A Run-In with the Past

Winston-Salem, NC -- Growing up, unless they were the hometown team, I always rooted for a new team to win the championship regardless of the sport. In doing so, teams that built dynasties became my least favorite teams. In hockey, the Red Wings either won the Cup or were eliminated in the Conference Finals. They became public enemy number one when they swept my Capitals in the 1998 Finals. In basketball, when the Lakers won three consecutive championships, I grew weary of them. Seeing Shaq and Kobe winning every year was not only monotonous, but unfair. Nobody could stop Shaq. They quickly became my least favorite team in the NBA. Because the Capitals and Wizards don't have clear-cut rivals, the Red Wings and Lakers were and have been my least favorite teams in hockey and basketball, respectively.

Baseball and football are a tad bit different. Growing up in Maryland and pulling for the Orioles, I have always been a Yankees hater. More fuel was added to the fire when that chode Jeffrey Maier cheated and robbed Tony Tarasco of catching Derek Jeter's "homerun." In all of sports, there is no team that I 'd rather see lose than the Yankees. This year has been fun so far, but they're prone for a second half run so I'm not getting my hopes up. The Redskins-Cowboys rivalry has existed for decades. Since I bleed burgundy and gold, no team will supersede the Cowboys at the top of my hate list.

While the early 2000's saw three of the four teams win a championship (Yankees - 2000; Lakers - 2000, 2001, 2002; Red Wings - 2002), all four have never been good at the same time. Still, with the Red Wings on the brink of winning another Stanley Cup and with the Lakers one game away from reaching the Finals, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic, a la 2002. So, Sidney Crosby, please score some goals and make this a series! Tim Duncan, in last week's blog, I proved that not everyone hates you and your team. Let's win one in LA, send it back to The Alamo, win another, and then it's up for grabs in game 7. If not, I'll be cheering for Boston's Big 3 next week. Yankees, please continue down your current path of awfulness. Tony Romo, please keep dating Jessica Simpson. It's time for new teams to try on a ring!