Decisions, decisions...

Back in March, I wrote an article about choosing an MLS team to root for — “Chivas or Galaxy?”.

The first and last professional soccer team I rooted for actively and on a regular basis hasn’t played a game since 1981. That would be the Dallas Tornado of the also-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL). The Tornado had one NASL championship, in 1971.

I wasn’t able to make a decision at the time, though I began to lean toward Chivas USA.

Since then, the Galaxy have announced Herbalife as their jersey sponsor, which pretty much rules them out for my support. ;) I’ve only been to one MLS game, in fact my only professional soccer game — Real Salt Lake @ Chivas USA last year. Had a super time.

No matter what, there will be a certain artificiality to my being a particular team’s fan, at least to begin with. The same was true, though, of my adopting the Dodgers a few years ago and the LA Kings back in the 90s.

In a sense, I chose sports to love, then teams to express that with. My site The Trolley Dodger covers my baseball obsession and includes a page describing how I came to follow the Dodgers, “Back in the day…”

Soccer is a little more complicated for me. I do love the game and am determined to learn as much about it as possible. While I’ll be writing about this relationship in more detail another time, suffice to say I’ve been following the sport without a favorite team, whether MLS or elsewhere.

Between the Internet and TV outlets like Fox Soccer Channel and some of the Spanish stations, it’s relatively easy to follow any particular team in a few leagues — the English Premiership, La Primera División de México, MLS, etc.

My friend Alex is a big Liverpool fan, and I once had an English acquaintance who loved Chelsea. After doing some reading, I had thought to adopt the Wolverhampton Wanderers, mostly because I liked their name and Wolves mascot, but they’ve not been in the Premier League for a few years now. Of course, Manchester United would be all too easy to choose, much like there are far too many NY Yankee fans running around the globe. ;)

So I am still undecided and would welcome input in the comments (if anybody so desires). For the time being, however, I am going to keep on watching, learning, and writing about the Beautiful Game.