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Slowtwitch Forums: Lavender Room:
What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams???

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Tri Slow Poke

Dec 29, 08 9:55

Post #1 of 70 (1308 views)

What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams???	Can't Post

Long story short: I've been a devoted Cleveland Browns fan all my life. Perhaps I have thicker skin than most, but the losing is finally starting to take its toll on me. All of my friends convince me to root for other teams, but it feels so.....wrong.

So....under what circumstances is it appropriate to starting pulling for another team???

Did you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24

efernand

Dec 29, 08 9:59

Post #2 of 70 (1297 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you considered yourself 'devoted' or 'die-hard' in the past, I think 'your 'team would need to go winless for a season. So right now, only Lions fans can switch teams. ;-)

Martin C

Dec 29, 08 10:02

Post #3 of 70 (1293 views)

Post deleted by Administrator [In reply to]

baxnelly

Dec 29, 08 10:07

Post #4 of 70 (1284 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

Coming from a life-long Steelers fan I feel sorry for you. But I agree with the other poster, only Detroit fans can switch without turning in their man-cards.
________________________________________

http://kktriblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.thedamtri.com

btmoney

Dec 29, 08 10:10

Post #5 of 70 (1278 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

IF you switch teams you must...
1) Put it in writing that you will never, ever, ever cheer for the Browns again.
2) This must be framed in your house near the television
3) If you go to a bar/restaurant to watch games, a copy must be carried with you for verification purposes.
4) If found that you do in fact cheer, yell, scream etc for your former team, you must immediately buy a round for friends and family.
5) Your "new team" must be in the NFC.
6) You must request permission from any friends that are current faithful fans of your "new team"....

I think that'll suffice.
____________________________

Fatmouse

Dec 29, 08 10:17

Post #6 of 70 (1262 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

You must have moved from the Cleveland area to another city with a different NFL franchise and have been there at least 5 years.

_____________________________________
"My contribution is to point out your whining. You're welcome." FJB

squid

Dec 29, 08 10:19

Post #7 of 70 (1256 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm a Cubs fan. You never switch!

Brick

Dec 29, 08 10:36

Post #8 of 70 (1237 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've been a devoted Cleveland Browns fan all my life.

Once you admit to such loyalty after your 18th birthday, you are forever barred from switching.

There are only two exceptions: (1) You play(ed) professional football or coach(ed) professional football for a different team. (2) A blood relative (or in-law) plays(ed) or coaches(ed) for a different team. In order for number 2 to apply, the relative (a) must know your name, (b) must be able to pick you out of a group of 25 or more similarly attired people, (c) must have attended a family gathering with you in the last 12 months, and (d) would actually consider getting you two tickets to a regular season game.

If you switch your loyalty under any other circumstance, you must either surrender your man card or both testicles.

David in FL

Dec 29, 08 10:42

Post #9 of 70 (1229 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Packer fan here......I remember the day we got our first color tv. It was the day before Super Bowl numero uno and my folks go it just for the game.

Some good times, some really dark times, but real men don't switch........ever.

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

Tri Slow Poke

Dec 29, 08 10:58

Post #10 of 70 (1213 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks everyone for very wise (and funny) advice. I guess I just needed a slap back into reality. I'm in my 30s and the Browns are the only sports team that I've followed since I was a kid. Heck, I was even a fan when the team left! I guess the two shutouts at the end of the season made me delusional. I'm sure I will be focused and recharged for another season in a few weeks after the sting wears off.

Did you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24

baxnelly

Dec 29, 08 11:13

Post #11 of 70 (1188 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

I'm in my 30s and the Browns are the only sports team that I've followed since I was a kid.

God that is a sad story ;)
________________________________________

http://kktriblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.thedamtri.com

ohioclyde

Dec 29, 08 11:14

Post #12 of 70 (1185 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

My name is ohioclyde, and I am a Browns Fan...

Lifelong fan too, and I have been in state of perpetual questioning about Crennel's decisions and the offensive play calling since I returned home to Cleveland in 2006. But I have always stuck by them - watched every game, went to plenty of them, and took the chiding that comes standard issue with being a browns farn.

Only other time I every cheered on another team was in the absense of the Browns and I was pulling for the Vikings. Some might say that I was bandwagoning for the Vikings. HOWEVER, 2 things - 1. my roommate, who I served in the Navy with, was from MN and I was teamless, so we watched the Vikings week in and week out by nature. And 2. Robert Smith was still playing for them. I remember watching RS at track meets in highschool and following his career in the newspapers as he chewed up yards at Euclid HS and then as he headed to OSU. So I had some dog in the fight you could say.

But since their return I have placed my faith and dollar back into the hands of the Browns. I have gone to games for years, even when I lived in AZ I would try to go, and was planning on going to the game yesterday. Until around week 10 when it just became too difficult to part with my money for a road trip to watch them lose.

