From where I stand, it's pretty simple psychology. If you're on the "more optimistic" side for the team you already are emotionally invested in - say you're a Flames fan with a brighter than normal opinion about the future of Flames prospects - that emotional investment is tied up in your optimistic position, too. As a result, you'll have a greater emotional reaction to someone criticizing that position. If you're on the pessimistic side for the team you're a fan of, your views are actually at odds with what you'd like to be the case - passion isn't influencing your views as much. The result is that the optimists are both more likely to perceive any criticism as a personal affront, and are more likely to respond in kind - that is to say, emotionally, with anger.
Of course, the inverse would be true also - if you're a Flames fan with a pessimistic opinion about the future of Oilers' prospects, for example.
Motivated reasoning. Can't avoid it.
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