...that's all it took. I was hooked. The spectacle of all the supporters for both teams singing and competing was fairly intoxicating. The pub was so busy that they charged a fee for parking and we were forced to park over a mile away in a nearby neighborhood. I was targeted by the fans for smiling like an idiot and not participating, but I didn't mind ("If-you don't-know the songs / then-you learn-the f**king words - da-di-da-di-daaa!"). I thought, have I really been missing this all my life? I went straight home and told my wife all about it and called my brother. Right then I began doing research and decided that I needed a team, and it wouldn't be Man U.
After about a week of learning everything that I could about the EPL and the FA, I settled on Tottenham. I learned straightaway that I despised Ars*nal fans. Who else hates Ars*nal? Spurs. The more I learned, the more I excited I became. Here was a truly English club with a long rich tradition and a loyal, suffering fanbase. Most of the fans sounded just like me. Tottenham appeared competitive but unable to "get over the hump". I loved the colors, loved the name, loved the philosophy - everything fit into place. I quickly became a fan of Harry Redknapp and really identified with the fact that many of the players were homegrown. As I learned about the roster, I fell in love with the players as well. Spurs were my clear choice. The first game I saw was the opener against Liverpool last season and that just sealed it. The atmosphere at WHL blew me away. I started buying apparel and never miss a game, whether online, on TV, or on the radio. I tell nearly everyone I meet about Spurs. I'm getting my family onboard and teaching them all about the club. Even my barber asks, "How's your team doing?"
I've become more passionate about Spurs than any other sports franchise. I'm ashamed to admit that when the team lost to Portsmouth in the FA cup semifinal - I killed my laptop by slamming the lid shut. I really appreciated bigv's post about the meaning of the word "supporter". That's exactly how I feel. I dedicate my time and energy, both of which are valuable. I can't wait to plan a trip to see the team play in person. When the team came to America this summer I was so excited. My wife was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. She said, "So are we going to New York, then?" Not yet, but soon - lol. We have a Kuwaiti friend who insists that he will pay for a visit to London for a derby match on his dime - but I can't accept that. In any case, that's my story.
Apologies for the length.
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