I lived in Anaheim for little bit as a young lad. I never got to see the Rams play there because the Family moved back up north, and mom and pops split up. I did get to watch the MLB Angels play the Oakland A's.
My pops and most of my family were 49er fans (a few of them Raider fans) so all of you can imagine what that was like for 7-year-old Rams fan growing up).
How did I become a Rams fan at such a young age?
Have to give it up to my pops. He was a huge NFL fan when I was a diaper dandy. (49ers were his childhood team)
I was about 6 almost 7 years old and for some reason, I didn't get excited for the 49ers like the rest of the family did when everybody was watching them Sundays on the TV tube.
Pops told me at young age that I either have to support the home team (49ers) or choose an NFL team of my own and stay loyal to them. He said I wasn't allowed to change teams after I make a final decision.) Italian fathers (loyalty) go figure...
As a 7-year-old youngster watching the NFL pregame, and highlight shows NFL Today on (
CBS with Brent Musburger, Irv Cross & Jimmy the Greek) & the
Monday Night Football crew (Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford & Don Meredith) I was captivated by the Rams uniforms (Blue & Yellow) and the horns on their helmet.
Long story short, every time I seen the Rams on CBS and the Monday night football highlights, I finally told my pops the Rams were my favorite team.
I got some backlash and teased not understanding they were in the 49ers division, but my pops said you stick with them kid because you don't get to change teams after you pick one.
After I picked the Rams as my team, I never swayed from them and many years later before my pops passed away, he was very happy for me when the Rams finally won their first Super Bowl 1999 season (Dick Vermeil) led St Louis Rams.
Kind of wild/crazy how caring about an NFL team can follow a child to his manhood and the love for the team never fades. It only grows and I'm super happy for everybody that has heart strings attached to the Los Angeles Rams. This team gives me the same chills and anxiety that it did when I was a young pup.