I don't have a rooting interest in any team, but once in a while I can't help but develop a rooting interest in a player (which is something I hate to have happen, from a gambling perspective).
For those who don't know, this guy was the #1 pick in 1999, and was the classic guy who had more talent than anyone, he could do it all. But his life was felled by cocaine addiction, and he was out of baseball completely for large portions of this past decade.
He did 8 (!) stints in drug rehab, and finally made it to the majors this year. He also hit over .400 in spring training, so if he really has cleaned up his act, he could have a major impact on Reds' games and totals, it's not just a feel-good story.