I Became A Fan of ....... when.....

[JiriHrdina]

I became a fan of the Houston Rockets when I first heard of Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. Just thought it was pretty much the coolest name ever.

I stopped being a fan of the Houston Rockets when they traded for Stevie Francis.

[Locke]

I was destined to be a soccer fan. My father is of German descent, but immigrated here from Brazil.

So, when I was young and getting into sports, we didnt have the money for hockey equipment, which is what I really wanted to play, but my dad had me in soccer since I could walk.

Cheering for Germany and Brazil were no brainers, and cheering for Canada whenever I got the opportunity.

When I was young, I had nobody to really talk soccer with, my dad only watched the national team games and he worked a lot, but my best friend's dad was from England, and so he and I would talk soccer a lot. He taught me the importance of supporting the home-town team, no matter what. No matter how good, or how bad, no matter how much you hated who owned them, or ran them, or played for them, you supported the crest upon their chest, no matter what.

He was from Liverpool and thats how I became a Liverpool fan at around the age of 10 and have been ever since. He died last year, and I miss him. RIP Dave, You'll Never Walk Alone.

It also really cemented my loyalty to the Flames, I still always use his term to describe the Flames: "This is a team that you hate to Love." I always loved hockey, but never really had a team to get behind until then, I chose the Flames and I'll stick with them forever.

There it is. I cheer for the Stamps because this is my town. I dream of the day when I hit huge money, become the richest man in the world and bulldoze Edmonton.

[flamesrule14]

Flames fan- Born in Calgary. Wasn't much of a hockey fan when I was young and actually hated watching it. Moved to Edmonton though in the middle of Grade 2. Everyone in my class tried to get me to be a oilers fan, but for some reason call it instincts I just knew I couldn't cheer for the oilers. Been a hardcore flames fan since that point. Been in Edmonton 14 years now and haven't missed a flames/oiler game at Rexall place.

Oakland A's- Good old baseball on the sega genesis. Always played as the A's as they had the power hitters McGwire and Canseco. Also one of my good buddies was a huge A's fan so it was just a perfect fit.

Seattle Seahawks- Always watched football, but never really had a favorite team for the longest time. Then one year can't remeber exactly (2001?) I was watching and saw Shaun Alexander run for like 5 or 6 touchdowns. He instantly became my favorite player and the Seahawks were my favorite team. Also helped that we get the Spokane channel so Hawks games were always on tv.

[Superflyer]

Bruins - Growing up in N.S. the choices to cheer for were either the Habs, Leafs or Bruins. The first year that I even noticed hockey was the 86, a friend of mine asked who do you think is going to win the cup, Montreal or Calgary. Well I never heard of Calgary so I said Montreal and I watched the finals and was hooked. So I started looking at the other teams and after much research I decided on the Bruins. This was during the Bourque and Neely years and then they brought in Oates. It was a good time to be a Bruins fan and I was happy.

Stamps - Well this was mainly because when we moved out west I picked the Stamps because the first game I went to was the Labour Day Classic and it was amazing. Since then I was a Stamps fan and still am.

Bucaneers - I have no idea, I started watching them and thought that Sapp was the best, then he left but I decided that I liked the team more then him.

[Rathji]

I first remember being a Flames fan in 86 when I was in grade 3. I know I was a fan before that but I don't remember if it was for that season or longer. I started working night shift when I was about 20 and it became really hard to follow any sports so I kinda fell away for a few years.

Then in 2003, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I watched the November classic outdoor game between Montreal and Edmonton with him and it was the last game I ever saw with him as he died a couple weeks later.

I remembered him talking to me about this goalie we had just traded for, and how he was supposed to be pretty good. After he died, I flipped on a game to check out this new goalie...only to end up crying for pretty much 3 hours. I decided shortly after that if nothing else I could finish out the season in his memory.

Have not looked back yet and I hope I never do.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Flames fan since 1987 - ever since I can remember. Earliest memory was my dad taking me out on the weekend to buy Flames stuff and a Wayne Gretzky lunch box. We took the stuff home and I proceeded to draw flaming C's all over the lunch box so it wouldn't be so ugly. Probably around 87 or so...

Patriots fan since 1994 - was always a Stampeders fan and when Flutie came to the team, he was immediately my favourite player along with Pitts. Found out he used to play for the Patriots and immediately became a Patriots fan for that reason only. Went through some tough years until Brady came along...

[redforever]

Well, I used to cheer same as my Dad did.

I was a long time Leafs fan, but that of course was when it was a 6 team league. And of course if you were a Leafs fan, you hated the Habs. I still don't like the Habs, but the intense rivalry thing is not there as much and I will cheer for the Habs now if they play the Oilers or the Canucks)) As I went to university and then on to teaching, had less time on my hands and kind of let up on hockey for a bit. But as soon as the Flames moved to Calgary in 1980, I had me an NHL team to get excited about again.

In baseball, my Dad and I were long standing National League fans. And this is when the Milwaukee Brewers and Hank Aaron were in the National League. Used to cheer for the LA Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, St Louis Cardinals. In fact, one time when we were travelling, we were in St. Louis and my Dad got us two tickets and we saw the Cards play against Willie Mays. I think the Cards won, but Willie Mays threw a ball from center field to out someone trying to run home.

To this day, I can not bring myself to cheer for the Yankees.

