Biggest Wing Fan

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

Since I was born so 1984. Born and bred with my dad being a former one

[Shaman 713]

Fan since 86, 4th generation fan.

[zata40 3]

for me, I'v been a fan from birth. (1989)

Edited March 9, 2008 by zata40

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I've been a die hard/loyal fan for 13 years now.

[Lidstromrules16 7]

I would say obsessed since 98, so for around 11 years now.

The Wings are really the only sports team I religously follow. I used to follow the Red Sox ALOT when I lived in CT, but since I moved to NC, i kinda stopped following them. I still call myself a world series fan though

[DaKineMaui 8]

1 - kinda screwed on this one. Was a Leafs fan till we moved to the states in 79. Didn't make the switch right away either. (Sittler didn't quit till the mid-80s 'eh?)

2 - Reminds me of what makes me feel old when I see that many of you were born after I graduated. Gah! YOUR Red Wings have had quite the run!

aloha

[Superman54 91]

Ive been a fan since I was 5 years old, Playing NHL 94 the only team I ever chose was the redwings

and it all started from there

[oldredbarnman 13]

Been following the Wings since 1969. Suffered through the 70s and early 80s, but was rewarded when I watched Yaz hoist the cup in person twice. I was lucky to fulfill my dream as a fan.

[IceMunkee 15]

Hahaha.. liked the Wings all of my life..

only started paying attention to every single detail about three years ago.

Obsessed with them now.

Yeah I think I have to agree. I have been a fan for a long time. I just started watching and learning the game, the team and the league since the lockout. Actually all three cups I missed. '97 Working almost every night at KFC. '98 Same thing. '02 I was in Air Assault School at Ft Campbell, KY. So it is time the win so I can really enjoy a cup final.

[seeinred 1,488]

Come on who really cares how long someone has been a Wings fan, just that you are, you have good reasons and you love them enough to post on these forums!

But I have been a fan since the mid - late 80's lol

That was my thought exactly. I figured this thread word turn in to a pissing contest of sorts, but it's not quite as bad as I thought it would be. Anyway, I can actually sort of remember when my dad took me to my 1st Wings game just about 18 years ago. I probably didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the game since I was putting popcorn in the lady's hair in front of me, but I like to think of it as the point when I became a Wings fan.

[Yellowknife Redwing 57]

Ive been a fan since I was 5 years old, Playing NHL 94 the only team I ever chose was the redwings

and it all started from there

Haha, I was the same way about NHL '93 on the SNES. Steve Chiasson was my leading scorer every season.

[Barrie 900]

I've been a fan since 1989-90

[TheWestWing 71]

I’d prefer the term ‘most senior’. And because of such, I’m going to indulge myself and (semi) hijack this. ‘I’ve forgotten more than I remember….’. And yet to remember the Wings is to also to remember Detroit:

- I remember my first trip to Olympia was not to see the Wings, but to see the Beatles (and tho our illustrious MissVlad here probably owns the most er, ‘robust’ set of lungs for the estrogen set, I still believe my hearing was permanently damaged that day due to all the screaming.) My first Wings game would not come until the following year (year not provided to protect the innocent).

- I remember the riots – my grandfather owned a jewelry store (down on Cass I believe). His neighbor who owned a cheese stop was situated on the roof with weaponry.

- I remember the Tigers winning the World Series the following year. Since I’ve now been in the sun too long, I do not know if this is still true but there is nothing, I mean absolutely nothing like a winning sports team in a blue-collar town to give everyone a rallying point. And it was sorely needed then.

- I remember watching Gordie and Alex and Crozier.

- I remember the Mahovlich trade that also brought over Gary Unger (note to Frasier: perfect hair that actually moved!).

- I remember the Mahovlich trade (other way) that brought us GlutenBoy which may be why to some minute extent why I harbor some ‘ill will’ (tho if he would just come outta the 70s a bit….).

