How'd You Become a Fan   Sometimes you see how badly your team is doing and you wonder, "Why do I even cheer for these guys anymore."  What makes a fan fall in line and even in the face of a horrible season to stay true to his/her team.  A few of us put forth our own personal influences for why it is we are fans of the teams we love.     Dan - AJS Contributing Writer   My sports idol is not a player, but my father.  During my formative sports years, almost any NFL team could have lined up ahead of the Packers as a favorite.  The late 80’s days of Lindy Infante and Don Majkowski were not the best.  Sure there was Sterling Sharpe, but the real pull was watching the games out at the bar, in the living room, or occasionally at County Stadium (before they stopped playing there) with my dad.  We may have watched more losses than victories, but to this day I still think it was pretty cool and definitely the reason why the Packers are my favorite team.  Who says kids don’t listen to their parents?   Ron - AJS Pro Football & Baseball Editor   John Riggins - When I was very young, I was introduced to rooting for the Washington Redskins by my father. My first real memory is him teaching me the fight song, though with different lyrics - "Hail to the Redskins, up to the skies! When they score a touchdown, we certainly are surprised!!" But then came The Diesel (long before Shaq). He was the MAN. He lead the Redskins into glory with Joe Gibbs, right at the beginning of my teen years, and being a sizeable guy myself, he was instantly my hero and made me a diehard Redskins fan for life.   Travis - AJS Contributing Writer   My greatest influence in sports would have to be my grandpa. Growing up my dad was never a huge sports fan, but grandpa watched sports every Saturday he was not working. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up, so I developed a love for all sports, particularly football. And naturally living in Colorado Springs there was only one football team to support, The Denver Broncos who until 1977 were perennial losers. But that one glorious season (until years, and 1 great QB later) endeared me to them forever. Unfortunately my grandpa passed away before Elway led the Orange Crush to the promised land. There was a second football team in my grandpa’s household however, The University of Oklahoma. You see my grandparents had grown up in Oklahoma many years earlier so they remained loyal to those mighty Sooners. He was able to see them win 5 national championships in his lifetime. I remember watching Lott and Simms lose to Nebraska, and then exacting their revenge a month later in their home away from home, the Orange Bowl. What a fun night that was. I have been loyal to those Sooners ever since acting out the great wizardry of the Watts led wishbone in the backyard winning many imagined games on long runs as the clock expired. I miss my grandpa, but from time to time as I watch football on TV I am reminded of a simpler time, eating peanuts, drinking Pepsi and sitting next to a true hero while learning the finer points of sport. In the words of some commercial in which I don’t remember what they were selling “where would the world be without sports.”   Don - AJS Editor-in-chief   Roger Staubach – As a kid I discovered football when we were stationed at an Air Force base in Texas.  I was in 4th grade and Roger the Doger made the Cowboys a great team.  The Doomsday Defense was stifling to other teams, but Roger seemed to be the most level-headed guy on the field.  Everyone thinks John Elway invented the comeback, but to me Roger was the guy who could take the game in his hands late and make things happen.  As long as Roger was on the field, there was always hope.  And when it comes to sports, isn't it all about having a hope of the last minute miracle comeback?  I lived for those moments. If you would like to let us know what you think of this or any other article, you can E-mail us by clicking here. C.O.W. Page Home