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Why Are You a Fan? NFL Edition

16
Vote

by users Michalski81 Ufgators

Since Michalski cannot access his computer, I am publishing an article he wrote about how he became a FAN.


What was the reason that you became the fan of your current favorite NFL team? Was it parental influence? Maybe a player you saw when you were younger? Was it the first game you went to and you just stuck with that team?

I was young and didn't know about loyalty or sticking with one team. My father was a die-hard Skins fan and sort of pushed that onto me. We had many pictures with me in Skins pajamas, and with my Skins blanket and holding the football and all that good kid stuff.

Then I started playing touch football in the street and I was the fastest on my block and I wanted to be a "cool" WR. My friend and I looked through one of thoseTtopps sticker books and I saw the Dolphins' "Marks"--Clayton & Duper. That was my team! With Dan Marino, Tony Nathan, Clayton & Duper. Defense didn't matter--back then it was just offense. Then came Super Bowl 19 and I cried when the Dolphins lost and that was like the beginning of "loyalty" or "innocence lost". That year marked my beginning to take in the BIG picture and truely stick with one team. I started to get into playing football (other than touch) and learn what it meant to be tackled (I was always scared that I would break a leg - that is why I never did it before.) I saw a highlight of Walter Payton running over people and stiff arming defenders, and the way he ran with the stutter step made me think that he was now "my man" and the Bears were "my team". I patterened my running like him and was almost uncatchable. And that is who I have been loyal to ever since. So, that was my journey towards becoming a Chicago Bears fan.

What stories do you guys remember that made you a FAN of YOUR team?


Date

Thu 09/21/06, 7:07 pm EST


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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
1163 days ago
Score 3+-
First off, the NFL gets closer to losing me for good every year. I hate dynasties, but I LOVE rooting against them. Parity takes all of my fun away. Either lose the salary cap or guarantee contracts. Teams should be punished for making bad personnel moves, not given a way out. I don't like NFL communism.... anyway...

I have never been a fan of any particular team for long. As kids (Ages 6-30), when me and my buddies would play street/empty lot/yard football, we would always have 'fantasy' careers where we would "play" as teammates at some dinky East Bumblefunk A&M school, win several titles and Heismans and be #1 , #2, #3 NFL picks, etc, But because we were always so awesome in "college", of course we would be high draft picks and get picked by crappy NFL teams and make those franchises become great, then meet against each other in "Super Bowls"...

Yes, my friends have imaginations too. Anyway, this was in the early 80's so we ended up playing a lot of Falcons - Seahawks and Buccaneers - Oilers Super Bowls... (we'd crush the Cowboys in the NFC Champ. games like 84-3 every "year")

Well this was a trend for so long, we would just become fans of the worst franchises, year after year. Then, Sterling Sharpe came into the league and I was smitten. I became a hardcore Packers fan. Then Sharpe had to retire, the Packers won the Super Bowl and then I stopped liking them. Haven't had a "favorite" team since (although I've always had a soft spot for the Cards, since they suck)
Permalink | Reply
EroosterMajor Leaguer
1163 days ago
Score 1+-
Even as a young kid, I knew one certainty would prevail in my life. I will not ever like or do the things that everyone else around me would do or like. In terms of football teams, people in the area are either 49ers fans or Raiders fans. I grew a deep dislike of both, but especially of the Raiders. My first memory of a game was in 1976 when the Seahawks played the Raiders on tv. Unbeknownst to me, it was also the first season of play for the Seattle Seahawks as a franchise. I saw them playing THE team that I dispised and I latched on to them. I have been a true fan of the Seahawks since.
Permalink | Reply
The BeastAAA-er
1163 days ago
Score 0+-
Two words: Brett Favre. Thank you for all those memories.
Permalink | Reply
The sharkDraft Pick
1163 days ago
Score 0+-
Two more words: The Immaculate Reception. okay, three words.
Permalink | Reply
I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer
1163 days ago
Score 0+-
Two more words: The only rebellion I ever staged growing up was not being a diehard cleveland fan going up. I was very fair weather but always liked the Browns, even though I claimed the Cowboys as my team. I decided to dedicate myself to being a full-time Browns fan for life before the 1995 season, something tells me you know what happened after that. While the Browns were gone I dabbled with Jacksonville for awhile because they were new, had cool colors and I thought the city was cool when we drove past it going to Disney a few years before. Bust since 1999 I've been all Browns all the time.
Permalink | Reply
Davis21wylieMVP
1163 days ago
Score 2+-
Two words on why I'm a Pats fan: Steve. Grogan. Just. Kidding.
Permalink | Reply
The BeastAAA-er
1163 days ago
Score 2+-
I really feel for all of the Browns fans prior to '95. I think they'd all want to kill Modell and everyone else on the Ravens. Its hard to imagine what I'd feel like. I guess it'd be like Jerry Buss moving the Lakers to Las Vegas and calling them the Las Vegas Cobras or somethig.
Permalink | Reply
Davis21wylieMVP
1163 days ago
Score 0+-
Las Vegas Cobras? Now that's a name. Now I know what to re-name the Packers when I relocate them in Madden...
Permalink
UfgatorsDiv-I Stud
1162 days ago
Score 0+-
The Las Vegas Dolphins..hmm, doesn't seem to fit.
Permalink
I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer
1162 days ago
Score 3+-
Las Vegas Dolphins is no worse than the Utah Jazz
Permalink
I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer
1162 days ago
Score 0+-
Speaking of Madden relocations, I think I have the best one ever going right now, I'm moving the 49ers to Nebraska, heck yeah.
Permalink
JB82Div-I Stud
1162 days ago
Score 0+-
NY Giants since they've had their training camp at SUNY Albany for the last decade.
Permalink | Reply
The BeastAAA-er
1161 days ago
Score 0+-
Thats whats so great about the Packers they can never move from Green Bay as they are owned by the city.
Permalink | Reply
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This page was last modified 22:06, 22 September 2006. Content is available under the GFDL.

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