What caused YOU to become more than a casual fan?
by pwarren85 on Jul 28, 2010 3:29 PM PDT
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PrintI've been mulling over how to ask this, and i guess ill just use myself as example. although i grew up watching the 9ers with my dad on sundays, (he would tape the game on a vhs, and then play it to avoid commercials), i didnt follow the teams offseason moves, or passionately follow their statistics and the injury/coaching news etc that was available until much later.
However, i went to a trip overseas, and came home truly missing football. This was the year nate clements signed with the team. I haven't looked back.
i check blogs every day, often multiple times a day, my homepage is ninersnation, and my outlook on football has changed. i used to love going to the games to party and drink and yell, honestly now i would rather watch from my couch so i can re-watch plays and deconstruct whats going (thank christ for the dvr). I'm not sure if that makes me a bad fan. im just tired of the drunk idiot yelling "we want montana back" or whatever.
my question to you guys is, when did football become more than a game to you? how much attention do you pay to the team, and was there a specific event that made you pay this much attention?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.
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combination of better access to TV broadcasts and Madden football
I’ve always been a cheap bastard, unwilling to invest in cable, which greatly limited my ability to follow the NFL from Canada despite the fact that I’ve been a 49er fan since the Bill Walsh era. When I moved apartments about 6 years ago, I found this cable cord dangling from the wall, plugged in my TV and suddenly I had about 12 hours of football programming on Sundays and another 3+ on Mondays Nights. Life changer.
I'm just not sure how much worse what Vick did than what "Ben" did. Glad he's not a Niner.
Lol
That’s funny. I was born a fan, but it wasn’t until I started playing football in 8th grade that I get excited about NFL football. When I was 13 in 1997 is when I actually started paying close attention to every game. I remember the MNF game against the Broncos, Joe Montana night and Jerry Rice’s return. That was the first game I ever watched in its entirety.
by mr. instigator on Jul 28, 2010 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions
I should also mention this blog...seriously
Having a place with intelligent posters, great linkage, and unique content that’s well managed has made me much more interested in following the Niners, and has made it more fun, too.
Niners Nation FTW!
I'm just not sure how much worse what Vick did than what "Ben" did. Glad he's not a Niner.
9ers on a sunday with dad and his buddys was the norm...
but around 99-00 as the dynasty came to an end i found interests in other things(partying my ass off). And although I never stopped rooting it was from a distance. Not wearing any apparel or showing niner pride in the dark years(01-05). But the 06 season with the excitement of Frank Gore and Alex looking like he might have something my fandom came creeping out. With the hiring of Coach Sing and the team having a DEFINATE identity and direction.Im back to full fandom rocking my niner gear all over AZ(moved out here in 01 from cali). 02 through now ive gone to every niner game out here except when they played in mexico but instead of just wearing a red shirt im back to full niner gear! LOUD and PROUD
Can u c coach sing's vision? I do!......We all know PATRICK WILLIS is our future!
May 12 2010 comment of the day award winner on the nuggets!
phoenix
near 51 freeway and thomas
Can u c coach sing's vision? I do!......We all know PATRICK WILLIS is our future!
May 12 2010 comment of the day award winner on the nuggets!
absence makes the heart grow fonder
I was a kid in the 80’s, when the two best players in the NFL were playing catch for San Francisco, and winning Super Bowls, and, like some of you, watched on Sundays with dad/family friends.
I never fully appreciated Steve Young simply because he came after a guy who was arguably the best ever, and I paid some attention during the Garcia era, but not a whole lot.
Partially reading sports news and blogs became a convenient way of procrastinating in college earlier this decade, and the other thing was living on the East Coast for a while: Listening to obnoxious Boston and New York fans, and having to actually work to catch Niner games at bars made me appreciate them more, even when they sucked. Moving back to CA, I find myself spending way too much time following them, and am pleased with that…
"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will
I always wanted to be an athlete, but had very little athletic ability. I learned that I could play
football, as a lineman, without a lot of athletic ability (I eventually played 4 yrs HS and 4 yrs college football), so football became my sport.
I was born and raised in the Bay Area at a time when the Niners were the only “major league” professional sports franchise in Northern California: the Raiders hadn’t been thought of yet, the Giants were still in New York, the As still in Kansas City, the Warriors still in Philadelphia, the Sac Kings were the Cincinnati Royals, and ice hockey in the western US didn’t exist yet.
So, with the Niners “the only game in town” and football being my sport, it was a natural thing for me to become a Niners fan. Two of my college teammates actually coached for the Niners for a while, and the son of a man I worked with played for them, all of which just helped to make that connection stronger.
After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.
Coaches: Paul Hackett, Jerry Attaway. Player: Brent Jones
After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.
Bill Walsh and Joe Montana.
Grew up in Michigan, before coming west. Was a Lions fan; they were very good in the 50s when I lived in Michigan. My boys who were born in California converted me to the niners at the beginning of the Golden Age. And I became the a bigger niner fan than all three of my sons combined.
