Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > June > 03 > Entry
Born an Atlanta sports fan, or made a fan?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do you have to be born into local sports fandom, or can you be made a fan?
I grew up where people are mad for hockey, basketball and more recently, baseball. I left college with drawers full of green-and-white Michigan State University paraphernalia. It was easy to get swept up in close scores, scandal and rivalry without knowing a thing about the game. (Sports and I don’t really get along.)
A few years later, I was in Lexington, Kentucky, home of the University of Kentucky and not a single pro sports team. I proudly attached my green-and-white sticker to my car after I watched MSU beat UK in the men’s basketball NCAA Tournament, but it was impossible to live in Lexington without a teensy bit of interest in Kentucky sports. The people don’t just bleed blue; they wash in blue, puke blue, swaddle themselves in silky blue, blow giant blue raspberries. It was easy to get caught up in the spirit, if not the sport.
And now I’m in Atlanta, where pro teams abound and in-state college rivalries are a big, big deal. I’ve got a cousin who attends University of Georgia, but no strong ties to the campus. Georgia Tech is always a good resource when I need someone to translate science into newspaper, which doesn’t seem like much of a reason to care about its football team. I’ve got no reason to love or hate any of the pro sports teams.
So when you move some place new, do your old sports allegiances die? And how do you form new ones?
I’ve heard some people say they wouldn’t live in a town where they didn’t like the teams. Seems crazy to me, but then…maybe not. I know plenty of perfectly sane, kind people who list “watching ESPN” as a hobby on Facebook and chose Michigan State for the basketball. If it demands that much time and passion, why wouldn’t you pick a place where you love the sports?
But if you’ve got no history here, no reason to pick one team over anther, what’s the sport, team or rivalry worth getting caught in? What’s the difference between real fandom, and the kind you have just by living in a place where the team plays?
Q & As. Every Friday. Leave your questions about the best of, history of, quirkiness of Atlanta and Georgia in the comments or in my e-mail at jgumbrecht@ajc.com. We’ll try to get your questions answered in Friday’s post. Don’t be shy.
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By Jeff
June 3, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
The rivalries worth getting into all revolve around UGA.
UGA/Spurrier: The “Ole Ball Coach” used to coach at Florida, and this is where UGA learned to hate him almost to the point of He Who Shall Not Be Named. The shutout of SC in the 2006 season was one of the most monumental victories in recent history simply because Spurrier had only been shut out 2 or 3 times previously in his entire coaching career, maybe in his entire football career, and never by Georgia.
UGA/Florida: Played every year in Jacksonville, FL, this is the “World’s Largest Cocktail Party” for a reason. Of all of UGA’s rivalries, Florida is probably the single most hated, which is why the Legislature’s decision to allow Florida specialty tags in GA was such a big deal. (Of course, here in South GA, you wind up with nearly as many heretics - Florida or Auburn fans - as faithful.)
UGA/Auburn: “Good Old Fashioned Hate” for a reason. As of a couple of years ago, the history between these two schools goes back something like a hundred years, and the score of the all time series was exactly one point difference between the teams. We’ve since beat them up a couple of times, but they are never a team to be dismissed.
UGA/Tech: I personally say a lot can be learned about a person based on who they choose in this contest, at least as far as Georgians go. Tech fans are typically more metropolitan and liberal, UGA fans are typically more suburban/rural and conservative. The “Tale of Two Georgias” is never more evident than when looking at the fans of these two teams. As far as the football itself goes…. the number one reason Tech will have a new head coach this year is because their old coach couldn’t beat UGA in 7 tries. They’ve literally had one entire class go without a win against UGA, and they’re about to have their second consecutive class to do so.
As far as pro sports:
The rivalries here no one really understands, but Braves/Mets is decently big evidently, as well as Falcons/Buccaneers. The major scandal of the past few years was several years ago when Tom Glavine - who had been a long time Brave - left the team to go to the Mets. While there, any time he came to Atlanta he was probably the single most booed person in the state. Which is a pretty big statement, considering the Bulldawg Nation’s hatred of Steve Spurrier. Of course, the universe is now back in alignment, as Glavine once again wears a Braves uniform.
By Eric
June 3, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with Jeff. I have been a die hard Falcon fan since I knew what football was. I grew up going to every home game. When the Panther’s came along I somewhat liked the team. After living in Charlotte for two years I could no longer stand them. Now that is my do not miss rival game. Georgia was my college team but I could careless if they won or lost. Since I now live in the land of Darth Visor and the lame c**, everything is UGA. It started out as a way to tick my in-laws off. Now, I never miss a game.
