What to do when a player you like ends up on a team you don't?

[39special]

I was a huge Larry Bowa fan.When he was traded to the Cubs,I would follow
the box scores.When the Phillies played the Cubs,I wanted him to go have a big game,and I wanted the Cubs to lose!

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by 39special

I was a huge Larry Bowa fan.When he was traded to the Cubs,I would follow
the box scores.When the Phillies played the Cubs,I wanted him to go have a big game,and I wanted the Cubs to lose!

I feel the same way -- just need to swap out the player name and team name.

[k-dog]

I consider myself to be an open-minded sports fan who loves the games more than specific teams...and even though I am not really a fan of his, it took some getting used to when Pete Rose was no longer wearing a "C" on his helmet!

[novakjr]

As a Cleveland fan, I find it hard to not love a player that you cherished over the years, despite their new allegiances. When Albert Belle went to the ChiSox, I still liked and respected Albert. I understood the move. Same when Thome went to the Phillies/White Sox/Twins/etc..Still liked the guy. Omar in Chicago, no problem. Same for Lofton. V-mart in Boston and Detroit(two teams that I despise), again no problem. CC to the Yankees(ughh), still no problem...I still respect what these players have done for the Indians and other organizations. Hell, I still love Manny...

However, and I know this is a broken record(and different sport), but when Lebron went to Miami(which I will note as a team I always liked). I suddenly hate them both...And no, this isn't about 'the decision" or any of that mess. Something just doesn't seem right about it to me.. and it may just be that the current Heat and the way the team was assembled, seems to circumvent all that we know and love about sports and competition. It's kinda like finding out that Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and Pam Anderson's tits weren't real all at once...I still can't watch the NBA because I think that professionally, the competitive nature of the sport is ruined..

[terjung]

I know that Rose played in Philly and Montreal and did well in Philly, but he will always be a Red to me.

Some things just don't look right - like Joe Montana in a Chiefs uniform.

Provided that the departure isn't ugly, I generally wish for them to do well, but only maintain a passing interest in actively following them.

As an aside, as a Cleveland Cavs fan how they feel about Lebron James.

[terjung]

Originally Posted by novakjr

As a Cleveland fan, I find it hard to not love a player that you cherished over the years, despite their new allegiances. When Albert Belle went to the ChiSox, I still liked and respected Albert. I understood the move. Same when Thome went to the Phillies/White Sox/Twins/etc..Still liked the guy. Omar in Chicago, no problem. Same for Lofton. V-mart in Boston and Detroit(two teams that I despise), again no problem. CC to the Yankees(ughh), still no problem...I still respect what these players have done for the Indians and other organizations. Hell, I still love Manny...

What? No Carlos Baerga reference? or Sandy Alomar? or Paul Assenmacher?

(I was right there with you rooting for them if you couldn't tell)

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by terjung

What? No Carlos Baerga reference? or Sandy Alomar? or Paul Assenmacher?

(I was right there with you rooting for them if you couldn't tell)

Why not just include Glenallen Hill, Candy Maldanado Alvaro Espinosa and "Hard Hittin" Mark Whitten? I'd have included them too, but those guys were pretty much irrelevant by the time they left.. I probably could've included Colon, Lee, Sexton, Giles, Casey, Burnitz, Jeff Kent, Julio Franco, Matt Williams, Dave Justice and Grady Sizemore....Oh Wait! Grady's still an Indian, I think...At this point, I'd be happy to see him in "any" uniform...

[travrosty]

when favre went to the vikings, not one packer fan wanted him to do well, but for the vikings to lose, they all wanted him to break both legs.