How did you get interested in Sports??

[RockaFowler]

I got into sports when I was just a youngin. I had 3 older brothers and I lived with my Dad. So, I became a baseball/football fan because of them. My brother was a Red Sox fan when we lived in Connecticut, so when we moved to South Florida in the mid 70's we stayed Red Sox fans. The only team in South Florida back then was the Miami Dolphins, so of course we were huge Dolfans at that time. It was 3 years after the Perfect season and that was still pretty fresh in everyone's minds - especially my Father's. Anyway, my Dad was putting together a Golf tournament in Naples in 1978 or 1979 and he invited a ton of cool sports figures of the day. They all showed up - Bob Griese, Joe Garagiola, Billy Martin and Joe DiMaggio.



This was one of the greatest days of my young life. I remember when I met Joe DiMaggio especially. He was the nicest man EVER. I kept calling him Mr. Coffee (I was such a TV nerd even back then). My Dad pulled my sister and I aside before this picture was taken and said that this was the best Baseball Player ever. Joe called my sister and I back to his Golf Cart and we took the picture. I think I was still more impressed that I was meeting Mr. Coffee!!

I still have a few more pictures from that day. The Billy Martin picture is very funny. My brother hated him, but got his autograph anyway. Joe Garagiola wanted to take my sister and I home to meet his grandsons. Cute. Bob Griese was one of the highlights that day. He loved that my Dad was wearing a Dolphins hat.

Anyway - when did you start to love Sports??

[H2O Man]

1. Similar story here.

My two older brothers loved boxing. I followed their lead, and fought my first amateur bout at age 5. By the time I retired, I had fought 329 bouts.

My grandfather loved baseball. He once played against the NY Yankees. His brother boxed. They had come to the US in the late 1800s. The first-generation born here carried on those traditions. Then came my brothers and I.

The next generation continues to carry on the tradition.

[KamaAina]

2. I grew up in Baltimore.

'Nuf ced.

[Auggie]

3. Love? Maybe when I moved away from Cleveland ...

really.

Maybe as I just got older too I developed a greater appreciation for the amount of practice, conditioning, discipline and preparation required of professional athletes. Same goes for the efforts of the coaching and training staffs and front offices, as applicable. I love watching it all come together -- Billy Ball, Moneyball, the 49ers (under Walsh and Harbaugh), the Hum-Baby and Bruce Bochy Giants -- even the Raiders from the early 80s.

[TBF]

4. When you grow up within 2 hrs of Green Bay

it's pretty much of a given

[rocktivity]

5. My father didn't have any sons.

Last edited Sun Feb 3, 2019, 03:25 PM - Edit history (1)

rocktivity

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Both Grandfathers Were Crazy Cub Fans

So, both my mom and dad were fans. (And my dad went to high school not too far from Wrigley.) Did trips from our town 45 or so miles south of the Wrigleyville, with mom, dad and 2 grampas (and probably my cousin Dave) a few times a year since i can remember. (At least since 4?)

My dad was also a Bear fan, but just as much a Packer loather. (Huge Unitas fan, though.) So, got lucky and got tickets to see the Bears play the Giants in the 1963 NFL championship. He took me. So that was my first football game.

Went to a Hawks game for the first time when i was 12. My dad won tickets at a "smoker" when Bobby Hull was there, so within a couple week i went from meeting Hull to seeing him play live.

There was no b-ball team in Chicago until i was 13, but have been a Bulls fan since the first game.

The school from which i got my BS and 2 of my 3 masters did not have big time sports programs. (In fact no football team at all.) So, i never got into a college sport thing. THe 3rd masters is an MBA and i was approaching 40 when i got that, so i was not exactly part of the campus community. Just no connection for me in college sports.

Basically, it's because my parents were big baseball fans with some ups and extras.

[Kingofalldems]

7. I went to a Washington Senators game in 1955.

That was enough.

[TZ]

8. My mom was coach for cheerleaders

At the HS she taught at. We grew up going to football games and basketball games. Also she dated someone who had access to Redskins seasons tickets so we watched the Skins all the time AND went to the occasional game. My first pro game was going to the 1982 playoff game where the Skins beat the Lions 31-7 on their way to winning their first Super Bowl.

[El Supremo]

9. I wasn't any good in...

music class.

No, but really I played 3&2 Baseball for Steve's Shoes and Consolidated Underwriters.

[bigwillq]

10. My Dad

I watched sports with him, then he got me involved in playing sports; first, soccer, then basketball, and then my true love, baseball. My Dad coached baseball before I was born. He coached me, and then continued to coach after my playing days were over.

[Punkingal]

11. Dad and four brothers....

If you can't beat "em, join 'em!