I thought I was alone, until I was listening to a podcast this week and found another one like me. Sports Illustrated MMQB co-host Conor Orr, a longtime Cleveland Browns fan, revealed that he had removed himself from that fan base — due in large part to the Browns’ pursuit and acquisition of troubled quarterback Deshaun Watson — and was thus picking a new favorite NFL team ahead of the upcoming season. For a whole episode, Orr took listeners through his selection process before landing on the Cincinnati Bengals as his new squad.

That episode spoke to me because I also grew up a Cleveland Browns fan, and I’ve also been going through similar processes over the last year or so regarding my allegiance. And that’s processes, plural, because I haven’t just been picking a new favorite NFL team, but also exploring new teams across the board: in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA, college football, and college basketball. Potentially a complete reset on my sports fandom.

Unlike Orr, this wasn’t triggered by a feeling that I had to get rid of any particular team; I was simply opening things up for re-evaluation at what felt like a fitting time to make some changes. Two reasons, mainly: (1) Having recently turned 40, this was my version of a mid-life crisis, with picking a new sports team or two being a safe yet significant thing way to shake things up in my life. I’m not reckless enough to buy a motorcycle, I don’t have enough free time to immerse myself in another hobby, and I’m not stupid enough to have an affair. Also, (2) I was getting somewhat bored with sports, which was alarming since I work in the sports media industry and I never want to get to a place where I dread going to work.

While re-evaluating my rooting interests, I got a closer look at how sports fans can be oddly territorial. Some people flat-out do not want new fans joining their tribe, unless it’s a newborn baby whose parents chose their colors before the kid is even aware of what the sport is. Some people treat new fans as lesser-than, like second-class citizens who aren’t “real” fans of the team because they haven’t been down since Day 1.

I don’t get it. I’ve never had a problem with a new fan joining the bandwagon for any of my teams. They’re not taking anything away from me or my experience, and if they’ve picked my team, it probably means there’s a lot to like about my team: they’re winning, they have cool uniforms, they have exciting players, etc. Those are things worth celebrating when they get recognized. When you pick something on your own rather than being raised in it, it often means more.

It’s similar to religion. While I was basically raised Christian and could’ve continued down that road without giving it much thought, my journey of finding Islam and ultimately choosing to be Muslim makes religion so much more meaningful to me; and I would imagine my fellow Muslims aren’t offended that converts are drawn to the religion. I didn’t have to become Muslim — I wasn’t following family tradition or doing what felt familiar — I chose Islam, an informed choice that was made after lots of intellectual research and embracing my spiritual connection to the deen.

I didn’t enter this new-sports-teams venture with a list of ground rules, but the processes did have some scientific elements to go along with less tangible, emotion-based elements. For example: mascots, logos, and nicknames matter to me. A cool animal nickname like the Jaguars will have an automatic edge, whereas it’s harder for me to get behind a team named the Chargers when I’m not entirely sure what that is. But that’s not to say a team with a blah name like the 76ers can’t still get the overall nod over the Bulls for other reasons. As you read on, you’ll get some insight into what I was thinking.

For Part 1, let’s get some of the easier decisions out of the way:

NHL
As I wrote on this site, I’ve kind of followed hockey since I was a kid but I didn’t have a favorite team until the Seattle Kraken debuted as an NHL expansion franchise in 2021. I’m still brand new in my Kraken fandom (as is every Kraken fan), and I have no reason not to remain all in with my hometown team.

It didn’t hurt that they were surprisingly good this past season and came one win away from making the Western Conference finals in just Year 2 of their existence.

There were a couple nominal competitors, just for the sake of the process. I live in Las Vegas, where the Golden Knights are the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Not only am I around giddy Knights fans every day, and I hear a lot about the team listening to local sports radio, but I also previously worked for the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper that covers the Knights. Honestly, I probably know more about the Knights than the Kraken just due to proximity and exposure.

Long before the Kraken or Knights even existed, I really liked Calgary Flames gear. (I’m a hat collector, and someone who doesn’t mind repping a team that’s not my favorite through a hat, jersey, shorts, etc.) There was a pre-Kraken part of me that felt like rooting for one of the NHL’s Canadian teams was ethically the right move if I was ever going to adopt a hockey team. The Flames have Nazem Kadri on the roster, one of the few known Muslim players in NHL history; and Calgary’s franchise GOAT is Jarome Iginla, one of the best Black players in NHL history. That representation matters.

Calgary has a rich history, and Vegas is the hot bandwagon team of the moment, but ultimately, sticking with the Kraken was an easy choice.

My team: Seattle Kraken

***** *****

WNBA
Another case in which I was there from the beginning. Since the WNBA expanded to Seattle in 2000, I’ve been a Storm fan. I went to a bunch of home games when I lived in Seattle, and probably would’ve got season tickets if my work schedule agreed.

Winning helps bring in and keep fans, as we’ve seen with the Kraken. The Storm have won four WNBA championships and suited up some of the best players in league history, from Lauren Jackson to Sue Bird to Breanna Stewart.

But right now, in the aftermath of Bird’s retirement and Stewart leaving in free agency to New York, the Storm are struggling, which could leave an open door for any Seattle fan with a wandering eye. As much as Jewell Loyd is trying to carry them, the Storm might be the worst team in the WNBA this season. At the same time, though, every Storm fan knew they were in for a rough rebuild post-Bird and post-Stewie.

