Members Sports and Sport teams?

[El Presidente]

We often go on and on here about the "Reds" or the "Tahs" (Aussie Rugby Union Teams) but what sports (teams) do you follow with a passion?

I played soccer from age 4-8 and never lost my love for the game. Manchester City and Osasuna are the two teams I have always followed being a lover of "Battler sides". Played Rugby Union from age 9 to 36 in oz and different parts of the globe. Passionate Queenslander (Reds rugby). Fell in love with NFL in late 70's and couldn't find a worse team that those orange jersey "Bucks". Some things are so bad..... that they are good Played two seasons of Rugby League for Brothers in 81/82 which to this day I proclaim to be the hardest contact sport I have ever undertaken. Those were the days before they cleaned and the game of elbows to the head, spear takles and upercuts in the scrum were standard.

Never been a huge one for cricket, could never understand baseball, a believer that they should shorten basketball to the last 4 minutes.

[Chaki]

For me, football (soccer for our US friends):

Arsenal FC

France

[kafreeman]

The only sport I regularly watch is the NFL, for the Indianapolis Colts. I lived in Indianapolis for 10 years and they were never that good. So of course I move right when they start to turn into a decent team.

[CigarmanTim]

Cleveland Browns were my #1 team until they left for Baltimore...was never the same

Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Cavs

The Ohio State Buckeyes.....I bleed scarlet and gray

[anacostiakat]

Born and residing in the district I follow all Washington DC teams.

Oh the burden. . .

[Ken Gargett]

We often go on and on here about the "Reds" or the "Tahs" (Aussie Rugby Union Teams) but what sports (teams) do you follow with a passion?

I played soccer from age 4-8 and never lost my love for the game. Manchester City and Osasuna are the two teams I have always followed being a lover of "Battler sides". Played Rugby Union from age 9 to 36 in oz and different parts of the globe. Passionate Queenslander (Reds rugby). Fell in love with NFL in late 70's and couldn't find a worse team that those orange jersey "Bucks". Some things are so bad..... that they are good Played two seasons of Rugby League for Brothers in 81/82 which to this day I proclaim to be the hardest contact sport I have ever undertaken. Those were the days before they cleaned and the game of elbows to the head, spear takles and upercuts in the scrum were standard.

Never been a huge one for cricket, could never understand baseball, a believer that they should shorten basketball to the last 4 minutes.

cricket is undoubtedly the greatest game of all (not that 20/20 crap or even one-day rubbish but no game has the nuance, complexity, potential thrills and athleticism of an enthralling five day test).

otherwise, may i start by saying the waratahs are not an aussie rugby team as rob has suggested but rather evil slime that has crawled from the nearest pus-ridden corpse hidden in a fetid drain and oozed on to a sporting field, with every single one of their players having sold their soul to the devil and condemned to an eternity of nothing but listening to whitney houston and drinking sauv blanc - and that simply makes them the aussie version of the dallas cowboys and man U.

aside from that -

the glorious reds (qld rugby) and by extension, the wallabies.

the broncos (league)

lions (aussie rules)

arsenal

the glorious redskins.

[Rogers72]

I love to watch all sports but I am only emotionally involved with two teams.

College Football: Tennessee

NFL: Indianapolis Colts

[gersonmorelli]

Soccer is the only sport I really follow (being a passionate fan of S.E. Palmeiras, one the largest and most traditioonal teams in Brazilian league).

I do ocassionally follow NFL and college bowls though. Big fan of the Giants.

[Cohiba007]

College Football-Florida State-Nothing better than going to a game to watch my favorite team and also watching tons of half naked college ladies jumping up and down, drunk.

Pro Football-Miami Dolphins-born in the City and love the team

Orlando Magic NBA-I live in the city now, it is our only pro sports team, and hottest team in the NBA playoffs right now.

[DrunkenMonkey]

NFL - The Pittsburgh Steelers, which is where my family is from. Greatest professional sports franchise ever.

Baseball - Cincinnati Reds

College Football - Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bearcats.

