Great Read if you get the time. It made me think of Sports fans and how easily they jump ship when their team goes into a funk, but more importnatly it reminded me of why i love sports.
A true diehard sports fan sticks with their team through good years and bad years, troubles and triumphs. Some are born into sports families . Others are gifted athletes that almost made it to the big leagues and continue to follow their favorite sport. Some are just along for the comradery and fun.
Sports fans come in all shapes and sizes, all ages, and all ethnicities. Its one of the few things about American culture that we all have something in common. The love of the game.
I'm a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan of about 20 years, Notre Dame fan, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Fan. (yeah I know, strange combination.)
My first encounter i remember in the sports world that really stuck with me was when i met Bobby Allison and Richard Petty as little boy. Both were some of the kindest, most generous people I've ever met and I was hooked on NASCAR since that day.
The men of my family were always " Good Ole Boys" and i see a lot of that in Dale Jr. Maybe thats the connection,along with being about the same age but can't say for sure on that one.
The man that made me care about football was a guy named Joseph Clifford Montana, Jr. who played QB for Notre Dame, and later when on to become arguably the greatest QB professional football has ever seen.
When i was old enough to know enough about football to understand it, I idolized "Joe Cool" and have followed Notre Dame ever since, even through the many dark recent years. LOL (although as a Cowboys Fan, I'm not allowed to say anything good about the 49ers. We sign a contract.)
I played football through high school although we never had a great team, but my coach is still someone i look up to 20 years later and taught me a lot growing from a boy to a man. Most young men learn almost as much from their coaches during adolesecense as they do from their fathers. At least it seems that way in the small towns on the plains of Texas. Football is a passion and a part of every town here.
As for the Cowboys, My family, all being from Texas used to have a big tradition of Watching the Cowboys/Oilers Thanksgiving games. Later when i moved Dallas and began working at a Country Club and serving a man named Pat Sumerall and his pal Troy Aikman every Friday night in our restaurant, i became a part of the Cowboys family. I was priviledged to meet many great Cowboys players form the 90's Superbowl teams, along with past greats, and almost all the 70s Steelers players during a few banquets we held for them. NFL was part of my life and It always will be.
Whats your story?
How did you become a fan of your favorite team? Were you born into a sport family. Parents that had you dressed like it was Halloween on gameday? Family tradition?
Maybe its the Lights and the Sounds at the Ballpark that you enjoy or the smell or burning rubber at the track and the roar of the engines. The swoosh as the ball goes through the net?
Maybe you met someone that inspired your sports passion.
Was it the team colors or the personality of the players that drew you in?
Or do u just enjoy the team concept and friendships that you've gained through the years through sports in highschool, college, or beyond?
Are you an extreme fan?
Do you have all the gear, the posters, the face paint? Is your car an advertisement for your sports passion?
Do you obsess about your team to the point it controls your life or dress your own kids or pets to match your favorite team?
The term "fan" is short for "Fanatic" and some people obviously take sports more serious and incorporate it into their lives more than others. But Hey, It's all good. As long as you stick around for the long haul.
Why do YOU love your team and how far do you go to express it?
Please feel free to share your story or explain how you became a fan. Even Hockey fans are allowed, if they could read of course.
Texas I cannot begin to tell you how flattered I am to be linked to your great blog! Thank you so much.
Okay now to answering your questions...
I am a fourth generation Washington Redskins fan. My proper Grandmother and her sister would come home from church dressed in their finest and plop on the floor to watch their beloved Redskins. It was a tradition that was passed onto them. This was past down to my Father who passed it on to my Mom and us three kids. Now all three of my sons are just a faithful to the burgundy and gold. Sunday in my house is awesome! But it is even better when we are actually at the game! I blew my kids minds one time after I had surgery. I wont go into the details, but they saw that I really do bleed burgundy and gold, lol!
I am as die hard as they come. My Explorer is an advertisement for the 'Skins. My wardrobe is nothing but my teams apparel. My Mom has a Redskins room in her house, which has everything from a signed helmet by the Hogs, new players and old players, to many priceless, in our eyes, antiques that go back to when they were the Boston Redskins, and everything in between.
I have met many Redskins players and never one time have they given the impression that they don’t have time for the fans. I will leave by saying that two of the most loyal fans in the NFL are Redskins and Cowboy fans. It is a great rivalry!
Awesome job my friend and now I am off to bed! Talk with you soon,
Ang
glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing, Ang. I def agree when it come to Skins and Cowboys fans, there's always that rivalry respect. Similar to the way Big 12 fans are. Even UT and OU fans generally show respect to each other for the most part.