By RollTide
June 3, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
A Tide fan for life here. I must say that this year I can possibly pull for a Vickless Falcons, but never over a team the SEC born and bred Manning brothers are on, they’ll always be number one as long as they are active players.
By Tony C.
June 3, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
I just am sick of people who grew up somewhere else until they were say 4, then moved here with their parents….now they are 34, have lived in GA ever since moving, and come to games in ATL’s stadium/arena/whatever and cheer for a team from a town they only visit on the holidays and most definitely would get lost in.
Don’t rep your city if you didn’t grow up there. Also, unless it’s your hometown team vs. the Atlanta team-root for the home team people-it’s not hard and you probably will tick off a lot less of your neighbors
By Coach Uncle Bob
June 3, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
LET’S GO, THRASHERS !!!!!!!
By 94 Dawg
June 3, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Two words: GEORGIA BULLDOGS.
That is all a newcomer to our fine state needs to know. Of course, with Atlanta being the capital of the South, we can’t help but attract people from all over the country who bring their old allegiances with them. Once they arrive, however, newcomers can’t help but notice the ubiquitous “G” tags on just about every other car on the road. (Word to Wisconsin transplants: that “G” does not stand for the Green Bay Packers.)
UGA, the nation’s oldest state-chartered university since 1785, boasts almost a quarter of a million (that’s about 240,000) living alumni, many of whom live in the metro ATL. Despite the presence of Atlanta pro teams, the state of Georgia will always be Bulldog country first and foremost. From Rabun Gap to Tybee Light, from Dalton to Tifton to Bainbridge and all points in between, this is Bulldog territory. UGA is the pride of the state, hands down and without question.
Sure, we have other in-state college and pro teams with their respective fan bases. Sure, we hospitably put up with fans from nearby rival universities. But NO athletic program, fan base, or following in Georgia compares with that of the little college in Athens. When a university has existed since 1785, has graduated 240,000 alumni, has played football since 1892, and seats 93,000 fans per home game, it is beyond compare to other sporting options within the state of Georgia.
NOTE: I am not talking about other, similar universities in contiguous states that have equally impressive numbers, histories, and traditions. I am ONLY talking about sporting options within the state of Georgia.
While recognizing that newcomers (and a handful of confused natives) are free to maintain their non-UGA preferences, I humbly invite any and all to join the majority party of the Empire State of the South: the Bulldog Nation. It is never too late to embrace the home team of Georgia and join those of us with a Bulldog persuasion. As the saying goes, “Once a Dawg, ALWAYS a Dawg … how SWEET it is!”
Posted by a proud, opinionated, and passionate 1994 University of Georgia graduate.
By OH IO
June 3, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
Columbus Ohio bleeds scarlett and gray. Atlanta has nothing on Buckeye country!
By HB
June 3, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
It definitely helps to be raised a fan early on. Even as a toddler, I knew who #3 and #34 were, and I still love my Braves and Dawgs. It is possible to become a fan in a new city under the right circumstances. When I moved to New England in 2000, I found it easy to root for the Red Sox after watching the Braves lose to the Yankees in 96 and 99. Of course it helped that they were not in the NL.
When I moved to DC, we were baseball-less, and I just couldn’t bring myself to watch the Redskins because Spurrier was still their coach. I am a Nats fan now (easier to jump on board when the team is new), but that’s overruled when the Braves come to town. I’m so sad that TBS doesn’t regularly air Braves games anymore. It was nice being able to follow my team over the years no matter where I lived.
By Fulton
June 3, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
While I am certainly no Atlanta fan, I can at least appreciate the college & SEC fanbase here. It’s the professional fans here are kinda weird; the Braves, Hawks & Falcons fans are fickled to say the least. Thrasher fans are still finding their way…
By MrG
June 3, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
Jeff’s comment is well done, but he mixed up a couple of his rivalries - the UGA-AU game is the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.” “Clean, Old Fashioned Hate” is the nickname for Tech’s annual pounding at the hands of the far superior team from Athens. Also, the UGA-UF “neutral” site game is the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
Having attended all three, as well as the Braves-Mets rivalry and the Falcons-Bucs rivalry (appropriately, I rooted for the team that hails from Georgia every time), I have to say nothing compares to the intensity of the UGA rivalries. What’s really interesting is the unique feel each one has. The UGA-UF is a lot of fun because it’s a nasty rivalry for the 60 minutes the teams take the field, but it’s a giant intermingled tailgate party before and after. That’s not to say that there’s not heckling between fans before and after the game, but the atmosphere is much less vitriolic than a lot of other rivalry games I’ve attended.
