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Drake's Alabama fandom dates back to childhood, but what about for other teams?

Drake watched Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2018, one of his many appearances at different sporting events in different team gear. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images)
Drake watched Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2018, one of his many appearances at different sporting events in different team gear. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images)

New year, new team. That’s at least what many fans are accusing Drake of this week.

The superstar rapper takes on the fandom of as many teams as he does professions (singer, songwriter, producer, actor). In his latest move, Drake kicked off 2019 with an Alabama sweatshirt and a message about committing to resolutions.

While Alabama fans reacted with anger on Twitter at the Drake curse, it isn’t the first time the music mogul has yelled “Roll Tide.” His fandom dates back publicly to at least September 2016, though he insists it goes back even further.

In an April 2018 interview with TSN, Drake whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham said he’s been an Alabama fan since childhood when his mom would buy the merchandise for the “A” on it.

There seems to be a trend there, as a look at Drake’s public displays of fandom shows he sports what’s given to him. And athletes love to bestow jerseys on him.

*This is absolutely not an exhaustive list of Drake’s “fandom”

Toronto Raptors (NBA)

Drake, a native Canadian, was named the Toronto Raptors’ “global ambassador” in September 2013 and is commonly seen courtside. His standing with the Toronto Raptors was cemented in December 2018 when the team gave him a spot in the locker room months after he thought he was a real Raptor and got into it with the Cavs’ Kendrick Perkins.

Any team with LeBron James

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Cavs again, Los Angeles Lakers — it doesn’t matter. James joined Drake on stage and Drake joined James on his HBO show in 2018.

Any NBA team at all

Drake has donned a Julius Erving Philadelphia 76ers jersey and a Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls jersey for concerts. He’s also been photographed in a Kevin Durant Golden State Warriors jersey, among others. The man just likes NBA jerseys.

Drake is such a huge NBA fan, he repped a shirt with the drawing of the face of ESPN sideline reporter and analyst Doris Burke at his own “Drake Night” in Toronto.

Kentucky (college basketball)

Drake has stuck solidly to this fan base. He wore Kentucky Wildcats apparel from head to toe for some pick-up basketball at UCLA. But he’s also worn WNBA star Skylar Diggins’ Notre Dame jerseys, including at the 2013 ESPYs.

College football

Drake befriended Johnny Manziel for a little while, even writing a song about the 2014 NFL draft, and sported the quarterback’s Texas A&M jersey. Drake also wore a Houston football jersey for a concert.

NHL

Drake rapped in an Edmonton Oilers jersey as well as a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey gifted to him by Mario Lemieux’s daughter, Alexa. A Montreal Canadiens jersey is a new addition after Max Domi gifted it after a game in September.

But nothing beats his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs — we think.

MLB

Again it’s the hometown Toronto Blue Jays mixed with some Cleveland Indians apparel.

Soccer

Drake sports Manchester United gear and shouts out Didier Drogba with Chelsea.

Conor McGregor (UFC)

Drake appeared at the fighter’s October weigh-in with an Irish flag in tow. No one was that surprised.

Maine-Endwell (NY) (Little League baseball)

Drake just likes to be involved. In summer ’16 he gave a shoutout to the Maine-Endwell Little League team out of New York state’s Southern Tier.

Degrassi Panthers (high school)

Insert ultimate “Started from the bottom now we’re here” joke.

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