As the winter Olympics gets going, I find myself in the odd position of having to pick and choose which team to root for. As I watched the Canadian go for gold in the moguls I was rooting for her. And I think in all the sports in the Winter Olympics I would be rooting for the Canadian. Even if the UK had a hockey team in the tournament I would still be supporting the Canucks.

Come the World Cup, however, if Canada ever made it into that tournament (an unlikely proposition I grant you) I would definitely be roaring on England. Ditto Rugby, and cricket.

Strange isn’t it? I mean I would be rooting for Canada in soccer if they were playing the US or Mexico or almost anyone else. Probably really rooting if it was Scotland or France. But it is like praying for anyone playing against Arsenal or Man U. In last year’s Champions League final, I wanted Barcelona to win. Big time. That is treason in some people’s mind. But it is Man U.

There is also the “anyone but the yanks” thing going on too.

So it is strange duality. It is also an odd thing this fandom thing. But it is rooted early and doesn’t lend itself to age. I might root for the Canadians, but I don’t have the same level of tension, anxiety, pain and joy as I do supporting those teams I grew up with. So while I might be happy with Canada lifting gold in the Olympic hockey tournament, I will be insane if England won the World Cup.

Thankfully, the UK generally sucks at winter sports so it never is an issue of who to support on slope or ice. Oh, and before you say curling, I only watch women’s curling and then I root for the best looking team. I may be English and Canadian but I am still a guy.