Update [2005-12-11 15:6:58 by susanhu]: Since BooMan has gone to see the Eagles-Giants game today — and I suspect he’s going to look like one of those Eagles fans in the ESPN photo below (or, worse, he’ll be a popsicle by the end of the game) — I’m sneaking in here with an ode to Philly and its fans.
As SuperSoling points out, BooMan is a steadfast Giants fan, probably from growing up in New Jersey. BooMan himself has expressed concern over his surviving today’s game if he roots for the Giants: “I hope the Giants win 49-0. And I hope I don’t get killed or spray-painted green while I celebrate.”
Writes Matthew Graham for ESPN, in 2004 — with my emphases added as a paean to East Coast-type fans, who seem to be more fiercely loyal than the West Coast kind (or is them fightin’ words, West Coasters?):
I’m a dead man walking. After ranting about my disdain for L.A. “Faker” fans, I’ve been marked. […]
Besides the endless insults, many Laker fans (and haters) wanted me to follow through with my “threat” and put together the L.A.T. (Lakers Aptitude Test).
Now, before I test your Laker loyalty, I wanted to clarify a few points based on the avalanche of emails I received.
First, to all of those people who bashed me, calling me the stereotypical Philly thug … give me a break. Philly fans get the worst of it. We’re not all convicts looking to boo Santa Claus. Philly fans are like good wives — sure, we can be nags and pains in the butt sometimes, but at the end of the day we’re fiercely loyal and will go to hell and back for our teams.
Next, I respect good teams. Let’s be honest, the Lakers are the pinnacle NBA franchise. I acknowledge that fact. However, I never claimed I was a Laker fan. You can’t root for the Sixers and Lakers.
And for all of those loyal legions of Denzel Washington groupies who ripped me a new one for just mentioning his name and the word “fake” in the same sentence, please read this next part carefully. I know Denzel is from New York. Trust me, I love Denzel the actor. But, please, you can’t be taken seriously as a sports fan when you go on “The Tonight Show” couch and claim to be loyal to the Lakers and Knicks.Saying you’re loyal to the Lakers and the Knicks is like dating two sisters. Well, legal-age sisters.
That’s like dating two hot sisters at the same time. Sure it sounds cool, but it’s wrong. Plain and simple. (By the way, many Yankee fans were appalled that I gave Billy Crystal props after he sported a Mets hat in “City Slickers,” but that’s a whole other column for a whole other time.)
Read all of Graham’s essay — it’s great.
I love good sports writing. Don’t you? What games are YOU watching today?
And which teams are you loyal to, no matter what? (Track today’s scores via Yahoo’s NFL page.)
Below, Booman’s original Open Thread item:
