When we root-root-root for the home team, we’re rooting for our home as much as the team.

Roeper’s line treats sports fandom as a form of local patriotism. Cheering the “home team” is not only about the athletes on the field but also about affirming one’s attachment to a place—its people, memories, and shared identity. The playful echo of the old chant (“root-root-root”) underscores how ritualized cheering can become a civic ceremony, turning games into occasions where a community narrates itself. The quote also hints at why victories and losses can feel personal: the team functions as a symbolic stand-in for the city or region, so support becomes an act of belonging as much as entertainment.