Walden: Switch my favorite team? Ain't happening

So even though your team is crappy every year and will probably never win a Super Bowl, and even though you hate the coach and most of the players, you keep rooting for them because they had two players you liked when you were a kid?

Such was the gist of my wife's "question," which wasn't really a question as much as a thinly veiled attempt to get me to renounce my allegiance to the Philadelphia Eagles and join her in solidarity with the Green Bay Packers.

Ain't happening.

After first clearing up a few of her more egregious misconceptions, I explained that while it was indeed my love of Reggie White and Randall Cunningham that first drew me to the Eagles, my continued devotion could be attributed to the simple notion that, well, Philly is my team.

She should understand and appreciate that, right?

Ain't happening.

Which is not to say I found her request as atrocious and abominable and detestable and repugnant as the Dallas Cowboys franchise.

I must confess, twice in my childhood I did commit the unconscionable sin of switching favorite teams. I know — it's quite unforgivable. Just don't ask me to pray to the sports gods for forgiveness.

Ain't happening.

It all seemed quite justifiable at the time. I started my football life as a Bears fan. Their Super Bowl XX win was one of the happiest moments of my youth. Then, just a few years later, they traded Jim McMahon so they could start Mike Tomczak at quarterback.

Mike Freaking Tomczak?

Ain't happening.

Reggie White … Randall Cunningham … hello, Philadelphia.

I also started my baseball fandom as an Oakland A's fan. Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Rickey Henderson, Dave Stewart … they were all awesome. And in a harbinger of Oakland's next two decades, they all were traded away within a few years.

Tom Glavine … David Justice … hello, Atlanta.

To those who would condemn my traitorous tendencies, I've stuck with the Eagles since that trade in 1989, I've stuck with the Braves since Justice's rookie season in 1990 … and I've been a lifelong Lakers fan since the first time my eyes fixated upon those purple road jerseys in 1980.

I also would say if I were really the front-running, fair-weather fan some might imagine, this theoretically would be a great year to switch up everything. The Packers are sure to have a better shot than the Eagles, the Braves seem destined for another October flameout, and the Lakers' biggest offseason acquisitions were Chris Kaman and Nick Young.

Perfect time to switch, right?

Ain't happening.

ewalden@sltrib.com