Life as a diehard football fan.

Yep, shoulda known one of these would happen. Me, Brandon Hall, THE diehard Pittsburgh Steelers and Alabama Crimson Tide football fan. Im the first person you run to when we lose, and the first person you run from when we win. Most kids at age six color in coloring books with crayons, or watch some stupid cartoon on tv, teaching you the ABC's and 123's. Not me. When I was six, I was wearing a two sizes too small Terry Bradshaw or Franco Harris jersey (with the numbers stretched a foot wide, but it was still the biggest kids size they had). The same as my older Steeler bro, Derek, who also at age six, was wearing the same jerseys and helmets, and passed down to my little Redskin bro. When I got a little older (like, 8 or 9), we would go upstairs on the "football field" (which was the floor in my brother Dereks room), and I would have to play on my knees, and Kiley would get to stand up, and we would play a real football game. Full pads, uniforms (most of the time, the "uniforms" were white t-shirts with numbers and names drawn on them with markers), and full contact. We would both end up bruised, bloodied, tired, and making up excuses for when mom asked us "what happened"?? Older Steeler bro would line us up, call penalties (usually facemasking), play quarterback, whatever. Or he would sometimes just watch us battle it out, like an emporer watching gladiator slaves battle to the death, for nothing more than his sheer enjoyment. Im sure even though I was his little Steeler bro, he was pulling for "Even littler" Redskin bro, usually because I tore all the stickers off of his toys, or broke the wheels off of his model cars because they, stupidly, lacked  four free rolling wheels. If Derek bought a General Lee model, you could place a winnerbet  that the wheels would be broken off of it. For whatever reason, I couldnt resist playing with (and destroying) every orange '69 Dodge Charger with an 01 on the side, that I ever seen. Anyways, looking back at those days, as I oftentimes do, graduating to full contact football in the backyard with neighbor kids, it makes sense why my teams losing mean so much to me. I am not an average fan. When my Steelers or Bama boys lose, I take it personal. I grieve the entire week. Ive came up with a couple of catchy slogans, "I'd rather be a Steeler fan on a losing day than anybody else on a winning day", or my favorite one, "Tide rules, Fulmer sucks!" Yeah, I know that last one was sorta spur of the moment, but it brings out the very best and the very worst in me. In the early to mid 80s, there were a handful of Steeler fans around here. Because not too many stuck with them after the glory days of the 70s, and to them, what fun was it to root for a 9-7 team every season? When you love a team as much as Ive loved the Steelers, going to the Super Bowl (over and over and over again) actually means something. Guys like me are a part of something. Its Steeler Nation. The tried and true Steeler fans that suffered through a 26 year drought (from '79 to '05), only to be paid back with three championship appearances. The Pittsburgh Steelers players recognize the fans. Every interview you will hear, theyll mention the Steeler fans, and how theres nothing like them in the world. Thats what I get out of it. No theyll never mention my name specifically, but when they say stuff like, "this is for you, the fans", then hold up that big trophy, its gratitude for sticking by our team, and being loyal. Being a Bama fan in this state over the last 28 years "Bears" another story (get it? Bears...Bear Bryant? Forget it). I am just as rabid about Bama football as the biggest UK basketball fan around here. My last two dogs? A miniature collie that I got in 1984. I called him Beardog, after guess who? He died Valentines Day '99. I got another one that March. He too, is named Beardog. And my next dog? Yep, you guessed it. Anyways, football is more than a sport to me. Its a way of life. Its six months out of the year that brings me unparalleled happiness. I am a better person. Im the guy that will stay up late on a Wednesday at midnight to watch Utah State and Louisiana-Monroe. I love having conversations, or debates with true fans of other teams. I dont care who you like, if youve stuck with them, I will respect you. But if you are trading in your Drew Brees jersey for a Big Ben jersey, because theyre your new favorite team, I probably wont waste my time debating with you. I know, its a dickhead move, but its a free country. Go Steelers and God Bless the Rooneys.