I have often wondered why I am a fan or pull for certain teams and not others. What makes one club more appealing than the next for me to root for them or buy merchandise with their emblem or logo on it?

To begin with, I think it starts with the same criteria that makes news – proximity, significance, timing, prominence and human interest.

The closer a team no matter at what level is to where you are almost automatically draws interest because they are more significant. Deep down, I pull for every high school team in the area no matter what sport and admit I have merchandise with their name inscribed on it. Some more than others and some items older than others.

It also doesn’t hurt if you went to that high school or college. A diploma with a learning institutions’ name on it signifies time spent as a part of that establishment that hopefully helped you grow smarter and wiser.

I am forever an East Ascension and LSU fan because of that. Although prominent at a local level are those associated with sport at Ascension Catholic, Donaldsonville, Dutchtown, EA and St. Amant, LSU’s success on the national scale makes it hard for anyone within the state to not cheer for them.

There are other collegiate teams I have pulled for throughout my 28 years. Some have been because of certain players while others are simply the uniforms they wear or their mascot. Success in a certain sport doesn’t hurt either. Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Penn State and even Harvard are all teams I have hats or T-shirts of.

Many more teams I have cheered for while watching the television include nearly every SEC team more often than not depending on who they are playing against. Even Texas baseball when they are not playing LSU.

I have a knack for pulling for the underdog most of the time because I am a negative pessimist and believe the favorite should not win. The exuberance of the dark horse after an upset is all the worthwhile of sport.

The Saints and Hornets are natural fan favorites because of their proximity with nothing more needed. But Dan Marino’s Dolphins, Williams Perry’s Bears, Brett Favre’s Packers, Peyton Manning’s Colts, Michael Jordan’s Bulls, Gary Payton’s Supersonics, Patrick Ewing’s Knicks or Dwayne Wade’s Heat are franchises that have gained prominence due to their performances. History also makes me a fan of the Eagles, Chiefs, Steelers, Vikings, Browns, Celtics, Pistons, Cavaliers, Magic and Suns.

Baseball is a funny sport because they actually sport headwear on the field that could be worn in everyday life and their teams’ nicknames are birds and stockings like the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Orioles, Reds, Red Sox and White Sox.

The proximity of the Astros, Braves and Rangers have me hooked and the deviance of my mother’s New York team has made me a fan of the Mets although sometimes a Yankee cap is just too fashionable depending on the color and Derek Jeter does a lot to combat the dislike of Alex Rodriquez. Somehow, the Indians, Cubs and Giants have made my list I think due to the wind effects at their home games because they play near bodies of water up north.

At the same time that you may pull for a team because of a certain player, you may be revulsed at another because of one. I could never pull for Kobe Bryant’s Lakers or Tom Brady’s Patriots because they have been spoiled with sucess to a point where they think they are bigger than the game.

With that said, I think it is time to go purchase the official LSU baseball hat. Perhaps even fitted. I can’t seem to find mine from the past and feel it is time to represent somewhere on the coast of Louisiana, Florida or Texas. Happy Fourth of July.