My sports championships....

You're lucky, Doc.   Try being a Houston fan.   

The first city Sports Championship of my lifetime was the Areos.   A hockey franchise.  I don't even know what league they played in, but... Gordie Howe was our hero! 

My first really fun Championship run was my freshman year in High School.  My hometown team was never very good at football.  But, that year... we made it all the way to the Texas 5A Semi-finals, played in Austin.    We lost to Austin Reagan 21-19, in a wild game.   Half-way through the 2nd quarter, my Wildcats were down 21-0, on a pick 6, and a fumble-recovery for a TD.    Our guys fought back, missed an Xp, but then scored at the end and had a chance for a 2-pt conversion to tie.    It was heart-breaking to see them lose, but.... man.  The entire town was behind them.  It was the most exciting thing ever.    

If we'd won that last game, we would have played against Earl Campbell's Tyler John Tyler in the Finals.   Since the Final game was played in the Astrodome (30 miles from my house) I went to it.  Great game.   Tyler was down by 4 with 8 minutes remaining.   They handed the ball to Earl 10 times in a row and scored the game winning TD with only a few seconds remaining.   EVERYONE in the stadium KNEW who was getting the ball.   But, nothing could stop Earl. 


Actually... I guess that wasn't my first Championship.  That would have come 4 years earlier, when Texas beat Arkansas and then Notre Dame in 1969 to with the National Championship.  I was 10 years old then, and my blood was 100% burnt orange.   As the Horns went on a 3-year, 28 game win streak, I didn't remember ever hearing or watching  them lose.  Those last 2 games were nerve racking.    We had a brand new color TV delivered at half-time of the Texas-Ark game.  The deliveryman stayed at our house to watch most of the 2nd half. 

The next big thing was the Houston Cougar 1983, PHI SLAMMA JAMMA team.  What a joy to watch..... right up until  the bittter, bitter end. 


After that?   There wasn't much.  I got really excited with the Astros in 1986.   We had a great team, but lost in a heart-breaking extra inning game  to the stupid, pitiful Mets.   Boy, I HATED that.  I was living by myself in Augusta, Georgia at that time.  I'd been forced to change jobs and move.  MamaBevo stayed in Texas for a few months to try to sell out house.   I watched every game from August through the end of the season. 

The next big run was the Houston Rockets Championships in 1994 and 1995.  FINALLY a real city Championship.   Akeem the Dream brought it home.   the 4 game series against Shaq and the Magic was a clinic on how to play the Center position.   Akeem literally ran circles around Shaq.    Those two years were great, but... always with an *.    It was the 2 years that Jordan tried to play BB. 

The 2005 Texas Longhorn season was really special.   That early win against the Buckeyes, at The Shoe, really signaled that this team was legit.   I don't know when I EVER enjoyed watching any player more than VY.   With him in charge,  I just KNEW we were NOT going to lose... to anyone.  He wouldn't allow it.  That whole season was magical.  And, it ended with the best college football game ever?    I sure think so. 

The 2009 Longhorn team had the same feeling.   Right up until Marcel Darius hit Colt McCoy on the shoulder.       The hit that destroyed the Texas Longhorns for the next 12 years, and counting.....

When the Astros finally won in 2017, I was happy.... but, no longer living in Houston and not really a baseball fan anymore.  So, it's not the same. 

I've never had an NFL team that I was real fan of win the SB.  I was a Vikings fan as a kid.  More futility.  
With my pre-season bet on the Bengals, I've been a fan all year.    This will be as close to it as I've ever been.      

We're very EXCITE!!!  (as Borat would say!!)

It might.. if ANYONE knew about it. 

My oldest friend and Best Man was a Sam Houston graduate.  He didn't even know they were playing in it until I called him. 

Face it, Hen... Lower level NCAA football divisions are barely more relevant that women's High School field hockey. 

My son and neighbors are rooting for the Bengals now too.  I told them, if I win, I will buy a Playstation 5.    I haven't been able to play any games with them since they all advanced last year for Christmas.   Apparently, my meager effort on our combat teams was more important to them than I thought.  I mostly just drove jeeps, set up booby traps, and carried the homing beacon.   I rarely ever shot and killed anyone.  I'm too slow. ( I blame my connection!) 

With exception of Xavier our list are identical.   Never been a UC fan but my daughter is currently attending there.  Thought I was going to have to put the Bearcats on the list at some point but fortunately she has decided to transfer to Ohio State.   My son did go to WVU and had a great time at those games.  At the moment they have nothing of note to add to the list.  


Regarding my daughter,  she likes UC but the campus is a tad bit scary.   Even thought she is a quarter mile walk from campus we got her a car just for safety reasons.   One day she went out to her car and found a dead body next to it.   She ended up getting on the news.   I know tOSU has it's safety issues but I think UC is in a class by itself.