Bandwagon

I’d love to claim that I am a true, diehard football fan. I want to tell you that I bleed green and gold, piss crimson and white, or sweat silver and black and that I always have and always will. I’d love to say that, but it would be a lie. For the past 10 years I’ve switched my allegiance about five times, depending on who I’m dating, where my friends were traded, or what city I am currently living in. There were times that I did take on the characteristics of a diehard; those times when I would get up extra early on a Sunday morning and drive around to find a sports bar that was playing the game I was interested in seeing, being forced to order a burger and fries when what I really wanted was a Belgian waffle. Years when I would watch SportsCenter on a regular basis and could talk shop with the best of them because it was of utmost importance that I was informed and educated about my team and all other teams that had any influence on my team. There have definitely been glimpses of a true fan, but they have all been fleeting. And it’s not that I don’t really enjoy football. I do. I like watching a good game and I get excited being at a game and cheer just as loud as the next guy, just sans face paint and jersey.

Last year I went to the Superbowl and didn’t choose a team to cheer for until I was at the stadium. Luckily for me, I chose the Giants. It made the game that much more enjoyable. There are probably plenty of Giants fans out there that want to stab me in the eye for that but I promise you that I cheered with all my heart and soul. I screamed at the top of my lungs, I high-fived every New Yorker I could spot, and I actually felt a sense of pride when the game was over. It didn’t last for long, but it was there. But one of my biggest regrets from last year is who I didn’t invite to come with me. I had an extra ticket and one of my favorite relatives right around the corner and I never connected the dots! So this year I am making amends and I’m also giving a true fan the experience that they will probably appreciate more than I ever could.

This time around I plan on being a better fan. For starters, I went to school in Arizona and have been to a few Cardinals games before and cheered for them back when the stadium would have more fans for the opposing team. I also am a fan of Kurt Warner and since my first Superbowl was back when I was a Rams fan, it only makes sense that I take it full circle. I love his story and think he is an amazing athlete so I would love to see him win another ring. Being able to cheer for the same team as my uncle will also be a treat. Needless to say, I had no trouble picking the team I would be rooting for this time around. I also have a red and white shirt I’ll be wearing – it’s not a jersey, but it will have to suffice.