separation of college and pro
To me it is a separation of college and pro that is key in this discussion. For Example:
I graduated from the University of Toledo... 3 times... over 8 years... still advise an undergraduate org there... and sit on a board at the university, but last season in Cleveland I was at the game in all my Buckeye gear and glory, tailgated with all my buddies (and my wife) who were decked out in their Midnight Blue and Gold and took all their crap the whole time. Didn't bother me, in fact I loved it. Nothing can touch tOSU football for me, I was raised going to the shoe on Saturdays and both my parents are alums. Any other allegiance would be traitorous to me. I dig buckeye basketball but do not live and die by it, will root for them in the tourney and if I happen catch them on the tube. There are no additional college sports in my world. Considering myself an actual fan of any other college teams is out of the question with minor exception of generally pulling for UT in the MAC (lets face it, MAC schools don't really count in Big 10 country, I go to at least one game at the shoe per year and have not been to a game at the glassbowl in 5 or 6 years but drive past it a few times a month). This college sports allegiance is a hard-line thing in my mind.
Then there are the pros... I don't know anyone under 30 who's true allegiance really lies to their home state teams. Sure I have a bunch of buddies who claim to be Browns/Cavs fans, but the truth of the matter is they are Browns/LeBron fans and were either drinking the Chicago or Detroit NBA Kool-aid during their formative years.
I am a perfect example of this, growing up I was a Jazz (Stockton and Malone), Raiders (Bo knows), and Reds pro fan. I still follow the jazz, but am more likely to be caught watching a Cavs game (the LeBron effect). The Raiders organization coupled with Fantasy Football has nearly destroyed any allegiance to a NFL team and I find myself following my individual fantasy players. Baseball is dead to me, my last Reds game was their last homegame before the 94 strike and my next foray into MLB was last season when I took my son to an Indian's game where they handed out Victor Martinez bobble-heads the week after they traded him away in a salary dump.
So my take on these things... with pro sports go ahead and whore yourself out, everyone under 30 does it. With College sports you have one primary team and are allowed a minor team in the event that you/your kid goes there. I do not endorse the Buckeye Football and Duke/UNC Basketball and Whoever is good at College Baseball and UConn Ladies hoops, ect sort of fandom.
Probably stupid and absolutely a wast of time, but that is my read on the matter.