Non-US Born Pats Fans!

[screamingPatsFan]

I would like to hear from other people who were born overseas and how you got to love the Patriots.

Here is my story...
I have been a fan of sports all my life. Moved to the US in 2001.
Didn't know anything about Football (American Version)
Used to watch small clips and always wondered why they call it "Football"
I lived in the Boston area Nov thru Dec of 01 then moved to OH for school.
Watching the local News.

I remember this day so vividly: It was Feb of 2001.
I was in the University theater late in the evening. I remember people walking by the big screen tv, pause for a moment but didn't seem to be interested in the event.
For me, I had no clue what was taking place. I was having a meal and watching bunch of guys with helmets knocking the crap out of each other.

The night went by, didn't know it was the Super Bowl or the name of the teams who played.

I started following the Pats in 2004 season, year of SB against Philly.

Now, I breathe and eat Football for 7 days a week. Like most guys on here, I listen to Sports Radio every day, stay up-to-date with Pats news, players...
I don't miss any special reports about the Pats on the major sports networks...

I learned so much about the Pats. I don't pretend to know as much as some of you folks who have been attached to the team since the 60's.

So one day, it just hit me "that team i was watching on the big screen TV was the PATRIOTS, and it was Super Bowl 37 against the Rams":rocker:

 

[Handel]

I live in Québec.

I discovered NFL football in 1991 when I played with Tecmo super bowl. In the game, my favorite teams were the Bears (because of sack machine Singletary) and the Chiefs (because of Christian Okoye)..

I always had preference for teams in reconstruction. So, I had a kind of preference in real NFL for Tampa Bay, Arizona, Kansas City (TSB influence) and New England. I had not strong preference for TB and AZ so they fell out of favour fasty. Remained NE and KC. KC lost my favour in 1994-95 (Okoye was retiring). Remained NE, which I liked because of the arrival of Bledsoe. So, my interest for the Pats began in 1993.

 

[PaulThePat]

NFL started to be broadcast in the UK in the early 80's. First game I ever saw was the Patriots against someone who I can't remember....possibly Miami. I simply decided to support the team in red...which was the Pats. No real logic or reason but I've stuck with them ever since...now over 25 years a Pat :rocker:

 

[screamingPatsFan]

NFL started to be broadcast in the UK in the early 80's. First game I ever saw was the Patriots against someone who I can't remember....possibly Miami. I simply decided to support the team in red...which was the Pats. No real logic or reason but I've stuck with them ever since...now over 25 years a Pat :rocker:

Amazing how people from all 4 corners of the world are attached to the Pats.

And it's not like any team ... Pats have gone through so much adversity and scrutiny and i am just amazed how things have developed since i started watching them play.

From a 6th round draft pick QB who transformed the franchise, to Tom Jackson saying "they hate their coach" ...

I have watched many soccer teams in Europe that won several Championships, but i never witnessed anything like this.

 

[gamingfrog]

I live in Quebec City.

M interest in football was born in 1985 when I started to play in High School. As the Pats were upsetting teams in the playoffs, I started to root for them. It also helped that Boston is the closest major U.S. city from my home town and I had been there a few times that same year. You can say I'm a bandwagon fan but, at least, I have been on the wagon for more than 20 years.

It was very difficult in the late 80s and early 90s to follow the Pats. I would only get the nationaly televised games and the Pats were seldom shown.

I remember living in Ottawa for 3 years from 91 to 94. I shared a house with 3 guys including a 49rs fan. That was rough but my loyalty remained and it only makes this golden age more enjoyable.

In 1994, I moved to Quebec City and had the CBS feed from Burlington-Plattsburgh. I could see almost all of the Pats' games. Then came the internet and NFL Sunday Ticket. I've been on messaboards for the last 7 or 8 years. I rarely post but I lurk everyday.

 

[Jafo]

I would like to hear from other people who were born overseas and how you got to love the Patriots.

Here is my story...
I have been a fan of sports all my life. Moved to the US in 2001.
Didn't know anything about Football (American Version)
Used to watch small clips and always wondered why they call it "Football"
I lived in the Boston area Nov thru Dec of 01 then moved to OH for school.
Watching the local News.

I remember this day so vividly: It was Feb of 2001.
I was in the University theater late in the evening. I remember people walking by the big screen tv, pause for a moment but didn't seem to be interested in the event.
For me, I had no clue what was taking place. I was having a meal and watching bunch of guys with helmets knocking the crap out of each other.

The night went by, didn't know it was the Super Bowl or the name of the teams who played.

I started following the Pats in 2004 season, year of SB against Philly.

Now, I breathe and eat Football for 7 days a week. Like most guys on here, I listen to Sports Radio every day, stay up-to-date with Pats news, players...
I don't miss any special reports about the Pats on the major sports networks...

I learned so much about the Pats. I don't pretend to know as much as some of you folks who have been attached to the team since the 60's.

So one day, it just hit me "that team i was watching on the big screen TV was the PATRIOTS, and it was Super Bowl 37 against the Rams":rocker:

Sorry for your unfortunate luck with the proximity of your television programming. You were geographically forced to watch the patsies. Just tough luck. Thats all.

