Not OP, but I kinda agree with them.

Teams are abstract, it’s easier to project your own ideals on to them. Not completely unlike respecting the office, even if loathing the politician currently holding it. It becomes “our thing”.

Also teams have longevity, or at least potential for longevity. Where I live, the two major local ice-hockey teams are founded in 1928 and 1967. There are families with generations of fans. Athlete’s career could be over in a decade.

Yes, but no true Scotsman Christian…

Most probably none of those are proper IPAs. The ‘I’ in IPA stands for India. IPA is only half-done, if it did not travel on a sailboat around the Africa from England to India.