What made you a hardcore sports fan?

[Clockwork Orange]

We all came to be be fanatics one way or another, how'd it happen for you?

Mine's easy, I have my parents to thank/blame. :) I can point to the very instance that took me down the path of being a hardcore sports fan.

It was 1985, I was 9 years old, the Cardinals & Dodgers were playing in the NLCS. Both of my parents were born and raised in St. Louis and are die hard Cardinals fans. Unfortunately for them they both work for a living and this was when they still played day games during the LCS. Even worse, this was long before the internet and national sports radio so there was no way to follow the game. So you'd think that this would mean that they'd just have to wait until they got home and find out what happened, right?

Wrong. They had a plan.

I was specifically told that I was to come straight home from school as quickly as possible, no detours along the way. As soon as I got home, I was to turn on the television and park myself in front of it. My parents would then call every 15-20 minutes to get updates. What's the score? What inning is it? Who's pitching? Anyone on base? I was their link and dammit, I was going to be reliable.

My parents were hardcore, therefore I became hardcore.

So what's your excuse? ;D

[-Slap-]

I wanted dad to love me.

[ludo21]

Ha!

Nice Story!

Had a Championship shirt slapped on me when I was born in 87', and played soccer since I was 4, so it all started early.

[ZachKC]

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/images/2004/02/06/hj5QiWNe.jpg

[Clockwork Orange]

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/images/2004/02/06/hj5QiWNe.jpg

Wasn't that the last time the Royals were over .500? ;D

[Jason in LA]

I was the youngest of 6. First one was a girl, the rest were boys.

My first memory of sports was Super Bowl XVII, Skins vs Dolphins. I was 6 years old. One of my brothers was taping the game. He left the room. So I turned on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. He was hot. That's when I learned the importance of sports. I've been a fan ever sense.

[epicSocialism4tw]

I played competitive sports until a couple of years after high school. I was always interested in several sports.

John Elway made me a football fan. Micheal Jordan took me from being a casual fan to a regular NBA observer. Playing competitive soccer in the US youth developmental system made me a supporter of US Soccer.

I have never had interest in hockey, and really got tired of baseball in the late 80's/early 90's. I havent been interested in baseball since well before the modern steroid era, and the steroids have completely turned me off...I'll never be a baseball fan again. The media parade behind Bonds sickens me.

[Garcia Bronco]

Picking my own favorite team and not following everybody else


GO BRONCOS down with the Skins

[-Slap-]

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/images/2004/02/06/hj5QiWNe.jpg
So you owe Don Denkinger?

[freak6]

The Elway Hype Machine, and the fact he actually lived up to the billing. GOAT!

[azbroncfan]

John Elway, John Stockton and Karl Malone, Believe it or not Jose Canseco and Ricky Henderson. Living in Utah as a young kid those are the local teams, actually their are a lot of niner fans there but I didn't jump on the ban wagon.

[Florida_Bronco]

Mostly being a football player myself is what made me the fanatic I am today.

[Sassy]

John Elway's Arm ;D

[Jason in LA]

John Elway, John Stockton and Karl Malone, Believe it or not Jose Canseco and Ricky Henderson. Living in Utah as a young kid those are the local teams, actually their are a lot of niner fans there but I didn't jump on the ban wagon.

Ricky Henderson is my second favorite athlete of all time. Terrell Davis is the first.

[freak6]

Wanna be pissed off?

The answer to this question is two people.

Pete Rozelle, and AL FKN DAVIS!! ha haaa

[ZachKC]

So you owe Don Denkinger?
You know there was a game 7.

[Clockwork Orange]

I wanted dad to love me.

If I ever wanted to get under my father's skin, all I had to do was sing the praises of the designated hitter. That'd get him going every time. Still does. :)

[Jason in LA]

My is 10 years old. When he was about 22 months, I taught him to count to 10, then his abc's, then I taught him every team in the NFL. He could look at a picture and tell you who was playing, before he was two years old. He's been a huge sports fan ever since. He goes down to the sports bar with me to watch the games. He's become a regular.