The UGA-Tech game is the most accurately nicknamed game I’ve ever attended. Dawg fans loathe Tech fans, and I’m sure the feeling is mutual. To us, Tech fans are nothing but a bunch of nerdy, whiny pretty boys from downtown Atlanta. Of all the teams I’ve seen UGA play, none annoy me in the way a Tech fan wearing black and gold in Sanford stadium does.
The UGA-AU rivalry is a good ol’ southern rivalry. It’s exactly what SEC football is all about - a vicious rivalry filled with tradition and history. A history that now includes last season’s Blackout - quite possibly the most insane game of any sport or level of play I’ve ever had the privilege to attend.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Braves and the Falcons, too (I’m one of the few people who has the ugly 80s Braves memorabilia from when I was a kid to prove my fandom existed well before 1991), but nothing compares to UGA football.
By Brad
June 3, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
One question for the board, does anyone know where I can get a hooker I need to get laid.
By crawdaddy
June 3, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
I have been an Atlanta sports fan all of my life. I moved out of state for many years and never met another Falcons or Hawks fan. The occasional Braves fan. I would always be mocked for expressing my like for Atlanta teams. If the city could field some winners maybe the teams would get more support. There is too much to do around here than to pay a lot of money to watch your team lose. I still watch the Falcons on TV, but the Hawks are just terrible. It is hard to watch a bunch of millionaires play a kid’s game and not try very hard. The Hawk’s players just can not seem to learn how to play Basketball the correct way. I think that the average professional athlete around here is too busy chasing tail than to concentrate on their game.
What is up with all of Ohio BS? If it was so great, Why are you here? Did you get laid off from the inner tube factory? Are things are so bad that you decided to load up the Pontiac and head South?
By jw
June 4, 2008 6:44 AM | Link to this
I think the tampa bay/falcons connection came about when Tampa got their first franchise win against us in ATL - they were like 0 for 26 or something like that - so that may be the reason for the interest. Until Carolina came around, they were the natural rival - plus we were in the Western Conference for all those years. The John Rocker thing put more zoom and pow in the braves/mets thing. Atlanta sports is a fickle thing. Not many can tell you how bad the Braves were before the 90’s. Not many can tell you how bad the Falcons were pre-Vick. The Hawks are the Hawks, the excitement level starts then they always drop.
But you know what? It doesn’t matter, they are OUR teams and the die hards take them good, bad and ugly. Trust me, the die hards have put up with a lot of ugly in our ATL pro sports histories.
College is another thing. You can’t be a fair weather fan in Georgia college sports. The fan base is extremely knowledgeable of their programs and you will be outed big time as a fake fan. So, don’t even try. Fair weather fans better stay home and watch the games on TV. The bandwagon doesn’t have any room in this state for fair weather fans. It doesn’t matter what team you support, there is a tremendous family of support.
Good luck becoming a Georgia Sports fan! Study hard, and make a choice and don’t look back!
By Jeff
June 4, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this
MrG:
Apologies for the mix-ups.
Brief story of the one and only time I’ve ever been on the Tech campus:
I was working at the time as the Southeast Regional Representative for a national honor society, and this society’s Tech chapter was having their Induction. I was working at Sears at the time, and I was SUPPOSED to go to work that night. So I wore my black button up shirt and khaki pants, but through a random tie in my car in case I called an audible and went to the Tech induction.
I called the audible. Get to Tech, grab the tie out of my car, go to the bathroom and put it on. Get up onstage, and as I am delivering my 5 minute or so speech, I realize which tie I had grabbed. A solid red one. So here I am, speaking inside Tech’s Student Center to a few hundred Tech students and their families, and I am wearing a black shirt with a solid red tie…. The rest of the night, I expected gunfire to erupt in my direction at any moment!
By Steeledawg
June 4, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
I think most knowledgeable Falcon fans would consider the Saints thier biggest rival.
By Ty
June 4, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
How could a true Spartan write a column like this and not mention the inherent hatred of the corn and blue morons at UM. Those ivy league wannabe’s are, truly intolerable. NEVER leave your roots Jamie!!!! Those walks along the Red Ceder while on campus will ALWAYS remain with you, as will the drunken times at Mac’s and the Land Shark! I will forever take our campus and the lovely women such as yourself, still the largest collection of beauty I’ve ever seen, over any other place on the planet.