I've been a football fan for several years now, thanks in part to my former Jamaican roommate during college who worshiped the game. My very first game, aside from the 1999 Women's World Cup Final was the Arsenal/Barcelona Champion's League final from 2006. My friend and I had a nasty falling out a year or so later, but I retained my interest in the game despite America's God-awful turn in Germany in 2006 and the flat performance against Ghana in 2010.
Here's the skivvy: during that time, I've never really chosen "my team" from the pack. I tend to float between games here or there whenever they're on television, but I never managed to find that one team that really made me stop and go "Wow, I need to follow these guys!" My big thing is trying to avoid the MLS if I can—I know that the competition is improving each year thanks to the growing fandom in the sport here, but the EPL is so far and above anything American soccer can offer.
(Because the men's national side are so rarely relevant, I do follow the Women's Team to the detriment of the respect my other football fan-friends hold for me. I have to root for something U.S.-related that doesn't suck.)
I need to pick a favorite team, preferably from the Premier League since I would prefer not to have to watch broadcasts in French, German or Spanish. Plus I also figure with the season about ready to go, now's a perfect time to get into it. I have no real vested knowledge in EPL traditions, which is intentional to kind of grow organically into English football if at all possible. To anyone who has a rooting interest in the EPL, I'm turning the floor over to you to convince me which team I should root for. Most convincing argument (serious or humorous) wins, basically. The only caveats are as follows:
1. No Team In Danger of Relegation
Because my viewing options are limited overseas in America, I need a team that has a chance of getting on one of the local broadcast networks that play games (FOX, FOX Soccer, ESPN, FSN).
2. No Manchester United
This is the homer choice, going to the most successful team. I can't stand the idea of being a bandwagon jumper, and the Red Sox fan in me compels me to go against this pick. The only reason I left Manchester City as an option is because of their relative history of irrelevance.
3. No Arsenal
If not for the falling out I had with my friend, I'd probably be an Arsenal fan today. Just too many painful memories.
Here's the skivvy: during that time, I've never really chosen "my team" from the pack. I tend to float between games here or there whenever they're on television, but I never managed to find that one team that really made me stop and go "Wow, I need to follow these guys!" My big thing is trying to avoid the MLS if I can—I know that the competition is improving each year thanks to the growing fandom in the sport here, but the EPL is so far and above anything American soccer can offer.
(Because the men's national side are so rarely relevant, I do follow the Women's Team to the detriment of the respect my other football fan-friends hold for me. I have to root for something U.S.-related that doesn't suck.)
I need to pick a favorite team, preferably from the Premier League since I would prefer not to have to watch broadcasts in French, German or Spanish. Plus I also figure with the season about ready to go, now's a perfect time to get into it. I have no real vested knowledge in EPL traditions, which is intentional to kind of grow organically into English football if at all possible. To anyone who has a rooting interest in the EPL, I'm turning the floor over to you to convince me which team I should root for. Most convincing argument (serious or humorous) wins, basically. The only caveats are as follows:
1. No Team In Danger of Relegation
Because my viewing options are limited overseas in America, I need a team that has a chance of getting on one of the local broadcast networks that play games (FOX, FOX Soccer, ESPN, FSN).
2. No Manchester United
This is the homer choice, going to the most successful team. I can't stand the idea of being a bandwagon jumper, and the Red Sox fan in me compels me to go against this pick. The only reason I left Manchester City as an option is because of their relative history of irrelevance.
3. No Arsenal
If not for the falling out I had with my friend, I'd probably be an Arsenal fan today. Just too many painful memories.