In baseball, I'm a die-hard Dodgers fan and have been since the early 70's. Wes Parker was my first favorite Dodger. In the mid-70's I was a Junior Dodger Fan Club member. I remember getting a miniature bat, a pennant, an autographed baseball, and a poster of the team.
In football, I used to be a LOS ANGELES Rams fan until they moved to St. Louis. I became a Panthers fan in 1995 when they began their inaugural season and have been a fan ever since. I'm a Panthers fan because they were built on defense and a strong running game, similar to the old LA Rams.
Most on here now know Im a Indians fans from the early 70s, Thats right I jump on the band wagon when they lost more games then won. So yes that would mean a Browns fan too, Brian Sipe,,Gregg my jersey will ripp off me Pruitt. Also during that time one of my best friends was a LA Rams fan and had the helmet of them and I was hook.
So yes I do have 2 Fav in football and 1 in MLB, Basketball it is the 76ers, From the DR J, I look up to Bobby Jones knowing he had epilepsy and still made it big time. Yes that would mean I do too.
NHL - I dont follow it till the playoff and I route for the team that is the underdog of the playoffs.
Nascar - Ive had a few - #3 Dale Sr is top for most parts its what he did off the track with chairitys that he didnt like attention about, It showed he had a heart behind all that fear full image on the track, Alan Kulwicky is second for showing you can win on a shoe string and by a shoe string. A few others that have past away. Now its Dale Jr. I think it is because of the good old boys like you said Cuda ?
I grew up without a father so sports was at first not important to me. I had no one to learn to catch or throw a ball from. Then an older guy who lived a few houses from me saw that I was always admireing my friends when they would be playing catch with their Dads. He took me under his wings and taght me about all kinds of sports. Eventually by the time I was a young teenager became a pretty good athlete,even better than my friends. My granfather who was not into sports saw that I loved it and started taking me to football games here in New Orleans. I was hooked ever since. I went on to play baseball in Highschool but was hit by a car when I was 17 thus ending any dream of playing in College but my love and passion for all sports never died that day. I'm a huge Saints fan been through many rough years with that team. Since new orleans had no baseball club I became a Braves fan because they were always on T.V. here. With basketball it was the Lakers. I think partly because at that time Magic and the Lakers were just the hottest team and because the Guy who help me to learn and love sports was a Laker fan also. Sports in general helped me to get through some hard times in my life my coaches became the Father figures I needed at a young age. With out sports I probably would have been another kid on the streets doing things that I shouldn't be. So I'll end this with a Who Dat? and a Geaux Tigers!!! Great post cuda
First of all, I kind of hate all your teams, and I don't care about NASCAR, but I guess we will have agree to disagree on things. I a diehard fan of all my Pittsburgh teams, the Steeles, Pirates, and Penguins. I grew up about an hour from the city, in the heart of Western PA, and I am proud of where I come from and its great history. The steel industry is what made my area world wide renound, and its only appropiate that one of those teams bare that name, being my beloved Steelers. First of all, great colors, and the fact that all 3 teams have the same colors shows a bound between the teams and the city. Pittsburgh was a dirty town, filled with black smoke and the gold fire of the blasts furnances. Black and Gold had to be this town's colors. I love the Steelers because they represent what is best about Western, PA. Hard working, blue collar, underdog, scraping, not big talkers, tough as nails, and greatness in what we do. Love the Steel Curtain 70s Steeles, the pride and tradition of the Rooneys and their great franchise. Love the game of hockey, so love my local hockey team, and the Pirates are like a lover that has jilted you many times, but no matter what you keep coming back for more, because of how good things could get and how they were.Pittsburgh sports teams will always have my undying loyalty.
A huge Cowboys fan....Somebody sat me in front of the TV when I was very young (3 or 4), and I remember thinking the star on that helmet was the coolest thing I had ever saw (not that I had seen a lot at 3 or 4)...Went to my first game at Texas stadium when I was 5 (against the Cards).....It's been a love affair ever since......
I dislike, but respect Giants and Skins fans, I HATE ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH PHILLY.....
Great post. I personally am a fan of the Tampa Bay Buc's. I have been since I can remember which is funny because my father was a LA Rams fan and now in his old age is a Jag's fan. My older brother hates football, my sister is a eagles fan and my mother is a Dallas Cowboy's fan. I picked them when I was young because, to be honest, they sucked. But I have been a fan for almost 30 years now. To me MLB is a waste of time and boring as hell. My favorite NASCAR driver was and is Mark Martin. But as he has slowed down so has my NASCAR watching. To commercialized for me now.
