I've been following basketball since I was a baby, literally on daddy's knee watching the game at like 2 (my sister was even younger, she was like 6 months old when UK played Duke in the "game that never goes away" and my dad held her the entire game, until that last play and the nurse came in to the room to have her fed and my mom made him give her to the nurse, seconds later evil hit his 10-10 shot of the night) I never really followed the NBA at all until Tayshaun was signed in Detroit. Until then I was strictly a college fan. I started watching a game here and there (and watched the playoffs the year Detroit won) but I never really liked most of the Pistons. I liked a few of them, but they never really won me over (for some reason Billups annoys me, I can't figure out why) - I actually like more of them now because of Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson and Stuckey. So then Chuck goes undrafted and I hear that he was picked up for the summer in Houston. I figure, surely they will see what he can do and he will get signed, but no room at the inn for Chuck. I tried to follow the T-birds (d-league team that drafted Chuck at #6) but couldn't get a whole lot of information other than box scores - they are doing a better job for d-league fans now. Then he got the ten day call up and I was able to see a game. Mainly the thing that hooked me at that time on the Rockets was Luther (whom I liked at Illinois), Deke and Jeff Van Gundy (I couldn't quite understand what the little bald general was doing for a time, but after following the team for a while I understood most every move he made). At that time Yao was out for a foot thing, Tmac was still playing I believe (though he went out for his back not long after), but Tmac doesn't thrill me as much as most of the rest of the team. I was truly hooked after Battier was brought in and Yao came back. So I guess you could say, it took me a couple of years but I've picked the NBA team I like the best. sorry this post ended up longer than I intended.
Most of my friends only like the Astros and UT football, for some strange reason. I like the 'stros, but baseball is a distant 3rd behind the NBA and NFL for me. They all know that I'm much more than a casual fan like they are. My family knows what a fan I am because my Dad has been taking me to games since before they built the Summit. People at work know me as "that guy that likes the Rockets" because of all the stuff I have in my cube. I don't get as upset about regular season losses as I used to though, although I did get in a fight with my fiancee the night we lost Game 7 last year. Life goes on, you know? I guess that comes with getting older.
HOF! heh That explains your love for Hayes cus for the life of me, I could never see how anyone could be such a huge fan of Hayes as much as you do. I think I'd do the same now if someone from UH would make it to the NBA even if he's just a bench guy. I won't let go of the Rox but I'd follow the guy. Off topic, I tried to follow Kevin Kolb, but I just hate the Eagles too much.
Mine is all quite simple, my dad was Rockets NUT during the championship yrs (i was about 7 or 8), I always just sat beside him in front of the TV. It was just natural to me that this is gonna MY team. He was always so ecstatic after every win that he would pick me up and hold me upside down and I LOVED it!!
all my family and most of my friends know im a rockets fanatic... grew up watching hakeem and idolizing him. nevertheless, my family loves taking shots at my constant devotion to a team that has always seemed to fall short in the past decade. but ill keep cheering nonstop!
I'm a broadcast journalism major hoping to break into sports reporting. That said, I'm actually more of a baseball (I hate to say Astros with their recent... classlessness {except for Lance Berkman}, but go 'Stros) fan than a basketball fan. But I'm sitting next to the Clutch City DVDs, and my dad got me a season ticket mini-plan for my birthday. Does that answer the question?
