Thursday, January 7, 2010

Is it rude or inappropriate to go to a party and root for and/or wear paraphernalia for the team opposing your host's favorite team?

23 comments:

John said...

If you have some personal connection to said team (i.e. you actually like them) then no.

This brings up a mini qotd for me...How the fuck does someone from NH have any affiliation with Alabama?

John W said...

I'm telling Cate.

Leslie said...

Hey John. In response to the mini qotd: I didn't have a college football team to root for. When I realized how much fun it was to watch college football with college football fans I decided I needed to learn the rules of football and pick a team to follow. Most of the schools that have televised games from the Northeast were hockey rivals with UNH (where I went to school) so I couldn't like them. I don't really pay attention to UNH hockey now but I did when I was there...

Anyway, my friend Kelly has been teaching me the rules of college football (generally one a game - I got hung up on 'take a knee') for about two years and has people over to watch games every Saturday so I decided to root for her team - Alabama. At the beginning of the season I took a poll of my friends who were avid college football fans to see if it would cause a problem. (For example, Beenu would never forgive me if I rooted for Michigan.) And the Penn State, UT and A&M fans didn't have a problem with Alabama. And that is how it happened. :)

In honor of Kelly and Lisa who are currently in Pasadena - Roll Tide!

Leslie said...

Also, in honor of Ms Cate Gormley I did wear cowboy boots today.

Andrew said...

I dunno who on Earth would own maroon or burnt orange. There, I said it. Hook 'em!

Leslie said...

Oh and my response to today's QotD: I think as long as the person is respectful (read: not a giant asshole) and doesn't talk shit it is okay.

Note: I don't really understand college football dynamics so this opinion is based on me being a Red Sox fan whose roommate is a respectful Yankee fan.

Martin Andres Austermuhle said...

If you're going to Beenu's house to watch a Penn State game, it's your duty to show up in Michigan and/or Ohio State gear.

Dan Seals said...

Ok some controvery here!

In the time honored tradition of sportsmanship, and comradere, it is absolutely perfectly acceptable to be fans of and root for the team your host despises...

That being said, your host reserves the right to give you that crappy chair with the one leg that's a little short, that really makes you sit up way too straight for a 4 hour game.

Also, side note, this rule doesn't apply to my house, my roommate last year was an Iowa fan, and needless to say she's buried in an unmarked grave somewhere off Rt. 66 in VA.

Also, there are no respectful Yankees fans... That's like seeing a Unicorn. Pure myth. ;)

Beth said...

I would agree with John, if the fandom is sincere and they are not being jerks about it, it's ok. However, being polite is all about trying to make people around you comfortable, so if you know it's really going to bother your host, you should leave the opposing colors at home.

Justin said...

Go for it BUT just don't expect to be invited back next year!

K8 said...

it is ok to wear your own team or alma mater but it never appropriate to counter the host just to be a cantankerous un-sportsmanlike fan. i hate that shit. dammit.

Dan said...

It can work in theory but tends to lead to dickish behavior. However, it's unconditionally appropriate if you're going to a Dallas Cowboys fan's house.

Lisa said...

Thanks Leslie!!

all of y'all on the east coast have already posted all of the appropriate answers (John, Leslie, Dan, etc.).

We are up and getting ready to battle L.A. traffic so we can start tailgating at 10 a.m.

Roll Tide Roll!

Scottie said...

I agree with some of the others. Par example, had I gone to Alabama and shown up to Cate's place tonight, I'd be decked out in Tide gear, and I don't think it would be terribly inappropriate (unless Bama won and I was an insufferable asshole about it the whole night, but that's just common sense). If I was decked out in Bama gear just to be a dick, well, that would make me a dick.

Sidebar: I never, EVER thought I'd be saying this, but (gulp), I'm actually going to be pulling for Texas tonight, partly for Cate, partly because Nick Saban is a colossal prick and deserves to be lose in embarrassing fashion. So (mark this down, because I'll probably never say it again)...Hook 'em, Horns.

Unknown said...

You can't help who you want to win the game, but you don't have to be in everyone's face about it.

Mike said...

If you went to the school or are from the city of the opposing team it is ok. If it is a major game like a championship and your team wins, I would get out quick though.

Hook 'em.

beenu said...

first off, i am anti watching games w/ fans from the opposing team. it's never a good idea.

in theory it sounds harmless to root for the opposing team but it always comes off kinda dickish. my rule of thumb is if the host is feeding you and providing beverages, respect his/her team. if you were watching at a bar not affiliated with either team, go crazy!

John said...

Leslie, just curious, did your Bama friends inform you that Nick Saban likes to dine on live babies?

The Chris Bannon Blog said...

Would you expect a host to ask you to ignore your political views if they invited you over? The same goes for football. RollTide!

Cate said...

First, HOOK 'EM HORNS!

That said, there are situations where it would be completely inappropriate, but it can also be totally fine. (Tonight falls into the fine category).

What I hate is when people loudly root against a team for no reason. I will smugly smile when Oklahoma, Texas Tech, A&M, Oklahoma State, Mizzu, K State, Miami, Florida State, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, USC, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Bama, or Auburn lose. But I'm not going to scream about it to a fan of those schools.

Thanks for all of the Texas love Andrew, Scottie, Beenu, Coach Mike. And hooray for Leslie for wearing cowboy boots in a nod to TX while rooting for 'Bama.

rob said...

is there a game tonight?

Awful Announcing said...

When does Boise State get to play the winner?

Unknown said...

Ok, so I'll be honest...couldn't care less about the game tonight, but in my skimming of largely incomprehensible trash talk, someone called out the Hawkeyes. All I have to say is Penn State sucks, Haweyes rule! Twas ever thus.