Again...Great post. Lets people think back on why they became fans of who they are fans of.
jon- Dodgers and LA RAms fan huh? do you guys get a long with Raider and Oakland A's fans. I've heard there's a lot of hatred between the Cali teams. True or not?
Forensic- i think that why most of Jr's fans like him. He seems like a person you could hand out with, drink some brews, and keep it real.
gambit- I can relate. My high school coach was one of those guys anybody on the team could come to, or the community. good values and morals, and great example to the "guys". Taught people how to win or lose with class.
Guess it "aint" all that different in the Bayou as it is on the plains. Thanks for reading.
Buckles- Hey. At least you stick with all your hometown guys. Nothing wrong with that!
slap- LOL. The Helment got ya huh? Philly is an odd town. Even their owns fans hate them there. Hopefully some diehard will show up and tell us something good at about the other Pennsylvania team. Prety rare though.
Sharply Blunt- versatile family there. My brother is a diehard 49ers fan(not sure why, think it has always been because they gave the Cowboys fits for years, little brother envy thing. LOL)
Not difficult really....I tend to support my hometown teams (be it Brisbane or Queensland and now anything Otago) whereas for internationals it's Aussie or the underdog. Manchester United since my mum liked them....though I follow them since I like how Ryan Giggs plays so if he left I'd like his new team, lol
As for motorsport, I tend to stick to a driver that I feel some pull for the bad luck they're having at the time I 'join'; Craig Lowndes in the V8's after he switched to Ford, Damon Hill in '94 after Schumacher took him out in Adelaide, Kasey Kahne after his troubles finding victory lane in '04....that kind of thing.
Now, for the North Am stuff....absolutely no idea. I have been told that if you're learning NFL then Green Bay is the 'easiest' team to cheer for so maybe that's why I like them. As for NHL, my sister went to a Canucks game when she was in Vancouver and bought me a hat, lol
I love the Seahawks, but not enough to paint my face or act like a complete ####, while I watch the games. Though I do yell at Holmgren a lot, while watching games on TV.
Always been a fan, grew up with it on the TV in the house. Was a cheerleader for my brother's football team, played 2 sports in high school, have been to tons of races. I'm always supporting my teams.
TEXASCUDA That was cool piece. I especially like how they use the pics. Being a diehard Raider fan from beginning until end. Win or lose I see what the writer is saying. Also being a big fan of the Dodgers as well as the Lakers. I can remember when me and a couple neighbor boys were about 9 or 10. We changed our names to LeMans and Daytona. I know it sounds silly, but back then we thought it was cool. I remember the teacher in school calling our name for role call and we wouldnt answer. She asked why? And I told her that my name was LeMans. I dont remember what happened. But Im sure it wasnt good because from that day on I was the name that my dad and mom gave me at birth. Thanks.
Last edited by frevr3fan on October 4th at 1:48 PM.
You made me think.
Growing up in Canada the local hockey rink was the thing on Saturday night. (rural area no TV)
I have never been able to watch a hockey game on TV
My bio father lived in the states and introduced me to the game. Pittsburg was his team.
If I recall correctly I picked against him and ended up with the Lions. (I had always been a fan of anything related to big cats- and Detroit was where all my favourite cars were built)-so very scientific I know.
12 th grade (in the U.S.) my HS football team “went state”. A boyfriend took the time to explain some of the less obvious rules to me and an informed fan was created.(No HS football in Canada where I grew up)
I stuck with the Lions and watched with a vengeance. (I loved to watch Barry Sanders work)
The Lions are still my team- no far weather fan here-
Tough here in the Pacific Northwest it seems everyone’s favourite team is the one that is playing against mine.
NASCAR I do have a favourite driver- just because I picked him his rookie year- and see no reason to desert him now. As long as your favourite driver finishes behind my favourite driver it’s ok with me.
If they are not playing each other , I often root for the Bears as well (go figure)
Texas- Great work on the blog, really enjoyed it. I'm having a problem though. You just jumped me about my profile, well before you jump someone maybe you should ask what's up first. I created this profile and made blof also when I first came in here. Well ever since I hit the go to my blog button it takes me to some other guys blog his name is Newman. I have tried to add pics and fill my profile out and write more blogs but for some reason I CAN'T. So if you can tell me how to fix this or just how to delete my profile then I will. Anyways you did a real good job on the blog.
newman- Fox has issues with the profile update thing a lot of the time. Can't help ya there. As for jumping on you about that situation, we were all childish and insults to fellow friends/bloggers is the only reason i got involved. Its a free world, both sites are overrated, and its really no Big deal. thanks for stopping by and for the props.
Who is your team?
