OT: Proper Etiquette For Sporting Event in Which You Have No Rooting Interest

Submitted by Shalom Lansky on

Sorry about the beast of a title but any abbreviation I came up with offended the English language.

I don't regularly attend sporting events in which I could give a damn about who wins or loses. In fact tonight's Sugar Bowl may be the first time, but when offered good seats to a BCS game in a city in which I already live, I had to accept.

The problem is I have no idea what to do once inside the massive space ship of a dome.

I have no love for Florida although Michigan's 2-0 record against the Gators makes me feel warm and fuzzy, however Urban Meyer is a DB (yes, a defensive back) and the media-created superhero Tim Tebow is a creation as obnoxious as the Snuggie. And out of principle I never root for SEC teams, southern arrogance is quite possibly the worst kind.

The alternative? Cincinnati. No, I cannot, will not and shall not cheer on a team from the "Worst State Ever." Their only saving grace is that they are almost in Kentucky (maybe the first time that has ever been noted as a positive). I feel for their players having been unceremoniously Saban-ed by their head coach, but still . . .

I'm going with some Gator boosters who kindly, however misguided, brought extra Gator jerseys for everyone(!). So as a courtesy I guess I wear the funhouse colors of Florida? I'm not sure if this is sacrilege. How does the rest of the MGoblog community behave in these situations? I figure the game will be more interesting if I pick a side but I feel as dirty as the urine coated streets of the French Quarter.

jsquigg

January 1st, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^

If you've ever been to "The Worst State Ever" you'd know that Cincy is like a different state. Plus, they're the underdog. Plus, their fan base has recently printed several excellent trash talking shirts in the direction of "The Worst School Ever." Plus,
they're the underdog. Plus, they're playing Florida who is coached by "That coach from Florida."
With that said I could care less who you root for and if I was going to the game I'd watch neutrally.

sebastokrator

January 1st, 2010 at 11:53 AM ^

My theory is if you have no vested interest in either team, cheer for whomever your buddy is cheering for. It'll be more fun that way.

Plus, from the sound of it you're getting a jersey and a free ticket to a BCS bowl. To me, pulling for Florida seems like common courtesy.

Simi Maquoketa

January 1st, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^

If you have to ask...

It might be best if you pretended to be sick and just skipped the game altogether.

I mean, if it's that hard for you to stoop to such low levels of enjoying free tickets and enjoying yourself among fans of other teams.

Why, oh WHY do we Michigan Fans have to put up with the rest of the world?

ThWard

January 1st, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^

Wear your UM gear.

Simi, between the OP and your reply, one was somewhat light hearted and funny, the other came off as the workings of an insufferable, annoying UM fan. Hint: it wasn't the OP's.

Leaders.and.Best

January 1st, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^

Proper manners would have you high fiving those Gator boosters but come on man. Fans that are normally OSU and Cincy fans this year have a big dislike and there is a divide amongst the fans so it's not like your cheering with OSU fans. Also as one poster said Cincy is basically in Kentucky which is why we call it Cincytucky. I say root for Cincy

Tater

January 1st, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^

If I go to a game where I have no rooting interest, I eventually find myself cheering for someone by the end of the first quarter or so. It just sorta happens by itself. I would hope that you would cheer for the team whose boosters gave you a free ticket and jersey, but this might be a good alternative.

Who knows: you might find your friends' enthusiasm contagious and start rooting for Florida spontaneously. At any rate, I hope you enjoy the game.

UNCWolverine

January 1st, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^

Interesting post. I have been to many games over the years for which I have no rooted interest. At some point in every game I find myself rooting for one team or another. The thing that I found interesting is that I generally didn't know ahead of time who I would root for, it's just sort of a gut feel as I watched each game.

2001 Arkansas @ Georgia - I was with a UGA crew and partying in Athens so I slightly rooted for the home team.

2002 #1 Oklahoma @ Texas A&M - I visited some friends in grad school in College Station. I was decked out in Gig 'Em Aggs gear so I really had no choice. Plus I knew if A&M could pull off the epic upset it would make the weekend that much more fun. They did and it was.

2006 Florida v. Georgia (Cocktail party in JAX) - My girlfriend at the time is a huge Gator alum/fan so I knew that a Gator loss that day would be my loss that night.....

2007 Ohio State v. Florida (BCS Championship game in Glendale) - One of my favorite stories. Long story short tickets were going for ~$1000 but I was able to sneak in the stadium for free. This game tore me down the middle. Of course I wanted my gf to be happy (see above). But I was definitely rooting for OSU in this game. Florida was picked over Michigan to play OSU in that game so an Ohio State blowout over UF would have justified our frustrations. It also didn't help when some Gator fan yelled, "where are you Michigan crybabies now!?!" once UF started to blow OSU out. It was all I could do not to punch that fuck in his fat pie-hole.

2009 Auburn @ LSU - I didn't really care who won this game and as the game was over early I never really felt the need to root for anyone.

2009 Oregon State @ Cal - Oregon State's fanbase reminded me of Ohio State's. Their fans were beer swilling truck drivers and their horrid orange gear hurt my eyes in the same way that OSU's red does. Definitely rooted for Cal, especially after watching Cal lose Jahvid Best the way they did early in that game.

Big_G

January 1st, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^

I'd have to say that you root with your buddy. If you are with Florida boosters then you'll be doing the Gator Chomp. Still if you are a proponent of a playoff system, then hope for a Cincinnati victory. More victories that mid-majors and non-traditional powers get over estabilished powers on the big stage can only help the case for a future playoff system. With that said, I'll be cheering for Cincinnati, and a very exciting Fiesta Bowl that goes down to the wire.

Callahan

January 1st, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^

I was offered Sparty national championship basketball game tickets and turned them down for this reason: the guy who offered them to me was a Sparty and I couldn't take them and root against his team.

If you really don't care who wins, you have to root for Florida. You don't have to go over the top and be fake about it. You don't have to do the Gator chop and shit. Just give a couple high fives and enjoy the game.

Lordfoul

January 1st, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^

I'm not sure why so many Michigan fans wish ill upon the Spartoons. Sure it is funny to watch them stub their toe against MAC teams every couple of years, but most Michigan fans have family/friends that went to or at least root for State. I, at least, like to see my friends/family happy.

I root for the B10 except for O$U, almost without exception. I don't hate MSU, I more pity them.

Zone Left

January 1st, 2010 at 1:24 PM ^

I like Ohio State as a good team. The Game isn't as much fun when tOSU isn't good--at least when Michigan wins.

As for Sparty, sigh, I want them to lose every game they ever play in any sport anywhere they play it regardless of opponent--and then realize their bus got towed when they get ready to leave. The Todd Schultz era needs a holiday.

bjk

January 1st, 2010 at 4:40 PM ^

trying to trash-talk MSU into being a rival, I think the best approach is outer indifference toward MSU, although this does rile them and motivate them even more. I carry this apathy into the rooting sphere, as I don't easily get excited for MSU.

Mfan1974

January 1st, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^

cheer for cincy when they score because their not tOSU, cheer for florida because after this game we don't have to list to the Tim Tebow love fest anymore (he almost chose M). And for good measure, place your favorite M hat above that carnival colored gator jersey.

aenima0311

January 1st, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^

Cincinatti is basically a city in Northern Kentucky.

My big question in a scenario like this is do you dress neutral? Or do you wear your teams gear? Colors of the team you sortof want to win?

I went through the same thing at the IOWA - MSU game this year. I wore a navy blue jacket as a compromise.