What does your team mean to your city?

[The Gemini Method]

What do the Lakers mean to LA? Well, they're basically the premiere sports franchise in L.A. Los Angeles can be considered a front running team, but it is used to being well-known. However, there are those, like me, who get really nostalgic every time I go to a show at the Forum or drive on the 110 past Staples. Often the place where a relatively normal joe like myself could be in the same building as Jack Nicholson or Andy Garcia or any of a mul ude of famous people. I would also have to say that when you're donning the purple and gold out in the streets, you tend to elicit more positive commentary. I don't think I have ever gotten anything less than a smile and a "Go Lakers!" when I'm sporting a shirt, hat, or jersey and on my way to the game.

In a city with another legendary franchise (L.A. Dodgers), two major public/private universities within minutes of each other (USC/UCLA), a 2nd NBA franchise sharing the same residence (Clippers), and a wildly popular NHL team (Kings) there is a sense of sports pride in the City of Angels. Most of the teams have had reasonable success (Clippers and Kings have been to the playoffs), are amongst the leaders in les won (Lakers, USC, and UCLA),also are legendary franchises (Lakers and Dodgers), and have really given us L.A. sports fan a chance to cheer and be rather enthused about our local teams.

[tlongII]

What do the Lakers mean to LA? Well, they're basically the premiere sports franchise in L.A. Los Angeles can be considered a front running team, but it is used to being well-known. However, there are those, like me, who get really nostalgic every time I go to a show at the Forum or drive on the 110 past Staples. Often the place where a relatively normal joe like myself could be in the same building as Jack Nicholson or Andy Garcia or any of a mul ude of famous people. I would also have to say that when you're donning the purple and gold out in the streets, you tend to elicit more positive commentary. I don't think I have ever gotten anything less than a smile and a "Go Lakers!" when I'm sporting a shirt, hat, or jersey and on my way to the game.

I have a feeling you wouldn't get the same reaction if you wore those colors around here.

[Killakobe81]

Responses like this give the vibe that pointing out Hispanics are bandwagon fans struck a nerve with you somewhere......I wonder why

I disagree with the hispanic bandwagon stuff ... IN LA they were vatos, Loc's and upstanding mexican americans that I knew who stuck by the Raiders when they sucked, and ditto the Dodgers and the Lakers.

Yes all 3 franchises have had glory years but the hispanic community stuck through the bad years too ...at least in L.A.

[The Gemini Method]

I have a feeling you wouldn't get the same reaction if you wore those colors around here.

Thank you for stating the obvious there Tlong...

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I disagree with the hispanic bandwagon stuff ... IN LA they were vatos, Loc's and upstanding mexican americans that I knew who stuck by the Raiders when they sucked, and ditto the Dodgers and the Lakers.

Yes all 3 franchises have had glory years but the hispanic community stuck through the bad years too ...at least in L.A.

I'm sure the Yankees/Cowboys/Lakers fans in Phoenix are just some coincidence then.

[LnGrrrR]

Hey LA fans, what do you guys think about the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?

[The Gemini Method]

Hey LA fans, what do you guys think about the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?

I rarely refer to them as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It is a weird thing with them, but I notice no one calls them by their locale out here. They're simply known as the Angels for the most part. You have some people that call the the Anaheim Angels still and you have those that will refer to them (Media mostly) as the Los Angeles Angels. But to me, it seems that they're more referred as just the Angels.

*Interesting note...they were once actually the Los Angeles Angels...so I mean, I'm not sure what to make of 'em.

[Killakobe81]

I'm sure the Yankees/Cowboys/Lakers fans in Phoenix are just some coincidence then.

I can not speak for the one's in Phoenix only L.A. and in Texas ... when i lived in NY ...not too many mexicans in NY PR and DR represents big time though ...

[LnGrrrR]

I rarely refer to them as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It is a weird thing with them, but I notice no one calls them by their locale out here. They're simply known as the Angels for the most part. You have some people that call the the Anaheim Angels still and you have those that will refer to them (Media mostly) as the Los Angeles Angels. But to me, it seems that they're more referred as just the Angels.

