It may have little to do with how they govern and more how they relate to their constituents, but it's a common rule in politics for politicians to show undying love for their home teams -- no matter what they really think about the game. So New Jersey Governor Chris Christie knows it makes his advisors very nervous when he admits things like he did to students at Samsel Upper Elementary School in Parlin this week: He's a Cowboys fan.
"... I was a big fan when I was your age," he told the students, who booed. "I was a big fan of Roger Staubach who was the quarterback for the Cowboys back then. And the Giants and the Jets pretty much stunk when I was a kid and my father was a Giants fan and I used to remember watching him when I was 8, 9 years old and every Sunday he would watch the Giants and yell at the TV set. I used to think to myself why would I want to root for a team that makes you angry? So I decided not to and the Cowboys were really good back then and I liked Roger Staubach so I've got a chance now to talk about the fun people I've gotten to meet. I've actually gotten a chance to meet Roger Staubach who lives in Texas now full time and came up to New Jersey for an event and I got to meet him and he signed the football for me which I have in my office so that's pretty cool.
And if his advisors were hoping for any Hail Mary's on other teams he rooted for, they certainly didn't get it with his hockey answer.
"I'm a New York Rangers fan, not a New Jersey Devils fan," he said. "But here's the problem. There were no Devils when I was growing up so there was only the Rangers and so that's how I became a Rangers fan and you've got to be loyal to your teams even when they're doing well or doing poorly, you've got to be loyal to your teams, the teams you grew up liking are the teams you should keep liking."
You can see all of the governor's sports preferences below -- and the adorable booing by the children who apparently value their sports loyalties over impressing the leader of their state.
Christie wouldn't be the first Jersey kid to root for a different NFL team than his dad. Remember this exchange from the "The Sopranos"?
Bobby Jr.: "I'm going to Eric's to watch the Chargers."
Bobby Bacala: "What channel is that on?"
Bobby Jr.: "Some people aren't too cheap to buy the satellite package."
Bobby Bacala: "Sit down. This is Giants house."
Bobby Jr.: "I hate the *&%$# Giants!"
