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How Did You Become a Fan?
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Author:  RFDC [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:46 pm ]
Post subject:  How Did You Become a Fan?
How did you become a fan of your favorite team, whether that be the Cubs, Sox, or another team?

For me, it was because my grandmother was a huge Cubs fan. She died when I was a little boy, and I remember my folks telling me often about how much she loved cheering for the Cubs. And about this time I found that I could watch the Cubs on WGN.
Author:  FavreFan [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
RFDC wrote:
How did you become a fan of your favorite team, whether that be the Cubs, Sox, or another team?

For me, it was because my grandmother was a huge Cubs fan. She died when I was a little boy, and I remember my folks telling me often about how much she loved cheering for the Cubs. And about this time I found that I could watch the Cubs on WGN.


My Grandpa was a White Sox fan. Unfortunately he died in 2004. Some of my best memories of childhood was him taking me to games at Comiskey(he refused to call it anything else) and Thanksgiving day parades. Those were always anual get togethers with him, and I only saw him 4-5 times a year. He loved baseball as much as anyone I've ever seen love any sport, and would be one of those who had a scorecard at every game and taught me to score a game. Im a bit surprised that I became the NBA nut that I did, given that my family LOVES baseball and football but Im the only one, even in my extended family that I know of, that follows the NBA very closely.
Author:  Frank Coztansa [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
My Dad is a Sox fan, and I played little league from Tball all the way thru high school. He had family that lived at like 37th and Lowe, so we used to park there and walk to the park. I vividly remember going to Old Comiskey at like 3 and 4 years old being in a stroller on the walk to the park. In little leauge, I was a secondbasemen. Could never hit worth a damn, but I could pick it. Have been a Sox fan all my life, but growing up my favorite player was Ryne Sandberg...until the Big Hurt came around.

Outside of the values my parents passed down to me, I'm most grateful my Dad took time to show me how to play baseball, guitar, and how to bowl.
Author:  Bulldog Scott [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
My dad took me to opening day at Wrigley in 1988 when the Cubs beat the Pirates 6-0. I remember that the Hawk hit a jack. I got to miss school, so it was a HUGE deal. After that, it became a tradition and we went every year on opening day until I got to high school.

Now I make it a point to go to opening day every year. I ask my dad each year, but he never wants to go ("I'll go when it gets warmer," he always says). If I ever had kids, you bet your ass I'm pulling them out of school the first chance I get for the home opener.
Author:  Chris_in_joliet [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
I was a fan of baseball in general never really deciding for certain "MY TEAM" until around the 1999 season. But I do remember going to baseball games as a kid in the summer with my parents and we would always go to the Cubs games. Usually my parents would try and take me when it was baseball card giveaway day. The Cubs always seemed to be the team I watched when I was at home, but I did keep up with the white sox too. I didnt think back than I needed to decide.
Author:  Brick [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
Free White Sox game tickets for good grades in elementary school + my dad being a Sox fan + cubs suck = Sox fan

My first White Sox memory is one of those free tickets where the Sox were losing in the 9th and it was a school night so we ended up starting the walk to the car. Before we got out of the stadium we heard fireworks and found out that Sammy Sosa had hit a grand slam home run to win the game.
Author:  FavreFan [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
Free White Sox game tickets for good grades in elementary school + my dad being a Sox fan + cubs suck = Sox fan

My first White Sox memory is one of those free tickets where the Sox were losing in the 9th and it was a school night so we ended up starting the walk to the car. Before we got out of the stadium we heard fireworks and found out that Sammy Sosa had hit a grand slam home run to win the game.


Shame on your dad or whoever you went to the game with for leaving before the fat lady sang.
Author:  Mr. Reason [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
We only had one TV in our house. My time to watch TV was in the afternoon, so I watched Cub games and became a Cub fan.
Author:  hootmon [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
Became a Cub fan way back when, because they were always on TV when I got home from school. Since I lived in the south burbs growing up, we got free Sox tix for good attendance or grades (Interlake was the sponsor) so I always went to 10-15 games with the old boy or friends at Comiskey rather than Wrigley. Never went to a Cub game until I was about 15 or so. I could still go to 30 Cub games a year and never equal the amount of Sox games I have been to , but still I remain a Cub fan more than the Sox. I absolutely miss the old Comiskey. Even though the new one is better, I grew up at the old joint. Miss the hippies and suited drunks tossing drinks on Ribbie and Rubarb.
I think it (what team you root for) is in your blood when you are born--like the mercury-addled fish your pregnant mother ate and passed on to you.
Author:  Frank Coztansa [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
I'm surprised they had TVs back then, Reason.
Author:  RFDC [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
Good grades in school helped me see a lot of White Sox games as well.

Do they still do that?
Author:  Mr. Reason [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
Frank Coztansa wrote:
I'm surprised they had TVs back then, Reason.

Well, they did. We had a sweet Quasar B&W 19". You had to change the channels with a pair of needle-nosed pliers and smack it on the side to straighten out the picture. Ah, good times.
Author:  W_Z [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
i wasn't really a baseball fan till well after high school but i always watched cubs games on WGN, even growing up, but i classified myself as a "mets fan" when i was a little kid cos of living in NY and hating the yankees, and loving darryl strawberry.

we moved to geneva in '93 and my dad, who grew up a sox fan but loved wrigley, took us to both parks. at the time, the sox were awesome and the cubs were bad. but i loved going to wrigley, even though there was more excitement at the sox games. just never emotionally got attached. being a saints fan and whatnot, i am a glutton for punishment, and because of that, i chose the cubs. always liked the sox (ventura was my guy back in the day), but just never clicked. mercy.

so unlike most cubs fans, i don't hate the mets because they're kind of nostalgic for me.
Author:  good dolphin [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
Mr. Reason wrote:
Frank Coztansa wrote:
I'm surprised they had TVs back then, Reason.