[gunns]

My mom. That's all she watched was sports and thank heavens football was her favorite. I remember watching the football players get in their stance and was wondering why they always had to tie their shoes. I was 5 and learning to tie my shoes was a big thing then.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Playing sports all my life. Played in a competative basketball league until I was 52. Don't do much except a little golf and watch these days though

[anthonypacino]

It was a combination of things. My parents weren't huge Bronco fans but the games were on every Sunday, I just loved the thrill of the game. Collecting sports cards, ESPN, playing football, baseball. My uncle from Ohio.

[Old Dude]

If I had to name any one thing, it would be "The Voice of God."

http://bpofphila.tripod.com/facendacl.jpg

[Florida_Bronco]

My is 10 years old. When he was about 22 months, I taught him to count to 10, then his abc's, then I taught him every team in the NFL. He could look at a picture and tell you who was playing, before he was two years old. He's been a huge sports fan ever since. He goes down to the sports bar with me to watch the games. He's become a regular.

What position(s) does your boy play?

[Archie]

My parents were as non-sports as they come. I discovered pee-wee football on my own and got my parents to sign me up. I played for about six years and then a couple years on high school. (I tell my then girlfrind now wife of almost 20 years) that if she didn't whine about my getting hurt I would have become a NFL player someday... Those of you who've met me probably could tell otherwise now but I digress...

In January 1977 I saw bits of my first pro-football game. The superbowl when Oakland beat Minn. I was rooting for Minn but I had no idea why at the time (it just seemed right). The next season I was a total Bronco fan but not yet watching every game. However, when the Broncos beat Oakland, in Oakland, 30-7, I remember watching the highlights of the game and then the next morning being mesmerized by the radio playing highlights of the 10,000 fans crowding into Stapleton to welcome home the team and chanting in unison we're #1. That cemented me as a die hard bronco fan and started me on the path of die hard sports fan-hood.

[ludo21]

What position(s) does your boy play?


At 10, its eveyone run to the ball LOL

Its so much fun to watch those little guys play.

My only regret is not playing football til HS, set me back a bit.

[Meck77]

Went to my first Broncos game in 1979. That was it.

[bombay]

We all came to be be fanatics one way or another, how'd it happen for you?

Mine's easy, I have my parents to thank/blame. :) I can point to the very instance that took me down the path of being a hardcore sports fan.

It was 1985, I was 9 years old, the Cardinals & Dodgers were playing in the NLCS. Both of my parents were born and raised in St. Louis and are die hard Cardinals fans. Unfortunately for them they both work for a living and this was when they still played day games during the LCS. Even worse, this was long before the internet and national sports radio so there was no way to follow the game. So you'd think that this would mean that they'd just have to wait until they got home and find out what happened, right?

Wrong. They had a plan.



I was specifically told that I was to come straight home from school as quickly as possible, no detours along the way. As soon as I got home, I was to turn on the television and park myself in front of it. My parents would then call every 15-20 minutes to get updates. What's the score? What inning is it? Who's pitching? Anyone on base? I was their link and dammit, I was going to be reliable.

My parents were hardcore, therefore I became hardcore.

So what's your excuse? ;D

That SOB Denkinger. I'll never forgive him.

[Jason in LA]

What position(s) does your boy play?

He was the starter at LB and TE. He got a few carries at TB, and played some FB. He led the team in tackles by my count.

It would piss me off that during practice they would call a five yard out for him and it would be completed everytime. Those kids couldn't cover anybody. But come game time the coach never called that play. Any pass play would be a streak to the WR, which was never completed. All the parents hated the coach, and damn near had a lynch mob for him after one blow out loss. The team went 2-6. One coach from an opposing team said that our team had too much talent to be that bad.

[Jason in LA]

At 10, its eveyone run to the ball LOL

Its so much fun to watch those little guys play.

My only regret is not playing football til HS, set me back a bit.

