Hat Contest winner #2 - cm011

by Adam Schultz on Feb 8, 2010 11:42 AM EST in Editorial

Atlanta native Clint M. wins a hard hat with this entry:

"Unlike many others in the Atlanta-area, I am a fan of all Atlanta sports teams. No matter how terrible they are doing (Joey Harrington starting), I always have cheered them on. Braves/Falcons/Hawks/Thrashers. As a kid growing up, I became a fan of the Falcons in 1997 when I moved to the suburbs of Atlanta from south Georgia. At recess all of my classmates would play football. I didn't really know how to since I grew up on baseball. Once they taught me I fell in love with it.

The following season happened to be the greatest season ever for the Atlanta Falcons. I did my best to watch every game possible that season except for when it conflicted with my duties as being a kid. You know, taking naps, running around outside. Breaking stuff. The most memorable game to me was the upset of the Vikings in overtime. Thank you Morten Andersen. Before the Super Bowl I remember being at a Winn-Dixie and I BEGGED my parents to buy me the NFC Championship shirt. It was a large, and me being in first grade at the time made it awkward looking but I didn't care. I think I wore it twice that week alone.

Ever since that season the Falcons have given me dreams and nightmares. I thought with Vick we would be saved. He came close. But then nightmares would kick in with him getting indicted. At thanksgiving I was cutting the turkey and was really tempted to go for my wrists. Friends of mine that had been Falcons fans suddenly became fans of the Patriots or Colts. I've even seen some Bucs jerseys. Never have I thought about abandoning the Falcons.

One of my current roommates in college was at the Eagles/Falcons game and he was telling how how they were cheering Vick on in the dome. I was furious that he was cheering for someone on ANOTHER team. It also made me sad that there are still many bandwagon fans around here.

Now matter how bad the Falcons may ever be, I will always be a fan, and when they go to the Super Bowl in February of 2011, I will be standing there yelling at the top of my lungs for them."

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Good job on your letter. It is nice to hear that some fans still support a team and no matter who the player is on the other team or how much you like him that you will root against him just because he is playing our team. I remember reading a book by (or authorized biography?) Larry Bird and he said he has no clue how people can hang out with a member of the other team the night before a game or go up and say hello before a game.

Next time you are at a game, give a yell for me as well since I have yet to make it to a game (having lived outside of pro football areas and now live in southern California and everytime they have came this way I had to go to the field for the Marines when I was active duty or had to work overtime since because I am a civil servant working for the Marines. This year when I seen they were playing the 49ers and Cards I was finally going to be able to see a game…but those are home games :(. I might be able to go to the one in Seattle but not sure due to distance.

by muuzilla on Feb 8, 2010 12:17 PM EST reply actions

first grade...

Jaybus I’m getting old. I was at MCT when they defeated the Vikings. I made it to my training school the weekend of the Superbowl (had to report in the following Monday).

And, while I know I haven’t been around much lately, it’s about damned time we got another Marine on this site. Too many squids and grunts for my liking. Speaking of which, MIA are you in J-ville yet or what?

"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC

by Jesse28 on Feb 8, 2010 3:21 PM EST reply actions

MCT?

I was at MCT when Iraq invaded Kuwait!

by muuzilla on Feb 9, 2010 12:14 AM EST up reply actions

Well then

A hearty YUT! to you.

"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC

by Jesse28 on Feb 9, 2010 7:35 AM EST up reply actions

Good on ya ...

Great story. And I miss Winn Dixie …

Founder and Proud Member of the "JASON SNELLING AIN'T ALL THAT AND A BAG O' CHIPS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA"

by FrankyWren on Feb 8, 2010 5:06 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Good job

I’ve never had ANYONE around me who’d be a Falcons fan. During my time in Atlanta I was surrounded by business school students who mostly came from outside of Georgia, mainly from the North-East (and therefore would be the fans of NE or NY – if they were ever interested in NFL). Before that I spent a year in Missouri where the majority would pull for the Chiefs. And since then I lived in the countries were people have only heard of football (or, actually, american footbal) at best. And I felt fine about that.

But reading this piece of writing I realized how tough it must be to see your friends turn their back on the team they were cheering for just a moment ago, and root for the Pats or the Colts. It must be even tougher to see someone actually wearing a Falcons jersey and pulling for another team…

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Feb 9, 2010 4:47 PM EST reply actions

I've seen jerseys

But I’ve never met a real, live Falcons fan from my neck of the woods. Of course, at least I’m around people who know about the NFL. That would be rough.

by Dave Choate on Feb 9, 2010 5:52 PM EST up reply actions