Well, they did. We had a sweet Quasar B&W 19". You had to change the channels with a pair of needle-nosed pliers and smack it on the side to straighten out the picture. Ah, good times.


Would the windmill be able to generate enough power for the TV if a stiff wind was not blowing?
Author:  good dolphin [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
My entire family is Cubs fans. I became a Sox fan because, fuck them.
Author:  Ryno's Wife [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
At the time my mom was pregnant with me, her company didn't allow pregnant women to work past their 2nd trimester. She was bored at home, so she used to go to the Cubs game with an out-of-work family friend all the time. Mom kept score while balancing the score card on her belly...so I guess I became a Cubs fan by osmosis!
Author:  man of few opinions [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
i have always been attracted to high-quality top-notch baseball, so it was a natural match.
Author:  Spaulding [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
My uncle that is 11 years older than me used to take me to games and have me help him pick up girls. I developed a huge crush on Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace. I'm no longer a baseball fan of any kind really for lots of reasosns but still enjoy a game or 2 once a year.
Author:  Ryno's Wife [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
Spaulding wrote:
I developed a huge crush on Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace.


You are a good woman, Spaulding. I knew you had good taste.
Author:  WestmontMike [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
I grew up on the south side so no surprise I'm a Sox fan. My grandparents lived in Bridgeport and we used to go over there and watch the fireworks from their front porch when I was a kid. My cousin and I used to go to games at old Comiskey because it was cheap enough for 2 13 year olds to afford....I think it was like $4 or something.
I still remember going to the last night game at the old park. Me and my cousin didn't have tickets and tried to walk up and buy some. Of course it was sold out...at least the tickets we could afford were sold out. The scalpers were asking some ridiculous amount and we decided to give up and leave. We were a couple of blocks from the park when a car pulled up at a light where we were waiting to cross and the people in the car asked if we were going to the game. We said no, couldn't get tickets. The woman in the car reaches out and hands us 2 tickets and says "have fun" and drove off. We got to see our team win and probably the best fireworks show I've ever seen too after the game.
Author:  good dolphin [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
Spaulding wrote:
. I developed a huge crush on Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace. I'm no longer a baseball fan of any kind really for lots of reasosns but still enjoy a game or 2 once a year.


Grace left a lot of broken hearted slump busters questioning their love of the game.
Author:  Peoria Matt [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
My dad was a Cub fan. I started watching in the "Kingman" days and he was my favorite Cub. My dad took me to one Cub game in 77 against the Reds and Kong hit one onto Waveland on the first pitch he saw.

Of course, Dave Roberts was pitching for the Cubs that day and the Reds kicked the shit out of him.
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
I wanted to watch Sesame Street. My brother wanted to watch the Cubs. He was bigger than me at the time so I was subjected to Jack "Hey Hey" Brickhouse.

Upon viewing, I was fascinated by the strange facial hair of Jungle Joe Wallis, the Bozo-like 'fros of a Dave Rosello and a Jose Cardenal both intrigued and frightened me, the strange spelling of Larry Biittner's name, the porn star mustache of a Steve Swisher, and, of course, Pete LaCock.

It was all cemented, afterwards, by the unwrapping of 3,479 Manny Trillo baseball cards. Enough to use as insulation for a 2600 sq.ft. house.
Author:  hackwilson's ribbies [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
My great-grandfather on my mom's side actually played on the Sox (ca. 1914-1915), so my grandpa was a Sox fan. My dad actually got tickets through work pretty often, so I saw quite a few games in person at old Comiskey when I was a little kid. My dad actually grew up a fan of both, but leaned more toward the Sox. As it turns out, my dad switched to another company that allowed him to get alot of Cubs tickets, so I was able to make an informed decision after a while as to which team I would align myself. I think that it's because of my experience at each park combined with the sheer animosity I felt even back then from the insufferable pricks that would give me shit about wearing a Cubs hat that I decided to become a part of the weird, misunderstood Cubs Nation. My dad seriously did everything he could at the time to impress upon me that there would much suffering from there on out, but grudgingly accepted my decision and formally became a full-on Cubs fan but still supports the Sox on a secondary basis. I think my dad just loved baseball enough that he would side with me just to keep the baseball tradition alive in our family, but I'm most definitely convinced that he'll never forgive me for committing him to cubdom.
Author:  Phil McCracken [ Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
The first season I remember actively paying attention and following baseball was the Cubs in 1989. My dad is a diehard Cubs fan and as a 3 year old back in 1984 there is a picture of me and him toasting the Cubs clinching the pennant that year. But back in 89 I was totally into the race and went to a few games down the stretch with my Dad. When they made the playoffs I was exstatic but my Dad wasn't as excited and I couldnt figure out why. We all know how this story turns out the Cubs blow in the playoffs and I get my first taste of dissapoitnment via the Cubs.

P.S. I still hate Will f'ing Clark
Author:  leper messiah [ Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How Did You Become a Fan?
My dad was a Cubs fan. He took me to my first game in 1977, first row right between the on deck circle and home plate. I got an autograph from Greg Gross. The beat the Expos, despite the Expos pitcher hitting a grand slam. Its been all downhill since then
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