My son's coach thought the same thing. I think that's why they were 2-6. ;D

I didn't get to play until I got to highschool. I felt that it set me back too. There are a lot of players that did well without playing youth football. I think that has a lot to do with good coaching. I had raw talent. Very fast, very good moves. I just needed some good coaching to get me to develop my talents. I never got that. My coaches spent more time yelling than coaching. I don't want my son to be in that same position if he chooses to play football.

[-Slap-]

If I ever wanted to get under my father's skin, all I had to do was sing the praises of the designated hitter. That'd get him going every time. Still does. :)
I had some good sports arguments with my dad when I was in my 20s. Now I realize how many things he was right about. Not just about sports, either.

[ludo21]

My son's coach thought the same thing. I think that's why they were 2-6. ;D

I didn't get to play until I got to highschool. I felt that it set me back too. There are a lot of players that did well without playing youth football. I think that has a lot to do with good coaching. I had raw talent. Very fast, very good moves. I just needed some good coaching to get me to develop my talents. I never got that. My coaches spent more time yelling than coaching. I don't want my son to be in that same position if he chooses to play football.


Definitely, I never played with pads, tackled with them or caught with them, I just didnt get use to it.

Practice was my time to shine LOL I injured one of our starters once, I think thats why I never saw the field. :rofl:

[Clockwork Orange]

I had some good sports arguments with my dad when I was in my 20s. Now I realize how many things he was right about. Not just about sports, either.

My father is one of those hard headed types who is never wrong about anything, ever. He may not be right, but he's never wrong. That always made arguing with him a challenge of Herculean proportions.

I've learned to pick my spots with him. One of those spots, however, is never about boxing (his favorite sport). He is the boxing officiando and nothing I say will ever convince him otherwise.

[Jason in LA]

Definitely, I never played with pads, tackled with them or caught with them, I just didnt get use to it.

Practice was my time to shine LOL I injured one of our starters once, I think thats why I never saw the field. :rofl:

I was teammates with Az Hakim. He, and a few others had grown up playing, and they were the coaches favorites from the day they stepped foot on campus. They were given every chance to shine. They were very good, but they didn't have to earn much of anything. I was never able to catch up. Being yelled at instead of coached didn't help much.

My brother's baseball career ended because he hurt one of the stars of the team. He had went out for the team his Sr. year. He was a very good little league player, and probably should have stuck with baseball throughout high school. And he was left handed. Well, in practice one day he comes around thirdbase, is running home, and kills the catcher at home plate. The coach told him that baseball probably wasn't the sport for him. The coach should have given him a chance because he was good.

[Victor]

http://imagesource.allposters.com/images/PHO/AAEC014.jpg

Joe Kapp

[bendog]

It gave me an excuse for not listening to my wife.

[epicSocialism4tw]

I was teammates with Az Hakim. He, and a few others had grown up playing, and they were the coaches favorites from the day they stepped foot on campus. They were given every chance to shine. They were very good, but they didn't have to earn much of anything. I was never able to catch up. Being yelled at instead of coached didn't help much.

My brother's baseball career ended because he hurt one of the stars of the team. He had went out for the team his Sr. year. He was a very good little league player, and probably should have stuck with baseball throughout high school. And he was left handed. Well, in practice one day he comes around thirdbase, is running home, and kills the catcher at home plate. The coach told him that baseball probably wasn't the sport for him. The coach should have given him a chance because he was good.

Politics in sports can be very ugly, and is always ethically irreconcileable for the kids that play them. When I was a child, I began my competitive career by joining a developmental team (kind of like a regional all-star team) that played in tournaments. I was easily the best soccer player in my region. I scored between 2 and 3 goals every game, and my team was the best in the region. I never got to play on that team because I was invited to play despite my family being too poor to afford the fees and equipment. I watched from the sideline and couldnt figure out why the player getting my minutes (the coaches son, who played on my team and wasnt much of a player) played and I didnt. It was an early lesson in politics.

[GonzoLays]

Politics in sports can be very ugly, and is always ethically irreconcileable for the kids that play them. When I was a child, I began my competitive career by joining a developmental team (kind of like a regional all-star team) that played in tournaments. I was easily the best soccer player in my region. I scored between 2 and 3 goals every game, and my team was the best in the region. I never got to play on that team because I was invited to play despite my family being too poor to afford the fees and equipment. I watched from the sideline and couldnt figure out why the player getting my minutes (the coaches son, who played on my team and wasnt much of a player) played and I didnt. It was an early lesson in politics.

