How did you become a Redskins fan?

joecrisp · 07-18-2004, 09:51 PM

I'm another born and raised Redskins fan. I grew up in Redskins country (Fredericksburg, VA), and my whole family was really into the Redskins. My Dad used to tell me stories about my grandfather taking him to see the Skins play in old Griffith stadium in the 50s. My grandfather was a passionate fan, and he loved to analyze the games and the players. He was actually a bit of a pioneer in the odds-making business, being one of the first people to use computerized bio-rhythms charts to predict the outcomes of Redskins games. I remember his charts being published in the Free Lance-Star back in the early '80s, and I thought it was so cool that an old guy like that could be so productive with a computer (an old Commodore VIC-20, at that!).

Some of my earliest memories of childhood are from the first couple of years of the first Joe Gibbs era; listening to Sonny, Sam and Frank on the radio, and watching John Riggins run roughshod over the Cowboys. In the fall and winter, you would always find me running around in a little Redskins varsity-style jacket, with a Redskins stocking cap on my head (yep, the one with the little fuzzy burgundy-and-gold ball on top!). Like many guys my age, I became a certified Redskin-for-life as I watched Riggo gallop over the Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. I think I memorized the words to "Hail to the Redskins" before I learned the "Pledge of Allegiance"!

skinsfanthru&thru · 07-18-2004, 10:22 PM

One of my first memories of when I was around 3 or so was of me sitting on my granddad's lap watching the skins playing. One of my uncles has also been a diehard skins fan for as long as I remember and it was kinda weird for the 3 of us rooting for the skins while jimmy johnson was the cowgirls coach cuz my grandma rooted for the cowpies during his coaching stay. Its hard to root against something or someone your grandma roots for so we weren't as loud about it when she was around

.

I don't know why I became a skins fan 4 life instead of the dolphins because both of my parents love the phins. Its always just been one of those things that seemed right for me and while I've liked other teams from other sports, the skins have been and always be the team I cheer for the hardest.

Skins fan 44 · 07-18-2004, 10:40 PM

My dad used to coach high school football and the schools nick names is the Indians. Their decals were the same as the Skins, so I guess some how it stuck. I would say I was probably 4 or 5 when I started to become a fan. I have liked the Broncos in the 70s with the Orange Crush, but my main team has always been the Redskins. I would say If I could only like one team in sports it would be the Redskins.

illdefined · 07-18-2004, 11:43 PM

if you grew up anywhere in the metro area in the '80s, how could you NOT be a diehard Skins fan?

i went to elementary school in south Arlington, where all the local kids would run over to the community center after school to get these football cards with colorful superheroes on them. Art Monk, Gary Clark, Joe Jacoby, Wilber Marshall, Charles Mann, Dexter Manley... they were the coolest things i'd ever seen outside of a comic book and the kids wanted them all, carrying their huge stacks around.

there's no way you could avoid wild superbowl parties in the '80s, seeing these heroes in action, making everyone around go crazy. in the middle of this superhuman squadron was this completely unassuming guy with glasses, Joe Gibbs, who couldn't be meeker, and couldn't inherit more earth.

i could barely comprehend the game, but i knew it was good when Art Monk caught a long pass in the end zone, or Riggins ran over somebody. these guys were gods in my most formative years. something pure and positive about my childhood when i wasnt hearing about scary things called the Soviet Union and Nuclear War.

seems like forever ago and i've long sinced moved to NYC, but the imprint went far too deep. an unfading brand for an unfading fan, way behind enemy lines.

Redskins_P · 07-19-2004, 08:53 AM

Like many in the DC metro area, I was also a diehard fan from day one. I grew up in Falls Church, VA....Pimmit hills to be exact. Pimmit Hills is blue collar type of community with I would say at least 80% of the residence being Skins fans. I remember looking at my Kindergarten class pic and I was wearing a yellow "Super Bowl champs" t shirt back in 83. My father was a huge skins fan. I remember that he was in tears when Gibbs retired. I think that's what made a fan.......it was my dads passion for the Skins. He would really take it personal when they lost.

