But it's weird when the team doesn't really "represent" the city.

One of the many reasons I am, and always will be, a Packers fan.

I just got fed up with seeing a full-color photo (usually large and above the fold) on the front page of the paper after every football game, whether they won or lost. Often with a headline about the results. And then, YEARS of treating fans badly - at one point people had to use a special credit card (MasterCard or Visa) with the football team's mark on it to buy season tickets. The previous owner built a new stadium out in Maryland that's not easily accessible by public transit (which means fewer fans crowding the Metro on weekends, which is fine). Then they instituted fairly high parking fees; when some fans tried parking in a parking lot nearby that was empty on Sundays, they had security guards blocking their direct path to the stadium and forcing them to walk the long way around (the official story was that it was for safety reasons, but someone pointed out that the long way around involved a lot of walking on busy streets with no sidewalks and no marked crossings). Then there was the fuss when, for one game that was supposedly sold out, there was a mass of people attending from the opposing team (turned out that several thousand tickets were released to a ticket broker ... but weren't available directly to locals). Then there was the story about the woman - retired, a grandmother - who was going to have to file for bankruptcy because she couldn't fulfill her contract to buy season tickets (she didn't have the money for the tickets, they refused to speak to her when she called, and were holding her to the purchase agreement ... after which they would repossess the tickets and re-sell them). There was also the man who'd signed a contract for season tickets but didn't check off how many years he wanted it for ... so someone at the sales office checked off the longest period (wouldn't tht be considered fraud?). The team management encourages tailgate parties before games and beer sales during ... but there have been stories about security being either inadequate to control aggressive drunks or unwilling to break up fights. Then they started not only forbidding people to bring in their own food and drink, but searching people as they entered the stadium, to make sure they had to purchase overpriced stuff from the concession stands. Finally, when fans started waving derogatory signs during games, they banned all signs. And they're losing. Badly.

Sounds like professional sports to me.

I am from Detroit. I've heard we *have* professional sports organizations, but I don't think that means what they think it means.

I knew a guy in college who went on to play for the Lions!

I have done some work, but still not enough. Boo!

Usain Bolt is also professional sports. It varies wildly. Businesspeople, you know. Profit.

But it's weird when the team doesn't really "represent" the city.

One of the many reasons I am, and always will be, a Packers fan.

I don't get it. Are the Packers all from Green Bay (or at least Wisconsin)?

I am from Detroit. I've heard we *have* professional sports organizations, but I don't think that means what they think it means.

Hockey!

just got fed up with seeing a full-color photo (usually large and above the fold) on the front page of the paper after every football game, whether they won or lost. Often with a headline about the results. And then, YEARS of treating fans badly - at one point people had to use a special credit card (MasterCard or Visa) with the football team's mark on it to buy season tickets. The previous owner built a new stadium out in Maryland that's not easily accessible by public transit (which means fewer fans crowding the Metro on weekends, which is fine). Then they instituted fairly high parking fees; when some fans tried parking in a parking lot nearby that was empty on Sundays, they had security guards blocking their direct path to the stadium and forcing them to walk the long way around (the official story was that it was for safety reasons, but someone pointed out that the long way around involved a lot of walking on busy streets with no sidewalks and no marked crossings). Then there was the fuss when, for one game that was supposedly sold out, there was a mass of people attending from the opposing team (turned out that several thousand tickets were released to a ticket broker ... but weren't available directly to locals). Then there was the story about the woman - retired, a grandmother - who was going to have to file for bankruptcy because she couldn't fulfill her contract to buy season tickets (she didn't have the money for the tickets, they refused to speak to her when she called, and were holding her to the purchase agreement ... after which they would repossess the tickets and re-sell them). There was also the man who'd signed a contract for season tickets but didn't check off how many years he wanted it for ... so someone at the sales office checked off the longest period (wouldn't tht be considered fraud?). The team management encourages tailgate parties before games and beer sales during ... but there have been stories about security being either inadequate to control aggressive drunks or unwilling to break up fights. Then they started not only forbidding people to bring in their own food and drink, but searching people as they entered the stadium, to make sure they had to purchase overpriced stuff from the concession stands. Finally, when fans started waving derogatory signs during games, they banned all signs. And they're losing. Badly.

Let me introduce you to Jerry Jones and his Death Star.

Hockey!

OMG. I lived within earshot of the Joe Louis Arena in '95. Not that I knew it was earshot until the final game of the series. But that wasn't as dramatic as living near downtown Montreal in 1993. Or working in Chelsea at any freaking time at all.

People is crazy.

But being a fan can be fun. Supporting the Jamaican Bobsled team? Nothing but a good time.

But being a fan can be fun. Supporting the Jamaican Bobsled team? Nothing but a good time.

Exactly! And it's fun to root for an underdog team which ... the Mets are most of the time (sob).