 

[Patjew]

Sorry for your unfortunate luck with the proximity of your television programming. You were geographically forced to watch the patsies. Just tough luck. Thats all.

Yeah, it's really sucked to root for the Pats the past few years. Good call.

 

[IndianPat]

I came to the US in 1984 to go to school at a New England Univ. The first sunday at the dormitory common room (sept 1984) , I saw this game being broadcast on TV. It was my first time outside of India and everything in the US was different and sometimes strange. The game itself was quite strange with players dressed like gladiators bashing each other every now and then. Seemed like there was no continuity to the game. I asked a guy sitting in front of the TV (some kid from PA) about the game and he said "Pats and Bills" !!! 23 years later, I still chuckle at the memory of the statement - "Pats and bills". I sat down next to him and asked him what "pats and bills" meant. Nice kid. Over the course of next three hours, he explained the game to me. I have been hooked since.

I have stayed in the New England area since then. Patriots are the only team I know and care about. I have watched almost all the Patriot games over this period. Loved them during the futile years and love them during these dominant years.

 

[italian pat patriot]

i live in Italy and a Patriot fan since beggining '80 when the NFL 'arrived' in Italy with the first Super Boiwl showed between Raiders and Eagles

the reason i choosen the Pats were mainly 2: i loved the uniforms and Pat Patriot and i loved the name 'New England Patriots'

it was a real love for the first moment !

the first game i was able to see (tv) was the loss at Super Bowl against CHI (i was dreaming when we were 3-0 thks to Tony Franklyn FG...); i followed the play-off run only with newspapers and for every victory i jumped after i read the result !
what a period...it seeems 1 life ago...

Tony Eason and Steve Grogan at qb were playing the role at that times

finally two years ago i came to Foxboro and i have seen 2 games
what a beautiful moment...i met also some players...

i enjoy to be a Patriot fan in the good moments (like now) but also when we were bad i followed the Pats with passion

i have not changed attitude

the Pats are my favourite sport team ever from day 1

 

[RodThePat]

Sorry for your unfortunate luck with the proximity of your television programming. You were geographically forced to watch the patsies. Just tough luck. Thats all.

You really suck at trolling.

 

[screamingPatsFan]

I came to the US in 1984 to go to school at a New England Univ. The first sunday at the dormitory common room (sept 1984) , I saw this game being broadcast on TV. It was my first time outside of India and everything in the US was different and sometimes strange. The game itself was quite strange with players dressed like gladiators bashing each other every now and then. Seemed like there was no continuity to the game. I asked a guy sitting in front of the TV (some kid from PA) about the game and he said "Pats and Bills" !!! 23 years later, I still chuckle at the memory of the statement - "Pats and bills". I sat down next to him and asked him what "pats and bills" meant. Nice kid. Over the course of next three hours, he explained the game to me. I have been hooked since.

I have stayed in the New England area since then. Patriots are the only team I know and care about. I have watched almost all the Patriot games over this period. Loved them during the futile years and love them during these dominant years.

Much like my story...
what really bugged me when i first started watching the Pats is the "Down and Distance"
For the life of me I could not figure out what they were talking about.
Until one day a friend of the family explained it ... and the rest was history.
Sunday is a holy day for me (has nothing to do with religion lol).... just ask my wife! :rocker:

 

[upstater1]

Born in Greece. Came here as a 4 year old.

Moved to DC initially (and luckily none of that Redskins stuff stuck), but I was a fan of the Buccaneers at the age of 7 (I liked the gay guy with the eyepatch) and then we moved to Connecticut in 1978 (when I was 9-10 years old), and it's been all Patriots ever since.

 

[oldskool138]

Born in Greece. Came here as a 4 year old.

Moved to DC initially (and luckily none of that Redskins stuff stuck), but I was a fan of the Buccaneers at the age of 7 (I liked the gay guy with the eyepatch) and then we moved to Connecticut in 1978 (when I was 9-10 years old), and it's been all Patriots ever since.

You're lucky you didn't get corrupted by Giant's Nation in Conn. I used to work in Conn for a while and the Monday morning papers would be all Giants and no Pats. Granted this was during the Pete Carroll era....

 

[amazinPats]

Born of English parents in the Caribbean. Came to America at the age of 11 and moved to New Jersey in 1973. Became a Pats fan that year when John Hannah, Sam Cunningham, Russ Francis, Jim Plunkett were on the team. Been a fan ever since, but the Belichick years have deepened the attachment somehow. What a superbly run team it is!

 

[cstjohn17]

I grew up in Edmonton and went to Eskimo games with my dad and watched Warren Moon at QB, they won 5 Grey Cup championships in a row at one point. Gretzky came to Edmonton at about the same time, in a weird sort of way Boston is similar to Edmonton back then....

I started watching the NFL around 1985 and became a Bears fan, Walter Payton is still my favorite player and I loved their aggressive style. Plus I hated the Cowboys and the Niners.

