Last week I saw my friend rooting for the Montreal Canadians while they were playing the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He is a Philly fan generally, so I chided him for betraying his state and his country. He came back at me saying his dad was a Habs fan from when he lived in Montreal.

That shut me up.

As anyone knows, being a fan of the team your father (or relative) is a fan of is one of the best justifications. It got me thinking that I should categorize some of the other valid reasons to be a fan.

Geography
The obvious and easy one is geography. This includes where you grew up and where you went to college.

Family member played for the organization
There is not statue of limitations on this one and includes minor league teams.

Live saving procedure at college teaching hospital
You might be saying, this one has to be completely rare, but I have a Alabama Crimson Tide and Carolina Tar Heel fan that would say otherwise.

Outside of that I don't really see any good reasons, here are some bad reasons.

Favorite player now plays for the team
It is fine to be a fan of players, I'm a fan of Shaq but I wasn't an Orlando, then Laker then Heat then Suns now Cleveland fan.

They won a championship in your formative years
This is a tough one. I have a former roommate who is a Chicago Bears fan because he was five the "Super Bowl Shuffle" year. However, I have to say that this isn't a good reason. Interestingly though if any of his children are Bears fans they would be justified.

They were the team everyone in your town hated
Another tough one since I have an uncle that is a Dallas fan. Dallas and the Steelers played a good number of important games that the Steelers won. I'm fairly sure my uncle is just a Cowboys fan to be a contrary. Fortunately his son is back in the Black and Gold fold.

What did I miss? What are some other good and bad reasons to be a fan of a team?