So I’m crazy busy today as I prepare to fly to Connecticut tomorrow morning, but I wanted to share some of the mail from Friday’s piece on when it’s okay to root against your favorite team. Varying opinions here.
Here’s Matt in Austin.

I was embarrassed to read your article entitled “OK to root against your team?” on espn page 2. Who actually roots against their own football team? Certainly no one who graduated from a respectable football school would agree with this sort of nonsense. Perhaps this is what separates true powerhouse programs from the pretenders.
Certainly a fan of Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, or any other true perennial power would never root against their own team. I think there should just be one rule: It’s okay to root against your own team if: Your university fan base has no hint of football history, academic prowess, or state pride. On 2nd thought, I guess it is okay for Miami fans to root against their own team.

If only Matt knew I have a picture of Vince winning the Rose Bowl over my sofa in my living room.
George in NY has an additional suggestion.

Bomani,

I’m a Mets, Jets, and Knicks fan. So I know all too well why some fans root against their team. But I would add a fifth category to your list of “valid reason to root against your team”:
5. When your team should be rebuilding instead of foolishly pursuing quick fixes. See, e.g., the Knicks under Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas.

In support of #2 on your list:
The 2002-03 Knicks began the season 2-10, thanks to the suspension of Latrell Sprewell. Visions of Lebron James began dancing in my head. Then the unthinkable happens. The Knicks bring Sprewell back. NO!!! 35 meaningless wins later, the Knicks still miss the playoffs and, in a draft featuring Lebron, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony, end up with Mike Sweetney.

Cannon in Charlotte thinks I’m no Carolina fan.

So UNC is your “adopted home team”, huh? Well why don’t you send us back to the orphanage if you are going to be the kind of “fan” that writes like you did in your “OK to Root Against Your Team?” article. We don’t need “fans” that make the Furman game sound closer than it was (or did you even know that they scored a touchdown with 13 seconds left?). And why don’t you let the rest of the season play out before you start trying to get Bunting fired? Your article stinks, but I’m not trying to get you fired.
And by the way, it is not OK to root against your team – ever.

Seen that score, Cannon? 52-7.
Corey in the Dub-VA raised an ethical dliemma, one commonly felt by the Southern sports fan.

Hi Mr. Jones, I have a rooting dilemna. What if two teams you could consider “favorite” teams play one another? For example, I grew up near Morgantown, WV, so I grew up a WVU fan, but I went to Marshall University, where I became a huge Marshall fan. I cheered for Marshall because they had no shot, but now I feel like there’s an asterick beside my name when I cheer for WVU. Plus my friends think I’m an evil traitor. Help!

That’s a toughie for us folks.  Unlike many other states, Southerners attach themselves to college teams from childhood like people attach to pro teams.  Has nothing to do with anything academic.  But then we have to go to college, and sometimes pragmatism leads us to schools that are rivals to our initial love.  With that in mind, you’ve gotta look at the school you attend as your mistress and the team you love as your wife.  You’ve got your mistress for reasons that you’ve got to live with.  But you never ever ever ever ever take your chick on the side out instead of your wife.  If your mistress gets mad, she’s just gotta be mad.  She knew the deal before she got into things.
Okay, to work I get.  If you happen to take Principles of Economics at Elon University, don’t forget to bring your papers with you to class!