[Wolfsong]

Originally Posted by Ciaran

Sad state of affairs that both the Dodgers and Giants moved to the west coast in the late 1950s.

Well, I believe that the local team is also closely associated with the city/town/neighborhood/fan's identity. If it were not so thousands of joyus fans would not be jumping up and down screaming We Won We Won after clinching a championship. I believe that it takes something away, you lose a little, when a team leaves for another location.

The Mets moved in but it just isn't the same. Just like when a favorite neighbor moves out and another moves into his house. You might like the new guy, but you'll never forget the time that.......with the original neighbor. The new guy will never be the old guy even if you grow to love him.

We could have lost the White Sox to Florida in 1989. Thankfully we did not. The neighborhood that the team is located in, Bridgeport (and the south side of Chicago) would have suffered greatly for it. It's as much a part of us as the churches, the schools, and the locally owned businesses. Even if you weren't AT the game, the sound of fireworks booming in the night meant that someone knocked it out of the park or that our White Sox won.

Pittsburgh is a prime example of a city identifying with their teams. Every one of their sporting teams have the same colors, Black and Yellow. From the Pirates to the Penguins to the Steelers alike........Black and Yellow......the color of the city......the Iron City.

Now I've never been to LA, but I can say I've never met anyone who said they were a die hard Dodgers fan. The city currently is the largest market without a professional football team. They do follow the Lakers but I can't tell if that is fandom or fashion. They just don't seem to have the heart.