Top 5 Sports Allegiances

[Salvador VOLi]

I was thinking that this is just a great week.  UT starts year 1 of their rise back to prominence and Powell takes on their arch rival Halls.  So, it got me to thinking:

What are everyone's top 5 sports allegiances in order.  Which teams do you root for the hardest and if you don't care to give a brief explanation that would be great too.  Here is my list:

1.  Tennessee Football 

I grew up in Knoxville and was taken to my first Tennessee football game when I was five years old.  That made such an impact on my little mind and I'll never forget it.  From that day forth, I was a die hard fan and have been ever since.  My love was made even stronger by being in the Pride of the Southland for 2 years.  I got the added luck of those two years being the 97 and 98 season.  I graduated from UT and went back for a Masters and my love of the University only grew stronger. 

2.  Tennessee Basketball

I love basketball.  I love to play it and I love to watch it and I love to root Tennessee to victory in it.  My freshman year at UT was Jerry Green's first year and also the freshman year of Tony Harris.  We had an exciting, and maddening, team to watch then and my friends and I were at every home game in the student section.  Tennessee basketball wasn't on my radar as much as a kid because we weren't that good, but I do remember watching the majesty of Allen Houston (too bad the rest of the team wasn't too good).  Obviously the Bruce Pearl era took it to a new level and I had the pleasure of attending some of the greatest wins in school history (Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Florida, etc).

3.  Indianapolis Colts

I am a bit of a bandwagoner on this, but I can name players on the team other than Peyton.  I started liking the Colts because of Peyton, but I do now follow them very closely and am able to enjoy the whole team not just Peyton.

4. Chicago White Sox

When I was a kid I liked baseball, but I didn't want to like the Braves because everyone liked the Braves.  I had two options of other teams that were on TV a lot: the Cubs and the White Sox (because of WGN in both cases).  The Cubs didn't seem that appealing because they never won, but the White Sox did.  I really liked the White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas who was the most feared hitter in the league for probably a two or three year stretch in the mid 90s.  I've kept up my love of them for all of these years and their World Series win in 2005 was just a magical run and a great year.  I've been to Chicago to see games on three different occasions and it is truly a great time.

5.  Powell Panthers football

I went to Powell High School and still follow the team. 

Honorable Mention:

US Men's National Team (Soccer):  I love soccer and I love to see our country play against other countries.

So, there is my list.  Anybody else want to share?

[Clockwork Orange]

What are everyone's top 5 sports allegiances in order.  Which teams do you root for the hardest and if you don't care to give a brief explanation that would be great too.  Here is my list:

Good one. It's tough since I'm not a die-hard fan of any pro sports teams.

1) UT football

2) UT basketball

3) Colts

4) Just about any USA team in international competition; tennis, golf, rugby, curling, jai alai, whatever.

5) Whoever is playing the Yankees, Patriots, and Heat.

[ReVOLver]

1. UT Football
2. Titans
3. Predators
4. UT Basketball
5. Cincinnati Reds

[101stDad]

My 5:

1.  Powell Panther football, because of my long time involvement in broadcasting Powell games.  I put together the media guide every year, and do other media/PR related work for the program.  It's a matter of giving back for me, given that several of the coaches still on the staff played a major role in helping cement the way my wife and I were raising our son.  I owe those guys my support. 

2T.  UT football.  Lifelong fan, season ticket holder/VASF donor since 1983. 
 
2T.  USMA (Army) football.  Have grown to appreciate the program in the time since my son first went to West Point.  It's a different level of college football from the SEC, but just as important to the Cadets who play for Army as it is for those who play in the SEC, but for much different reasons. 

4.  Atlanta Braves baseball.  Been a Bravo fan since my Dad first took me to Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in 1968.  I've been hopelessly hooked since.  I lived through all of those 100 loss seasons, and have enjoyed the success of the team over the last two decades. 

5.  Western Carolina University sports.  What can I say - it's my alma mater. 

Honorable mention for me:

UT baseball

UT basketball (men's program).  Nothing against the women - Pat Summitt is the best women's coach in history, and pretty much is responsible for the popularity of women's college basketball, but I just don't follow women's basketball in general.  I hope she wins SEC and NCAA championships every year.

Colts football.  Still a Peyton sheep, and I happily admit it. 

Clemson University baseball.  Y'all know that I am just kidding on that one.       