Was it a lesson in politics or was it that you weren't any good? You are trying to tell me that they kept their best player (you) off the field when there are 11 positions to be filled on a soccer team? Seems like you have a higher opinion of your game than your qualified coach did.

[broncosteven]

Floyd Little Running in the early to mid 70's. The man was Elway before Elway.

[watermock]

http://imagesource.allposters.com/images/PHO/AAEC014.jpg

But before that, while the adults were yapping incoherently at Grandma's thankgiving HUGE get together, wondering what the hell Bob was yelling about..Granny had a COLOR TV! So Bob and I made it a yearly thing. They still made us eat at the table tho. He liked the Chefs, I liked the Packers. circa 1965 on...Later we moved almost to the Minnesota border. Needless to say I was pretty hostile watching the Chef matriculate. I couldn't handle it and asked my friend to go out and play and I beat the hell out of him. I was so wound up before this years AFC Championship I was exausted and literally lay down for a second...I was so pissed but must of had an ear open because we were driving down 24-10 and I woke up, and viola, another turnover.

[freak6]

Went to my first Broncos game in 1979. That was it.

That's a great point, my first Broncos game was (I think) Elway's first 4th quarter comeback vs the Colts.

[24champ]

http://ww1.sportsline.com/b/apphotos/Gretzky11796.jpg
THE GREAT ONE

I played hockey since I was little and Idolized all of the Kings back then. Everyone from Luc Robetaille, Jari Kurri, Rob Blake, Kelly Hrudey, and even Marth Mcsorley. I miss the Forum a little bit, lots of memories there, went to some of the greatest games when I was young.

http://www.photofile.com/Photos/Albums/Whats_Hot_Page/Legends_Album/images/NBA/Magic_Johnson_jpg.jpg

[Al Wilson]

http://www.nba.com/history/images/jordan_dunk1988.jpg

[Jason in LA]

Politics in sports can be very ugly, and is always ethically irreconcileable for the kids that play them. When I was a child, I began my competitive career by joining a developmental team (kind of like a regional all-star team) that played in tournaments. I was easily the best soccer player in my region. I scored between 2 and 3 goals every game, and my team was the best in the region. I never got to play on that team because I was invited to play despite my family being too poor to afford the fees and equipment. I watched from the sideline and couldnt figure out why the player getting my minutes (the coaches son, who played on my team and wasnt much of a player) played and I didnt. It was an early lesson in politics.

My nephew went through something similar during his high school career, which hurt him a lot. He was a star running back. He went to a private school. As a 10th grader, he was clearly better than one of the starting RBs (they had a two back system). The guy ahead of him was a Sr., and his parents were big boosters. The kid had played on the team for four years, and waited his turn. Now as a Sr. it was his turn, even though my nephew was a lot better as a 10 grader. Didn't matter. My nephew sat the bench most of the year, while the Sr didn't do much of anything. The Sr. got hurt and missed four games, and my nephew got to play in his spot. It was clear who the better player was. When the Sr came back, he got his spot back, which angered many of the parents who supported the team. They wanted to win. It was BS.

Well, the next year it happened again. The other RB, who was a Jr, now a Sr, got just about every carry during the season, even in blowouts, because his father was the OC and wanted him to break all kinds of records. My nephew was atleast as good as this kid, and was bigger and faster. So my nephew had to go play defense, where he was all-conference.

Finally in his Sr year he got to be the starting RB, and ran for about 1700 yards on a bad team.

The two kids that played ahead of him are no longer playing. They weren't all that good. My nephew didn't get much attention, so he went the Jr. college route instead of a DII school. He plays at the College of the Canyons, which is one of the top JCs in the nation. They redshirted him last year. They only redshirt their best incoming freshmen, so they'll have them for an extra year. From what I was told, just about every player they redshirt gets a D1 scholarship.

