One topic I can’t help but get excited and rave about is sports. If someone asks me who my favorite football, basketball, or any sports team is, I’ll go on and on, passionately praising the team I support for hours. Growing up and playing all kinds of different sports got me into the fanatic world of deciding which teams to support and understanding the personal motivations behind why I’ve stayed loyal to them ever since.
During my time abroad last semester in Europe, I had the chance to travel around and see sports fans, particularly football fans, from a different perspective. After attending football matches in Europe, I encountered all kinds of fans, which made me question: How does one pick their team? How does one even become a fan?
If you’re a fan of any sports team, do you know why you support them? If you’re not, but want to dive into the culture of supporting a sports team, here are a few ways people choose a solid team to support.
PHOTO BY KAYLA RODRIGUEZ
Your Home City or Country’s Teams
Many people automatically support their home city or country’s team simply because they were either born there or grew up there. If someone grew up in the Bay Area, their basketball team is likely the Golden State Warriors, their American football team is likely the 49ers, and so on. Growing up around the team’s city and witnessing their love and support for the team creates a nostalgic feeling. This is one way people become devoted to supporting a team. It feels like home.
As for countries, if you grew up living in the U.S, Canada, England, or elsewhere, you automatically support your country’s team in the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, or whatever sport it may be. That support is a way to showcase the passion and love you have for your country.
However, not everyone automatically supports their home city or country’s sports teams. Many people support teams from other cities or countries for different reasons. It could be because of a favorite player, or perhaps, the local team just isn’t for them. The possibility may be the team’s culture, or the biggest reason, the team might not be performing well. If you don’t want to support your home city or country’s team, there are other ways to find a team to love.
A Team’s Culture
The number of people I know who support a team for its culture is huge. I’ve seen many people wear a Yankees or Dodgers baseball cap, however, 99% of them likely support the team for its culture. When I say culture, I’m primarily referring to its style, trendiness, and winning history. People who wear a team’s merch are likely unable to name a player, but they can probably name how many championships the team has won. Some definitely wear a team’s merch for a fashion statement. If a team has fashionable swag, that’s one automatic way people are drawn to support it.
A team’s culture is super important when it comes to choosing a team to support. As mentioned, many have chosen to root for a certain team because of its winning history. For example, some have supported the Kansas City Chiefs for winning back-to-back Super Bowls. The same goes for the Boston Celtics, who have the most NBA championship wins with 18 titles. Additionally, if a team is trending on social media and being talked about everywhere, many people get invested and bam! They’re automatically supporting the team.
Another important part of a team’s culture is the history of the players who’ve played for the team. For the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s Kobe Bryant. For FC Barcelona, it’s Messi. For U.S. tennis, it’s Serena Williams. For U.S. gymnastics, it’s Simone Biles. For the Dodgers, it’s Jackie Robinson (when they were in Brooklyn before moving to Los Angeles). Players who’ve historically changed the game within their team leave a monumental legacy, and that’s what people gravitate towards.
If you’re drawn to the fashion, the winning, or a players’ legacy, that’s a way for you to find your calling in picking a team.
Favorite Athlete(s)
One way people find their team is through their favorite athlete. It’s easy to quickly support a team because your favorite player is on it. However, what happens if you don’t have a favorite player or don’t know how to become that one fan who supports a player?
One of the biggest reasons I keep up with FC Barcelona is because my favorite players are on the team. For example, when I saw one of my favorite players, Pedri, play for FC Barcelona in 2022, two years after his debut in 2020, after seeing some of his highlights and seeing the football media speak on his talents, I was amazed. A 19-year-old, just a year older than me, having such success in his career was incredible!
I’m always amazed when I watch him play. It’s entertaining, but that’s just me. There are many people who have a certain player who appeals to them. My little cousin loves Mbappé, which makes him a Real Madrid fan. So maybe a player who surprises you with their talent, you find gorgeous, or whose great personality shines in the media, could draw you to support their current team.
However, the scary part of supporting a team because of a favorite athlete is when they switch teams afterward. I don’t even want to think about it for my favorite players…
PHOTO BY KAYLA RODRIGUEZ
“It’s A Family Thing”
One of the most common reasons people automatically support a team is because of family. I’m a Bay Area native; however, the Golden State Warriors aren’t my team. It’s the Lakers. Why? Because I grew up watching them with my brother and dad. The same goes for Manchester United, FC Barcelona (the love started way before), and the San Francisco 49ers.
When you have a bond with family over a sports team, it’s such a great feeling. If one family member supports the opposing team, it’s even better! Maybe your family or friends have a team they love and rave about. Check it out with them, maybe that spark could possibly be passed down to you.
The fan culture in the sports world is huge, and trying to pick a team to support isn’t easy. However, by simply tuning in to a game or two, you’ll find that one spark in a team. Everyone does at some point, and hopefully these ways can help get you into that fanatic world of sports.