I guess I am a Bengals fan ( worst team of the NFL)but hey don't get me wrong. I only go to take pics of the BENGALS. The game is usually lopsided so I do have time to spend with them.
it's funny you should mention the cheesehead thing, Texas....there's a cheese factory not 5 minutes from where I live, LOL!
as for the United thing....yeah, I guess that's one way to look at it. I remember once on another messageboard and everyone was arguing over which sporting team were the most popular worldwide (United, Yankees being the obvious two I can recall) but the answer is none of those; it's Ferrari....yet no one even thought about it until I said it, lol
Some morons replied that Ferrari wasn't a sporting team so I suggested they go to the Italian GP one day and say that....never heard back from them for some reason *shrugs*
Ok, here's my story...I have always been a tomboy and very good at most sports (best at soccer, track, softball and "equestrian" -show jumping) and am very competitive!! (Thank god my hubby isnt a sports fan, I get to hog the TV and we dont fight!)
I went to U of Arizona so I am a die hard Wildcat fan. I loved our football team under Tomey but tolerate them now...of course I live for basketball season and believe Lute is God. I still have ratty pompoms and rally towels from my undergrad that I bring to games and cant go without a painted red or blue paw on my cheek. Hit every pac 10 game I can with us playing.
NASCAR- I never even knew about the sport until I was flipping channels and saw the last 20 laps of the 500 when Dale was killed. The drama that ensued was just to gripping for me to turn away and then I saw Jr running down pit lane and I was hooked. I had to see if he would race the next weekend and how he would handle it (course his looks didnt hurt!). Then he crashed out of that race so I had to tune in again and by then I knew every driver, crew chief, number, sponsor and my friends were SERIOUSLY worried WWF was next...my spare room is called the "shrine" and is filled top to bottom with Jr. crapola. I always wear my #8 clothing on race day no matter where I am at.
Thanks to you AND vbchick for taking me back in time:
I was a child in the 60's. When the Dallas Cowboys signed a contract with the Cotton Bowl, my dad landed a contract with the stadium also. It was a simpler time and about 50 vending machines scattered throughout the stadium were his cash cow. He would flash his credential pass at the press entrance and I'd tag along right behind him.
There were several reasons for being an instant fan. It was the moment I saw the star on the helmet. It was being mesmerized watching real fans adorn themselves in NFL-licensed tribal colors, fans who hung their emotions on the sleeves (most notably Crazy Ray). It was the man in the fedora and his emphasis on strategy, coupled with physical skills. I lived vicariously on Sundays through my childhood heroes(we didn't have role models then, just heroes), as my heart scampered down the field with Bob Hayes on that 86 yard touchdown reception from Don Meredith against the Cleveland Browns in the '67 Conference Playoff game.
After the games, the unattended kids of the players and staff would play pickup games on the Cotton Bowl turf until well after the crowd had left. It was an opportunity to "be" Don Meridith, to "be" Bullet Bob Hayes and to "be" Cornell Green. A real live Field of Dreams. 40 years have gone by since then, and I'm still in aw of my childhood heroes. As Willie Nelson put it, "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys".
midnight- Fan from the beginning huh? I got to work with a guy from that era right out of college. Did some Harvest crew work for Bob Lilly in Throckmorton ,Tx. Pretty sure he's still around that area.
Thks for sharing.
Thanks to everyone for sharting their stories. i'll try to post another of these soon so we can here a little about some of the other bloggers/fans experiences. for some reason my posts arent currently showing up on some parts of the site. Maybe Fox will get this fixed soon.
Oh how I love this blog! I became a NASCAR fan because I used to go to races at our home track as a little girl. I became part of my cousin's pit crew when I got old enough and there was a natural progression. I was originally an Ernie Irvan fan. When he got injured and couldn't race, I moved to DJ and remain a fan of his to this day. But, I went from booing Dale Sr to cheering for him when I found out he was human. He was injured. Then he blacked out. then he aggravated an injury while working on his farm. I watched an interview after that farm injury and became a fan. don't ask me exactly what he said, because I don't remember, all I know is HE WAS HUMAN!!! When Dale Jr started racing, I admired him. He was his own person!! He wasn't trying to be daddy, he just wanted to race. I loved watching the two of thme interacting together. No matter what he does, I will be his fan.
Okay, now you said I could talk hockey and I AM from Canada! I watched hockey from my youngest days, but (promise you won't laugh) i am a Boston Bruins fan. I have posters of Bruins players from my teenaged years.
Football? Denver all the way man!! LOVE those Broncos!
Baseball? the Red Socks
Okay, now I am sure you think I am totally weird. Maybe I am, but one thing I defintely am, is PASSIONATE about my teams!
