Sporting fandom is a realm of unbridled passion. In loving a team, our rationality and perspective tend to be the first casualties. Each week we show up dutifully, but do we enjoy it? Of course not. We care too much.
After 80 minutes our knuckles are white, our stomachs ache with anxiety and we grumble out of the stadium, leaving a trail of creative obscenities in our wake.
It must have started out fun, but so often our love for a club warps into a near inability to enjoy sport for what it is. Whole seasons go by and some of us barely register any sensation beyond sustained anguish.
My family doesn’t have many traditions, however there is one time-honoured practice: when proximity permits, we get together to watch Waratahs and Wallabies games. The prevailing emotions are rarely positive. We abuse referees, who show no indication of being able to hear us through the TV. Everyone’s tense throughout. We even let our frustrations from the game bleed over into real-life arguments.
What should be a wholesome family activity is approached with an overwhelming sense of ‘getting it over and done with’. We actually record the games as we’re watching them so that, if we win, we can watch them again in full without the stress.
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Despite my blinkered allegiance to these rugby teams, I watch plenty of other games as a neutral – other sports too. I stay up late for European football featuring players so obscure even Lucy Zelic would have a hard time reciting the team sheets.
I may be less emotionally invested, but it’s through such fixtures that I’ve found myself falling in love with sport again. Away from the expectation of success, the nail biting and remote-control throwing driven by team loyalty, sport can be an incredibly joyous thing.
I’ve always had a second tier of teams, outside my favourites, whom I prefer over others. It doesn’t ruin my day if they lose. Likewise, I don’t arbitrarily demonise their opponents and their fans. But I can savour their successes like a light aperitif. I’m more patient with them and appreciate their development, however gradual.
Second teams strip back our gnarled parochialism and allow us to enjoy sport while remaining recognisable to our friends and partners during game time.
A good second team should have contrasting qualities or objectives to your main squeeze. European football leagues are great for this because you can pick a title contender, a Champions League smokey, and a battler looking to avoid relegation. The plucky underdog is always a popular choice as second favourite.
Sometimes we’re so busy being fans of one team that we forget we used to be fans of the sport as a whole. For those too busy shielding their eyes from the farce that is the Australian Super Rugby conference, most of the rugby played by Kiwi teams this season has been exquisite. The likes of Damian McKenzie, James Lowe, Malakai Fekitoa, Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett could join forces in a Harlem Globetrotters-style franchise if they wanted to.
Fanatics might label the stockpiling of second teams as antithetical to proper fandom. Also, best to avoid belatedly hopping on any bandwagon that might see you labelled ‘plastic’. All in all, I find second teams an integral part of my sporting enjoyment. The only hard and fast rule is to never cheer on your second team in a direct contest with your main team. That’s a surefire way to lose all credibility.
So Roarers, who are your second teams and why?
piru
Roar Rookie
Do tell! I'm a Rossi man first and foremost, but not in the screaming schoolgirl way many of his Eurofans seem to be, more in the respect for the Greatest Of All Time. I do love to watch Jorge get upset though
englishbob
Guest
ha yeah, must be all those years watching English cricket in the 90's when absolutely everyone beat us hollow
Taniwha
Roar Rookie
As a Northland, Blues and ABs supporter .... Canes and Landers are my second super sides, and on the international front whoever plays the Poms. I'm a Pies supporter and have a soft spot for the Dogs, Brazil in soccer, Windies in cricket, Haven't watched a game of league since the Bears were thrown out of the comp, back then my 2nd team was Balmain Tigers.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Redskins Mavericks Ricciardo Valley/ Jackass Gaels/ Spartans Leftie/ Day Thanks Charlie for the read... it's good to have others for the dark times ;)
Machooka
Roar Guru
Jackass... funnily enough a great mate of Cal :)
Machooka
Roar Guru
It's probably a cross-dressing, skirt wearing thingy methinks. Fair enough... and, hey, whatever floats your boat as those pesky sharks circle.
piru
Roar Rookie
Crusaders and Highlanders Wallabies and Scots (and lately Japs) Browns (someday they have to come right) and Raiders Oilers Cal Crutchlow That's all the sports I watch properly
davSA
Guest
The Sharks are my favorite team . Their emphasis on family and entertainment is entrenched . The post match braai at the Shark Tank is a must .What's not to like about that. ...As far as my second team goes , it is anyone who plays The Bulls , but I may revisit that with John Mitchell coming on board.
Tim Reynolds
Guest
Brazil at soccer, because they have the skill and the desire to play an attacking game: Stan Wawrinka, because his backhand is a thing of beauty; France at rugby, because they combine the physicality and flair that makes rugby the game it is; China at table tennis, because they have 1000s of players who can attack and defend magnificently. But if any of the above play NZ, sorry but you'll have to do it without me.
System of a Downey Jr
Roar Rookie
As a Chiefs and ABs supporter... Hurricanes are my second Super team - France my second international team.
Digby
Roar Guru
Highlanders and Scotland. Family thing. Don't mind the Sharks either, from love for Honiball.
Ballymore Brumby
Roar Pro
Well my joint first teams are the Reds then Brumbies. I know I know.... However a true second team for me would have to be Easts rufc down here in the ACT.
Shop
Roar Guru
Reckon you could count on one hand the number of Tahs as a second team Bob, well done!! Obviously a glutton for punishment.
RedandBlack
Guest
I have teams in all the comps I follow - not all of them wisely chosen but I stick with them because thats what you do - that would be Crusaders with my Oz team the Force and SA giving me the Cheetahs. Canterbury for NPC with Northland for the Championship. Bath for the Aviva - and Connacht and Ulster for the pro 12 - 2 here as I have always been an Ulster man but I have a rellie playing for Connacht and so have set a sail on them and its been a great ride. I put a little skin in the game with the TAB and get into it - rugby is so much better when you care just a wee bit.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Pity you didn't go for the Blues then, times everlasting underdogs it seems, then you might have enjoyed last nights match.?
englishbob
Guest
Wasps 1st 2nd Waratahs. Couldn't tell you why, I think I just got so bored of watching NZ destroy everyone either the Crusaders or AB's so I just started supporting whoever they were playing against and the best matches were usually bledisloe cup or Super Rugby so I just sort of gravitated to the Tahs after watching a few rounds. That isn't meant to be critical or anti-kiwi as such, I just naturally go for the underdog. These days there's no greater underdogs than aussie teams in SR so I'm in my element.