[VOLMAN]

1. - UT football, no other sport team even comes close....I LOVE UT FOOTBALL!

2. - UT basketball, under Pearl I really got excited like never before over basketball....I hope the Cuonzo can attain the level of competitiveness that Pearl achieved.

3. - Braves, ever since TBS started airing them in the 80s I became a big fan, and it grew as my son was born and became such a big BB fan and then a player in H.S. and college

4. -  Air Force Academy Football, I served in the A.F., and my son is currently serving, and still pull for them.

5. - I guess U.S. teams in international competition

[Black Diamond Vol]

1. UT sports.  I won't differentiate between the various sports, but obviously football season is pretty special if only for all that surrounds a game.  To put into perspective how much more I love the college game than the pros, I'd rather attend UT/Montana than the Super Bowl.

2. Braves Baseball.  We first got cable just in time for the 1982 season, when they started out 13-0 and won the West division.  At age 10, I thought every season would be like that, but I learned otherwise very quickly.  Sat through some horrible seasons from 83-90, so I can truly appreciate the success they've had since then.  Dale Murphy remains my #1 sports hero, and it's a travesty that he's not in the HOF.

HUGE DROPOFF HERE.....

3. Falcons football.  This was actually my very first sports passion.  Started watching in the Steve Bartkowski/William Andrews days.

4. Hawks basketball.  Very casual fan.  I might have been more of a die-hard, but they made the unforgivable mistake of trading away the greatest player in franchise history in the middle of what could have been a championship season in '94 (MJ was off playing baseball, and the Hawks had the best record in the league at that time).  They lost me at that point.

5.  There really isn't another for me.  The Colts, I guess.

[PirateVOL]

1) VOL football
2) Braves baseball
3) Colts
4) LV basketball
5) VOL basketball

[VinnieVOL]

1. UT football
2. Other UT sports - obviously I want to see UT do well in any sport, but football remains the only one I find myself totally emotionally invested in (despite my occasional efforts not to be, during a crumby season for instance)
3. Dallas Cowboys - I've no geographical ties to them, it's the team I became enamored with as a child and it has stuck with me.
4. New York Yankees - I suppose to some degree we are all fans of teams that we grew up watching our parents follow.  I never really got that into baseball, I guess I follow it passively.  My Dad has been a Yankees fan since his childhood, and it just kind of developed out of me seeing how happy he was when the Yankees did well to the point where I root for them because I know it pleases him.

5. Indy Colts - I won't deny that I never cared either way about this team before Peyton.


UT football is the only allegiance that is so strong that a loss ruins my weekend and sometimes beyond.  Bruceball came close at times, but there will always be a big gap between UT football and the rest for me.

[ReVOLver]

1. UT Football
2. Titans
3. Predators
4. UT Basketball
5. Cincinnati Reds

My answer really should've been:

1. UT Football
5T. Titans
5T. Predators
5T. UT Basketball
5T. Cincinnati Reds

If any of the ones tied for 5th suck, I can effectively ignore them and it have no bearing on my life. Only Vol football has me invested to where I follow it 24/7/365 no matter how good or bad they may be.

[Clockwork Orange]

If any of the ones tied for 5th suck, I can effectively ignore them and it have no bearing on my life. Only Vol football has me invested to where I follow it 24/7/365 no matter how good or bad they may be.

Good point. If that's what is meant by loyalty-- living and dying with the team, fully invested-- then I'm not sure I have anything past #1.

[droner]

1. UT football

2. UT basketball, men and women.

3. University of South Carolina football

4. Atlanta Braves-I've been a fan since they moved to Atlanta in 1966

5. Indianapolis Colts-I've been fan of the Colts since the Johnny U. days in Baltimore.

6. ABC---Anyone but Clemson   

[CrossVol]

1.  VOLS Football (because I was born this way)
2.  VOLS Football (see #1)
3.  Colts (my first favorite NFL team because I liked the horseshoe on the helmets when I watched them in the '69 Super Bowl - I was 4)
4.  Phil Mickelson (fellow lefty golfer and he seems to be a good guy)
5.  Braves (in the beginning they were second to the Reds due to both being the closest MLB teams and the Reds were better in the 70's, then stuck with the Braves exclusively in the 80's due to being able to watch them all the time on TBS)

Bonus:
6.  Whoever is playing Alabama (no explanation needed)
7.  Whoever is playing Florida (see #6)

[101stDad]

1) VOL football
2) Braves baseball
3) Colts
4) LV basketball
5) VOL basketball

No Black Cats?  You should be ashamed.   

