Have you ever wondered why you love the teams you do?

It's a question I'm currently asking as my Cubs conclude another joyless season.

Why the Cubs?

Seriously.

Why?

Sometimes the answer is obvious. You grow up on the north side of Chicago (which I didn't), you root for the Cubs.

You grow up on the south side (which I also didn't), you root for the White Sox.

It's simple.

Geography = Destiny.

And, of course, there's the issue of Blood. One of our kid's friends is a (what?!) Brewers fan.

"The Brewers?" I asked him.

"As in Laverne and Shirley?"

He nodded.

"My mom grew up in Milwaukee."

High visibility also helps to create fans. Though a Hater now, my husband loved the Bronx Bombers when he was a leetle boy. The Yankees were always on TV back in the day, and anyway who could resist the glorious Mickey Mantle?

There are less obvious reasons, however, why someone can fall hard for a team.

Take my nephew, for instance, who has ALWAYS rooted for the Atlanta Braves, even though no one in his world comes from Georgia.

The reason?

Not Dale Murphy. Or Greg Maddux. Or Chipper Jones. And certainly not that memorable nutball, John Rocker, who used to sprint like a trackman to the mound.

No.

My nephew once received a boatload of cool Braves swag, and the rest is history.

(MEMO TO MLB FRANCHISES: When it comes to creating lifelong fandom, it is scientifically impossible to overestimate the importance of handing out free crap to young males.)

One of our sons loves Cincinnati for a similar reason.

The first little league team he ever played for was the Reds, and, dude, it was just all about the shirt. From that day forth, he pledged his allegiance to Barry Larkin and the boys.

As for me?

I'm often interested in teams because of individual players AND NOT JUST BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE CUTE. (Although cuteness helps.) (Obviously.)

I watched the A's in the late '80s because I LOVED the way pitcher Dave Stewart glowered from the mound. Too bad he sounded like Marilyn Monroe whenever he opened his mouth!

And if the Yankees are playing, I won't leave the room. Come on!

Who wants to miss a Jeter sighting?

Right now I like the Angels — it is just mad fun to watch former Salt Lake Stinger Chone Figgins in action.

Was there ever a player who looks like he's enjoying himself more? (Maybe Kirby Puckett.)

BUT.

In the end, I always go back to the Cubbies, even though I'm always all "WHO NEEDS THE TORTURE?"

I started following them the summer I was a) pregnant and b) had hepatitis. Somehow the channel got stuck on WGN and I was just too weak to change it.

It's been stuck metaphorically on WGN ever since.

And OK. Yes. It was pretty great to watch an old Provo High classmate (hey, Vance Law!) play.

So what about you?

Who's your team? And why?

e-mail: acannon@desnews.com