1981
For my ninth birthday, my grandpa took me to see the niners and the Rams. I remember how overwhelming the experience was. I was lucky enough to go to 2 more games that year, against the Giants on the day they clinched the division, and the NFC championship game against the Cowboys. After the Super Bowl, we spent the entire off-season talking about how great it was, and what should be done to make the team better. At 9 years of age I became an at home GM, and 29 years later it hasn’t gone away.
by remembertheCATCH on Jul 28, 2010 9:53 PM PDT reply actions
I know the feeling ...
I also attended my first 49ers game at age 9 (against the Packers, at Kesar Stadium … ah, in 1950). Already very active in sports myself, I was absolutely mezmerized by the skill and speed of the players … which is laughable now when compared to skill level of today’s players. 1950 was the Niners first year in the NFL … their first four years of existence was as a member of the All-America Football Conference, an NFL predecessor. Within 3 months I could tell you the entire starting lineup of every team in the NFL and I was hooked for life! Thereafter I attended as many Niner home games as possible and, as television coverage grew, watched as many road games as were available.
During my business career, when based in the Silicon Valley, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a number of home games, as a guest, in the luxury boxes … several times only a couple of boxes away from Eddie’s box … we could watch him pace back and forth with the ebbs and flows of the game. When I relocated away from the Bay Area I had the good fortune to have the advent of DirectTV and the introduction of NFL Sunday Ticket. Wow! Every 49ers game and recorded, for repeated viewing. Have not missed a 49ers game (thanks, Sunday Ticket) in the last 15 years. I will admit that I didn’t always watch reruns in the “not-so-great” years. Nonetheless, I think that it’s fair to say that I’m a real Niners fan!
After today’s announcement of the signing of the four remaining 2010 draft choices, I am almost as excited as I was in 1950. It’s been quite a while (since the late-Walsh timeframe) since we’ve had a pre-season training camp where there were prospects that I really didn’t want to lose when we cut down to the final 53 plus PS. Onward and upward!!
by 49erFanSince1950 on Jul 30, 2010 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Air Coryell
Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, John Jefferson, Kellen Winslow…
They never made it to the SB but it was wild and crazy and got me hooked.
We're closer to getting close sir!
Montana/Walsh/Rice/Lott/Singletary/Gore/Davis/Willis/5 Super Bowl Wins!
Ive been a fan for over 40yrs. the eighties were awesome, i will never forget that decade, the nineties were ok, the 2000’s, ruff start, but now looking much better.
i havent been this excited about the niners in ten yrs. it feels good. cant wait for the season to start!!! Go Niners!!!!
9ers like Utah QB's
I started liking the 49ers as soon as they picked up Steve Young. I am from Utah and he played at BYU. I was so excited when they drafted Alex Smith From University of Utah. Still hoping good things will come from him, and I think this is the year for winning seasons to come back our way.
I came to be more...
than a casual fan due to growing up in a house of 9ers fans. But more than anything…3 words. I! Love! Football!
"Bar None!" - William Floyd
When I was a little baby the niners were pretty awesome (early 1990s) so I loved them.
It sort of died down a little as the team started to suck but the year they got the worst record in the nfl it picked up again. It grew and grew until I stumbled across this site. Then with the help of the front page posters I started to love the team. The crabtree draft was the first draft I ever watched but that was only the first round. In a summary I watch everything now and its all ninersnation fault.
deon Sanders LOL
When he signed that pushed me over the edge! Plus we wooped the cowboys and I hated everyone at r high who was a cowboys fan
maiocco says davis is about to sign
could make it a fun night on here.
At first
I thought VD
Then AD
We need nicknames for both.
by mr. instigator on Jul 29, 2010 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
So in other words, At first
I was like “Woo!”
then I was like “Haah?”
then I was like “Woo!”
by mr. instigator on Jul 29, 2010 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
1969- Watched the Niners and then found out that John Brodie had the same birthdate as me. Pretty neat for a 10 year old kid who grew up in the 60’s on So California Marine/Navy bases and whose dad and friends were lifelong Ram fans and Niner haters. 1970-72 were fun and always a heartbreak at year’s end- I learned to despise the Cowboys. Still remember all of those great and not so great Niners. Of course I was the only 49er fan among all of my buddies while growing up in Iowa, mostly Bears and Chiefs guys.
I so hear you about those '70-'72 teams...
1970: lost to Dallas 17-10 in conference championship game (had we won, we were in the Super Bowl)
1971: lost to Dallas 14—3 in conference championship game (had we won, we were in the Super Bowl)
1972: lost to Dallas 30-28 in conference semi-final game
Because of those years, I absolutely HATE Dallas (my four favorite teams are: the Niners, and whoever is playing against the Rams, the Cowboys, and the Raiders).
After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.
