Has anybody lost interest in a team over the years? (tickets, playoffs)

[Babe_Ruth]

I definitely lose interest in teams, because I'm typically rooting for a single (or handful) player, or coach. I find myself rooting for the NY Rangers a lot, because of Lundqvist. When he retires, I won't care much about their fate.

Kinda feeling the same way about the Redskins right now.. I like Cousins, but if he's gone after this season, I'll lose a lot of interest in Washington.

In an era of (hyper)free agency, I'm a lot less loyal to franchises, more loyal to individual players/coaches migrating around.

[Statz2k10]

Originally Posted by safak

Fantasy football ruined my NFL fandom. I used to be a diehard steeler fan (they kick you out of this city if you aren't, so i still fake it).

But years of rooting for people to score touchdowns against them and got to the point i can't fake the passion I had when I was younger. I still want them to win but, it doesn't affect my mood if they lose anymore except by osmosis.

I think fantasy also took away some excitement for me too. I was doing well in fantasy so if the Dolphins were out of the playoffs I could careless if they lost due to a player of mine helping me win.

[Statz2k10]

Originally Posted by Babe_Ruth

I definitely lose interest in teams, because I'm typically rooting for a single (or handful) player, or coach. I find myself rooting for the NY Rangers a lot, because of Lundqvist. When he retires, I won't care much about their fate.

Kinda feeling the same way about the Redskins right now.. I like Cousins, but if he's gone after this season, I'll lose a lot of interest in Washington.

In an era of (hyper)free agency, I'm a lot less loyal to franchises, more loyal to individual players/coaches migrating around.

I can see that. Part of the reason why I think I'm still hooked up on baseball & not so much football. Baseball it's not uncommon to see a player on the same team for 5+ years. Football though it seems like if a guy is on the team for 3 years that's pretty surprising.

[JONOV]

The Bears. I just don't care. Years and years of mediocrity, with the same ownership, rabid fandom, etc...

I'm a Cubs fan. Cubs games used to be inexpensive and a fun afternoon, even though the team was bad. That, and ownership and management changed and tried to change things up enough that it kept my interest.

The Blackhawks are a favorite of mine as well. They used to have the worst owner in Sports, he wouldn't even show home games on TV, but at least I could go to a game for under $20, and Hockey is a bit different than the NFL. Now, it costs $100 for a ticket, but they win.

Being a Bears fan is just take-take-take it feels like.

[Yeledaf]

Some will laugh at me, but the switch to home teams wearing dark colors, and the confusing variety of uniforms for college sports (black, gray, camo, etc., and those ridiculous yellow Oregon uniforms)’ not to mention the red, blue, etc. plastic football fields, have diluted my interest. To me, teams were identified by a certain color, look, and style. The obvious efforts of uniform manufacturers to take control of the visual aspect of the games and destroy tradition has turned me off...

[jp03]

Originally Posted by Statz2k10

For me I used to be a HUGE Miami Dolphins fan. Primarily when Marino was QB and in the early part of 2000's before Ricky Williams quit to smoke pot. Then Miami went through some bad years & since 2008 I think they've made the playoffs twice.

Now it seems that all my interest has shifted over to baseball with the Dodgers. I've been very involved in following on a regular basis since 2004. I had been a fan as early as 1992 but being on the east coast it was hard to watch games that came on late & just was more into Miami as a favorite team.

I know part of the reason is that Miami just hasn't been fun to watch but even when so I just feel like I have very little interest in football anymore. It doesn't have anything to do with the political/kneeling issues going on. I've felt this way for a few years now. Seems like it kind of started when I got into fantasy football 6-7 years ago and suddenly I was more focused on my fantasy team doing well than Miami (granted Miami was losing a lot).

I try and imagine Miami suddenly becoming a a division winner & Supel Bowl contender & I just don't care.

Just wondering if anybody can relate. Maybe you enjoy watching a sport but really don't have a favorite team anymore but you used too be a die hard fan. And why is that?

Yes...! About 2 years ago it suddenly felt silly following a team around like a puppy dog. I don't know if its age or what but I just don't care much about watching a bunch of people chasing a ball around suddenly lost its zest for me. I still watch football but nothing like in the past. OP I also think the other posters missed the mark here..lot of emphasis on how teams are doing relating to interest. That's not it at all I don't think.

[CGab]

Chicago Bears!! Hopeless!

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by rbohm

i tend to be a loyalist, and i dont lose interest in the teams i root for. i have been a cowboys fan since 1972, before that i was a colts fan(still am by the way, i just like the cowboys better).

my interest in football, and other sports has waned from time to time, but i still try to catch as many of the contests as i can when they are on.

The first Bronco game I went to was in 1962. They were the doormat of the American Football League, then the first couple years of the NFL until they had their first winning season in their history in 1973. Will always be a fan.

Before the AFL was created there was Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. In his time he was the face of the NFL for 15 years. As a kid growing up in the 1960's I kept a Unitas Topps football card in my billfold for years. I have had nothing but respect for Tom Landry and it goes beyond being a football coach. And there are a lot of others I hold in high regard; Bart Starr, Walter Payton, Raymond Berry, Jim Brown, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Staubach, and many many more.

I'm a voracious reader regarding the NFL; it's growth, its history. Just recently I've read (on a loan) the biography of one of the huge figures in the early years of the NFL--Washington Redskin quarterback "Slingin" Sammy" Baugh. I always will be a fan of the game.

[Ron61]

I used to be a huge fan of the Cincinnati Reds. Before,during,and after the Big Red Machine days I followed them religiously. After the last strike I lost all interest in them and baseball. Never watched or listened to another game since then. The rule changes also turned me off, such as the DH.

[aliasfinn]

Originally Posted by Ron61

I used to be a huge fan of the Cincinnati Reds. Before,during,and after the Big Red Machine days I followed them religiously. After the last strike I lost all interest in them and baseball. Never watched or listened to another game since then. The rule changes also turned me off, such as the DH.

I've been known to turn on a team when they **** me off. I remember when the Rams were sucking something fierce because they kept a knucklehead quarterback in there, even the coach didn't like him, he said, " he sees pressure coming when there isn't any." Everytime he dropped back to pass he would just duck his head and take a sack. One time they were losing like 47-7 and I wanted the other team to get to 50 points. The rams quarterback broke free from a sack and was stumbling to get a first down and I was screaming, " get him, get that bastard." My brother asked me " I thought you were rooting for the Rams?" I told him not anymore.