*Interesting note...they were once actually the Los Angeles Angels...so I mean, I'm not sure what to make of 'em.

I just used their full name because it's ridiculous. But are they followed closely? Do Dodgers get 90% of the love, with 10% liking the Angels, much like the Yankees/Mets or Cubs/White Sox?

[The Gemini Method]

I just used their full name because it's ridiculous. But are they followed closely? Do Dodgets get 90% of the love, with 10% liking the Angels, much like the Yankees/Mets or Cubs/White Sox?

Well, the Angels actually have a strong following in Los Angeles County. I would say its more along the lines of Yankees/Mets because the Dodgers have the history and legacy while the Angels are more of the younger team. They're in the top-5 for attendance annually along with the Dodgers. There is a good rivalry going since its been 22 years since the Dodgers have won the World Series and 8 since the Angels won theirs.

[LnGrrrR]

Neato. Thanks for the info Gemini!

[The Gemini Method]

Neato. Thanks for the info Gemini!

No problem.

[panic giraffe]

Responses like this give the vibe that pointing out Hispanics are bandwagon fans struck a nerve with you somewhere......I wonder why

i'm not "hispanic"

besides i've been a spurs fan since i was a kid, even during the late 80's "can robinson please just finish his contract to the navy" years. even when i didn't live in SA.

i don't know any "hispanics" that are bandwagon fans...there's bandwagon fan's in any ethnicity, so i don't know why you feel the need to add your prejudice...

[The Gemini Method]

He's from Arizona...what'd you expect, Giraffe?

[JoeTait75]

The durability and pervasiveness of the Steeler fanbase is two things - bandwagoners who like to root for winners, and the industrial exodus out of Pittsburgh over the last 20-30 years has spread that fanbase out geographically. They pass their team loyalties down to their kids and so on.

Except for the whole "winners" part you could be talking about the Browns. Even now, after 20 years of almost non-stop suckitude, there are a lot of Browns fans in attendance when they play in Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, San Diego etc. Back in the late '80s and early '90s Browns fans would be at those venues in huge numbers, as well as the L.A. Coliseum when the Raiders played there.

Cleveland and Pittsburgh have a lot in common, sports-wise. It goes, in order:

1.) Browns/Steelers = the alpha and omega

2.) Tribe/Pirates = compact but long-time and die-hard fanbases

3.) Cavaliers/Penguins = almost pure bandwagon. I

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

He's from Arizona...what'd you expect, Giraffe?

Saying Mexicans in Phoenix are bandwagon fans has nothing to do with SB1070, it's simply stating fact. Sorry you're so offended by the equivalent of calling the sky blue.

[Killakobe81]

To me nothing wrong with being a bandwqaggoner as long as you admit and dont pose as a diehard fan ...

I hate fake tough boy posers that talk the most trash but have only been followihng a team since the "glory days" ...

[JustBlaze]

1st round exit.

[z0sa]

Saying Mexicans in Phoenix are bandwagon fans has nothing to do with SB1070, it's simply stating fact. Sorry you're so offended by the equivalent of calling the sky blue.

Stereotype much?

Wait, we already know the answer to that question.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Stereotype much?

Wait, we already know the answer to that question.

lol hypocrite

[Greg Oden]

To me nothing wrong with being a bandwqaggoner as long as you admit and dont pose as a diehard fan ...

I hate fake tough boy posers that talk the most trash but have only been followihng a team since the "glory days" ...

What is your level of formal education? There's always a couple words per post that you manage to butcher.

[JoeTait75]

I don't see why it's such a horrible thing to stereotype certain groups for having a high percentage of bandwagon sports fans. It's not as if it's some kind of grave insult or a call for persecution or anything like that. IOW, who ing cares?

[z0sa]

lol hypocrite

lol has thousands of posts "joking" about racism then calls others hypocrites

[Ghazi]

lol racist rich jew got.

[Greg Oden]

lol racist rich jew got.

fat.