After taking a seven year leave of absence from being an NFL fan (I was previously a rabid and long term 49er fan of some ten years), I have finally decided to once again care about the going's on in the league and enjoy rooting for a team again. I am by far and away a much bigger college football fan than I will ever be of the NFL, as I believe the college game to be much more fan and team oriented, but the NFL does have many great merits. I spent some time considering the team I would now pledge my allegiance to, carefully weighing all the options and narrowing it down to four teams. The Seattle Seahawks, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs. For the record, the Chiefs made the cut simply because they are the home market team where I live and I manage to see some of their games each season. However, I have never had any interest in being a Chiefs fan as it is entirely too "expected" and "what everyone else here does". No Sir, I walk a different path than that.
I decided to involve my wife in the decision process as it really is an investment for a couple just like anything else. She has to be involved (even indirectly) in purchasing merchandise, suggesting gift ideas at appropriate holidays, and even putting up with me adding another game to the must see TV schedule in the house (which for me really is only Notre Dame games at the moment). After careful deliberation, and initially thinking the Seattle Seahawks were the way to go, eventually my gut feeling and instincts won through and we both decided on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. My wife and I both feel very good about this...we both love pirate lore and things of that ilk, so that fits right in with the Bucs. I also like their style of play, unis, players and color scheme/logo (being an artist, that's important) so off we go. Hell, we could even see ourselves living in Tampa one day as I for one LOVE Florida.
Another great side benefit of this selection is that one of my best friends is a New Orleans Saints fan through and through, so having the Bucs in the same division really creates a wonderful rivalry for us to enjoy twice a year. It was a long and hard decision leaving the Niners behind...but, as I've told people before, I really feel as though they left ME behind. Changing players, styles of play, coaches, logos, uniforms, front offices...there isn't much the same for the Niners except the name. Oh well, we had a good decade long run, and now I look forward with great interest to being a Bucs fan. Loyalty in general is something I take very seriously, even to sports teams, so moving from one to another is weird but ultimately the best choice for me. Without further ado, and without anymore gilding the lily, I say GO BUCS!
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