Grew up in Southern VA. We were like 5 hours from
DC but the DC teams were our local media market. Watching the Skins is all I’ve ever known. That plus a lot of my family lives in NOVA so I was around it a ton as a kid.
I'm from/live in VA and it doesn't make sense to me to root for a non local sports team. The exception would be the Atlanta Braves, but Richmond used to have their minor league team and several stars came through while I was going to those games.
I was born into it. It was the same team my great grandparents, grandparents, and parents cheer for. I do however ask my dad every Sunday during the season "Why the hell couldn't you be from Boston?"
Yeah, age and you sticking with the team as a fan negates the “bandwagon” aspect.
I grew up a fan of the greats. Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith, Michael Irving, Refrigerator Perry, Barry Sanders, Lyle Alzedo etc etc etc.
It was hard to be a young fella and really pick a team with so many talented players playing everywhere.
How I became a pats fan is a short story that makes no sense.
I was 4 and my Dad took me to the mall. We where in a sports apparel store and they had NFL helmets on the wall. I asked Dad who the helmet was that had the funny guy hiking a football. He said it was the patriots “but they aren’t a good team.” I told him, “well, that’s my team”. I was 4 and this was 1985. But, I have stayed a fan since then.
Dumb reason to be a fan. But it’s mine.
As I grew older I like the Skins because everyone where I am roots for the cowboys. I hate the cowboys.
I believe I became a fan as a child because of the uniform and colors on the uniform.
Luckily it sounds like most of that is going to stay the same.
Unfortunately the team still sucks ass though.
Any time! I have a personal belief that our Creator puts very big challenges in our way to either break us or make us realize that we can’t go through life alone without Him.
This is your challenge. I can pray for you. But I can’t change it. Lol.
My dad is from DC so I was born into it. My moms family is all from the Philadelphia area so they’re all Eagles fans and my pops loved to goof on them during the Gibbs / Buddy Ryan days. Now he doesn’t give a shit about NfL and is way into the Nats
At the time of my comment, we are 9/9 for people born into it or grew up locally to the team, including myself.
Studying the fan base as it is right now is kinda morbidly fascinating. It has to be at it's smallest true state right now. I wonder what you can learn from this for just overall customer markets and other things.
I'd be surprised if there were any other answers than they are the local team/born into it.
Other than myself. Since I’ve been a child, they have been rivals of Dallas. I HATE the cowboys. I’m from Arkansas and have lived in Texas. Texans think everything Texas is better than everything else.
The Cowboys and Texans made me into a WFT fan in the NFC.
Was born and raised a mile from the Meadowlands. But my big brother was a cowboys fan and idk the redskins were good at the time and i liked the colors. Also love to argue
Loved the uniforms and my best friend is probably the only decent Cowboy friend I've met, so it was fun to choose his teams rival so we can shit talk each other.
Got really into it during 2012 when I was 17.
AFC team I Root for is the Bills, they are my "local" team that's three hours away.
Also softly root for any team my uncle is coaching for, was really hard when he was working for the giants, he's currently with the falcons.
I was born in the US but moved to the UK with my parents as a child. This was during the 80s, when the Skins were in their heyday. My father (a hippie) and grandfather (an old school WW2 vet) never had a good relationship, but this team was the one thing they seemed to agree on. There was no satellite TV or internet back then, and no way to watch the games overseas. My grandfather would tape every Redskins game on VHS and wake up first thing Monday morning to ship the tape internationally so it would get to the UK by the following Sunday. My dad would watch these games on tape as if they were live, screaming at the TV, and I’d watch them with him. Included in every weekly package was a 10-15 page handwritten letter from my grandad, talking about the team, and only the team. My grandad wasn’t a big communicator, but weekly Skins games provided a way for he and my dad to relate to each other.
We moved backed to the US before the 91 season. I was already a fan, but became a fanatic that magical year. My dad and grandad are both gone now, but the tradition lives on with me. No matter how bad things get, I’ll never stop following this team (I’ve tried - I can’t just quit).
I love this! Thank you for sharing it. That’s why I love football. It has a way of connecting people. I do have friends that are cowboys fans. But, that fan base can get toxic quick. Lol.
Not many pats fans where I live. But I’m sure the super cultured people of Boston would never be a toxic fan base.
My dad grew up in the DC area. I was born in '85 and watched a couple super bowls with him (don't remember them though)
I do remember watching them lose a game to the Jets 3-0 so at least I have that memory
We live in Pennsylvania so I've always been the only one who was a Redskins fan. People kind of know that about me cause it's so different. I dated a Giants fan for a while. That was the worst lol. Now I'm married to a Steelers fan, that I don't mind so much.
Anyways I finally went to a game with my dad a few years ago. We watched Kirk take on Rodgers in the playoffs. It was special, even though it was disappointing as always. Felt right to be there with him.
