Shouldn't you have had solidified rooting interests before then...before the axis of evil?
I'm sure you already know I grew up a Royals fan and still am. Geographically, it was the logical choice. Also, I attended a lot of Omaha Royals games ... some KC games ... and attended their caravan when they came through Lincoln each winter.
Then I moved to Minneapolis at age 23 ... for four years ... hated the Twins (for obvious reasons) ... but attended a lot of games at the Metrodome, as it was an easy ticket. Didn't care at all for the Vikes. Liked the T'Wolves quite a bit -- especially due to KG -- but have mostly fallen out of love (not completely).
Then I moved to So Cal for my late-20s to 30 ... went to several Padres and Angels games ... enjoyed watching the Angels because of Erstad ... but no other rooting interest, as they were still in conflict with my Royals, being an AL team. And the Padres bored me ... and their ballpark sucked. I will always hate the Dodgers (only the Yankees do I hate more).
Philadelphia is simply an awesome sports city. It's total love-hate. You either will latch on and fall in love -- or be sick to your stomach daily. But that is -- by far -- the most passionate sports city I've ever lived in or near. And I respect the heck out of that. So Cal sports fans are pathetic. Minneapolis fans whine all the damn time -- if they even care (and really care most about hockey, which they were without an NHL team when I lived there -- and were extremely bitter about that).
For me in Philly with their sports teams, it was "holy sh this is a blast!" And the Phillies didn't conflict with my Royals. And I never really had an NFL team I cared deeply about before (I never felt a huge need for one as a Husker fan, growing up in Lincoln)... and Iverson was hugely entertaining to watch with the Sixers ... and it's the only time I've ever gotten into hockey, and had connections for seats directly behind the glass and goal.
I'm definitely one who has to have some sort of geographic connection before I can love a team. I need to live in or near the action and get a true sense of being surrounded by the fan base. I've never been interested in a team because of a relative or because I can see them on TV all the time. I need to -- at some point in my life -- be immersed. But there's a good chance -- like Minnesota and So Cal -- when it won't matter. Same thing in Texas. The only team I like a bit in this state is the Spurs. So there's no automatic with me -- live there and fall in love. But with Philadelphia, it was love at first sight (grab a tissue if you need to).
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