Alright...it needs asking..."passionate" football guys.

Partially because of BM's pure hatred for Pittsburgh, partially for comments I've seen on this site, and mostly from comments from my friends around here, what is it that makes you actually HATE a team?

I've never really understood it. The Cowboys, Patriots, and Steeler's, and Jet's seem to be some of the most hated teams in the NFL by opposing fans for a variety of superficial reasons (the fans are dumb, "fill in player's name here" is a jerk, refs give them calls, etc, etc. The only common denominator I can ever find in the sports world amongst these hated teams is consistent and frequent success (look at the three teams mentioned above). Maybe it's because I'm not a "die hard" sports fan who lives for Sunday's, or paints my living room team colors, or whom spends more time "playing" fantasy football than I actually do physical activity, but I just can't see the point in hating a team.

For me, I respect the good teams. Those who produce, and do well have my respect. I may not agree with a player's lifestyle or attitude, but the team's performance, even when it's against my favorite team gets my respect.

Examples? The Patriot's this year. Absolutely an impressive performance on both sides of the ball, and with such a rookie/no name team to boot. I don't like the Patriot's, but I don't hate them. They're a GREAT football team.

I'm a Steeler's fan. Most hate Raven's fans. Most Raven's fans hate Steeler's fans. I don't get it. The Ravens are GOOD. VERY good. They have my respect as a team for the performances they put up week in and week out.

I can't see a justifiable reason to truly hate a team, but obviously many can, so if you're one of the latter, fill me in. What does it for you? What makes you hate a team?




Rant over...

 

I think sports team "hate" is not really a what you would call a true hate. Prime example is here in MN, for many years Favre was public enemy #1, probably the most "hated" player in the entire league. Then when he was signed here, that hate quickly turned into undying love. Now that he is on his way out, you can already hear the grumbling that he is the reason the Vikes didn't make the playoffs.

I think this type of mentality probably reins true to a lot of the so called "hate"

 

I don't hate any pro teams. I just don't get passionate about pro sports.

Now college, that's a different story. I hate Auburn, Ole Miss and Alabama. I hate them with 100% of my heart. I hope they lose every game.

Why? Because I just do dammit.

 

You see Hook.... I am different than you. I hope M*ch*gan wins every game all year until the 3rd Saturday of November so tOSU can crush their post season bowl dreams.

 

I share the same sentiment. In my younger years, I wished OSU every game. Now, its looks better for the league if OSU does well, and it looks better for UM if they beat them. Remember when UM used to beat OSU? I think I remember that.

I don't hate any teams, or any people for that matter. I do however, have a dislike for rapists. Just sayin'...

 

But killing dogs, people, or shooting your dumb self in the leg is cool, right?

In all seriousness, I don't like Ben's choices or his off field personality, but if I actually got to "know" most NFL players, I'm sure I wouldn't like a lot of them.

Again, one player isn't a justifiable reason to hate a team IMHO (I know you didn't say you did).


I also remember a time when Penn State was a national caliber team.

 

I think it's the success of the rival of your particular favorite team that leads to the "dislike" (hate is a little strong word) of a team. Example ... Yankees dislike the Sox and vice versa. Years and years of history and established rivalry. Neither fan of these teams are going to not like the other. Celtics/Lakers........ Cowboys/Redskins etc.....

Another scenario is certain players that lead to someone disliking the team in general. Lebron James is disliked by a lot of NBA fans (probably 99% of Cavs fans), A-rod isn't on many peoples Christmas card list that isn't a yankee fan.

Or like hooker said..... just because.

 

I can see the dislike for a player, but not the franchise as a whole, and I'm even ok with the "dislike," but all you have to do is read the comments of a post-game discussion on NFL.com or ESPN to see that there are PLENTY of people who hate other teams, and their fans resorting to personal attacks, threats, and general hopes of bodily harm amongst players of the opposing team.

 

Bowl Dreams, LOL

I just hate the SEC I hate every ****ing team in the SEC with the same amount of hate.

 

I grew up on the border between MN and WI. I dont hate any team but I strongly dislike many arrogant Packer fans on a football level. Because of these fans, I wish bad fortune on the team. Sometimes a Packer loss on a Sunday is ALMOST as good as a Vikings win.

 

I think it is, at least for me, particular incidents or personality conflicts that cause me to hate a team. For example, being a Bills fan, I hate the Dolphins. Knocking them from playoff contention yesterday was AWESOME! The old days of Kelly VS Marino bred the hatred and it goes on today (plus their logo and uniforms are ridiculously stupid looking)!

