Quote Originally Posted by raleights
Quote Originally Posted by bilbo
I don't get you guys of course it matters!

You act as if patriotism is a bad thing but sense of shared identity is what binds nations together.

If it wasn't for people feeling a sense of nationhood we would all just be one huge world country.

I admire Lennox Lewis as a boxer, and also respect him as a man but to me he just ain't British and whenever he fought a fellow Brit be it Mason, Bruno or whoever I was rooting heart and soul for the other guy.

It's not wrong for me to think this way, it's completely normal.

What is the point of all the seperate countries of the world entering world wide sporting events like the World Cup (soccer for you yanks) or the Olympics if nationality doesn't matter?

Your supposed to be proud of your country of origin and be a true patriot, especially when you consider that millions died in two world wars to defend that right.

Lennox Lewis is/was a fantastic boxer, the best of his generation, but his roots and heart arn't the UK so I'll never think of him as one of my own, and I'm completely comfortable to say that.
Why would you think of any fighter as your own? They have no idea you exist and probably wouldn't care even if you had a face to face, the relationship is very one-sided (despite what they may say about the fans). I see what your saying but it's still a primitive way of thinking, a level of blue collar I personally want no part of

And patriotism isn't a bad thing, but the extent people take it to is god aweful

Whats that Chris Rock said, oh yeah "Anyone who makes up their mind before they hear the issue is a F****** fool" - equate that to what we're talking about

A good man once said the times are a changing
You have got come at this completely the wrong way. I support British fighters because they represent my country Britain.

If they win they win for Britain, the same way our soccer team does and our rugby and very rarely our cricket team. I support them because they are British and representing Britain not because I feel I have some kind of fantasy connection to them.

From where I'm sitting it's you who appears to select your favourite fighters based on sentiment. I don't know what nationality you are but I'm presuming American so take as an example Calvin Brock against Wladimir. Will you support Brock because he is American like you, or support Wlad because you like him better as a fighter?

If you say Wlad because you like him more, then what do you base that on? Seeing as you know neither apart from watching few prefight interviews and seeing a handful of their fights I'd day your rationale of choosing one over the other based on your subjective feelings of who is the best is actually quite absurd, as unless you know a boxer personally how can you possibly come to the conclusion that one is more deserving of your support than another?

To me my view makes a whole lot more sense. What I truly support is my country first and foremost, hence I will root for a British fighter over any other nationality any day of the week.

Having said that I still have sentimental favourites, Coralles for his heart, Pacman for his relentless all action style, etc but if Coralles ever steps into the ring with Ricky Hatton then you can bet your socks off that I will be shouting the Blue Moon anthem at my tv screen and cheering for my man Ricky to knock his ass out.

So you see, it has nothing to do with whether I like Ricky more than Diego as a fighter, or as a person, but everything to do with the fact that Ricky is waving my flag and if he wins it's another victory for Great Britain.