There is a common misconception that fans have about their favorite sports franchises.  They think that because they are playing for my favorite team, that they love it here and they will take a hometown discount to play in cities that love them when it comes to contract time.

A player, like Elton Brand formerly of the Clippers now of the 76ers, was seen as a good person and a great community person and he loved LA.  But then, he gets a little money from Philly, and all of a sudden he is Public Enemy number one in the eyes of all six Clippers fans.

Why do people assume that they love one team so everyone should love their team?  Ask Cavalier fans about Carlos Boozer.  They'll give an opinion on loyalty in sports.

Fans are the same way.  They love the star athlete when he is doing great, but the second he falters, they are calling sports radio, writing blogsand typing on message boards about how they should trade this guy.  Fans love to hear loyalty, but are the first ones to jump ship when their favorite player is struggleing.

Another perfect example of fans getting on the loyalty love train is this past NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics winning their 17th championship.  Last year Doc Rivers was getting killed by everyone in Boston.  People were calling for his job and they wanted a new coach.  But now that he is a champion, he is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Take another example from the same Finals.  Phil Jackson was seen by everyone as a great coach for years, now he misses on one title and Laker fan was calling for Jackson to be given the boot.

Too many fans in sports act like this.  They annoint someone as the next big thing when their team is excellent, are break out the torches and pitch forks when their team is in a down year.

Fans love loyalty, but are the least loyal when thier team is in Jeopardy.

P.S.
As a little aside, I was listening to The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Thursday July 10, and Colin was taking calls from people debateing which conference was better, the Big 10 or the SEC in terms of football.  An absolutley rediculous caller actually thought, and I am not making this up, that NFL GM's do research and draft based on what people on talk radio, and what message board guy is saying.  He said that GM's draft kids from Notre Dame because media people talk about them.  I was in my truck at work and had to pull over into a gas station for my own safety because I was laughing so hard.

With the NBA Finals beginning tonight, most of the talking heads on all the major networks are making thier predictions on who is going to win the series and how many games it is going to take.

But I am having a problem...I have no idea who has the edge in the series.  This finals is the biggest pick'em series I have seen in any sport for a long time.

I am going to attempt to break it down, but I may tear my hair out before I am finished.  Maybe if I get my thoughts down on paper, my pick will be revealed.

Boston Celtics

Positives: Three simple words, "Boston Three Party".  Paul Pierce is Paul Pierce, KG is KG, and Ray Allen has finally joined the party and has reverted to his old self.  We have an emerging star in Rajon Rondo who has turned into a decent point guard, and you are getting contributions from the bench with Kendrick Perkins and James Posey and the rest of the Celtics bench will shine at home.

Also Doc Rivers is a good coach who has gotten the most out of his players over the entire season and brought them from basement dwellers to penthouse sellers.  Most of that is because of the Big Three, but Rivers had to find a room big enough for the egos that come along with them. They also have homecourt advantage which has been such a big thing in the NBA playoffs this year.

Negatives: Who is going to cover Kobe Bryant?  Who is going to make sure that Kobe doesn't go off for 50 in every game in the series?   Will the real Ray Allen stick around for an entire series?

Just a few questions, but the same goes for the Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

Positives: Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.  Since the Memphis Grizzlies "traded" Gasol to the Lakers for a rack of basketballs or Kwame Brown, whichever has more value, the Lakers have been excellent and been largely unstoppable.  I started watching more West basketball with the Lakers and all the other good teams out West.  Lamar Odom has finally had his coming out party, since he hasn't been forced into a role he could not excell at.  He can finally just play his game.

Also the rest of the Laker have been playing excellent basketball with Derek Fisher leading the way.  Then they have one fo the greatest coaches in NBA history, the Zen master Phil Jackson, who is arguably a top three coach in NBA history.

Negatives: Who is going to cover Kevin Garnett?  Does Gasol have the strength to consistently #### with Garnett for what I believe will be a long series?  Finally, in hearing that Radmanovic will be covering Pierce, that made me cringe, Pierce might go off for a ton of points.

Well, as good as I tried, this Finals is still as clear as mud.

But I think that I will say the Lakers in seven, with the home team winning every home game except for the deciding game.

This series looks like it could be a really fun one to watch, and its about time.