Comments on: Friday Fire: When Did You Fall In Love With Your Team? http://thestartingfive.net/2009/10/23/friday-fire-when-did-you-fall-in-love-with-your-team/ Bangin’ and Scorin’ Every Trip Down the Floor Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:19:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: ronglover http://thestartingfive.net/2009/10/23/friday-fire-when-did-you-fall-in-love-with-your-team/#comment-29673 ronglover Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:06:44 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=7327#comment-29673 ED: I'm a huge 'Noles fan largely because of the game where Bowden went for two and could not convert. I believe it was '87. Will explain later. ED: I’m a huge ‘Noles fan largely because of the game where Bowden went for two and could not convert. I believe it was ‘87. Will explain later.

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://thestartingfive.net/2009/10/23/friday-fire-when-did-you-fall-in-love-with-your-team/#comment-29664 uberVU - social comments Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:48:36 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=7327#comment-29664 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by Panger2009: "...Craig Nettles gave me love of glove. Goose Gossage fire. Ron Guidry lightening." :) RT @Mizzzzo: http://tinyurl.com/reggiejaxhits3... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by Panger2009: “…Craig Nettles gave me love of glove. Goose Gossage fire. Ron Guidry lightening.” :) RT @Mizzzzo: http://tinyurl.com/reggiejaxhits3...

]]> By: Eric Daniels http://thestartingfive.net/2009/10/23/friday-fire-when-did-you-fall-in-love-with-your-team/#comment-29655 Eric Daniels Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:10:39 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=7327#comment-29655 Watching the Miami Hurricanes when Jim Kelly was playing and building what would become "THE U" when every other Florida team was playing "southern football" three yards and a cloud of dust , Miami was chucking the football left, right and everywhere else and their defense played with a swagger especially in the early 80's . What I loved about U of M is that they played like the Oakland Raiders of the 60's, 70's and 80's with lots of passion and the fact that everybody hated the "U" was even better because I hated Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State and especially Florida, because after Miami started winning championships Florida "punked out" AND didn't want to play the Hurricanes. I HAVE SOME REPSECT FOR FSU BECAUSE THEY KEPT PLAYING US WHEN WE WERE INDEPEDENTS Watching the Miami Hurricanes when Jim Kelly was playing and building what would become “THE U” when every other Florida team was playing “southern football” three yards and a cloud of dust , Miami was chucking the football left, right and everywhere else and their defense played with a swagger especially in the early 80’s . What I loved about U of M is that they played like the Oakland Raiders of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s with lots of passion and the fact that everybody hated the “U” was even better because I hated Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State and especially Florida, because after Miami started winning championships Florida “punked out” AND didn’t want to play the Hurricanes.

I HAVE SOME REPSECT FOR FSU BECAUSE THEY KEPT PLAYING US WHEN WE WERE INDEPEDENTS

]]> By: Miranda http://thestartingfive.net/2009/10/23/friday-fire-when-did-you-fall-in-love-with-your-team/#comment-29654 Miranda Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:30:10 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=7327#comment-29654 Before 1981, I think most black folks were indifferent or didn't like the Crimson Tide or the Auburn Tigers unless a relative was on the team. Obviously both schools were more or less hated for a plethora of reasons that had nothing to do with sports. I know my Daddy couldn't stand them. But all that changed the fall of 1981. Even though there had been many popular players that flowed through Bama and Auburn, there was nothing to prepare for the overnight adulation that flowed to the Crimson Tide and Bear Bryant when he named Walter Lewis as the starter at QB. NOTHING. That young black man being the field general for that team, at that time? Oh.......old folks, young folks, from the most rural of places in the Black Belt to the Steel Mills in Birmingham...I will never forget that year, we couldn't get enough of watching a Tide game...just to see Walter. Before 1981, I think most black folks were indifferent or didn’t like the Crimson Tide or the Auburn Tigers unless a relative was on the team. Obviously both schools were more or less hated for a plethora of reasons that had nothing to do with sports. I know my Daddy couldn’t stand them. But all that changed the fall of 1981. Even though there had been many popular players that flowed through Bama and Auburn, there was nothing to prepare for the overnight adulation that flowed to the Crimson Tide and Bear Bryant when he named Walter Lewis as the starter at QB. NOTHING. That young black man being the field general for that team, at that time? Oh…….old folks, young folks, from the most rural of places in the Black Belt to the Steel Mills in Birmingham…I will never forget that year, we couldn’t get enough of watching a Tide game…just to see Walter.

