The origins of my fandom... - brandon27's Blog

brandon27's Blog

The origins of my fandom...

Posted on July 12, 2012 at 01:27 PM.

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We're all fans of one team or another in every sport, but few of us every really know why someone we know is a fan of whatever sports team we choose. So, I'm going to do a brief write-up of my favorite teams, and why they are my favorites. Hopefully it will encourage others to do the same.

NFL: Miami Dolphins

So I became a Dolphins fan way back in the early 90's. I cant remember exactly which year, but I know it was early 90's, probably 1991 or 1992, because I have some player card sets at home of the teams with Duper & Clayton on them. It was one of the first games I watched on TV, the Dolphins were playing, as was Dan Marino. I always grew up liking Dolphins, the mammal as well, so it was a natural fit I suppose. The more I got into football as a kid, the more I just kept following them, and I have ever since. Yes, even in the 1-15 season, I still watched every single game. Unfortunately I've yet to see them win a championship. They are the only team on my favorites list that I haven't seen win a title.

NHL: Detroit Red Wings

Growing up in Windsor Ontario, as a Canadian one would naturally think I'd be a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, like alot of Canadians, especially in Ontario. However, growing up with an older brother who was already a Leafs fan meant that I needed a different team apparently. Since Windsor is right across the river from Detroit, I picked the Red Wings as a kid. Mainly because of Steve Yzerman. Loved watching him play, my parents took me to meet him at a local car dealership when I was in the 3rd grade. To this day, the picture he autographed for me that day sits on my bar at home. Luckily for me the Wings became the powerhouse franchise that they are today. I'm thankful to be a Wings fan since I've got to watch some of the best to ever play the game, Yzerman and Lidstrom, and then of course all the other greats through franchise history. I'm also thankful to have seen the Wings win 4 Stanley Cups in my lifetime.

MLB: Toronto Blue Jays

So, the reason behind this one is the opposite of the reason for the Red Wings. My older brother decided to be a Detroit Tigers fan, and I just couldn't be the same. So I went with my Canadian team here in the Blue Jays. I played years and years of baseball growing up, it was really the first sport I became a fan of, making the Jays one of my favorite sports teams growing up since I was so invested in baseball. I'll never forget 1992, watching Joe Carter make the catch at first base for the final out, bringing the World Series Championship north of the border for the first time. Then again, in 1993 as he hit the walk off homer.

NCAA: Michigan Wolverines

This one is a tough one... I have to swallow a bit of pride to explain this one. So, as I mentioned earlier my brother had a bit of an influence on all of my teams. I couldn't like one that he liked. So, he tried forcing me to be a Michigan State fan simply because he didn't want me to be a Michigan fan because he was. I just couldn't do it. Mostly because my Dad always watched Michigan games, and with my brother and I getting into football so did we. So, It just ended up that despite the efforts of my brother trying to lead me down the wrong path, I'm a Michigan fan. Of course, I got to see the National Championship season as well, even though it was a "shared" title. There's also a local connection to it since we really are only about an hour drive from Ann Arbor. Each year I head over to one or two games. This year, I'm trying to get tickets for the Michigan/MSU game at The Big House, where I will be cheering Go Blue... Not Green.

NBA: Detroit Pistons

Alright, so let me clear this up first. I'm not really a basketball fan. I absolutely dislike it actually. I pay attention to headlines, look at the standings briefly, watch a few highlights here and there, but really, at the end of the day I couldn't care less. However there was a time growing up where I liked it a little bit. In my opinion it was a much different game in the 90's too though. It was tolerable then. Now its just one non called travel after another. Growing up for me, was around the Piston's Bad Boys era. I think everyone enjoyed them then. Lambier, Thomas, Rodman etc. etc. It was again, the local appeal of Detroit that got me. However, as I said, now, I really couldn't care less. I just included things because it was the only major sport I would have left out if I didn't.

OHL: Windsor Spitfires (Junior Hockey)

So this one is rather obvious, they are my hometown team. Cheap tickets, nice arena, and in alot of cases hockey that is more entertaining to watch live then NHL games due to lack of TV time outs and such. The spits have struggled the last year or so since winning back to back Memorial Cups, but no doubt in my mind they'll rebuild and get back on track. It sure was great those few years though watching Taylor Hall, and Adam Henrique and company just dominating teams on their way to those two Memorial Cups. Great to have happen in your own back yard. Literally since I'm so close to the arena.

Conclusion:

So that about wraps it up. As I said, most of my teams were picked at a very young age, when I was around 10 years old or so, about 20 years ago now. No bandwagon jumping here. I've stuck with all of my teams and always will, no matter what. I've been fortunate enough to see them all win championships which is just the greatest feeling ever for a sports fan, even though alot of them happened when I was alot younger, its still great.

So that's my fandom story.. What's yours?