- I remember when Jerry Louis Arena first opened – so called because it was funny in a train wreck kinda way watching everyone wipe out in their first venture onto the icy steps. Isn’t it now the oldest active arena in the NHL?

- I remember Stevie on daft day – no live coverage but I think Al Ackerman had some footage (and I was on At The Zoo with Sonny Elliot, but I’m still trying to forget that as I almost fell into the lions den).

- I remember the lean years – from the looks of this thread, some will and some wont. And there were many. But, as tough as it is to be a fan when your team is losing (see Lions), they always entertained. At least I wanted them to. So they did.

- I remember the sweeps – all four of them (I still consider ’02 a sweep – in retrospect of course!). 1995 was devastating. The others were redemption of sorts.

- I remember the F*%&-up on Figueroa - Stumpel and Game 4. I still cringe to this day whenever I hear his name.

- I don’t remember the topic of this thread…..

But the most satisfying thing I have ever ‘felt’ as a Wings fan over all these years, is being able to watch the fairest of all fair maidens become a fan. She probably is a ‘bigger’ fan than me (if one can measure such). She really didn’t pay much attention to the game prior to our meeting, and now she can name every starting goalie and backup in the league (scary huh?). Being able to share your passion with someone who has come to enjoy it as much as (if not more than) you is just flat out fun! And gratifying. And one of the umpteenth definitions of love.

[Donaldjr2448 43]

I’d prefer the term ‘most senior’. And because of such, I’m going to indulge myself and (semi) hijack this. ‘I’ve forgotten more than I remember….’. And yet to remember the Wings is to also to remember Detroit:

- I remember my first trip to Olympia was not to see the Wings, but to see the Beatles (and tho our illustrious MissVlad here probably owns the most er, ‘robust’ set of lungs for the estrogen set, I still believe my hearing was permanently damaged that day due to all the screaming.) My first Wings game would not come until the following year (year not provided to protect the innocent).

- I remember the riots – my grandfather owned a jewelry store (down on Cass I believe). His neighbor who owned a cheese stop was situated on the roof with weaponry.

- I remember the Tigers winning the World Series the following year. Since I’ve now been in the sun too long, I do not know if this is still true but there is nothing, I mean absolutely nothing like a winning sports team in a blue-collar town to give everyone a rallying point. And it was sorely needed then.

- I remember watching Gordie and Alex and Crozier.

- I remember the Mahovlich trade that also brought over Gary Unger (note to Frasier: perfect hair that actually moved!).

- I remember the Mahovlich trade (other way) that brought us GlutenBoy which may be why to some minute extent why I harbor some ‘ill will’ (tho if he would just come outta the 70s a bit….).

- I remember when Jerry Louis Arena first opened – so called because it was funny in a train wreck kinda way watching everyone wipe out in their first venture onto the icy steps. Isn’t it now the oldest active arena in the NHL?

- I remember Stevie on daft day – no live coverage but I think Al Ackerman had some footage (and I was on At The Zoo with Sonny Elliot, but I’m still trying to forget that as I almost fell into the lions den).

- I remember the lean years – from the looks of this thread, some will and some wont. And there were many. But, as tough as it is to be a fan when your team is losing (see Lions), they always entertained. At least I wanted them to. So they did.

- I remember the sweeps – all four of them (I still consider ’02 a sweep – in retrospect of course!). 1995 was devastating. The others were redemption of sorts.

- I remember the F*%&-up on Figueroa - Stumpel and Game 4. I still cringe to this day whenever I hear his name.

- I don’t remember the topic of this thread…..

But the most satisfying thing I have ever ‘felt’ as a Wings fan over all these years, is being able to watch the fairest of all fair maidens become a fan. She probably is a ‘bigger’ fan than me (if one can measure such). She really didn’t pay much attention to the game prior to our meeting, and now she can name every starting goalie and backup in the league (scary huh?). Being able to share your passion with someone who has come to enjoy it as much as (if not more than) you is just flat out fun! And gratifying. And one of the umpteenth definitions of love.