But there is a ray of hope for we fans today (lots of sunshine today too!) as both Crennel and Savage are gone. Cowher has made it clear he will not coach here, but there are plenty of other coaches out there that we can scoop up. Let's just hope that it is not Rod Marinelli!

----------------------------------------------------

Formally azclydesdale, back in Northeast Ohio.

Tri Slow Poke

Dec 29, 08 11:21

Post #13 of 70 (1179 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [baxnelly] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Tell me about it. I'm always the punchline to every joke when my buddies and I talk about the NFL. I was a fan during The Drive, The Fumble, their relocation, the Tim Couch years, and every other heartbreaking moment.

Did you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24

Ken

Dec 29, 08 11:23

Post #14 of 70 (1175 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

Heck, I was even a fan when the team left!

I forgot about the Browns moving in the 90s. You may qualify for a free pass on switching teams since they are not really the original Cleveland Browns anymore.

Also, more rules on being a fan from Bill Simmons on espn.com. Hometown loyalties start on rule 18:
http://proxy.espn.go.com/...?page=simmons/020227

Tri Slow Poke

Dec 29, 08 11:24

Post #15 of 70 (1170 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [ohioclyde] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm glad that there are others like me. Misery loves company. I hear that the Browns are considering bringing Marty S. back and that makes me more depressed......

Did you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24

Tri Slow Poke

Dec 29, 08 11:26

Post #16 of 70 (1159 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Ken] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the link! I read Simmons' column and I don't know if I qualify under his rules. I think I could've bailed after they left, but I think my statue of limitations has run out!!!

Did you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24

ChiTownJack

Dec 29, 08 11:30

Post #17 of 70 (1149 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [squid] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

I'm a Cubs fan. You never switch!

ha! I switched in 1984... glad I did, 2005 was a great year.

JSA

Dec 29, 08 11:31

Post #18 of 70 (1144 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [squid] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

I'm a Cubs fan. You never switch!

x2.

_______________________________________________

"My better is better than your better." - LT, via Nike

The people who keep me moving:

TRANSITION - Get Moving!

ohioclyde

Dec 29, 08 11:35

Post #19 of 70 (1138 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Believe me, you are not alone. There are legions of disgruntled, yet unfailingly loyal Browns fans. And they have all been calling for the owners to do something to turn the team around. You can't hinge it all on one quarterback, doesn't work that way. I hope, as I do every year, that we come back stronger next year with a solid team and actually have a decent performance and not a circus roadshow.

----------------------------------------------------

Formally azclydesdale, back in Northeast Ohio.

BrianE

Dec 29, 08 11:47

Post #20 of 70 (1120 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [baxnelly] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

I'm in my 30s and the Browns are the only sports team that I've followed since I was a kid.

God that is a sad story ;)

Gator1736

Dec 29, 08 11:57

Post #21 of 70 (1103 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

When it comes to the NFL, I feel like my situation is unique. I grew up an LA Rams fan. When they moved I lost any and allegiance I once had and I felt no guilt relinquishing it. Since then, I've moved around the country and have felt pretty comfortable rooting for the home team, whoever they happened to be (Redskins, Jets, Pats). But now I've been in Chicago for 7 years and I feel like the bears are more than a passing fancy, despite yesterday's debacle. I feel obligated to stick with them and I think that feeling will continue should I move again.

smtyrrell99

Dec 29, 08 11:59

Post #22 of 70 (1097 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [efernand] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I used to work with a guy who was an absolute diehard Lions fan. I'm curious if he finally gave up or if he is looking forward to great draft, getting Cowher in as coach and going to the Superbowl next year. Just think It'll be the greatest turnaround in all of sports ever!!

Styrrell

JSA

Dec 29, 08 12:26

Post #23 of 70 (1062 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well, THIS guy ain't switching teams! (Remember him?) You are NOT a man and you are NOT a fan, until you do this ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8guMii5Uuw

_______________________________________________

"My better is better than your better." - LT, via Nike

The people who keep me moving:

TRANSITION - Get Moving!

(This post was edited by JSA on Dec 29, 08 12:26)

lunchbox

Dec 29, 08 14:16

Post #24 of 70 (1001 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Don't be a nancy. Browns rule!
******************************
If I don't, who will? -Me
It's like being bipolar in opinion is a requirement around here. -TripleThreat

Mr. Tibbs

Dec 29, 08 14:18

Post #25 of 70 (999 views)

Re: What's the Man-Law on Switching Teams??? [Tri Slow Poke] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Your going to have to do what I am doing. Football is dead to me. I am dumping my team and the sport.

Mr. Tibbs will justify your sins.

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