How did you pick your allegiances?

[matclone]

Became a Cardinals baseball fan at age 7 because my dad liked them and because we listened to them on the radio. It was natural for me to then like the football Cardinals (St. Louis) as well, and I've stuck with them since although baseball is of greater interest.

The other kids on the block (Ft. Dodge) were Twins fans.

 

[Tailg8er]

ISU cause I went there.

Picked the Broncos cause I played for a 'Denver Broncos' team in peewee football growing up, but that changed a couple years ago when a certain ISU QB started playing in San Fran.

 

[Gonzo]

I was a Steelers fan when I was young, mostly because of Mean Joe Greene and Jack Lambert. Super Bowl XIV, Steelers v. Rams. I was 8 years old. My dad spent several years living in SoCal when he was in the Navy, and grew to become a fan of all LA teams, including the Rams. Start of the 4th quarter the Rams were winning and I was watching with my dad and I was in tears, Steelers couldn't lose, what the h*ll was happening? They were the Steelers, two-time defending champs, and my favorite team, they couldn't lose. Dad was trying to ease my pain, telling me how if the Rams won that just meant the Steelers were sharing and how it's fair and a good thing for other teams to get a chance to be champs. Steelers score two touchdowns in the 4th and win, and I remember my dad being so p*ssed off. Lol.

Not about how I formed my allegiance, but a fun story I've always remembered.

Sorry dad. Lol.

 

[JP4CY]

Something I'd do if I could go back in time is either sit in my grandpa's TV room watching the Bulls at night or the Cubs during the day. The Sox were on too but Steve Stone and Harry Carry made for a perfect lazy summer afternoon.

Stoney kept the car on the road while Harry was wetting his whistle.

 

[SouthJerseyCy]

Gramps took me to ISU football games when I was a kid, so that was the first love. Seems like all my friends gravitated towards the semi-local teams (particulary Cubs and Chiefs) and I wanted to be different. Astros were in the same division as the Cubs, and Braves, so I'd see them fairly regularly. I liked JR Richard and Nolan Ryan, so they became my MLB team and I've stuck with them through a lot of down years and even the scandals.

For NFL, the Bucaneers were just coming into the league when I was getting into sports. I knew the Soloman brothers from OK and was also attraced to the lovable losers (like the Cyclones and Astros), so the Bucs became my team. My 'team' interest in NFL has waned since becoming involved with fantasy football. Also, moving to the Philly area, I'd say the Eagles have surpassed the Bucs in my fandom these days.

Ironically, I was a Sixers fan growing up with Dr. J and the gang. Now that I live in the area, I can't really stand them or any other NBA team for that matter.

 

[nrg4isu]

Iowa State because my dad went there (and I eventually did too). Cubs because WGN was available on AM radio.

I have no NFL or NBA teams specifically. My uncle was a Broncos fan. And obviously it was fun to grow up during the Jordan era.

 

[Cychl82]

Grew up a Cyclone fan for obvious reasons and also went to school there but also a huge Michigan fan. My grandparents bought me a Riddell uniform of Anthony Carter for Christmas when I was 4 and it’s stuck. I’m also a Washington Redskins/Commanders fan for the same reason as they gave me an Art monk Riddell uniform the next year

 

[NorthCyd]

Cubs are the only pro team I am particularly loyal too. Grew up going to a lot of I-Cubs games and had family in Chicago we would visit every year and would go to Cubs games when we did. Otherwise it's been mostly bandwagon jumping in pro sports until recently we've had some ISU athletes that are worth following in pro sports so a lot of my rooting interest revolves around them.

I will say the pro team I probably watched the most were the Jordan Bulls teams. I was completely obsessed. I am pretty sure I watched almost every game of the 95-96 season.

 

[Cyched]

Grew up a Cyclone fan with parents that went to ISU.

Packers for football since I grew up in the 90s and enjoyed watching Favre play every week, and having consistently solid teams to cheer for.

Cubs for baseball, growing up in DSM went to a lot of I-Cubs games and it was always cool when we got the occasional Chicago star coming through (Kerry Wood) or seeing guys like Mark Prior work their way into the majors.

Didn't really follow NBA or NHL much growing up in Iowa, beyond some casual viewing of those good Bulls and Lakers teams. Living in Colorado now the Nuggets and Avalanche have filled that void.

 

[CyCrazy]

Isu grad so that's #1. Rest of the family went to Illinois. Other than that Stl Cardinals.

 

[cyputz]

Began in 60’s as a young’n in North Dakota
NFL -Jets ( Don Maynard, Johnny Sample, Emerson Boozer - Namath was the party “flair”, whatever)
My top team Lions, Lem Barney, Alex Karras, Mel Farr)
NBA - Knicks with Jackson, Monroe, worshipped D !DeBusschere!
MLB Pirates from day one - Clemente, Mazeroski, Verdon, Face, Stargell, Alou, Mota.
(This was my heart break, I had the COMPLETE set of the Pirates from 63 - 71, I moved to Iowa in 74, and my sister pitched my collection when our family literally moved across the street). Damn Twin a**wipes!!!
College - Iowa State (after moving to Ames in 74.) Outside of ND locals playing at UND or UMin. Never followed college.
Now I am 90% college - 20% pro.

Have nice friendships with many “seasoned” ISU athletes/coaches , with utmost respect for their commitment and tolerance (albeit some awesome stories) . FB, MBB, WBB, Softball, Baseball, Men’s Track, Wrestling, Men’s Gymnastics, Club Hockey, and Club Rugby (who don’t get their due).
Continue to keep my allegiances to Cyclones #1, after moving to NC.
WeWill and Cardinal and Gold, as I can.

Never an allegiance past HS, College playing days from parents.