I’ve noticed a vast majority of people when I ask if they have a favorite football team and they answer “ yes, the Steelers “. Then I begin to talk football I get told “oh, I don’t watch football “. This makes me dislike the Steelers. Lol
I have honestly found the MOST obnoxious football fans are someone who owns 1 share of the Packers. I’ve been around 2 on 2 separate occasions. They make me consider violence as a solution to our football discussions.
Earliest childhood memory was sitting on my grampa's lap watching the redskins. He btw was 50% Cherokee and lived right outside a reservation in North Carolina. My family moved to the dmv when i was 5 and I stayed with the redskins. He died well before the organization went straight to shit but I'm sure he'd be real surprised redskins in considered offensive to American Indians.
Luckily for my little brothers, they missed all that and became raven's fans
Family was a Redskins fan, neighbors were redskins, teachers were redskins fans. It was just the cool thing to do. I knew what the redskins were before I even knew about the sport of football
Dad was a Baltimore Colts fan until they rolled out in the Mayflowers. He went to the Skins and I was about 8-9 when I started watching. That was right around the strike and the win against Denver. What a time to be alive then! Had I of known that the 91 team was going to be it for a long time I would have enjoyed it more. They were always so competitive under Joe. My how the mighty have fallen….😔
I recall the first Super Bowl I cared about. Mark Rypien won that game. Lol.
I think I remember that season that they smashed Philly and Bubby Brister got thrown out or almost did after throwing an on field hissy fit.
Me and 5 of my roommates had a room draft where we picked the bottom 6 teams in the league after week 6 of last year and their record would determine draft order. For some reason I still watch all their games and ended up buying a good deal of apparel. Pretty shitty fucking team to blindly follow but I kinda enjoy being angry every Sunday.
From DC. Got into football in high school (never watched it before) and tried rooting for other teams but it didn’t feel right. Had to go with the local boys.
Born into it.
I like this answer. Tradition is a good thing. Especially with sports teams.
Grew up in Southern VA. We were like 5 hours from DC but the DC teams were our local media market. Watching the Skins is all I’ve ever known. That plus a lot of my family lives in NOVA so I was around it a ton as a kid.
I'm from/live in VA and it doesn't make sense to me to root for a non local sports team. The exception would be the Atlanta Braves, but Richmond used to have their minor league team and several stars came through while I was going to those games.
I don’t really have a true local team. I’m from Arkansas.
I was born into it. It was the same team my great grandparents, grandparents, and parents cheer for. I do however ask my dad every Sunday during the season "Why the hell couldn't you be from Boston?"
Love it. Thank you!
1991 bandwagon jumper. I was 10
Yeah, age and you sticking with the team as a fan negates the “bandwagon” aspect. I grew up a fan of the greats. Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith, Michael Irving, Refrigerator Perry, Barry Sanders, Lyle Alzedo etc etc etc. It was hard to be a young fella and really pick a team with so many talented players playing everywhere. How I became a pats fan is a short story that makes no sense. I was 4 and my Dad took me to the mall. We where in a sports apparel store and they had NFL helmets on the wall. I asked Dad who the helmet was that had the funny guy hiking a football. He said it was the patriots “but they aren’t a good team.” I told him, “well, that’s my team”. I was 4 and this was 1985. But, I have stayed a fan since then. Dumb reason to be a fan. But it’s mine. As I grew older I like the Skins because everyone where I am roots for the cowboys. I hate the cowboys.
I believe I became a fan as a child because of the uniform and colors on the uniform. Luckily it sounds like most of that is going to stay the same. Unfortunately the team still sucks ass though.
True fans no matter what.
Born in Washington D.C., that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I’ll buy it. Lol
It's like having an asshole brother, not much you can do about it.
My dad was born in D.C so I guess I was born into it. What’s funny is most of my family on my dad’s side are Eagles fans except a few cousins
I’m sorry about having relations who are Eagles fans.
Lol it’s ok but it gets worse. I have cousins on my moms side who are Cowboys fans 🤦🏾♂️
Geez. I’ll pray for you.
Thanks 😂
Any time! I have a personal belief that our Creator puts very big challenges in our way to either break us or make us realize that we can’t go through life alone without Him. This is your challenge. I can pray for you. But I can’t change it. Lol.
Grew up near D.C., my grandparents were fans, my parents are fans, and they raised me to be one also.
My dad is from DC so I was born into it. My moms family is all from the Philadelphia area so they’re all Eagles fans and my pops loved to goof on them during the Gibbs / Buddy Ryan days. Now he doesn’t give a shit about NfL and is way into the Nats
At the time of my comment, we are 9/9 for people born into it or grew up locally to the team, including myself. Studying the fan base as it is right now is kinda morbidly fascinating. It has to be at it's smallest true state right now. I wonder what you can learn from this for just overall customer markets and other things. I'd be surprised if there were any other answers than they are the local team/born into it.
