What is your number one favorite sport and how did you first become a fan?

I think I've told my story before so sorry if I'm repeating myself, but I must have been about four or five years old and was at a restaurant with my parents. I asked my dad what he was talking about and he explained he was talking about his favorite baseball team, the Dodgers. I asked him what my favorite team was and, to his credit, said that's for me to choose. He started naming off teams and the name "Giants" caught my attention because I liked the idea of a baseball team full of Jack and the Beanstalk style giants playing. So I told him that was my favorite team. I didn't even know it was a local team.

In 1983, when I was five years old, my Dad, Grandfather and three Uncles took me to my first Giants game and I was hardcore ever since. Walking through the stadium was fun, but it took my breath away when I finally saw the field and how green the grass was and how enormous the stadium looked. I couldn't get over the crowd cheering and all the smells and how guys walked around selling food and brought it right to your seat.

It is one of my fondest memories, especially since I was able to spend it with the most important men and role models in my life.

I suspect this will be a theme in most of the answers that are posted here.

My own is baseball, primarily because I was exposed to it very early on by both my (older) brother and my mother. My brother's baseball card collection fascinated me when I was 5 or 6 years old, and he'd tell me about some of the better players. I'd watch some games on tv with my mom (while she was ironing clothes) and she'd explain what was happening. The colorful stories and learning the game's rules lead to my becoming a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and of the game of baseball.

I know exactly what you're talking about. I was 11 when I went to my first major league game on August 8, 1975, but I can recall the excitement that filled me when the ballfield appeared before my eges. I can even recall that the organist at the time was playing the theme to the Andy Griffith Show.

I left the concourse to get a closer glimpse, and stood there awestruck while my dad was calling me because we had to walk up the concourse to get to our section.
My dad bought me a Phillies batting helmet and a program, which I still have.

The Phillies played the Giants, and it was kind of a big game because it was Willie Montanez' first game back in Philly after he was traded by the Phils for Garry Maddox. Luzinski homered, but Montanez had hit a three run homer to tie it late. Dick Allen singled to score the game winner in the ninth.

To answer your question though, baseball is my favorite sport because of the history and nuance of the game. My favorite sports team is the Steelers though, and I freely admit that football is a much more exciting game. I have some very fond memories of the Steelers, my brothers and father as well that have clearly stuck in my head just as my first baseball game has.

It is football/soccer for me,just because it is the game that everybody plays over here from the time they can walk. I am fortunate enough to love all sports though,even the US ones as my awesome fantasy efforts will testify to.....

As a kid, teenager and into my 20s, I loved fishing; fresh water and saltwater. My older brother fished, so I fished. I spent many happy carefree hours at the "40ft hole" on the north end of the Hackensack River. It ran clean and clear back in the 60s. My best friend John and I fished every inch of the river that we could access. We also had a few swimming holes. When we weren't fishing, we were swimming. When I was sixteen I asked my father to take John and I to our favorite fishing pond in Harriman Park. It was November 3rd but we didn't care if we caught anything (but we did catch a few pickerel.) I still fondly think back to that day.

Adult life, fatherhood and golf took away my fishing urge, but I used to take my daughter fishing in my canoe. She's 30 now and every once in awhile she asks if I can take her fishing. Its a sweet memory.

Well for me it began back in 1979 when I was just 11 years old. I do remember turning the tv on to a football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, that's also the time the Dallas Cowboys became my fave team. I was hypnotized by the blue star


Unlike probably most of you if not all, I was never introduced to sports by my dad as he never liked sports still doesn't.

Although I guess you can say I was introduced to sports by my maternal grandfather. I can remember him taking me, my brother & my mom to a San Diego Padres/Houston Astros baseball game. My maternal grandparents lived in La Mesa California. Actually this was before being exposed to Football. But I always thought Baseball was boring. For some reason I thought my grandfather would be upset if Baseball wasn't my fave sport cause it was always his. But I can remember him telling me it was perfectly ok if Baseball wasn't my fave sport to each his own. Incidently it was my grandfather that gave me a subscription to Sports Illustrated way back in 1981. I've been a subscriber ever since. Sadly my grandfather passed away 10 years later. RIP

Boxing for me. My uncle fought about 40 something amateur fights then gave it up to drink booze. But the sport always stuck with me and I was hooked ever since. My uncle used to show me videos of some of Australia's best fighters like, Jeff Fenech, Lionel Rose, Kostya Tszyu etc etc.

I did a bit a boxing from time to time and have been training for about 6 months this year...

Actually check the random posting thread for a sad story that happened today...

I've always wanted to box. I'm too old to start now, but I've been in enough fights to know I can take the hits and still knock guys on their backs. And for some reason the sport appeals to me. It'll always be one of those "what ifs" for me. Same with American football. Oh well.

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you Blib?

There's been fighters from OZ who started their pro careers at 29 etc.

31, same age as your friend who just had the stroke.

Probably football. I have a lot of memories growing up of watching Mean Joe Greene and Jack Lambert knock people out.

I played football in high school and I played Little League baseball. I don't know which is my favorite, but it's the Steelers that have been winners more times than the Pirates. So, I guess my favorite is football.

You and me both, Lilo. I'll be at Heinz Field tomorrow, waving my Terrible Towel, eating a Primanti Brother sandwich and shouting, "DEE-FENSE!"

My dad, brothers and I made it out to Canton the year Lambert and Franco were inducted. It was a great event for us.

I got to relive those hays yesterday at Heinz Field, which is a shrine to the team's history.

I live Football/Soccer again i was exposed to it as a young boy and was hooked, i have a season ticket for my local team who where the league 2 champions..

I also enjoy to watch cricket,snooker,darts and Rugby..

I got into football from watching Colts games with my mom but my interest really exploded when I got a football video game. And I always played the shit out of tecmo bowl. This was Madden for the computer and a PS2 game.