Monday, September 25, 2006
Why am I a Colts fan? I'll tell ya...
No, I'm not from Indiana. AND NO I did not jump on the bandwagon. I've been beating my little bass and wackin my silly snare since the fall of 1995. Therefore, I think I've earned the right to being considered a true Colts fan. And unlike the Vike-queens (whom I still root for over the Green and Gold - sorry Dad) I think I'm a CFFL (Colts Fan Fo Life).
It all started the day (Cue whimsical music, or spark one up)... I entered K-UMM (the only station that puts kumm in your ear) inspiring to be the next hit on the college air-waves. Actually I went to the informational meeting and asked if I could be on SportShow. It's still a debate whether we were "Sports show" "Sportshow" or "The Sport Show" nevertheless, I was told "Probably Not."
It was up to the 3 junior baseball players - Stenzel, Mike Larsen, "the Duece" Luke McLain (and the new to be Lars replacement Jeep) - running the show as to whether or not I could be on. Leaving the meeting disappointed I went to my Clayton A. Gay Hall dorm room and listened faithfully for the next two weeks. I called in to find out the status of Ken Griffey and the HR Derby contest and various other menial things. Finally a man by the name Christopher J. Stenzel (now DDS) asked if I was the girl that wanted to be on the show.
I said yes, but I couldn't because it was during Church (The show was 10 - Noon on Sunday Mornings). They laughed and told me to come in anyway (there was an 8 a.m. mass - what? I'm a Good Catholic!).
I was so excited for the start of B-Ball. I had been following UCLA, Nova, UNC college hoops was awesome in the early-mid '90's. Even after the Gopher dynasty was nearing a screeching halt. I could pull out names like Jim Shikenjanski, Tyus Edney, Shawn Respert and Harold Minor with the best of them. The only problem Basketball had not yet started, heck is was still Footaball Pre-season.
So here it was, my true test. Would I stay or would I go. "So girl who's your pick?" Crap. I couldn't pick the Vikes as that would be a cop out. Plus I learned at age 8 that they start out each season undefeated in and then pull the 4th quarter choke throughout the regular season. They usually make it to the play-offs then lose munificently. I was too young to remember Tarkenton so I had to grow up watching Tommy Kramer. I think I even had a #9 Jersey. I digress in more ways than one. There's only 1 TK in Minne, and sorry Tommy, unless you're asking my uncle Tim, you're not him.
I was a Saints Fan in High School - When they had Bobby Hebert. But he was no longer with the Saints and their dreams went down with the inability to Run the ball. But I had to decide NOW - live, on-air...
My dad used to talk about Johnny Unitas, so I picked the Colts. Now this was pre-manning and even pre Tony D - he was still the Vikes Defensive Coordinator at this point - love that man (who was also a Gopher).
This was Jim Harbaugh and Ted Marchibroda - soon to be followed by Lindy Infante! Yeah - that's right. There's no way you can call me a bandwagon jumper now. In the pre-season they beat the 49ers, Broncos and undefeated Rams (I think) or Dolphins - it doesn't matter. The guys thought I was a genius (shut-up Jeep if you're reading this). I was in.
It was also the first in many years the Colts made the playoffs - three games into the playoffs! It was also the first of my aggravating losses to either the Steelers or Pats :( They were absolutely robbed in that final game. I will give Cohwer the ability to coach a strong team and emotions aside think he might be a little better than Dungey, but we were totally robbed in the endzone. All calls going to the Yellow and black. I digress again - that game pissed me off almost as much as their loss to the Dolphins in 2000 or the really sad game against the Jets in 2002.
Heck the last game last year pissed me off too. Mike Doss - are your relatives in Pittsburgh? I thought you stopped tackling your own guys in 8th grade. Forget catching the pass that was inadvertantly thrown directly at you, just pop it up so they can recover. Sorry that may not have been Peyton's best game, but Mike Doss should have hung up his cleats after that one. I can't believe he stayed in the whole game!
Wow - that doesn't sound like a Colts fan. But it shows that I've stuck with them through the thick and thin. And it's all due to Johnny U and his amazing ability to never give up! Go Colts.