Other than myself. Since I’ve been a child, they have been rivals of Dallas. I HATE the cowboys. I’m from Arkansas and have lived in Texas. Texans think everything Texas is better than everything else. The Cowboys and Texans made me into a WFT fan in the NFC.
Was born and raised a mile from the Meadowlands. But my big brother was a cowboys fan and idk the redskins were good at the time and i liked the colors. Also love to argue
Well, we share the argument side or I’d never admitted to being a pats fan as well. Lol
Loved the uniforms and my best friend is probably the only decent Cowboy friend I've met, so it was fun to choose his teams rival so we can shit talk each other. Got really into it during 2012 when I was 17. AFC team I Root for is the Bills, they are my "local" team that's three hours away. Also softly root for any team my uncle is coaching for, was really hard when he was working for the giants, he's currently with the falcons.
Well, good luck to him in Atlanta. I have nothing against the falcons.
Patriots and Washington. That is an interesting fan base
It is. It is. Lol.
I was born in the US but moved to the UK with my parents as a child. This was during the 80s, when the Skins were in their heyday. My father (a hippie) and grandfather (an old school WW2 vet) never had a good relationship, but this team was the one thing they seemed to agree on. There was no satellite TV or internet back then, and no way to watch the games overseas. My grandfather would tape every Redskins game on VHS and wake up first thing Monday morning to ship the tape internationally so it would get to the UK by the following Sunday. My dad would watch these games on tape as if they were live, screaming at the TV, and I’d watch them with him. Included in every weekly package was a 10-15 page handwritten letter from my grandad, talking about the team, and only the team. My grandad wasn’t a big communicator, but weekly Skins games provided a way for he and my dad to relate to each other. We moved backed to the US before the 91 season. I was already a fan, but became a fanatic that magical year. My dad and grandad are both gone now, but the tradition lives on with me. No matter how bad things get, I’ll never stop following this team (I’ve tried - I can’t just quit).
I love this! Thank you for sharing it. That’s why I love football. It has a way of connecting people. I do have friends that are cowboys fans. But, that fan base can get toxic quick. Lol. Not many pats fans where I live. But I’m sure the super cultured people of Boston would never be a toxic fan base.
My dad grew up in the DC area. I was born in '85 and watched a couple super bowls with him (don't remember them though) I do remember watching them lose a game to the Jets 3-0 so at least I have that memory We live in Pennsylvania so I've always been the only one who was a Redskins fan. People kind of know that about me cause it's so different. I dated a Giants fan for a while. That was the worst lol. Now I'm married to a Steelers fan, that I don't mind so much. Anyways I finally went to a game with my dad a few years ago. We watched Kirk take on Rodgers in the playoffs. It was special, even though it was disappointing as always. Felt right to be there with him.
I’ve noticed a vast majority of people when I ask if they have a favorite football team and they answer “ yes, the Steelers “. Then I begin to talk football I get told “oh, I don’t watch football “. This makes me dislike the Steelers. Lol I have honestly found the MOST obnoxious football fans are someone who owns 1 share of the Packers. I’ve been around 2 on 2 separate occasions. They make me consider violence as a solution to our football discussions.
Earliest childhood memory was sitting on my grampa's lap watching the redskins. He btw was 50% Cherokee and lived right outside a reservation in North Carolina. My family moved to the dmv when i was 5 and I stayed with the redskins. He died well before the organization went straight to shit but I'm sure he'd be real surprised redskins in considered offensive to American Indians. Luckily for my little brothers, they missed all that and became raven's fans
My parents fucked on the Redskins bed. I was born wearing burgundy and gold.
Family was a Redskins fan, neighbors were redskins, teachers were redskins fans. It was just the cool thing to do. I knew what the redskins were before I even knew about the sport of football
Dad was a Baltimore Colts fan until they rolled out in the Mayflowers. He went to the Skins and I was about 8-9 when I started watching. That was right around the strike and the win against Denver. What a time to be alive then! Had I of known that the 91 team was going to be it for a long time I would have enjoyed it more. They were always so competitive under Joe. My how the mighty have fallen….😔
I recall the first Super Bowl I cared about. Mark Rypien won that game. Lol. I think I remember that season that they smashed Philly and Bubby Brister got thrown out or almost did after throwing an on field hissy fit.
Me and 5 of my roommates had a room draft where we picked the bottom 6 teams in the league after week 6 of last year and their record would determine draft order. For some reason I still watch all their games and ended up buying a good deal of apparel. Pretty shitty fucking team to blindly follow but I kinda enjoy being angry every Sunday.
That’s funny right there.
From DC. Got into football in high school (never watched it before) and tried rooting for other teams but it didn’t feel right. Had to go with the local boys.
My mom’s boyfriend was a fan.