
I like the Golden State Warriors. Yes, you read that right.
Perhaps some Pistons fans will hurl invective at me: "Sacrilege!" and "Aren't you a DETROIT Pistons Fan?"
Can't I like more than one basketball team? Sure, I can.
Back in 2007, I joined the "We Believe" fandom for the Golden State Warriors while also cheering for my Pistons who made it all the way to the Conference Finals versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.
And why not?
The Golden State Warriors play in the West. Though the Warriors and Pistons play two games a year, for the playoffs, they were not yet in competition in 2007. I wanted to see a Pistons-Warriors finals. Instead we were treated to a Spurs-Cavaliers finals.
In 2007, I liked the Golden State players, and I really liked the sea of gold as everyone in the Oracle Arena wore this golden shirt featuring the "We Believe" slogan. It was a free giveaway shirt to anyone who attended the game (sponsored by Comcast). I bid on a short via eBay and won.
I was not totally a band wagon fan. I had always liked the Golden State Warriors, if for the name alone. Though I am not much of a fan of things in California (which may change if I ever actually set foot in California), "Golden State" just sounds cool, and when paired with "Warriors," the name has cool power.
Also, I like underdogs. Golden State was the ultimate underdog for many years. With the advent of the 2006-07 season, Golden State held the ignominious record of the longest time (12 years) without a playoff appearance in the active record (of teams then active).

I liked the players on the 2007 roster: Baron Davis, Jason Richardson (from MSU), Monta Ellis, and Latvian Andris Biedrinš. Then a smart trade created a run-and-gun offense with Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson added to the mix. (Though for the record, I am no Stephen Jackson fan given his involvement in the infamous "Malice at the Palace" event of Nov. 19, 2004.) I liked Don Nelson, their coach, one of the top ten best coaches in NBA history.
And then there was that sea of gold.
Wow.