I also love to watch soccer, especially the international play. High hopes for the USA in South Africa this summer.

I can't argue against Ken's statement re: Cricket, because I can't understand the damn game at all. Hopefully someday I'll have the fortune to watch a match with someone who can explain it to me. I suppose someday when I have a few days free.

[khomeinist]

I am fairly sports-mad, so I should be in good company for this thread.

Playing? I grew up as a runner and swimmer. Team sports ended during or before high school. About the time that I realized that I cannot jump, typically a useful skill

watching? I like almost any 'true' sport. My team affiliations all reflect places that I have lived.

NFL- Buffalo Bills. Losing four straight Super Bowls hurt me more than it hurt you

Hockey- Buffalo Sabres. Brett Hull was in the crease. I am not over it.

Baseball- Oakland A's. Perfect game yesterday. Witnessed by 12,000 souls. Tough to win with few fans and low payroll.

Football (soccer)- Tottenham Hotspur. No love for Arsenal Gooners.

Basketball- Golden State Warriors. You see a trend with these teams?

College- California (Berkeley). We were good about 60 years ago. I was blissfully pre-embryonic.

I also follow boxing avidly, though I might admit its flaws under torture.

I love to bowl in cricket. Hate to stand in the field. My wife won't allow me to drink enough to put up with a proper test match.

[ChanceSchmerr]

I am a passionate baseball fan, a rarity in Canada to be sure. Nothing beats the Grand Old Game for me. I find it to be a game unrivaled in complexity, strategic possibilities and intrigue. Toronto Blue Jays will always be my team.

NFL - I think it's overhyped for the 2 seconds of action followed by 10 minutes of over-analysis. I cheer for Green Bay.......because Green Bay has nothing else but the Packers.

Canadian Football League - Give me the Hamilton Tiger Cats any day. The team I grew up cheering for. A more dynamic, open game than the NFL.

NBA/NCAA - boring shyte. Let's run back and forth for almost an hour and waste everyone's time with a triple digit score. Not for me, thanks.

NHL - New York Rangers. Mark Messier sold me on them. Greatest Leader in Professional Sports.

My knowledge of soccer, cricket and other sports mentioned here is minimal, so I can't declare any favorite. But If I were to live abroad, i'm certain I would pick it up.......unless it was as asinine as basketball. Sheesh.

[FireDigger]

In order of preferred sport:

College sports - USC and Texas. I was a big fan of Tennessee football growing up in Knoxville, but since moving away at the age of 14, my passion for the Vols slowly went away. Still, they were the ones that made me such a big fan of college football, everything from the grand Neyland Stadium to the Orange Navy to players like Andy Kelly, James "Little Man" Stewart, Heath Schuler, Dale Carter, and Peyton Manning. I didn't become a Texas fan until my freshman year at Texas. As you can imagine, as a college kid, Gameday was nuts. My support for USC started when I attended grad school there. I was only there for 1.5 years, but that was during the national championship runs. The USC vs. Texas NCG really got me torn. I found myself rooting for USC a bit more since I was watching it with a bunch of Texas friends.

MLB - Atlanta Braves

NFL - Buffalo Bills/Houston Texans

NBA - Houston Rockets

Soccer - Just getting started watching some of the European teams. I don't have a favorite yet, but leaning towards the following: Tottenham, Barca, Inter...

[gehrig24]

I am a sports junkie and root for very random teams given my location:

NFL - Dallas Cowboys

NHL - Chicago Blackhawks

MLB - Boston Redsox

NCAAF - Oklahoma Sooners

NCAAB - Duke

NBA - Not into it as much anymore but I follow the Denver Nuggets when I do watch.

[OZCUBAN]

For me it's Manchester City for me in the EPL(Its where i was born)

Fremantle Dockers AFL (untill this year another battler team )

Love the game of Ice Hockey does not get much exposure here alas

Formula one (there's a surprise)

Great thread by the way

Cheers Oz

[SandmanTR]

I am a NFL/College football lover at heart. I've been this way for as long as I can remember. Born and raised on the East Coast (US) my teams are:

NFL - Pittsburgh Steelers

College - Penn State (My alma mater)

I played basketball most of my life but just don't enjoy doing watching or playing anymore. I do enjoy watching the World Cup but just can't get into following soccer.