I hate the Jets because of their arrogance and lack of professionalism. Plus, you cannot tell me Rex Ryan didn't know about that sideline "wall" that trips players. He is dirtbag, just like his father. I do respect their defense though.

I hate the Cowboys because of the two Super Bowl losses they handed the Bills.

Or is a team is touted as being a SuperBowl contender and all the media does is laud all over them, I start being a hater and want them to loose. Case in point San Fransisco, Cincinnati, Dallas and the Jets.

Both of these teams are in the Bills division, which helps the cause.

Like someone said earlier about getting to know the players is spot on. When the Bills were awesome in the 90's, they had some real jerks on the team. Bruce Smith being one of the biggest. They were donned the "Bickering Bills" and when you look at the players as people, you are bound to develop feelings toward them and their teams.

At least this is the way I look at it...

Sal

 

My strong dislike for the Steelers simply stems from their fans. Growing up an hour from the city and being a fan of a different team, I have heard so many comments that it's sickening. I have actually been stopped at the door of several bars simply for wearing a cowboys hate or jersey. I have had been told that "I am not allowed to wear Cowboys stuff in Steelers Country". That leaves a bad taste in your mouth and for me, it makes me wish the worst for the team as that leaves the fans with a bad taste in their mouths.

I also just have a strong hatred for the city of Pittsburgh, not the Steelers, not the fans, just the city itself. Anytime I have to go near the Burgh my blood pressure rises.....I am just not a city person.

Fair-weather fans are another thing that drives me nuts. It is amazing to see the differance around here when the Steelers are winning and when they aren't. When the Steelers are winning everybody is a huge fan and is proud to announce that, when they loose those same people suddenly "aren't really Steelers fans, they like the Penguins".

Now there is the conspiracy theory about the refs trying to screw the Steelers which is hilarious to me. James Harrison has several illegal hits and gets fined for it, the Steelers fans complain that the league is just protecting quarterbacks and they are trying to take all of the hits out of the game....a week later and Ben gets hit and these same people want the defensive player to be kicked out the league because you "can't attack the QB like that".

I realize that these type of fans are in every city with a sports team, but for me personally I don't have to see/hear them every day. Those people aren't screaming/cursing at me for simply cheering for a different team..... the only ones doing that are Steelers fans, hence my dislike for Steelers fans.

 

Fair enough. Personal interaction with a city/fans who actually "started it." (your hatred) I can understand that. The one's I don't get are (for lack of a better example) a fan who lives in PA, and says I hate the Cowboys and their fans, with no personal interaction with either.

 

Since you asked , the Mike Vick thing really didn't bother me, and I think he has paid his debt. Plax shot himself in the leg. Its people that harm other people, unwillingly, that I don't care for. To me, raping someone is WAY higher on the list of things not to do...compared to dog fighting and shooting yourself in the leg.

Pittsburgh has hardcore fans. Any city that has very serious fans will always have plenty of people that dislike them. Lets face it, most hardcore fans of any team are annoying.

 

On that same note, packer fans are cringing tonight because they have to cheer for the Vikes to beat the Bears, I'd love to be in a bar in Green Bay tonight....haha

 

Biggest bit of truth in this thread. For me this rears its ugly head in the form of Yankee fans and PSU fans around here.

 

Yeah, animal cruelty is no big deal.


Granted, setting aside that what Roethlisberger may or may have not done (if he finds himself in these types of situations that many times, it's probably not just dumb luck) one person's actions are not a justifiable reason to hate a team. The point was, I don't "hate" the Giants for Plaxico's stupidity, nor do I "hate" the Raven's for Ray Lewis's involvement in a murder, nor do I "hate" the Eagle's for Vick's actions.

BM's post does make sense, and since I really enjoy the city of Pittsburgh, I can't relate, but I do see his point.

 

That is your opinion then, because I never said that.

FTR, I don't root AGAINST players. I just root FOR the ones I like. Makes no difference how Big Ben plays...I just wish he would stop raping women.

 

Yeah I can see your point.

Whatever causes the fans of those teams to wallow in self pity, that is what I want to happen.

 

Sorry, I just misinterpreted the whole "Mick Vick thing didn't really bother me."

In all seriousness, I obviously don't think you condone animal cruelty, it's just a double standard I see played out in people's opinion's of "criminal" players. I DO see what you're seeing about the severity of the crime (assuming both are equally guilty), but electrocuting, pulling teeth, and drowning dogs isn't normal behavior either.

That's fair.