What NFL team you choose to support says a lot about you. Fans represent in
different ways. Some dress in the jersey of their favorite player, some have
rituals that rival voodoo and some invest only the time to watch the game. Whatever
you do, however you do it, one question persists? How did you get here? What
triggers you to root for one team while hating the other?
My story: (The Birth Of
A Seahawk)
I grew up in two very different
places, Los Angeles, California and Alpine, Tennessee. Think Beverly Hillbillies
but in reverse with no millions in oil and no Beverly Hills. Being a Seahawk
in LA is one thing, in Tennessee its another thing all together.
As a kid I was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, Roger Staubach was my idol. I loved the way he cut his jersey so
that they matched his 'high-rise' shoulder pads. I loathed the Steelers (still
do more than ever) and awaited with great antcipation for Christmas to arrive
so I could proudy display my Cowboys team kids set with helmet and jersey and
pads that my aunt had been hinting that I was to get. I would proudly display
my new Cowboys ensamble to all the Steeler fan-kids in my neighborhood.
As I opened the 'assumed'
masterpiece, I spied a gleam of silver coming off the helmet in the box.. then
blue.. my heart raced.. then green..
THUD!
My aunt god love her, had
little if any idea about football and bought a SEAHAWKS team kit in lieu of
my 'little red rider bb gun-esque" Cowboys team kit I so desired.
I was crushed.. devistated
in fact. I speak the honest truth when I say before ye Seahawk brethren that
there was a brief time when I hated the Seahawks. I refused to put it on for
days. A long time to not play with a toy in my day.
The thing about being a
kid and football is that when the playoffs are going on the backyard play seems
to increase ten-fold. I played a time or two in 'civi's' but the ever growing
group of kids with uniforms drew me to my final destiny, putting the Seahawk
jersey on. As I pulled the jersey over my head I saw the number 80 and was unfamilar
with Largent, but colors were cool and the helmet was sweet with the wrap around
bird. So I hit the streets, a newly signed Seahawk.
The greetings from my fellow
neighborhood kids ranged from laughter to taunting to idoicy of people not even
knowing who the Seahawks were, my aunt included. I took that sort of ranting
for the rest of the year. After a while, I must have psychologically began to
take the insults and laughter personally and suddenly felt the need to not only
back myself but my newly annoited team. I gave my Staubach jersey away to my
cousin and have not looked back since. That was 1982.
Over my years here in Tennessee
I have seen many things with our beloved Seahawks. I am asked constantly to
this day how one can not be a Titans fan and live in Tennessee? My response?
I have been a Seahawk fan longer that the Titans have even exsisted and I hated
the Oilers before that.
To my Seahawk brethren I
judge not a fan on the amount of time he or she has spent as a fan, but rather
the amount of passion and dedication they have as a Seahawk fan. The true test
is riding out the bumps in the road and understanding that every scar is a victory
when representing the Seahawks.
Some of us have been fans
since birth, others have converted over the years.
My question to you is: How
did you get here?
For me it was a far-sighted
aunt and a little good luck.
Scott Norris is better
known to NET Nation as "Hllywood". If you would like to contact Scott
you can emai him at: scottnorris2000@hotmail.com.