[Erm310mce]

I'm an italian soccer fan, I follow Juventus, even though they are having a horrible season. I also can not wait for the Azzurri to defend the championship in the World Cup this year, less then a month away.

I'm a Boston sports fan junkie. Patriots in the NFL, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins. It's been a good run for Boston fans.

I also watch and play a lot of golf. There is so much talent on the PGA and European tours I find myself routing for different players each week. I would like to see Molinari win in America at some point and I was pulling for Westwood this weekend at the players. It's a shame he can't finish strong in the big tournaments. He will win one soon.

[BigGuns]

<====== Go Lakers. (I was born a block away from the Forum, save the yack)

NFL: Raiders. Tuck Rule my (foot)BALLS

NCAA: USC Trojans (alumni, not bandwagon jumper)

MLB: LA Dodgers (homer)

NHL: LA Kings (the wonderful Gretzky era)

I'm a homer. Big Time.

I used to have both halves of the year covered fairly well. The Trojans (football, mainly) would help me overcome the anxiety and disgust associated with being a Raider fan (summer-fall-winter), then the Lakers would do their thing (fall-winter-spring) while allowing me to not invest too much emotion in the Kings, as they have been fairly mediocre or worse as of late. Summer typically sucks unless the Dodgers are on a roll, which they have been for the past few years, however that typically leads to a complete meltdown and subsequent fan let down when September rolls around (see Trojan line). The formula has worked well for me, however, I'm a little nervous for this fall/winter (as I always am).

I'm also a fan of some international soccer (World Cup/Euro Cup, some Euro leagues), F1 racing (thanks for keeping us informed MIKA - Go Ferrari!), horse racing during May/June (Triple Crown), the occasional bowling match (raw entertainment that I sometimes get caught up in after the ESPN pre-game show ends during football season), used to be a huge boxing fan but have lost my way recently, I love to watch PGA golf (Tiger/Phil) and big-event Tennis (Roddick, anyone playing Federer), and I enjoy street/track motorcycle racing.

[reg]

NBA/NCAA - boring shyte. Let's run back and forth for almost an hour and waste everyone's time with a triple digit score. Not for me, thanks.

NHL - New York Rangers. Mark Messier sold me on them. Greatest Leader in Professional Sports.

lol, as a huge NBA fan I would argue that sports like hockey and soccer are "run back and forth for almost an hour and waste everyone's time with NO scoring"

I rather see points on the board and be entertained. I can't sit through hockey and soccer games too easily. but to each his own, arguing what sports are better isn't the point of this thread

my NBA team is the Bulls but i'll watch anyone. NCAA I don't watch though.

after the NBA I watch NFL/MLB. baseball I am a Mets fan, NFL I guess you can say Giants though not a die-hard

[Habanakane21]

I played college football for the University of Washington in the early 80's. We won 3 PAC-10 championships, 2 Rose Bowl victories and a share of the 1991 National Title. I was also fortunate enough to play in the NFL for 4 years until 2 knee reconstructions ended my short career. Although most of my playing time was on special teams it was a great experience and I got to meet a lot of my football hero's before they retired. I am a college sport man at heart.

1)College Football: U of Washington

2)College Basketball: U of Washington

3)NFL : New Orleans Saints , Seattle Seahawks

4)MLB: Seattle Mariners.

I'm a Seattle homer...I know

[JasonInChiTown]

Obsessive college football fan

Penn State University - alma mater and greatest place on earth

I grew up 20 minutes outside of NYC in Northern New Jersey - so I'm typically a NY fan, unless NJ has a team.

