Minnesotagirl from up north, Minnesota has been a member since Aug 15, 2008

Once upon a time...

My parents watched a lot of football when I was young. In addition to appreciating the Vikings back in the Tarkington and Kramer days, I also developed a liking for teams my mom was interested in. Most notably the Da Bears in their heyday and the Steelers when they had Mean Joe Green. My mom had a jersey with his name on it. Left an impression on me. She would get all excited during games and talk to the TV, sometimes shouting. My sisters and I would watch at the edge of our seats with her during tense hopeful moments. My dad is a fan too of course. He's a lot quieter, but has his own quirks. He likes to get a rise out of people. He's the guy wearing the Packers hat to the VFW to watch the Vikings game. (First thing the guy did when the Minnesota North Stars hockey team moved to Texas was go out and buy a Dallas Stars hat. And sit there smirking.)

So it was natural that I would continue to be a fan. I like to cheer for the underdog. I'm ok with the Vikings as they have been - getting oh so close and then blowing it. Playing near perfect against tough teams and then blowing the ones they should have won. Losing to the Pack more often than not, whether the Pack is good that year or not. I had a tough time forgiving the Vikes the year they lost the NFC title game to Atlanta in the last seconds because of a missed field goal. I was out of my chair and on the floor, talking, no wailing, at no one. With the dog looking at me funny. I actually didn't follow football the whole next year after that heartbreak. But office pools are too much fun to stay out of for long.

I didn't join FanYard until this year, but I was a regular visitor last year and it helped me make my picks with some friends. I didn't do too bad. My teen daughter did even better. Its the women who are the football fans in the house. I guess I have become my mother.

I listed the Vikings as my favorite team, but if there was room for a few more, I'd have to add Da Bears and the Steelers. Old times sake. Actually, when the Vikings aren't a contender I'm happy to just cheer for whoever is doing well in our division. Even if its the Packers.