I gave up on the Chargers and the NFL when they left. I had season tickets for 25 years. Rarely missed a game. I too realized how emotionally tied to the team I was and how my weeks were impacted positively and negatively by their wins and losses. Not caring or having a team anymore has made me enjoy my weekends with my family and not feel glued to the TV. I have an extra day back in my week. I’ll catch the occasional game, but root for every team that plays the Chargers. I have tried to cheer for other teams, but it’s just not the same. No history or passion. I’m done debating whether we were good fans or not. We showed up when it mattered. This season I’ve adopted the Vikings as my team. Cheering for Kevin O’Connell, and for a team that, like our former team, has never tasted the victory of a Super Bowl. Keep up the good work John.
Imagine you have children and your ex files for divorce and against your wishes finds a way to legally move your children to another city. I am sure your love for your children would continue even if you feel disdain, maybe hate, for your ex
I like to think of Spanos as the ex and the chargers players as my children. Hence having been a lifelong fan as well as a native of San Diego I have no issue continuing to cheer on my team
There are many parallels to the Boston Patriots. They could not get the voters in Boston to approve a stadium proposal so ownership moved the team out of Boston. The difference is ownership rebranded the team to New England thereby redefining the geography to include multiple states that included Boston Mass. had Spanos rebranded the team Southern California Chargers it would have been similar as so Calif includes San Diego but alas he did not see the marketing branding wisdom of following the lead of the patriots. I know a majority of Bostonians still love the patriots even though their ownership left the city
Nice piece. This made me feel more that I thought it would. I have spent the last few years dealing with the breakup, and like yourself being very emotionally detached from football. But I do feel the occasional stirrings when I see those beautiful powder blue jerseys. Can I root for the Los Angeles Chargers without that comingling with the heinous crime of Dodger lovin'? Maybe I'll find out.
lovely piece John. nice to hear that those guys are likable. I'm not a Chargers fan anymore, but Herbert, Ekeler, and co. do seem like good eggs and I enjoy watching them play
also fwiw, I always think of tattoos as markers of certain times in your life. sure some get downright embarrassing and I never judge anyone who covers one up or gets one removed, but you *were* a big Chargers fan. seems like a good thing to continue to celebrate that time in your life and the memories that are attached to it, even if it might make for an occasional awkward conversation
I gave up on the Chargers and the NFL when they left. I had season tickets for 25 years. Rarely missed a game. I too realized how emotionally tied to the team I was and how my weeks were impacted positively and negatively by their wins and losses. Not caring or having a team anymore has made me enjoy my weekends with my family and not feel glued to the TV. I have an extra day back in my week. I’ll catch the occasional game, but root for every team that plays the Chargers. I have tried to cheer for other teams, but it’s just not the same. No history or passion. I’m done debating whether we were good fans or not. We showed up when it mattered. This season I’ve adopted the Vikings as my team. Cheering for Kevin O’Connell, and for a team that, like our former team, has never tasted the victory of a Super Bowl. Keep up the good work John.
Imagine you have children and your ex files for divorce and against your wishes finds a way to legally move your children to another city. I am sure your love for your children would continue even if you feel disdain, maybe hate, for your ex
I like to think of Spanos as the ex and the chargers players as my children. Hence having been a lifelong fan as well as a native of San Diego I have no issue continuing to cheer on my team
There are many parallels to the Boston Patriots. They could not get the voters in Boston to approve a stadium proposal so ownership moved the team out of Boston. The difference is ownership rebranded the team to New England thereby redefining the geography to include multiple states that included Boston Mass. had Spanos rebranded the team Southern California Chargers it would have been similar as so Calif includes San Diego but alas he did not see the marketing branding wisdom of following the lead of the patriots. I know a majority of Bostonians still love the patriots even though their ownership left the city
Just saying
Nice piece. This made me feel more that I thought it would. I have spent the last few years dealing with the breakup, and like yourself being very emotionally detached from football. But I do feel the occasional stirrings when I see those beautiful powder blue jerseys. Can I root for the Los Angeles Chargers without that comingling with the heinous crime of Dodger lovin'? Maybe I'll find out.
lovely piece John. nice to hear that those guys are likable. I'm not a Chargers fan anymore, but Herbert, Ekeler, and co. do seem like good eggs and I enjoy watching them play
also fwiw, I always think of tattoos as markers of certain times in your life. sure some get downright embarrassing and I never judge anyone who covers one up or gets one removed, but you *were* a big Chargers fan. seems like a good thing to continue to celebrate that time in your life and the memories that are attached to it, even if it might make for an occasional awkward conversation