Hockey - I played in college and loyal to my local NJ Devils

Baseball - Yankees [first professional team I have ever followed - my father is very faithful and was my first ever sporting event I attended]

Football - Giants [was a huge Phil Simms fan growing up; played 15 minutes from my house. I'm apathetic towards the Jets]

Basketball - Bulls. I'm not big on professional basketball. I cheered for the NJ Nets, but recent politics in the organization and the fact that they're moving them to Brooklyn was the last straw. Ever since I moved to Chicago, I've really been following the Bulls - I think they're a team that going to be one to watch in the next 2 years.

Soccer - Chelsea. Living abroad in London for a few months, I attended a few Premier League games, and had co-workers that we huge Blues fans. Love the passion.

I love my teams - hence why they are part of my signature

[ChanceSchmerr]

lol, as a huge NBA fan I would argue that sports like hockey and soccer are "run back and forth for almost an hour and waste everyone's time with NO scoring"

I rather see points on the board and be entertained. I can't sit through hockey and soccer games too easily. but to each his own, arguing what sports are better isn't the point of this thread

Fair enough Reg - to each their own. I didn't even note my rage with the popularity of watching people drive around in a circle 200+ times.

My point simply is that with scores over 100 points each team - the points kind of lose all meaning. In a sport like hockey or Soccer - you have a lot of athleticism (more in Soccer), more physical play (Primarily in Hockey) - and the scoring means so much more. 1 goal is huge in Hockey or Soccer - a major achievement in the game. A point in baseketball is a free throw. ho hum.

Not intending to begin a debate - just wanted to explain my apathy towards basketball more clearly. To each their own!

[gersonmorelli]

Fair enough Reg - to each their own. I didn't even note my rage with the popularity of watching people drive around in a circle 200+ times.

My point simply is that with scores over 100 points each team - the points kind of lose all meaning. In a sport like hockey or Soccer - you have a lot of athleticism (more in Soccer), more physical play (Primarily in Hockey) - and the scoring means so much more. 1 goal is huge in Hockey or Soccer - a major achievement in the game. A point in baseketball is a free throw. ho hum.

Not intending to begin a debate - just wanted to explain my apathy towards basketball more clearly. To each their own!

I have to agree with you regarding basketball. Although the last 3 minutes of the last quarter during playoffs are usually fun to watch! Go Magic!

[jacksfull]

College Football: UGA Bulldogs - University of Georgia - GO DAWGS!

NFL Football: Tough call - lately it's been the Colts & Peyton Manning - getting higher hopes for Falcons now, too (local team) - as a kid I loved GB Packers with Bart Starr, then again more recently with Brett Favre - 49ers when Montana & Young were there - basically, I can watch any NFL game and find a reason to pull for one side or the other.

MLB Baseball: NL Atlanta Braves (local) / AL Baltimore Orioles (wife's hometown team)

Don't know if it counts, but I played league & tournament Darts for many, many years & a local Poker league lately (I just won our league championship last Saturday night!). Used to race motorcycles, then moved on to cars running Autocross (SCCA Solo II). Played the usual sports as a kid growing up in the US (Baseball, Football, Basketball). Was invited to play Rugby in my 20's, but regretfully, was too busy with career and had to decline (wish I'd done it, though... cool sport!).

My biggest love of all, though, is watching my kids play.

My daughter plays Volleyball (High School & Club) - outside hitter & right side hitter. She used to play Soccer and Softball.

My son plays Basketball - star rebounder, tall 12 year-old at 5'8"... and Baseball - strong hitter, excellent left-handed 1st baseman, developing pitcher & decent catcher (yeah, I know, not much future as a lefty catcher). His current team is in the midst of Spring Select season playoffs now and looks to be the odds-on favorite to win the park championship & inter-league series.

[sloth]

I never played sports as a kid except what I had to play in phy ed. Like people are born without sight or limbs... I was born without competitiveness. There is only one thing that I can say I'm a fan of...

College Football: The Nebraska Cornhuskers, why??? Well I lived in SE Nebraska all my life. I wasn't much of a sports watcher, but about 5 years ago it rubbed off on me. Which also means I became a fan DURING the Bill Callahan years, so band wagoner I am not!

I watch volleyball and I caught a college and minor league hockey game as well this year.

I may make the jump to NFL just to see how Suh does at Detroit.