But if I was interested, what other team could take Seattle’s spot? Just like with the NHL, Las Vegas happens to be home of the reigning WNBA champions, the Aces. And just like with the Golden Knights, it’d be easy for me to become an Aces fan living here. They’re good and they’re local, and sometimes that’s all it takes.

But sticking with the Storm here wasn’t much of a debate, even if it means slogging through some ugly times ahead.

My team: Seattle Storm

***** *****

MLB
One more for the hometown theme. I grew up on the Seattle Mariners: on Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, and Edgar Martinez; on Harold Reynolds, Alvin Davis, and Jay Buhner. I matured with the Mariners through the Felix Hernandez and Ichiro Suzuki years, and I’m looking forward to a bright future with Julio Rodriguez and George Kirby. I’ve been to more M’s games than I can remember, from the old Kingdome to the newly named T-Mobile Park. I was there for the miracle 1995 season, the record-breaking 2001 season, and the magical 2022 season.

The problem — and the reason why a longtime M’s fan might consider walking away — is that those great seasons have been so few and far between. Since debuting in 1977, Seattle has only been to the playoffs five times. Total. Last season, they snapped a 20-year postseason drought. They’ve never made it to the World Series, let alone won a championship. The Mariners have had some legendary players and personalities over the years, but the team has consistently hovered between bad and mediocre.

So this was one where I had to seriously think about a change. Other MLB teams up for consideration were:

Kansas City Royals — Is it weird that Kansas City ranks No. 1 on my list of future travel destinations? Who needs Paris, Barcelona, or Athens when you can get BBQ, the jazz district, and some amazing sports museums in KC? And I definitely wouldn’t mind catching a Royals game on that trip.

I like that the Royals name is an homage to the Negro Leagues. (BTW, the Negro Leagues Museum is in Kansas City.) I like the colors, the hats, the uniforms, all of that. The Royals won a World Series in 2015, so there is some recent success, but right now they’re rebuilding and are one of the worst teams in baseball — so well out of the “bandwagon” range for a prospective new fan.

Minnesota Twins — The Twins make this list because I’m a father of twins. In my closet right now is a Twins hat and t-shirt, and a “Dad #2” custom Twins jersey. When my boys were born, I bought them Twins pacifiers, because I’m that type of corny dad.

On the field? Well, I liked Kirby Puckett when I was a kid, and Johan Santana was a nasty pitcher some years back. That’s something.

New York Yankees — When your favorite team almost always misses the playoffs, you might have to find another team to root for during the postseason; a team that, you know, actually has a chance to win the World Series. Over the years, I routinely found myself latching onto the Yankees after the Mariners took their annual early vacation. It helps that I lived in New York for a few years, too.

The history of the Yankees can be a plus or a minus in this case. It’s the most iconic franchise in American sports. It’s Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig; it’s Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter; it’s Yankee Stadium and 27 World Series championships; it’s the logo and the hat and the pinstripes. But with a brand that big, that has so much lore and legacy, can you just dive in and become a fan in your 40s? The Yankees might be too established to accept random new applicants; they’re like the super-stuffy country club that you can’t get into without a nudge of nepotism.

One thing that does work for me: The Yankees have so many haters that it triggers my internal contrarianism and knack for defending (and thus rooting for) teams and athletes who are overly criticized without good reason. It’d be like supporting the most privileged underdog on the planet.

Oakland A’s — Every indication is that the A’s will be leaving Oakland and coming to Las Vegas in the near future. Reportedly, they would keep the team name and colors, which is good, because I already have some A’s gear.

Local is good. But the A’s are bad. This season they have the worst record in baseball, and last season they had the second-worst record. The team’s owner is notoriously cheap too, so who knows when they’ll be good again.

While the present is a downer and the future doesn’t offer much promise, at least the past is a positive. Rickey Henderson, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Vida Blue, Dave Stewart, Dennis Eckersley, Barry Zito, Jason Giambi … if nothing else, vintage A’s highlights are fun to watch.

San Diego Padres — We’ve made a couple family trips to San Diego in recent years, which included visiting Petco Park. Their fans seem like a nice bunch.

I like that they’re called the Padres (“fathers”) because, again, I’m a corny dad. I like that they’re on the West Coast, within traveling distance if I want to go to a home game. They had a couple of my favorite players growing up: Tony Gwynn and Gary Sheffield. I like Petco and I like pets. I like that the current team owner is unafraid to spend big to put a winning product on the field.

***** *****

Now … If my main reason for ditching the Mariners would be the lack of winning, would going to the Royals or A’s make any sense? Those franchises have some past success and proud history, but at the moment they’re literally the two worst teams in baseball.

The Twins are currently in first place in the AL Central and have been a perennial playoff contender in recent years. The Padres and Yankees are in the elite payroll class, so they’re at least swinging for the fences trying to win, but they’re actually looking up at the Mariners in the standings this season. As of this writing, Seattle has the best record of any of the teams I considered, and probably the brightest future among that group.

I’d hate to bail now when that World Series berth could be right around the corner.

My team: Seattle Mariners

***** *****

That’s three leagues up and three leagues down, with no changes. But that won’t be the case with the rest of this exercise. Come back for Part 2, where we’ll get into the NFL.