Larry wrote:Why would people from Altoona like the Raiders? Because their Dad is a pirate? It seems some people feel a need to root for out of town teams just to be a pain in the ass and to be different. Did you guys rooting for Denver, Oakland, and Arizona grow up there? Or, are you guys just breaking balls?
I have never been a believer of the "homestate team" belief - I hate the Penguins (GO FLYERS!), I hate the Pirates (Go Braves!) and I despise the Steelers (again.. GO RAIDERS!).. the only home state team I support is Penn State..
Being from the Altoona Area (Huntingdon County, I dont know if you could call that Altoona Area or Chambersburg Area - I think for me it's the same distance to both from Orbisonia) all Ive ever known were Steelers fans.. except my family - I guess I like the Raiders because my mother likes the raiders (she even has the raiders emblem tattooed on her foot) - and as I was growing up I always saw myself as "the raiders style", brash, arrogant and set apart from the rest. Thats what I love so much about the Oakland Raiders -- ever since their inception they have always been the thorn in the side of the league, and of society - from Al Davis down (even as Al Davis was commissioner of the league), sure I dont agree all the time w/ what Davis does.. but I do feel that he is making conscious decisions for whats best for his franchise - which has the highest winning percentage of ALL MAJOR SPORTS TEAMS, despite only 3 Super Bowl Championships..
I understand why everybody in Altoona supports the Steelers.. the Steelers represent the common people of western pennsylvania.. blue collar, hard working, common folk.. Im sorry, that's not me. I may have lived in Huntingdon County for my developmental years, but I never saw myself as the "blue collar type" - yes I do work hard, but not in positions that I would say are "blue collar" .. this is why I like the Raiders..
Also, being born the preseason after a Raiders Super Bowl win - Ive always felt a connection w/ the Oakland Raiders and will never throw my loyalties down due to a couple losing seasons.. and one of my life's goals is to sit in the middle of The Black Hole, with the best fans in all of sports (aside from the student section of Penn State) wearing all black, a gas mask, and cheering on the greatest sports team ever..
Oh yeah.. you think Altoona is bad w/ supporters for other teams.. the town I currently live in (Palmyra, PA - Baltimore Ravens territory) - Ive seen like 2 eagles fans in the entire town.. and the greatest part - I know so many Raiders fans down here, it's almost unbelieveable!!
thats my take
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