This is about cricket but let me say something about American Football to lay out the thesis for my point.
The National Football League has some 30 plus teams. Team names are mostly followed by the name of the city or state in some cases. For example, the Miami Dolphins, the Denver Bronos, NY Giants, etc. Actually some cities and states have two teams.
The fans are mostly from the cities where the teams are based out of. But it is not unrare to see people who support teams from other cities and states. Sometimes it’s because these fans were either born and raised in that other city or have lived there for a considerable period of time. But there are cases where fans just route for their favorite teams from other areas. An example would be the Dallas Cowboys or the Miami Dolphins or the San Francisco 49ers.
Is it OK if a genuine cricket fan switches his team to another country’s team. What if a fan does NOT like the way cricket is run in his home country or he doesn’t agree with the psychy of the cricket players. He understands professional cricket’s in and out and truly appreciates how some other countries run their cricket programs. For example Australia. They are the front runners when it comes to improvising the game and taking it to the next level. The players are true professional sportsmen who never disappoint you with their level of effort.
So, would it be OK for say a Pakistani (not so born or raised) cricket fan to support say Australian team even when it plays against Pakistan?
Would you consider the guy a traitor? Are these feelings normal?. Or is the support based on your country of origin?.
I see lots of people especially desis tend to support the winning teams of the time. However if your roots run deep it's not so simple. No matter how disgusted I get with this effing Paki team, the minute they do well I'd be up and hollering them on again. God knows the last couple of years have been hard watching us go from a team who could defend 200 because of the twin spearheads of Wasim and Waqar to a team which prepares flat pitches in case the opposition bowl US out!!
If someone wanted to support a winning team that's up to them but I couldn't do it. Supporting a bunch of under-achieving wankers and tasting victory when it's your own...maza kuch aur hai.
I am not talking about 'supporting winning teams' but rather supporting a team whose professionalism aligns more with your outlook on life in general and sports in particular.
It's not about jumping on the bandwagon when a team is winning and getting off of it when it does poorly.
PS. I wish moderators stop deleting posts. I don't have the effing time to explain my effing position time and again. I clarified my stance earlier in reply to Captain's post and some mod deleted our FOUR posts. Just as unprofessional as the team.
Depends if it is a genuine change of heart. If the professionalism of a team wins you over and you want to support them it's not really a matter of making a decision. You will either find yourself supporting them or not. So if Australia play Pakistan and you find yourself rooting for Aussies...then if Pakistan win you should not feel happy you should feel dejected. If that's the case you can call yourself a genuine Australian supporter.
PS. I wish moderators stop deleting posts. I don't have the effing time to explain my effing position time and again. I clarified my stance earlier in reply to Captain's post and some mod deleted our FOUR posts. Just as unprofessional as the team.
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The reason the posts were removed because Captain had deleted his comments and therefore your replies didnt make sense. Stop jumping to conclusions.
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*Originally posted by funguy: *
I am not talking about 'supporting winning teams' but rather supporting a team whose professionalism aligns more with your outlook on life in general and sports in particular.
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Just curious, would you like to support Bengladeshi cricket team? They have been working so hard for last couple of years and finally managed to win another ODI.
Our PCB affairs are somewhat a reflection of our nation, everything is done almost on day-to-day basis, solutions are on short-term-basis, no "long term planning". On any failure there is no "looking inwards", its always "he is responsible for this". I don't see any improvement in this for another decade or so, you've got to live with it and support the team in 'rain or shine' or quit it all. We are only spectators, utmost we can do is write it to newspapers or go to streets, both of these solutions are useless, pointless.
Just curious, would you like to support Bengladeshi cricket team? They have been working so hard for last couple of years and finally managed to win another ODI.
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No, I would not support any team which lacks commitment and or professionalism. If the Bangladeshis were professional about their game, they would have become a test nation about twenty years ago. I think Australians are way above the rest of the cricketing fraternity when it comes to understanding the game and apllying new skills. Even their oldies have a cohesive thinking style.
If someone wanted to support a winning team that's up to them but I couldn't do it. Supporting a bunch of under-achieving wankers and tasting victory when it's your own...maza kuch aur hai.
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How can you say that? Its not the same BD team, and not same management, and we have seen how they have improved, their performance in tests was not so bad against us, they almost won a test game.
Anyway, Australia has not been so “professional” all the time. They have “evolved” into it, everyone needs time for that. There was WI era, now we are in Aussie era, in between these two was a mixed-up-era (no clear domination). NZ is making its mark now. May be BD will evolve in next 3-4 years into “competitive” team.