Thanks for reminding me what it is to be a fan!
Oh and BTW, both my kids are NASCAR fans, son's fav is Mark Martin (and his namesake DJ) and my daughter loves whoever is driving the M&M's car. As to the other sports - they like who I like, cuz I own the TV!!!
Last edited by JrCanuckFan on October 6th at 9:24 PM.
Great subject TCG, and my story is one I love to tell. You've all heard of "the Catch", or "The Play" etc. Well for me it is something I call "The Hit". It is purely and distnctly mine and mine alone. It was around '63 or '64, I was about 9 or 10. My grade school had an after school program that included a flag football league. Our volunteer coach was a student at USC and for an outing he took the team (our parents paid for our tickets but coach organized the event etc.) to a USC game. I don't remember much about the game except for one play, "The Hit". USC kicked off and the other team (I believe it was ND but not sure) formed the wall for a sidline return on my side of the field. The returner was full throttle. So was the USC special teams player. They met, the USC player executed a perfect form tackle, facemask in the sternum. He lifted the returner off the ground, drove him 10 yards back, and planted him like a daisy. When the returner hit the ground with the facemask still in his chest you could hear the "oof" all the way up in the stands, followed by a stunned silence and then a collective "oooh", both in sympathy and appreciation. The Hit. Thats what did it. I said to myself "Man, I like those guys, they are cool".
Good times, bad times, I'm a Trojan fan for life. My Grandson lives in Boomer Sooner land and takes hell from his friends, but I have trained him in Trojan Valhalla. I have 4 daughters that followed me to LaLa Lakerland, but they weren't into football. I have 2 more Grandsons that are currently in training (see my avatar for the young
Last edited by UltTroyDos on October 12th at 1:58 PM.
Great post!!! Too bad about the Cowboys though. They probably have a cure for that by now. I too have a man crush on Mr. Montana. That is wierd because I've been a whodat forever, and believe it or not we had a great team once. The kind of defense that won games on their own. And freakin' Joe would waltz in a whip us twice a year. In SE Louisiana I really don't believe you have a choice, it's Saints all the way, win or lose. My love for that team compelled me to love another loser... The Cubs. So with the Saints I have the flags, the bumper stickers, pictures, plaques, etc., but what I'm really proud of is my 3 year old can name all the playmakers on the team, and he knows Joe Horn is a money-hungry traitor.
yeemum- I thin Barr and Wayner Fonte's personal probs with each other had more to do with his ealry retiremnet than fear of injury. He was a great one and will very likely be in Emmits shoes now if not for that.
ultTroy- We all had one moment that etched sports into our lives. Cool that you rememebr that moment for you. Thanks for sharing.
bless- yep.. I rememebr 55-10 better than a lot of my own team's memorable games. Joe had a knack for exceeding against the best.. thats why he is the best. Don''t have to be a 9ers fan to repect him. wish today's Bengals were more like he days of Boomer. Again. thanks for sharing.
As far as other teams go, my dad took me to LA Rams games (love the fearsome foursome, #### Bass, Jack Snow, hacksaw Reynolds, Roman Gabriel) but that witch Geogia ruined it for me (like jon 464 I had to pick a new team). The Cowboys seemed to be the classiest organiation out there, and by then I lived in Fort Worth, so a Cowboy fan I am.
Dad also took me to Dodger games, back then pitching and defense was all they had so Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale were my heroes. The Lakers, hmm... I don't know, just something about Jerry West hitting shots from half court at the buzzer, Elgin Baylor coming as close to flying as anyone ever had back in the day. And I know it's a bit odd to be BOTH a Trojan fan and a UCLA Bruin basketball fan, but I loved watching Lew Alcindor play, and they were coached by the all time best coach ever in any sport, the Wizard of Westwood John Wooden. BTW, I think Lew Alcindor changed his name didn't he?
A lot of people have a odd combination when it comes to their favorite teams/players. UCLA and USC.? Thats almost as bad as me being a Cowboys fan and a Joe Monatana fan.
Just an average sports fan. Enjoy in order of favorites: NFL, NASCAR, College Football, MLB, College Basketball.
NBA, and NHL are currently on my "Overrated, Overpaid, and Overhyped" list.
Classic Car enthusiast
Blog topics --
Big fan of humour, but will occasionally chime in on serious subjects as well.
Appreciate quality writing and grammar, and commend it, but will not hold it against those who don't excel in those areas.(I'm definitely nowhere close to perfect either.)
Please stop by anytime if the subject intrigues you. Your opinion is always appreciated.
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