From rival to on your roster

It happens. Not often, but it happens. It’s free agency time and your team has just signed someone from the team you “hate” the most, your arch rival. Or, one of your team’s players does the unthinkable, signs with that arch rival. Is one better than the other? That could depend on who that player is perhaps.

If that player has been a nemesis for two games a year, is it easier to now cheer for that player cause well, at least they’re not going to beat you? Or, if it’s a player you like, good for your team, but for one reason or the other, he’s gone and now will be the opponent, is that worse?

For me, signing a rival will probably depend on the player and how they’ve played a factor in beating my team. Most players are in a sense “neutral” opponents. They’re your rival but no big deal. Then, there are those few that stand out and you just cringe at the mention of their name because of how they always seem to have that break-out game against you.

What are your thoughts?