Point being, you got to support your home team, that’ll keep PCB under pressure. If they loose fans, then there will be no pressure on PCB and they can ruin as per their own desire. I am sure some day PCB and our cricket team will be much more professional and rule the cricket world.
thank you for your detailed insights into the topic under discussion. I have always viewed your thorough understanding of the sport in high regards and read your posts with great admiration for your writing skills. We need more posters like yourself in GS. It makes reading analytical point of views answering the original questions posed so much more fun to read.
You started off by giving the example of American football. That sport is franchize-based. People and even teams move around to other cities. So, its hard to have life-long support. But ppl still do it. Which is interesting. Raiders played in Southern Cal a few years ago. Now they are in Oakland. Similarly SF Gians (baseball) moved from East Coast, if I am not wrong. Players switch all the time. Your worst nemesis in one season can be your biggest star in the next.
Cricket is different. You don't expect Shoaib to play for India or Tendulkar to play for England. Professionalism is one thing, but support for a team is more than just an evaluation of their professionalism.
If I am watching a match which does not involve Pakistan, I will pick a team to root for - most often the under dogs. Australia's grit and determination impresses me a lot. Indian's new found tenacity earned a lot of respect, and frankly I was hoping they will win in Australia.
But that all changes when one team is Pakistan. It doesn't matter how pissed I am at the lack of professionalism, incompetence, mismanagement, bad team selection etc etc... if Pakistan is playing any other team, I can't bring myself to support the other team. Its just not possible. May be its just me, and you are different. I may be terribly upset at Pakistan for playing badly or not applying themselves, but I don't think I will stop supporting them. Its not a switch I can turn off and on. Its part of me.
FG why don’t you just shove it? Having a bad day are we? You aren’t the only one.
Anyhow as for my detailed insight into the topic, I agree with what Xtreme has said. I applaud Australians for their perfessionalism, from the very little that I saw in the WC last year they deserve to be on the top. Indians in this series are doing well too, they have put in a lot of team effort. But at the end of the day, I’ll support Pakistan in their winning days and I’ll hope for them in their losing streaks. I’ll be disappointed time and time again, but that’s how it is with me and the pakistani team…that love hate relationship. sniffles
I agree with Faisal and Sehar. Whiie I respect professionalism in other teams, especially the Australians, there is only one team I can and will support and that is Pakistan. It is automatic, I dont have to think about it, win or lose, it is Pakistan for me. As William Wordsworth once said about England (the country not the team)
"with all thy faults I still love thee". The same here with the Pakistani team.
When Paksitan is not involved I normally stay neutral and enjoy cricket even though I must admit I have a soft spot for the English team, when they are not playing against Paksitan.
Do you have any soft corners for Kenya/India ?:halo: Both are homes of your ancestors! I think we try to associate our roots with nations, when it comes to sporting patriotism.
For me this would be the order -
India
Pak/BD
Sri Lanka
Out of the current Indian team, i like VVS Laxman the most. He seems like a good person and his batting is top class.
I used to like South Africa under Hansie Cronje and also under Pollock. But this Smith dude is too arogant.
I hate the Australians for their shear arrogance. But I do admire their commitment and professionalism on the field. There is no bigger joy then to witness one of the Waugh's or Ponting's dismissal.
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*Originally posted by funguy: *
Out of the current Indian team, i like VVS Laxman the most. He seems like a good person and his batting is top class.
I used to like South Africa under Hansie Cronje and also under Pollock. But this Smith dude is too arogant.
I hate the Australians for their shear arrogance. But I do admire their commitment and professionalism on the field. There is no bigger joy then to witness one of the Waugh's or Ponting's dismissal.
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The ongoing debate is based on a baseless comparison and a stupid analogy to start with (between american football and cricket) and i call it baseless for the same reasons as pointed out by faisal earlier...
Here is a simpl question....what if usa football team plays against iran (assuming iran also plays american football), do you think an avergae american who is dallas cowboys fan will not support and shout for his quarterback in that match who happens to play for Denvr Broncos in regular NFL season? well one does not need to have newton's IQ to asnwer the question.
when it comes to your country, the choice is automatic. However, only those people may have some problems who have a certain ethnic background but they are born and raise in some other countries such as ABCD (American Born Confused Desis) and that is why they are confused.
If Pak is playing a match with any team regardless of how much I respect the other team, like others I just can't bring myself to support anyone but the Pak team. I was a big fan of the Saffie team of the mid to late 90s which played under Cronje, they stood for everything I'd like to see in my team. I always had a grudging respect for their abilities but could still never support them in a match against Pakistan.
If the Pak team disappoints me with their play like they're doing now, I cut back or stop watching the game instead of picking another team to support.