[wpgflamesfan]

I became a fan of the flames when for my 8th birthday i got to go to calgary and watch the flames play the ducks. I remember theo got some milestone point that night and tossed me a puck as he left the ice.

I was born a fan of the bombers.

I became a fan of the Oregon Ducks because of their uniforms.

[calf]

Flames/Stamps fans because they're local.

But I really started paying attention to the Flames at around 6 when they were really, really good in the late 80's.

I really started payint attention to the Stamps at 8, when PeeWee Smith caught the long bomb from Danny Barrett in the '91 WF at Commonwealth, running straight through the endzone into the lockerroom.

[DAN0383]

I became a basketball fan in 2002 after watching game 7 of the Kings/Lakers Western Conference finals, Mike Bibby single handedly won me over to the sport.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

I became a fan of the flames when for my 8th birthday i got to go to calgary and watch the flames play the ducks. I remember theo got some milestone point that night and tossed me a puck as he left the ice.

I was born a fan of the bombers.

I became a fan of the Oregon Ducks because of their uniforms.

Feb 1999, ties Al MacInnis for franchise lead in points. Of coarse a few days later, he gets traded to Colorado.

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Feb 1999, ties Al MacInnis for franchise league in points. Of coarse a few days later, he gets traded to Colorado.

That was the game. Hmm if it was 99 it must have been my ninth birthday.

[Jagger]

I've been a Liverpool fan for as long as I remember.

Growing up on Merseyside meant you were a blue (Everton) or a Red (Liverpool). As red was my favourite colour it was a no brainer. Liverpool also had the likes of Keegan, Toshack, McDermott and then Kenny Dalglish (GirlySports favourite soccer player now! Right GirlySports)

I went to my first Liverpool game at the age of 7 standing in the famous Kop. It was incredible! 20,000 people standing at one end of the ground. The atmosphere was simply electric. When the Reds took to the field and the Kop started belting out ``You`ll never walk alone`` the hair stood up on the back of my neck, I was totally in awe and knew that I would be a die hard Liverpool fan for the rest of my life. After that I followed the team religiously. I followed the Reds on their travels around the country and overseas into Europe. It is a way of life in England. Football is hugely important over there. The build up to matches is much more than you see here for hockey. The fans are much more passionate and that does boil over from time to time. However, I have attended over 400 soccer matches over the years and only seen trouble three times. Not bad really.

My father (may he rest in peace) was never a football fan. I discovered a love of the beautiful game despite him really. However, once I became obsessed with Liverpool and the sport he decided to give it a try. He became more passionate than me at times. I really did worry about his health he got so involved with the highs and lows of a match. I cherish the moments I had with him following the team though and know that he is still cheering them on, and shouting at Alex Ferguson and Man U, from up above!

When I moved to Canada I had to get into hockey. I`d always enjoyed watching it during the olympics, as many soccer fans in England do, so it was pretty easy for me to get into. Problem was that my wife was a huge Oilers fan growing up. BIG problem for me as, shallow or not, there was no way I could really cheer for a blue team. Heaven help us. I really admired that little Fleury guy on the Flames and they played in RED. The right colour! So it was easy. Marriage be damned!!!! My wife`s never really forgiven me for choosing the Flames. She always equates it to if she had supported Manchester United or Everton. Nah, it`s not even close to being as bad! That would have been grounds for divorce over there....

I`m proud to be a Liverpool fan and equally proud to be a Flames fan.

It really is red all over for me......

[flip]

Became a Wings fan when I got an autographed pic of Steve Yzerman for my 5th B-day. Stopped cheering for the Wings in 03-04 (obvious reasons).

Became a Flames fan in about 02. Really hated the Flames for a long time in the 90s then when I moved to Calgary in 2000 my dad started to get a lot of free tickets. The more I went the more I liked 'em. Also my best buddy in high school was a HUGE Flames fan and it kind of rubbed off on me.

[IGGYFORMVP]

I sorta hate to admit this, but I became of the flames when the oilers traded Gretzky. Guess that makes this year my 20 anniversary as a flames fan.

[Mayer]

I became a fan of the Canucks when Linden was drafted. Sure, I was 4 years old and don't really remember it, but my mother does.

[calgaryrocks]

started getting into sports after my parents divorced, and had a good buddy that was a big flames fan, as well my dad is a big flames/stamps fan. in 98 I started following the flames, right around when they traded fleury unfortunatly. and the stamps when they won the grey cup in 98. got more into football then hockey at first cuz the flames were in their run of brutalness (liked iggy, stillman, brathwaite and co. tho) and the stamps were still awesome.
stamps and flames fan ever since.
also started following the hitmen when they went to the mem cup and lost to the ottawa 67s (99 i think).
started following the roughnecks when they became a team and remember being in the saddledome when they won the cup.
started following the Dinos more closely this year, as i transferred from mt royal.

also keep tabs on the canadian teams in other sports (ie raptors and jays) but no my fav sports to watch

[REDVAN]

I became a Flames fan when I was born. My blood is red. Represent.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Became a Flames fan in 89, was a young kid, and didn't really know anything about band wagons so I jumped on and have never stepped off.

Became a Pats fan when they drafted Drew Bledsoe.

Became a team Portugal fan when my dad told me I had to be.

[flip]

Italian football fan since the 94 world cup when we lost to Brazil on penalties. The 2006 world cup was pretty sweet. Oddly enough the other half of my nationality is Irish who beat the Italians in the 94 world cup IIRC.