07-18-2004, 10:40 PM	#3
Skins fan 44 Impact Rookie Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brazil, IN Age: 55 Posts: 883	My dad used to coach high school football and the schools nick names is the Indians. Their decals were the same as the Skins, so I guess some how it stuck. I would say I was probably 4 or 5 when I started to become a fan. I have liked the Broncos in the 70s with the Orange Crush, but my main team has always been the Redskins. I would say If I could only like one team in sports it would be the Redskins. __________________ HTTR!

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07-18-2004, 09:51 PM	#1
joecrisp The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Age: 50 Posts: 1,501	I'm another born and raised Redskins fan. I grew up in Redskins country (Fredericksburg, VA), and my whole family was really into the Redskins. My Dad used to tell me stories about my grandfather taking him to see the Skins play in old Griffith stadium in the 50s. My grandfather was a passionate fan, and he loved to analyze the games and the players. He was actually a bit of a pioneer in the odds-making business, being one of the first people to use computerized bio-rhythms charts to predict the outcomes of Redskins games. I remember his charts being published in the Free Lance-Star back in the early '80s, and I thought it was so cool that an old guy like that could be so productive with a computer (an old Commodore VIC-20, at that!). Some of my earliest memories of childhood are from the first couple of years of the first Joe Gibbs era; listening to Sonny, Sam and Frank on the radio, and watching John Riggins run roughshod over the Cowboys. In the fall and winter, you would always find me running around in a little Redskins varsity-style jacket, with a Redskins stocking cap on my head (yep, the one with the little fuzzy burgundy-and-gold ball on top!). Like many guys my age, I became a certified Redskin-for-life as I watched Riggo gallop over the Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. I think I memorized the words to "Hail to the Redskins" before I learned the "Pledge of Allegiance"!

07-18-2004, 10:22 PM	#2
skinsfanthru&thru Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 46 Posts: 3,815	One of my first memories of when I was around 3 or so was of me sitting on my granddad's lap watching the skins playing. One of my uncles has also been a diehard skins fan for as long as I remember and it was kinda weird for the 3 of us rooting for the skins while jimmy johnson was the cowgirls coach cuz my grandma rooted for the cowpies during his coaching stay. Its hard to root against something or someone your grandma roots for so we weren't as loud about it when she was around . I don't know why I became a skins fan 4 life instead of the dolphins because both of my parents love the phins. Its always just been one of those things that seemed right for me and while I've liked other teams from other sports, the skins have been and always be the team I cheer for the hardest.

07-18-2004, 11:43 PM	#4
illdefined Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: nyc Age: 50 Posts: 2,631	if you grew up anywhere in the metro area in the '80s, how could you NOT be a diehard Skins fan? i went to elementary school in south Arlington, where all the local kids would run over to the community center after school to get these football cards with colorful superheroes on them. Art Monk, Gary Clark, Joe Jacoby, Wilber Marshall, Charles Mann, Dexter Manley... they were the coolest things i'd ever seen outside of a comic book and the kids wanted them all, carrying their huge stacks around. there's no way you could avoid wild superbowl parties in the '80s, seeing these heroes in action, making everyone around go crazy. in the middle of this superhuman squadron was this completely unassuming guy with glasses, Joe Gibbs, who couldn't be meeker, and couldn't inherit more earth. i could barely comprehend the game, but i knew it was good when Art Monk caught a long pass in the end zone, or Riggins ran over somebody. these guys were gods in my most formative years. something pure and positive about my childhood when i wasnt hearing about scary things called the Soviet Union and Nuclear War. seems like forever ago and i've long sinced moved to NYC, but the imprint went far too deep. an unfading brand for an unfading fan, way behind enemy lines.

07-19-2004, 08:53 AM	#5
Redskins_P Fight for old DC! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Aldie, VA Age: 48 Posts: 4,101	Like many in the DC metro area, I was also a diehard fan from day one. I grew up in Falls Church, VA....Pimmit hills to be exact. Pimmit Hills is blue collar type of community with I would say at least 80% of the residence being Skins fans. I remember looking at my Kindergarten class pic and I was wearing a yellow "Super Bowl champs" t shirt back in 83. My father was a huge skins fan. I remember that he was in tears when Gibbs retired. I think that's what made a fan.......it was my dads passion for the Skins. He would really take it personal when they lost.

How did you become a Redskins fan?

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