Well Tom Withers of the AP asked Braylon Edwards about how he felt regarding Lebron’s allegiances to both the Cowboys and Yankees. Braylon of all people is in an interesting position considering he went to Michigan and now plays in Buckeye country. He had this to say:
“I give him credit for being loyal,” Edwards said Tuesday.
“It didn’t bother me,” Edwards said. “As I’ve gotten to know LeBron, LeBron isn’t a Cleveland guy. LeBron only plays for the Cavaliers, and who knows if he even likes the Cavaliers? He doesn’t like the Indians. He doesn’t like the Browns. He’s a guy from Akron who likes everybody but his hometown.
“I don’t know how that’s possible, but it is what it is, and he is who he is. You know, it’s LeBron.”
That quote about “liking everybody but his hometown” is comforting, at least this week. After the ass kicking the Zips gave my beloved Syracuse Orange last weekend, I’m still reeling. They’re so awful, they could lose a bye week.
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Again, I just have to say that there is a difference to being “loyal” and to liking teams that were good when you were growing up or “cool” teams.
I’m loyal to certain teams, whether they are good or bad, because I went to that college, or grew up near them or my father put a Yankee jacket on me when I was 2 weeks old. LeBron doesn’t have any of these connections- and, honestly, his allegiances are invalid. Not that he cannot like a team, but he can never be called “loyal” because he has no real connection to these teams that many fans have with their teams.
There should seriously be a questionnaire given to fans to find out their reason for rooting for each team after you take a team on as your own. Obviously I would think all you Cavs fans who were fans of the team BEFORE LeBron would agree you are more of a real fan than someone who is your same age and just gets into the team now. There are distinct levels of fandom and I, for one, get pissed off at people who enjoy in a team’s success as much as I do when I deserve to enjoy that win more. True fans know what I mean.
Damn… I must seem crazy.
But don’t you read what you wrote above and think “it’s yet another person saying who is and who is not allowed to root for teams”, or it’s at least an assessment of it’s validity. Who are you to say what is and is not a valid way to become a fan? What if you’re dad liked the Yankees because he was a frontrunner. Does that invalidate your fandom? You throw around the word “true fan”, but that’s subjective, just like tastes in teams are. And that’s the point.
The Cleveland fans who feel he should cheer for Cleveland teams due to where he was raised believe that because that’s how they feel or came up. But what brings someone to root for another team is a totally unique experience. Half of my Cavs love came from liking Mark Price… but a big chunk came from sibling rivalry with my Bulls fan brother. Now I’m just a fan, and I don’t even think back on how it started.
What I mean is Buffalo is not much closer to the Yankees than Akron. And just because your dad put a coat on you doesn’t mean Lebron’s fandom isn’t genuine because he didn’t begin his cheering for that reason, even if it was originally inspired by frontrunning.
Not to rub salt on your wounds Daniel San, but there’s something to sticking with the Yankees now since they’ve been failing year after year lately despite the massive payroll. Lebron may actually earn points with “he’s not a real fan” critics for sticking with them, even though I’ll concede that’s easier to do with a “storied” franchise.
As for the other question about how I stratify fans, if they’re my age, and they just started liking the Cavs, that’s one thing. Maybe I would judge that, even if I didn’t verbalize it. But if they just grew up with Lebron (the teens of now) I don’t look at my fanship as more valid. Perhaps just more informed since I recall some of the Daugherty Price Nance years. The people who got to see Nate Thurmond and World B Free would undoubtedly have that same added “legitimacy”. But more Cavs fans is better for the city and team as far as I’m concerned, whether they’re Lakeresque fans or long suffering fans.
First off… I lived in New Jersey for my formidable years, going to many Yankee Games and watching Don Mattingly finish in 2nd place every year.
Secondly… I said I was acting crazy, it’s right there in the comment. But then you even go on to admit you feel like more of a fan than a person who just starts liking the Cavs now that is your age.
It’s just human nature and being a fan is just something that cannot be measured or set laws upon- but I will always judge people on who they pick to root for. Doesn’t mean I will stop them, but I will always ask them why they are rooting for some team that is not from their hometown, which is not the norm.
During what ages did you live in New Jersey? Not that it’s relevant here in this argument, but with the way you claim how much more of a Buffalo native you are than me (who grew up there my whole childhood), I want to hear you speak out of both sides of your mouth.
See what I just did there. I marginalized your fandom. You’ve been invalidated.
The whole point of my last comment was to point out exactly that. It’s just in our nature to feel justified for why we cheer for our favorite teams.
What I’m saying is that some of us recognize it’s crazy to think that rooting for the local market teams is part of Lebron’s “job responsibilities”, and some of us don’t. Some of us realize there aren’t rules as to how and why you can cheer for teams.
Now my opinion is that Cleveland fans who feel that Lebron owes it to Cleveland to blindly support his hometown teams because he plays here need to check themselves. But that’s the point of a blog obviously, as currently 75% of the readers think I’m the asshole (although I’m claiming that it was due to poor poll wording…cause I’m awesome).
It’s not about you Daniel-san. You’re just an example used to support my point.
As for your “you think you’re more of a fan comment”…. why do you think I said I wouldn’t verbalize it. Because I know it’s a hypocritical, reactionary response to when a fan does something I myself don’t understand. Switching allegiances as a grown man seems unfathomable to me. But I said I would feel more informed, not better. And I take pride in being informed. I respect informed fans, or fans who want to follow the team as opposed to just blindly cheering with day to day interest, because I can relate.
I don’t think that it’s “the norm” to cheer for all hometown teams anymore. Maybe it was when local broadcasts were all that we got. But I think you’d find with the generations coming up, there’s a bigger number of people who root for at least one other team outside of their “childhood market” then there are people who show 100% allegiance to every hometown squad.
Good for you two. Arguing over something that all of 6 people will see. You don’t have to grow up rooting for your hometown team. For people that do it’s just a matter of convenience. Sometimes people become fans because it’s the team their parents liked, or it’s the teams that had the superstars, it doesn’t matter. Get a room you two.
oh look at me… i’m jrod, mr. above it all. i’m so cool……..
No, not above it all…..just above you two.
I’ll make sure next time we argue it’s in front of a million people on Cable- then it’ll actually mean something.
Jesus, I’d argue with anybody to prove a point even if they’re the only one that can hear me. Next time I’ll make sure I don’t do it in a public forum (if you can even call this public- no offense, Cavs Board).