why I asked this is because as much as im enjoying the Mets success thus far, It doesn't really feel as good in that so many of these guys are people we have bought rather than developed... cheapens it a little for me... but alas, winning is winning

i cant think of anything that would stop me from cheering for the dodgers or lakers. There's not an athlete that would stop me from cheering for either team.

i am takin so much crap from my grandpa because of that mutt. i keep sayin he is gonna be big. i think he is makin me look like an idiot.

i'm growing a playoff beard for the flyers. if that isnt loyalty i dunno what is.

Good thing you will only have to have it for 2 weeks.

have faith jim. peter the great will stay healthy and my hopes wont be crushed until game 7 of the eastern conference finals...again

nothing would make me stop supporting the team, but that doesn't mean i wouldn't hate the individual person. david wells for example, why the fuck is he still on the red sox? hate that guy.

The Wings won the Cup the first year I decided to grow a playoff beard. Was nice and scraggly for my high school graduation and everything. I'd wish you the best of luck, but I hope Philly gets crushed.

I can't think of a reason I'd stop rooting for my favorite teams. Shitty ownership? Been there, done that. Years of incompetence? Yup. Awful coaching and management? Hell yes. Asshole players? I don't think a single player could ever ruin a team for me. Would I cheer for Bonds if he was on my team? Doubt it. Would it stop me from cheering for the rest of the team? I think it would make me root for them even harder.

That's what I was thinking. I don't know how one player could influence my opinion of a team I've adored my entire life. I'm ridiculously loyal to both the Jays and Leafs, sometimes to the point of being unrealistically optimistic (ie. having to win every single game for the last month to make the playoffs, but still having that gut feeling they're going to do it.) Dreams don't always come true, but I'll always keep dreaming.

Me either, but trading Brian Leetch to the Leafs almost broke me.

PJA and Mitchell have been arguing about this topic for quite some time.

im a royals fan.

My AFL team hasn't won a premiership since 1970, and hasn't made the playoffs (we call it Finals) in like 6 years. If that isn't what constitutes a loyal fan... I don't know what does.

The fact that you just said that shows an amazing amount of loyalty.

That's really not all that bad.