Biggest Wing Fan

[Doggy 130]

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

Mellon Arena.

[SnipeShow 0]

I've been a fan since around '96 or '97 because thats when I was old enough to start watching and understanding hockey roughly. My dad has been a fan since the mid-50's and I suppose that played a small role in them being my favourite team

Edited March 10, 2008 by SnipeShow

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

I've been a fan since 1925. Biggest fan ever.

[#19forPresident! 1]

Well you might as well ask how old people are, because for me and I'm sure alot of people, especially the other locals its been for life.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

At 5'10 205, i doubt I even come close.

[amberlynn25 9]

ive been a hockey fan since I was 8...so that was 1987. long time.

[amberlynn25 9]

ive been a hockey fan since I was 8...so that was 1989. long time.

[12Newf 0]

i like this thread guys, interesting to hear people's stories but not so interesting to hear people involved in a pissing contest. personally i started life as a leafs fan until around 95 for the same reason as many others here....EA SPORTS! i only ever played with the wings and after that i became a huge wings fan. obviously perfect timing for me as i got to see the cups roll in but i got fed up with hockey around 2003 (not because that 2002 was the last cup) but because i was sick of all the clutching and grabbing in the game and didnt stop being a wings fan but quit being an nhl fan. i started watching again after the lockout and although the nhl is FAR from perfect im loving the game again.

[Wildwings44 5]

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.

Good stuff, thanks for sharing. My father was a reporter for WCAR during the riots - some interesting and intriguing stories.

I've been a fan since birth - over 35 years.

edit: not for grammar

Edited March 10, 2008 by Wildwings44

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I had watched the Wings on and off before, but the year I really became a Red Wings fan was in 83-84, also Stevie's first year in the league.

[gordie9 0]

I have been a Wings fan since 1959 as a 6 year old kid. Those were the days with Gordie, Terry Sawchuk, Alex Delvecchio, Norm Ullman etc.

[imisssergei 0]

I don't remember the year, as I was too young.

I know it was before I started kindergarden, but after Stevie started.

My first game was the Wings and Blues.

Oates was still a Wing.

The Tigers were good without a $100 million payroll.

The Wings jersey's were tighter than they are today.

I remember when PASS was introduced, and I had to watch most of the games scrambled.

I remember crying when they were swept by the Devils.

I remember Petr Kilma's first stint with the Wings.

I remember sitting about a foot from the tv every night a game was on because my dad worked nights, and no one else watched.

I remember being mezmorized by the game.

I remember the battles between the Leafs and the Wings, those battles lead to my love for the Leafs today. (relax, the Wings are still #1)

[superstarsingh 23]

Since I was born, well even before I was born. My parents lived in Edmonton and went to a lot of Oilers games. They went to an Oilers and Wings game and I kicked for the one Wings goal that night. My parents told me this story when I was little and nothing has changed. 19 years of being a Wings fan.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

I had watched the Wings on and off before, but the year I really became a Red Wings fan was in 83-84, also Stevie's first year in the league.

You're probably about my age because that is when I became a dedicated fan for life. I remember the life size poster of the "new draft pick guy" Stevie Yzerman on the wall of the bar I was sneaking into in East Lansing.

One of my Uncles would sneak off into the basement during all holidays - to watch the Wings - and I would join him!

Bought my first jersey around '85 and wore it to Europe where I gave it to a die hard hockey fan as a gift. Bought another one when I got back - but has no name on the back (had no cash back then)- still have it.

Actually paid for "PASS" sports in college at UM so I could watch all the Wings games - most of which they lost. Would get a quart of cheap beer with my roomate and watch Bob Probert kick the s*** out of someone.

Listened to the "Dead Things" score on the morning radio for years - with no hope that they'd ever win anything - but I still watched.

Moved to Colorado where I had to follow the Wings via newspapers and bars for several years before - as luck would have it - the Avs moved to town and became their biggest rivals.

Kind of renewed my fervor for the Wings.

Through all that - never been to the Joe for a hockey game. Get to see the Wings 1-2 times per year for the last decade in Denver though....