Think'n me and you start'd about the same time ...!!
Gotta love a woman that wear's knee pad's to work ...!!
Walsh Era
I moved to the bay area just in time for the Bill Walsh era and if you missed it, there was nothing like it ever in the bay area.
The team was full of great personalities, awesome players who played with class and dignity, and lorded over by the genius, Bill Walsh and the best sports owner ever in the bay area, Eddie D.
There was no way you could be anything but a 49er addict in those days. The only casual fans back in those days, didn;t understand football.
We are so lucky to have those memories. Its great to see Jerry going into the hall this year. There was NO FOOTBALL PLAYER AT ANY POSITION BETTER THAN JERRY RICE. His records are overwhelming and his work ethic legendary to this day.
1983 NFC Championship
I didn’t have parents who watched the games. I just happed to flip to it and decided to watch. We lost the game 24-21 but I turned it on while 21-0 and watched Montana lead a comeback and almost win.
I was hooked and started watching every game after that.
As for blogging I found Niners Nation in July of last year and after the entertaining blogs this offseason I wish I had found it sooner.
Love the niners since i was Born, favorite team in all of sports
something sick:
Parents married in 1981- 49ers won the Super Bowl
I was born(1983)- 49ers won the super bowl that season
Brother was born(1989) 49ers won the Super Bowl
Youngest brother born(1994) 49ers won the Super Bowl that season
Hit like Berry, Score like Jerry.
You're parent's ...
… planning any kid’s this year …!!!
Gotta love a woman that wear's knee pad's to work ...!!
I was a casual fan...
Until this Freak of Nature burst onto the college scene:
What a pleasure it was to see this young man play with such heart and intensity. After his stellar college career, I had to follow him to the Pros. I’m just glad he ended up with the 49ers.
"I don't have to look for the ball. It's like back in the day with me and Graham. I’m getting that kind of vibe right now."
---Michael Crabtree
I remember watching football with my dad
but he didn’t have a favorite team—we just watched MNF together. Then in ’84 I became a fan of the 49ers (though not a die hard fan). When Steve Young came onto the scene I became a huge fan of him and the team. The 1994 season was my Sr year and that cemented him as the best QB the Niners had for me.
A good friend of mine got to go that Super Bowl (he was also a huge Niner fan) thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation
Logic merely enables one to be wrong with authority
Madden games did it for me, really.
I knew most of the key guys but I just wanted to know more about the backups and whatnot.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
"I'm just like you, but 10 times better"
post fail.
I didn’t really start following until I was like 9 or 10 (2000). That was when me and my dad started going to the sports bar and watching games every Sunday. I became a “hardcore” fan 5 or 6 years ago. Checking online for Niners updates, really paying attention to offseason stuff, etc.
by mountaindew77 on Aug 2, 2010 4:27 AM PDT up reply actions
have always loved football
First saw Jerry Rice play when in ’91 when i was 4 years old and havent really looked back since. In football always wanted to be a wr but never wore 80 out of respect and i really got obsessed around 2001 when i got my first Madden and GM mode blew my mind(ive owned every one since and cant wait until the new one comes out). But my love for the 49ers grew each year due to the fact that i live in a house of cowboy fans and now i live about 2 miles away from that behemoth of a stadium it has grown even more. Like grantmp, i check nn multiple times daily and love the intelligence and factuality of members posts.
Wow sounds like me up until the Cowboys household part haha!
Remember them losing to the goddang Giants in 91(Craig fumbles! Young would’ve started in the SB had they won!). Madden 2001(Culpepper on the cover and all). Wanted to be a WR and never wore 80(But did wear 81).
"Bar None!" - William Floyd
Singletary
Actually, have always been a fan since I was raised in Redwood City where the 49ers practice facilities used to be….comes with the territory. Seemed like everyone in the 80’s and early 90’s had more than a casual knowledge of the team, which was a good thing. Caught every game I could these past 15 years, but it definitely ebbed into a more casual interest. Then, when Singletary became head coach, a big bright light bulb came on in my head, and I started combing the web for as much 49er info as possible. And here I am at the best site for that! (How’s that for a kiss a** exit line?)
When i was 10
I wasnt an NFL fan until i was watching a game with my dad (he doesnt have a favorite team being an imigrant from the Islands) But we were fans of the BYU cougars. the first time i saw a 49er game was when i saw steve young play and found out that he played for the Cougars. Right than and there i knew that the red n gold was my team.
Ive watched football since I was like 5
But the game of Madden (dispite its shortcomings) really helped me along to become a passionate fan. After playing Madden 06, I started paying more attention to my already favorite team (the 49ers) and to the league in general. Even though now the football season gets me pumped to buy the game of Madden, so it actually flipped around.
Dont ask me how I became a 49er fan though, none of my family is, I didnt live in the era the 49ers were great, and Ive lived in Washington all my life. I think I just kinda picked them when I was a small child.
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