[Hogan11]

http://209.23.71.87/whats_new/feedback/images/staub_rusty.jpg
"Le Grand Orange"

http://www.sargeusa.com/thebroncos/photos/12Johnson.jpg

CJ#12

and of course, the Almighty Floyd

http://www.sargeusa.com/thebroncos/photos/44Little.jpg

[OrangeShadow]

it was pretty much all around me growing up

[cabronco]

I was always in sports when I was younger. I liked football the best, Didnt like baseball because I really wasn that good at it. Soccer was okay. I went to alot of LA kings games and have been a fan for a long time. I was always intrigued with who the "orange crush " were, and started watching games that were televised. I didnt hear alot of the Hype on Elway, but remember him getting hammered as a rookie. But watching his competitiveness, his abilities and his rocket arm was something special. I've been hooked line & sinker since. I always respected how Elway upheld himself on and off the field.

[Tredici]

We grew up in a Poke and Plum town. -- When you were driving through if you poked your head out the window you were plum out of town... The only thing to do was sports. It took every boy and girl in town to put together a softball or flag football game. No discrimination every body was necessary.

My Dad had 3 girls but it didn't slow him down. We went to every highschool football, basketball, baseball and wrestling meets. -- My Mom was always one of those you could hear from the stands. Especially at basketball games.

My Dad loved the corny stuff too. No televised performance of The Harlem Globetrotters ever snuck by unnoticed in our house.

My sister and I once got in a big fight over the Packers and the Bears. I liked Green Bay and she would scream - just because they are CHEATERS. Haha.

When I go over to Mom's house on the weekend she always has on the Rockies.

Sports and small town life are pretty much one and the same.

[Sassy]

Very true, Tred. I grew up in a very small town, too...Not much to do but cheer on the local team. Which, in my high school years, was fun since we had pretty good teams in both football, boys bb and girl's bb.

[MechanicalBull]

1986 Mets and when I was a litte kid my dad being a huge raider fan would always have people over when they were on tv and when I saw a man by the name of John Elway evade on coming defenders, run around and rifle that ball I was hooked.

[Florida_Bronco]

Practice was my time to shine LOL I injured one of our starters once, I think thats why I never saw the field. :rofl:

When I was 13, I injured 2 of the starters on our midget football team, one of which just happened to be the quarterback. That didn't make me too popular with the coach.

I was playing SS and our defensive coordinator was kind enough to send me on a safety blitz. Since I played both ways, I recoginized the formation (pro set with the TE split out in the slot) and knew we only ran 2 plays from that formation, both of which came off tackle in my direction. One play was the quarterback, the other was a reverse to the TE. Turns out they called the play to the QB. I was able to time it perfectly where I hit the quarterback as soon as he cut upfield at the LOS. The top edge of my facemask ended up right on his chin. I got up, and after getting the congratulatory smacks on the helmet from my teammates, I turn and see our QB laying flat on his back with a bloody chin.

He missed 2 games with that injury, both of which we lost.

The next one was a new kid who they were trying out at running back. I was playing SS again from the basic 5-2-4 defense we ran. They gave the new kid the ball on a run that was supposed to go between the LG and LT, but our LB broke through and the play broke down. Rather than just take 2 yard loss, the kid took off outside the tackle and I went after him. As I squared up, he tried to juke out towards the sideline and I hit him with my shoulder pad in his chest. Unfortunately this caused him to basically do the "splits" and he ended up dislocating his hip.

He was done for the season. He tried to come back the next year, but he had lost most of his speed and agility and was scared to get hit. I think he got 3 carries that season before eventually quitting about midseason.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

My parents were hardcore, therefore I became hardcore.


That story is awesome.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

As for me...

[Swedish Extrovert]

Montana lol...

My parents aren't sports fans. My dad is kind of... but thats through me.

I guess it's just the compitition. Or maybe the friends I hung out with growing up. All the cool kids play hockey.

[Florida_Bronco]

As for me...

What is that on his neck??

[NOLA Bronco]

I wanted dad to love me.

That is awesome.