Ever since I moved to Missouri from Michigan, I have had to deal with the bashing that comes with being a Detroit sports fan. When I walk the halls wearing my Red Wings jersey or Tigers jersey, I am ridiculed and questioned.
“How could you wear that wear that? This is St. Louis.” I simply respond with, “Thank you for the geography lesson, and I used to live in Michigan.”
Just because I now live in Missouri instead of Michigan does not mean I have to change what teams I root for.
Cardinal’s fans, if you were to move to New York, would you no longer support the Cardinals, and instead support the Yankees?
I’m assuming the answer is no.
I am a die hard Detroit Redwings, Tigers and Lions fan. I watch every game I can with my dad on the tv, or if we are lucky in person.
When my dad and I go to a Blues game to watch the Red Wings, all I can think to myself is, “these Blues fans need to calm down about me wearing a Red Wings jersey.”
I have a close friend who is as big of a Blues fan can be. And so every time the Red Wings play the Blues we debate back and forth about who is better.
Her answers usually consist of, “our team is better looking and we beat you guys occasionally.” And my answer is always, “11 Stanley Cups, the most in the NHL.”
When the Lions played the Rams this year I was once again attacked with negative statements about my team. And my response would be, “we were in the playoffs last year, and you were’nt.”
And of course the most difficult Detroit team to support and my most beloved Detroit team, the Tigers.
I feel it is important for me to state that the Detroit Tigers have already clinched their World Series spot. We beat the Yankees in four games, never giving up a lead. Now, Cardinals fans remember, the Yankees are the team you just can’t seem to surpass when it comes to World Series wins, and we swept them.
People from St. Louis can never stop talking about the Cardinals. They are their favorite child because their football team does nothing and their hockey team just recently became good.
They have the second most World Series Titles and a never die attitude. I admit the Cardinals are good, I will root for the Cardinals if I attend a game or I am watching them on TV, as long as they aren’t playing Detroit.
When I decided to wear my Tigers jersey over my Tigers shirt, I knew the consequences. I expected teachers would pretend to fail me, kids in the hallways would give me looks and those close to me would (jokingly) say “we can’t be friends anymore.” These are the prices I pay for supporting a city I grew up in and love to this day.
When asked my hometown I reply, “Detroit.” When asked where I want to live when I grow up I say with confidence, “Michigan.” Detroit is my city and I will continue to love it through the good and the bad, and no Cardinals fan can stop that.