When I got to Boston in 98 I really didn't like the Patriots, they had these shiny uniforms and Bledsoe always seemed to be making mistakes. I remember watching a Monday night game, it was first and goal on about the 3, the Patriots passed the ball 4 downs in a row and got no points out of it. I was furious and yelled at the TV "What a bunch of pansies, show some guts! That wussy style of play will never win! Run the damn ball!"

Around the same time I met my wife and I remember telling her "I like football but don't really pay attention to the local games". Now as I huddle in front of a computer to type on PatFans.com she walks by and yells "You lied to me!" I try to tell her a lot has changed since 1998.. to no avail... sigh...

Before the 2001 season a couple of friends were going to a fantasy football draft, they were really it to it and big football fans, one of them told me they didn't expect a single Patriot to get picked in the first 5 rounds. So I decided this wasn't the year I would start watching the team, boy was I wrong. I started to casually observe some of the early games and was impressed with Bledsoe's toughness. I can't believe he went back on the field against the Jets after Mo Lewis destroyed him. Brady took over and after a game or two I noticed the team really played well for him, they started to win and were gaining confidence. I made a mental note, this team was scrappy and if they made the playoffs they may not win but they would give a very good effort.

As the year progressed I was convinced they would make the playoffs, they also had luck on their side. Patten gets knocked out cold against the Bills but... his foot is on the line so the Pats retain possession. I really started to like the demeanor of the team and threw my support behind them. We hosted a party the night of the snow bowl against Oakland and I think everyone expected to do more drinking and eating than football watching, wrong again.. every single person was glued to the tv, what a game! AV for President! tuck smuck!

The next week was when I really became hooked. I was at a conference in Orlando and met up with a few folks from Boston at the ESPN Zone bar. There must have been 500 Steelers fans, correct that 500 obnoxious Steeler fans all dressed in yellow, screaming, yelling and just generally being unbearable. Another great game, Brady goes down, Bledsoe zips a TD pass to the corner of the endzone, blocked kick, TD! Oh to stick it in their obnoxious fat faces, it was truly priceless.

On to the Superbowl, a friend had rented a bar in Newton for the Superbowl months and months before the Patriots even had a stiff of the playoffs. What a party! There was a lot of 'we are happy to be here' but I told friends in Canada, don't bet against this skinny Brady kid, something about him. The game starts, and Malloy decks one of the St. Louis receivers, soon the Patriots were up and the Rams looked dazed. I was getting more and more confident, this team had some Mojo. Late in the game I wet to the Men's room and heard a tremendous cheer, and then a groan. T Buck has returned the fumble but Big Willie got called for a hold. St. Louis ties it up.

Magic time... everyone is thinking OT and Brady starts to hit a few passes, wait a sec they are almost in range. One final pass and then Brady calmly spikes the ball, wait a second they could win this thing. It is up, and it is good! The Patriots win! Drunken hugs and kisses for everyone!

Well I have moved way past mere fan into fanatic territory, and also have a equally strong addiction to the NFL Draft. And my wife still walks by and says "You lied to me!', what can I say...

 

[desi-patsfan]

Not an exciting story at ll, Came to us in 1990 and moved right into MA when i was 8. Naturally I started following the local teams and became a fan of all 4.

 

[upstater1]

You're lucky you didn't get corrupted by Giant's Nation in Conn. I used to work in Conn for a while and the Monday morning papers would be all Giants and no Pats. Granted this was during the Pete Carroll era....

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Patriots were on regularly on NBC's Waterbury station, a town which is on the New York side of the state. Beasely Reece was the sports anchor of that station, a former Giant, but his sports report was mostly focused on the Patriots because NBC had the AFC package.

The thing about Connecticut TV is that we have 4 network TV stations in state, but also get all the NY network stations as well. So you can watch New York sports teams if you want. That's why all the Connecticut network stations can afford to carry different teams, because it gives fans an option.

For instance, in Ct, you can watch:

CBS 2 out of NY
CBS 3 out of CT

ABC 7 out of NY
ABC 8 out of CT

NBC 4 out of NY
NBC 30 out of CT

 

[Drew_Brady]

I live in Denmark, Scandinavia. Had never heard about Football untill I got in the 6th grade and was assigned a pen pal in my English classes. It turned out that my penpal lived in Boston, and was an avid Patsfan, allthough they were hardly saetting the world alight back then. I got a letter once every month and in the season they would allways contain his thoughts on the Patriots performances. Ben "Winter" Coats was my pen pals idol, I recall

NFL games were broadcasted over here from the start of the 97/98 season, and when I moved away from home and got cable, it sort of became my favourite programe every week. Thankfully the Pats are the team that's been shown the most over here for the last 6-7 years :rocker:

 

[Tommysgirl]

I feel boring reading this thread. I was just born here. Sigh. I have no exciting story.

 

[screamingPatsFan]

I feel boring reading this thread. I was just born here. Sigh. I have no exciting story.

Well i m glad you find these stories exciting...
you can still share your thoughts about your passion about the Pats.