Do other people care more about their VHL team than their favorite sports teams?

[scoop 3,432]

While I definitely follow all of the big four Minnesota sports teams, and I care about some others as well, I am not the most hardcore fan. Growing up, I used to watch as many Twins games as I possibly could, which is a lot of time spent, considering the MLB has 162-game seasons games lasted roughly three hours back then. I would watch every Vikings game, and a lot of Timberwolves games. I was far more invested in these teams back then than I am now. Don't get me wrong, I do still follow the teams and will root for their success, but I watch very few games. I went to a few Twins games last season, and since my brother has season tickets for the Timberwolves, I will go to some of those games with him. I also went to a handful of Wild games with him throughout the past couple seasons.

 

None of the big four Minnesota sports teams have made it to the championship during my lifetime, but honestly, there hasn't been a recent playoff exit that has been more disappointing to me than the Malmo Nighthawks being knocked out of the playoffs this season. Or when we were eliminated last season. The Timberwolves are a very good team right now, and for a brief time were arguably considered favorites to at least win the Western Conference, if not the NBA championship. Their current series is now tied 2-2 against the defending champs, and if they lose the next two, as disappointing as it will be, I really won't be all that sad about it. When the Nighthawks have lost, though, I genuinely feel something. Yes, it kind of makes sense that I would be more

invested in my VHL team, as I am part of the team. But sports fans can feel very connected to their teams as well, so it's something that I'm curious how others feel about this kind of thing.

 

Outside of Minnesota teams, the professional team that I would say I am a fan of is the Los Angeles Rams. I've liked them ever since I was a kid playing early 2000's Madden games as the Rams, throwing screen after screen to Marshall Faulk. I remember becoming a fan of them watching them in the Super Bowls in 2000 and 2002. So I like to see them win as well; and they did win a Super Bowl just a couple years ago. Was I glad? Yes. Would I trade that for a single Continental Cup win for Jacob Stone and the Malmo Nighthawks? Also yes. Even though there are more VHL seasons in a single year, which makes winning a little bit less special, I would. Maybe it's because the Rams are definitely not my primary team, and living in Minnesota, it was not a victory that I could celebrate with my community.

 

I do think that I would prefer a Minnesota sports team winning a championship over my VHL player winning a championship, but the losses for the Minnesota teams do not hit me as hard. Perhaps it is partially to do with the fact that I have low expectations for Minnesota sports, and the path to winning a World Series is more difficult than a Continental Cup. There are fewer teams in the VHL, and, as noted, we run several seasons per calendar year. With my VHL teams, it feels like a far more real possibility, so there is more hope. At the same time, though, this year's Timberwolves do look like they have a real shot. The hype was massive after they went up 2-0 against the Denver Nuggets. Yet still, after losing two straight in embarrassing fashion, I don't think I'll be sad if they lose. But I was genuinely disheartened the last two seasons when the Nighthawks were eliminated.

[Banackock 8,060]

Tbh, idk. Oilers winning the cup would be insane.. but so is a Bears win. Probably oilers but Bears win as a GM is 10/10. As a player on a different team, not as much as winning as a GM for me. 

[Triller 1,670]

Not even close.  I don't lose sleep over a loss in the VHL even if it's a playoff game but I will think about a missed play from my teams of choice in real life for days.

Edited May 13 by Triller

[jacobcarson877 2,541]

I definitely watch more total time of VHL sims than NHL games in their entirety at this point, and a couple years ago I watched at least 2 NHL games a night on the busier nights and whatever was on the off days. Now I can't really be bothered, tune in for a couple playoff games and peace back out again