Man, that is a fantastic story!! It is so true about representing Detroit. I never knew how much I loved Detroit until I moved in 2005. I found out how much I loved the Wings, Pistons, Tigers, and Lions. People that I meet here in Tennessee don't understand or will never understand what a Detroit fan really is or why I still follow the Detroit teams, but your story tells the reasons!! I'm going to print that and put in on my bullentin board as a pick me up when the chips are down!! I hope that someday I can find someone to share the game with as well. Thanks for the story!! GO WINGS!!

[OsGOD 3]

Since before 1981 when i was able to actually go to my first game.... but i was watching games on TV with my dad for a bit before that

[CapnSmitty 39]

Well I have been a fan since Yzerman's first year in 83-84, when my dad would put me on his knee and watch this new Yzer-guy as he called him...

I cant say I was a die-hard fan until the early 90's, because I did cheer heavily for the Penguins, when they were the Parent Club to the Muskegon Lumberjacks and always played an exhibition game in Muskegon, which we had season tickets for the "Jacks" until they left...

[glasgowcelticwing 18]

i've been a fan since '93 ..... hmm, just realised that's me been a Wings fan for 15 years.

[KnightFire420 0]

I've been a fan since 1974. My Dad named me after Gordie Howe and he even sent Gordie a letter about naming me and Gordie sent a letter back thanking him. I still have the letter to this day.

There isn't a room in my house that doesn't have something Red Wings and I've never leave the house without wearing something Red Wings.

I don't think it make me a bigger Wings fan then anyone else just a diehard like you all.

Have a good one and GO WINGS GO!

KnightFire420

[po-GoWings 1]

been a fan since greg stefan tended the nets. although the first games i remember are losing to the oilers in the campbell finals.

[Spinner 6]

I was born in 58, sadly the last year the Lions have won anything. Always been a Wings fan but didn't really start paying close attention until 92 or 93. Now I only miss an average of 2 or 3 games a year. You can't pry the remote from my hands when they're on. And the wife knows not to try.

[lomekian 201]

Being English and mixed race, the NHL followed after Football (and not NFL), cricket and rugby, but discoverd ice hockey thanks to EA hockey on my mates megadrive and then saw the canadiens beat the nordiques in about '94 in Quebec. Picked Detroit because

1) Red uniform - like the mighty arsenal

2) Well balanced on the NHL games - some great players and some dross

3) Stevie was my fave player on the game, so I stated finding out more, and turned out he was a legend in real life, and embodied so many admirable qualities

So since 94/5 all down to Stevie - looks like a picked a good time to start following hockey, and its all been gravy since! HJave been a hardore fan since the internet grew so approx 99 - disppointing playoffs!

Now am unhealthily obsessed - and no one over here to talk to about it!

[RainingBlood 8]

There you go then. What's the clapping hands? I'm no expert but I don't think making up a stupid answer to get attention falls under the category of sarcasm.

Another big Saturday night for ya hey?

THAT was sarcasm.

you cut right to the core of me.

[2probert4 8]

I don't think being a fan for the longest also makes you the "biggest", but let's see. I remember watching players like Gerard Gallant, Yves Racine, and Paul Ysebaert, and I remember the end of Jacques Demers' tenure behind the bench. So I guess that's about 1987 or 88, which would make me 5 or 6.

I remember Danny Gare... When I was in college, I lived near Nashville, no NHL team there at the time, just the ECHL Nashville Knights. Twice a year I would drive to Detroit for a game....

[Aeothe Kaear 0]

- I remember when Jerry Louis Arena first opened – so called because it was funny in a train wreck kinda way watching everyone wipe out in their first venture onto the icy steps. Isn’t it now the oldest active arena in the NHL?

I think it's gotta be Madison Square Garden or Nassau Coliseum. But those are the only three remaining without corporate-sponsored names.

[auxlepli 17]

Biggest ≠ Longest in my opinion.

Anyway I've been a Wings fan as long as I've been an NHL fan, since 1995