[RockinGrannyVol]

1)  Vol Footbal
2)  Vol BB & LV BB
3)  Colts (since I was  little girl and loved horses)
4)  Atlanta Falcons
5)  Braves BB 

[BigOrange Maniac]

1.) UT football & basketball. I'm more of a football fan than a basketball fan, but I root for both teams with equal fervor. UT football speaks for itself, but I remember being one of 3,000 in attendance at TBA as a bad South Carolina team beat UT during the Wade Houston era...that single game was probably the low point for UT basketball (that or the 101-40 loss to UK in the tourney). If I could sit through that, I'll probably endure whatever lies ahead for UT hoops.

3.) Oneida H.S. football. I cover them because I enjoy H.S. football and it saves our newspaper $$ that we'd otherwise have to spend to hire a stringer to do it. As I've gotten to know the kids and coaches over the years, it's hard to not root for them to do well. I also maintain the team's website and try to help them however else I can. There's just something special about H.S. football in towns where the whole community gets behind the team, whether it's a Class 6A school or a little Class 2A school like Oneida. When Oneida is off, I try to take in as many Scott County games as I can. That's my alma mater, so I'm an equally big fan of them. (I realize that rooting for a team you cover to win is akin to "cheering in the press box," a big journalistic no-no, but oh well... )

After that, it's kinda wide open for me. I like the Indianapolis Colts, originally because of Peyton but over the years I've come to admire the organization. I also enjoy rooting for the Titans, though it doesn't bother me much when they lose. I remain a Spurs fan in basketball for much the same reason as I like the Colts in football...I idolized David Robinson growing up but eventually came to admire the entire organization. The NBA sucks nowadays so it's hard for me to watch the regular season games and once the old guys like Duncan and Ginobili and Tony Parker retire I'll probably be finished with the NBA completely. I used to be a diehard Chicago Cubs fan. I still want them to do well, but I follow them very little beyond looking at the box scores each day. The strike spoiled baseball for me. I did get reeled back in by the Sosa vs. McGwire homerun race in '98. That was exciting and I was glued to WGN and Sportscenter every day. But once that was over, I never watched much baseball.

So beyond UT sports and high school football, I'm not real strong on sports allegiences.

[Volcreed]

1. UT Vols any sport anytime.
2. Atlanta Falcons and Indy Colts:
Yes I was Colts fan even before Peyton NFL Films love the old colts as a kid!
Falcons in Chattanooga is still always the NFC game
3. WVU
4. Atlanta Braves
5. UTC Mocs

[VoLynteer]

1. UT Football
2.  UT Basketball men's and women's
3.  Bammer's current opponent
4. The Titans' current opponent
5. The Colts

[ReVOLver]

4. The Titans' current opponent

 

[eVOLved]

1. UT Football
2. Nashville Predators
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Tennessee Titans
5. ??????

[VoLynteer]

[LouisVOL]

1. Duh!
2. Louisville Cards Basketball
3. Lady Vols Basketball
4. Vols Basketball
5. Colts

[RipleyVol12]

1.UT Football
2.Colts Football
3.New York Yankee Baseball
4.UT Basketball.
5.Grizzles Basketball

GO VOLS!   

[3beans]

I will go with the following.

1) Vols football.  If I watch them win then I can feel better about missing church.

2) Lady Vols basketball.  Pat has earned my respect and allegiance.

3) Vols basketball.  I listened to Ray Mears and the Ernie and Bernie show.  I loved the excitement that Pearl brought to the game.

4) Peyton Manning wagoneer.

5) Gibbs HS.  I played there for 4 years.  I would love to be young enough to play there now.  I know I could contribute.

[murfvol]

1) UT Sports

2) UT athletes who are now professionals

3) Backpacking/Hiking/Mountain Biking

4) Heritage Mountaineers

5) Titans

[midtnvol]

1. University of Tennessee Football Volunteers
2. New York Football Giants
3. San Francisco Baseball Giants
4. Tennesse Football Titans
5. Middle Tennessee State University Football Blue Raiders