 

[TitanClone]

Cubs because they were on WGN when I was home during the summer as a kid. Chiefs because my family has had sason tickets since I was 12.

 

[Sevey]

Does anybody support all the teams from one city? Or is it more typical for Iowans to be like me and kind of be all over the place?

My family wasn’t particularly into sports.

For the NFL, I picked the Packers because I lived in northeast Iowa and it was the Brett Favre Super Bowl years when I started paying attention. I suppose I could have just as easily picked the Vikings or Bears. A lot of classmates were Cowboys fans too, especially with it being the mid to late 90s. The Chiefs were kind of far away.

For college, we moved to central Iowa during Eustachy’s Big 12 championship runs. I didn’t really pay attention to college sports before that other than seeing if my pop bottle cap matched the NCAA tournament winner. I had some family that supported the Hawkeyes and I even had a couple pieces of Iowa clothing as a kid but never thought much of it. A friend in northeast Iowa liked “the other one” and that was about all I really knew of Iowa State before moving to central Iowa. I started with Iowa State basketball and then picked up on football. Thankfully Mac was starting to take us to bowl games.

For MLB, I picked the Yankees first because an older cousin liked them and always wore a Yankees hat. Then I picked the Cubs as my local/National League team.

For the NBA, I picked the Bulls because of Michael Jordan but didn’t really follow them. Then I liked the Lakers because they were good. Finally, I kind of picked the Pacers after they picked Tinsley. I quit caring for several years and starting paying attention again when they got Haliburton.

For the NHL, I picked the Avalanche, but I never really watched much. I moved to Washington state as an adult and the closest team was the Canucks, so I kind of followed their scores. Then we got the Kraken and they became my team.

Living in Washington state as an adult added the Seatte pro teams and local colleges to my fandom.

Yes, I’m shooting the crap with a long post including personal details you probably don’t care about. Go easy on me.

My favorites were based on my heroes in that sport. I’m going to age myself here:
Packers-Bart Starr
Mets- Tom Seaver
Lakers- Jerry West
Iowa State-Oldest brother attended

 

[Cyhig]

Grew up in MN, so my allegiance is with MN sports team

Nobody would be MN sports fans if they wanted to follow a winning program!!

 

[NoCreativity]

I think I was a Bears fan first as the 85 Super Bowl is the earliest sporting event I remember. Then a couple years later I got into the Cubs since I would walk home from school and their games would be on every afternoon. Then I think I got into the Bulls in the early 90s with Jordan. I didn't intend to like all Chicago teams but it just ended up that way.

I've never liked any other NBA or NFL team but I did go through a Braves phase in the 90s.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

NW Iowa, so Twins and Vikes from birth. Oldest brother went to Minny after graduation and I'd spend time with him during the summer as a kid, so we'd usually hit a Twins game or two as well.

For college, ISU all the way. Follow a little Notre Dame since my dad is a big fan, but that's waned quite a bit. Will also root for UNI if I see them since two sisters went there.

Other teams: Arsenal, since it was my daughter's soccer team name, and I've stuck with them ever since. Sporting KC for MLS because I'm in KC. Red Wings because my wife was a big Hasek fan and followed him from Buffalo to Detroit. I don't watch much hockey now until playoff time, and then I binge it. NBA- Bulls growing up, but now just follow the ISU players.

I'll watch The Masters and The Kentucky Derby for the spectacle, but don't usually have a rooting interest.

 

[HoopsTournament]

My family was and still are diehard Cardinals fans. Started following them when I was 9. 1982 was the first year I watched/listened to baseball games almost every day.

Went to college at Missouri Western in St. Joseph and met my wife there. Her family was diehard Royals fans. I root for both, but will always be a Cardinals fan first. I also became a Chiefs fan living in the KC area.

I grew up a Mizzou fan, but started following ISU when I went to school at Iowa State. My first year at Iowa State was 94-95. They had a pretty good year for basketball. Football not so much, but players like Troy Davis and Fred Hoiberg made me a fan. Over time I became a bigger ISU fan and watched Mizzou less.

My cousin was a big Celtics and Larry Bird fan. In October of 1994, he was killed in a car accident. His 3 brothers and my brother and I became Celtics fans in honor of him.

For Hockey, the my family was Blues fans. I mostly watch Hockey during the playoffs. For college I am an Omaha Mavericks fan because my son went to college there.

I also root for Missouri Western in D2 since it was my first college.

 

[Texbudman]

Twins because my grandma listened to Halsey Hall and Herb Carneal on the radio all the time. Rod Carew was my first sports "idol". Vikings because of my dad. Thanks a lot dad! ISU because my cousin went there in the mid 70s and my aunt and uncle had season football tickets and I got to go to a couple football games and basketball games. Loved Hercle Ivy. NHL Dallas stars after they moved from Minnesota. NBA was the 76er's because of Dr J. when I was younger. Now Dallas Mavericks (although I'm not sure they know what they are doing) and any team former Cyclones play for. Still like the Twins but became a Rangers fan after moving to DFW area in mid 80's. No soccer interest

 

[Cycsk]

Moved to Ames in September 2003. Couldn’t believe how cheap and easy it was to see Big 12 sports.

My “entry drug” was Cardinal Gymnastics. My daughter was being mentored by All-American athletes like Janet Anson and Erin Dethloff.

Soon, I was buying season tickets for gymnastics, then football, then basketball, then volleyball and wrestling … then more football … my habit solidified in 2010 when we started tailgating.

Once I found this site, I never had a problem with free time ever again.

 

[NetflixAndClone]

Born in Minnesota so I default to Minnesota pro teams.

Cyclone by the grace of God, being born in a cyclone family.