I am not a team collector. Neither am I a team follower. Do you find this bizarre? My history with following teams is not remotely interesting, but the last team I followed was the Red Sox from 2000 when I moved to Boston until 2011, the end of the Francona era. That 2011 team and the shenanigans that went on were so disappointing to me that I gave up rooting for them. Though, because I lived in the Boston area I was still inundated with Red Sox information. I listened to, and still do as a matter of fact, 98.5 The Sports Hub. It's excellent programming, and it was due in part to the hosts and callers, in fact, that I also got really sick of the Red Sox and their ownership. I live now in the Philly market and while I somewhat enjoy the Sports radio here, I still listen most of the day to the Sports Hub. (My prior team follows were the Pirates from my earliest days of knowing of baseball followed by the Mets because I loved Darryl Strawberry. When he left for the Dodgers, I glommed onto Kruk, but didn't really follow the Phillies too closely. By rights, I should have followed the Orioles as they were the closest team, but aside from going to games, and enjoying going to games, I don't remember being too, too much of a fan. Then it was the Red Sox as I mentioned.)
Now?
Now I just try to follow the whole sport and watch the games I want to and read the stories that look interesting. I watch most of the Phillies games, largely because of John Kruk being on most of the home games and too precious few of the away games. But I also always watch at least one game or part of a game on my computer in the evening. Usually the Pirates (McCutchen) and the Guardians (Kwan/Ramirez). Speaking of Kwan, this is his 2023 Big League card which I recently received in a TCDb trade.
But I'll watch almost any team except the Padres and a few others. Out of spite to MLB and ESPN, I even watch Rockies games.
If you are a team follower... how's it going now that we're sadly at just about three weeks to play? I was surprised to see the final games of the year are on Sunday the 28th. That feels early, even though I'm sure it's right on time. I think I'm used to have a game or two in the early days of October.
Thanks for stopping by!
I do admit your lack of a favorite team threw me for awhile. It's pretty foreign to me, just about every fan I've known in real life has a favorite team. But I've noticed on social media there are several fans who just want to root for players or "something fun" or whatever. I suppose that's a more upbeat way of following your sport, but it doesn't quite work for me.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it does feel weird. I root for the sport, want to see a good if not great or awesome product, but do spend some emotional time despising the Padres for their uniforms and the Mets for their hideous faces. I think sports watching/consuming is a lot like card collecting: whatever makes someone happy with their investment with their time and money is worthwhile: what works best, works best.
Delete+1 for not following any particular team.
ReplyDelete+2 for your +1!
DeleteBig League not Bowman.
ReplyDeleteWhile I follow and root for a team, I've become much more circumspect about it over the years. Too many bad years in there to get too emotionally invested. Appreciate the good stuff when it happens and that's about it. Been enjoying the Giants recent form. Will be happy if they manage to clock over 81 wins. Not hoping for more than that.
Big League! Yes, thank you. Will fix that.
Delete