]]> By: Temple3 http://thestartingfive.net/2009/10/23/friday-fire-when-did-you-fall-in-love-with-your-team/#comment-29653 Temple3 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:50:55 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=7327#comment-29653 BTW -- One of the funnier moments you can have with a Steeler fan is rattling off the names Bubby Brister, Mark Malone, Cliff Stoudt, Neil O'Donnell and Kordell Stewart. Be prepared to buy drinks! :) BTW —

One of the funnier moments you can have with a Steeler fan is rattling off the names Bubby Brister, Mark Malone, Cliff Stoudt, Neil O’Donnell and Kordell Stewart.

Be prepared to buy drinks! :)

]]> By: Temple3 http://thestartingfive.net/2009/10/23/friday-fire-when-did-you-fall-in-love-with-your-team/#comment-29652 Temple3 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:49:30 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=7327#comment-29652 Great question. I've been a Yankee fan for as long as I can remember. As a 4th generation fan, I can't recall a "date." It's always been. I don't know anything else. The team that I am most fond of, though, is the Pittsburgh Steelers. When you say "fall in love," I can help but think of the bad times and the good times. The team is first in Super Bowl wins and 2nd to the Dolphins in total wins since 1970. Still, there was a long period of 26 years between Super Bowl victories...and for me, that's when Steeler Nation truly became what it is today. It was easy to be a fan in the 1970's. It was painful when they were getting stopped on 4th and 3 at home by the Chargers. It was painful to see Sterling Sharpe convert a 3rd and 6 for the Broncos. It was even worse to manhandle the Patriots, knock Tom Brady out of the game, and watch a broken down Drew Bledsoe win in Pittsburgh. That's the love...for me. It's feeling the anguish of a tipped pass or a missed tackle...and having to wait till next year. In 2004, when the Patriots soundly defeated the Steelers 41-17 (by stuffing Jerome Bettis on 4th and 1; and picking off Roethlisberger for a TD), I was done with ALL SPORTS until the next football season. That was the first time that had ever happened. That has to be the moment. Of course, the Steelers won the Super Bowl the next season. So, there has always been love and loyalty, but that 2004 dagger cut to the bone! Thanks for the thought provoking question. Great question. I’ve been a Yankee fan for as long as I can remember. As a 4th generation fan, I can’t recall a “date.” It’s always been. I don’t know anything else.

The team that I am most fond of, though, is the Pittsburgh Steelers. When you say “fall in love,” I can help but think of the bad times and the good times. The team is first in Super Bowl wins and 2nd to the Dolphins in total wins since 1970. Still, there was a long period of 26 years between Super Bowl victories…and for me, that’s when Steeler Nation truly became what it is today.

It was easy to be a fan in the 1970’s. It was painful when they were getting stopped on 4th and 3 at home by the Chargers. It was painful to see Sterling Sharpe convert a 3rd and 6 for the Broncos. It was even worse to manhandle the Patriots, knock Tom Brady out of the game, and watch a broken down Drew Bledsoe win in Pittsburgh.

That’s the love…for me. It’s feeling the anguish of a tipped pass or a missed tackle…and having to wait till next year.

In 2004, when the Patriots soundly defeated the Steelers 41-17 (by stuffing Jerome Bettis on 4th and 1; and picking off Roethlisberger for a TD), I was done with ALL SPORTS until the next football season. That was the first time that had ever happened. That has to be the moment. Of course, the Steelers won the Super Bowl the next season.

So, there has always been love and loyalty, but that 2004 dagger cut to the bone!

Thanks for the thought provoking question.

]]> By: Glenn http://thestartingfive.net/2009/10/23/friday-fire-when-did-you-fall-in-love-with-your-team/#comment-29650 Glenn Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:11:34 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=7327#comment-29650 I was 13 and went to the Orange Bowl to see the University of Miami play the unbeatable Nebraska Cornhuskers with Mike Rozier, Turner Gill and Irving Fryer. We played them close the whole game, but when the two point conversion at the end failed, the entire stadium erupted. I have never been any place where so many people were so happy. I have been a fan of the U ever since. It also didn't hurt that that was the start of the dynasty years. Though they are coming back... I was 13 and went to the Orange Bowl to see the University of Miami play the unbeatable Nebraska Cornhuskers with Mike Rozier, Turner Gill and Irving Fryer. We played them close the whole game, but when the two point conversion at the end failed, the entire stadium erupted. I have never been any place where so many people were so happy.

I have been a fan of the U ever since. It also didn’t hurt that that was the start of the dynasty years. Though they are coming back…

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