MLB stats show that 55% of their fans do not "root root root" for the home team -- they back a team that plays somewhere else. Seeing the potential dinero they can make from this, MLB has a plan in place: webcasts for $80 a season; internet radio -- $20. Online ticket exchanges. Wireless updates ($3 - $30 a month).

All this from an article in the Weekend section of the Wall Street Journal. The article claims there are a few problems: the strong get stronger, for one. A poll showed that the percent of fans who named the Yankees as their #1 team jumped 42% in four years -- the Red Sox, Giants and Mets also increased. In the meantime a franchise like the Devil Rays barely registered.

Also, for as much money as it costs to take a family of four to one game at the ballpark, that same family can buy the satellite TV package.

The NFL and NHL are in on this too, with the NFL claiming that 70% of team merchandise sold on the www is bought by displaced fans.

At any rate, our DC outsports get-together showed similar results (even though it is here in teamless DC) -- two guys showed up in Yankee shirts, one in a Red Sox jersey and another in a Red Sox visor. I, of course, had my Packer underwear on -- I'll never root for the 'skins!

[ July 18, 2003, 06:02 AM: Message edited by: DCBucky ]

Growing up in Mississippi, there was no choice but to support the "away" team. There really isn't a real regional team for Mississippi, except for the Braves, which are so nationalish at this point that they hardly seem regional anymore. Back when I was growing up, the Braves were pathetic, and when they actually started playng well, I didn't pull for them because the whole thing had a bandwagon feel to it. (For some reason that unwillingness to cheer for the Braves has turned into an almost total loathing, except when Greg Maddux is on the mound.) I started watching the Cubs on WGN, and then started pulling for the Red Sox on a whim, really (it's a long story).

The other thing for me is that cheering for the "home" team (the Os, in my case) seems so conformist. I want to be different, just like all the other people who don't like the Os.

For what it's worth, there are few better conversation starters in a (straight) bar than a Red Sox visor. It's one of the best investments I've ever made. Not sure if it would matter in a gay bar, never really tried it.

Because they don't live near a city with a team, or because they've moved away from their hometown but still follow them, or just because they jumped on another team's bandwagon? It'd be interesting if there's a breakdown on this stat.

Boxers or briefs??? wink

Bucky, i think they have therapy groups available for this.....

When we moved to AZ, the only thing here was the suns. Now, we have everything... but i just cant do it. Anyway, west coast fans are pretty damn pathetic, with a few exceptions. They could give a shit, until they win... then every soccer mom in scottsdale has the Dback flag on the SUV.

Football is good, because mr dollarBill Bidwell markets the team to get the opposing fans in the stadium... sort of like a extra home game to the away team.

Oh Guinnevere (tm Bugs Bunny). And where the f**k are most people from the West Coast actually from? Yeah, that's right, the Least Coast and the Midless. So, the next time anyone disses the Best Coast's fans, remember, they used to your neighbors.

I love a man who quotes Bugs Bunny! Anyway, if he's so unhappy with the fans out west, why doesn't he move back east...unless he lives with his parents and can't afford it? wink

AH, LA fans... apathy at it's finest. One needs to go no further than a lakers game... in for the second qtr, out for the 4th qtr to beat traffic.

NFL team? could get enough people to ACTUALLY come see it. The Angels? Bandwagon. Ducks, bandwagon. All that and i didnt have to mention the word thunderstick.

That's the best you can come up with? Your Quasi insults are usually much better, WOOF.

You wanna talk about out of town fans? Come on down to New York's Sixth Borough, aka South Florida. The Evil Empire extends all the way down here, so many goddamn Yankee fans :mad: :mad: :mad: . And Mets Fans :mad: . Really any Northeast team, Boston and Philly. You can't go to any game down here against those teams without half the people in the stadium rooting for those teams. And you can just forget about when the Chicago Corkers come to town, people down here just LOVE Sammy Sosa :confused: . And its not just Baseball, All of the sports are just as bad. J-E-T-S Suck Suck Suck Fans are all over the place :mad: as are Knicks fans :mad: . And I understand that things are just the same up in Tampa D-Rays Country.

[ July 27, 2003, 04:58 PM: Message edited by: marlins97twins91 ]