"(Until the Sox won the World Series a few years ago, people said the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry was like the Princeton-Cornell rivalry, of which only people at Cornell were aware.)"
1) That's not really true, although the relationship was certainly asymmetrical.
2) If it *were* true, I'd compare it to the Princeton-Yale rivalry, of which only people at Princeton are aware.
...do any of you really cheer for the American League or National League, depending on where your team plays?
Actually, yes. But not this year!
Go Red Sox!
What about the Cornell-Harvard rivalry, of which Harvard is vaguely aware because they know that everyone hates them because they're Harvard and they're jealous?
Yes, pulling for the league is a reason for me, but there can be other overriding factors on occasion.
"my favorite team is ..... whoever is playing the Yankees." End of story. For some reason, I have a soft spot for the Cardinals.
Posted at 2007-10-24 07:51:45 [PermaLink]Writing as a Cornell alumnus, whether there is a Cornell-X rivalry depends on what field is in play. In hockey, there is no Cornell-Princeton rivalry. Princeton blows. There was more of a Cornell-Princeton rivalry in Lacrosse. The main hockey rivalry is Cornell-Harvard, of which Harvard is well aware. When I was there years ago, and still, the Cornell-Harvard game at Lynah traditionally involved the hurling of fish, sieves, etc. at the Harvard team when they come on the ice as the band plays theme from Love Story (in which Cornell beat Harvard). One year in the mid-1970s Cornell had an epidemic of undergraduate suicides. The next fall at the Cornell-Harvard football game, the Harvard band played the theme from MASH. On it goes.
Each of the Ivy schools is a rival with one of the others in some sport or academic field.
I always cheer for anyone who is playing the Yankees.
Even though I cheered for Boston in the playoffs, I'm pulling for the Rockies in the series with our BC boy Jeff Francis pitching.
...if he came out in support of a team that didn't use public money to build its stadium, if such a team exists.
You mean, if he were a Canucks fan? Personally, I always cheer for anyone playing any team from Toronto. Enthusiastically.
"if he came out in support of a team that didn't use public money to build its stadium, if such a team exists."
The San Francisco Giants also fall into this category.
As a general rule, I usually cheer for the NL team because the NL plays the purer form of baseball, i.e. no DH. Also, the NL doesn't have anything as horrid as the Skydome (or whatever it's called this week) or the Metrodome.
Posted at 2007-10-24 19:24:29 [PermaLink]TimR: "the NL doesn't have anything as horrid as the Skydome (or whatever it's called this week) or the Metrodome."
That's because the Expos moved out of the Big Owe. Easily the worst stadium in the world - also the most expensive. Hell, Montreal can't even afford to demolish it.
"Let me assure you, in the unlikely event that I become a serious contender for Prime Minister of Canada, that I will never under any circumstances say I'm rooting for the Montreal Canadiens."
Well, that's a shame, Damian. 'Cause I really, really might have voted for you. But now? Not a chance!
(GO HABS!!!)
True enough, John. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we never had to endure watching a World Series in that venue.
Posted at 2007-10-24 20:25:34 [PermaLink]If you'd prefer to root for a team that plays in a non-publicly funded stadium, then you should root for the Red Sox in this World Series. Fenway Park dates back to the era before stadiums were publicly financed, and is owned by the same company that owns the Red Sox. Meanwhile, Coors Field was 78% publicly funded and is owned by a public special purpose district.
Posted at 2007-10-24 23:09:45 [PermaLink]Tim: "we never had to endure watching a World Series in that venue."
Arggh! You've just brought flashbacks to 1994 and 1981 (Rick Monday).