If you could make yourself a fan of another franchise

which one would you pick?

The most rational choice would probably be the Lakers, because, even if they're on a downslide, it never lasts long, and as soon as they get some capspace some superstar or other will be begging to be signed by them.

I only ask because I'm considering it. (So tips on how to accomplish it are also helpful.) I'm not getting any younger, and the 20+ years of following the Blazers have brought very little but frustration and misery, and it's certainly not going to get any better in the foreseeable future.

 

For some reason I have always been interested in the Magic. I also love Marc Cuban so I may go with the Mavs. I for sure would never go with the Lakers or Jazz. However until The Blazers leave town I will always be a BlazerBeliever!

 

My first tip would be to find a team with other fair weather fans because if you are ready to leave because of some down time then that's where you would fit best

 

Explain to me exactly what's wrong with "fair weather fans". Isn't that like saying "people who go to see enjoyable movies instead of shitty movies are just fair weather movie-goers!!!!" Is it somehow more noble to support the team of the city you just happen to have been born in? Why?

 

I'm a diehard and will probably be a Blazers fan until the day I die (god help me), but I certainly have softened my view of people that lose interest and get tired of the treadmill of mediocrity and disappointment.

I'm not saying I would change allegiances, but if I did I'd look at a team that has a long running track record of stability and savvy management/ownership and an enjoyable brand of basketball. Burn my eyes, but the Jazz would probably be close to the top of that list

 

Not at all. I am a die hard Yankee and Raider fan, and have been since I was a child. It has nothing to do with where you were born, but to switch your love to another team after supposedly having it for someone else just because they frustrate you is chickenshit IMO

 

A Yankees fan has the temerity to call other fans "fairweather"? That's pretty rich! Maybe if you were a Cubs fan you might have some credibility.

Why not? What does it have to do with? Are there good or bad reasons? Are you saying you can pick your team because they're really good, but it's like a marriage - you can't bail when they go to shit?

Explain why. Why isn't sticking with a frustrating team just stupid? Isn't this like continuing to buy GM cars just because you liked them when you were a tiny tot? Presumably by your way of thinking the only truly admirable fans would be fans of teams like the Clippers, because their love is so pure that it persists despite the team owner's contempt for them and perpetual undercutting of management's attempt to improve.

 

Also: what is it that you pledge your loyalty to? The NAME of the team? The LOCATION of the team? The PLAYERS on the team? Must Vancouver Grizzlies fans be fans of the Memphis Grizzlies? Must Charlotte Hornets fans be Charlotte Bobcats fans? Are Washington Bullets fans released from their love-contract when the name is changed to the Wizards? (Particularly because that's such a dumbass name?)

 

Agreed. They must be "second-favorite" team of just about everyone but Lakers and Suns fans. But you've got to think they're heading to a dark place by 3 or 4 years from now. If they manage to transition seamlessly to a post-Duncan era then Poppovich is a God.

 

Considered Miami?

 

I never hated them like so many did, but I see them being a perpetual disappointment to their fans. I've had enough of that. (Besides, it's just not a franchise that inspires love. "The Heat"? Meh.)

 

I have liked the Yankees since Thurmond Munson. There were many down years.

Bailing on a team is chickenshit.

 

Plenty of room left on the Packers bench

 

I used to be a fan of the Miami heat back in the day because my favorite player at the time (sherman douglas aka the original Raymond Felton) played there. so i'd probably say them. cool logo, miami is a cool city.

I've been a semifan of:

the celtics (when sherman douglas was there)
the heat (when sherman douglas was there)
the magic (i was a shaq fan until he went to the urine and violet)

I could never cheer for the urine and violet. ever.

but honestly, if i stopped cheering for the blazers, now I'd probably stop following the NBA and become a euro-soccer douchebag.

 

Dallas. I actually like them.

Cuban and Dirk are each unique, but great, in what they do, and I've never had a reason to hate that team.

I'm also starting to accept OKC, just because Kevin Durant is such a freakishly fun player to watch.

 

Sherman Douglas. Nice. I actually think that of the Syracuse guards, Pearl Washington was the original Ray Felton, though.

 

I think it was all because of that Footlocker commercial where he did "The Sherman Shuffle"