How I Became an NFL Fan

For the longest time, I was a two-sport guy.

The only sports that really mattered to me were hockey and baseball. They were both sports that I grew up watching and playing and were both something I had a lot of knowledge in.

Obviously, you have checked my work out at Kukla's Korner and on Sportsnet.ca, it is easy to see that I am a hockey fanatic. Sure, I care about baseball but it is nowhere near the level that I care about hockey.

However, something changed in me this season when there was an NHL lockout going on. Believe it or not, I became a big fan of the NFL.

I made it a point to learn about all the teams and players, get the NFL Network and RedZone and follow the game just like I followed hockey. After that, I found myself loving the game.

I started to love the fact that there were only 16 games. To me, and I am sure every other NFL fan, it meant that every single game carried meaning and could have playoff implications come late December.

I became a big fan of watching the likes of Seattle Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson and Washington Redskins' QB Robert Griffin III become superstars and lead their teams into the postseason. When a sport has its young stars thriving and accomplishing great things, it is always one that is fun to watch.

I also started to become a fan of the coverage the game gets. Every single morning on ESPN Radio, I would listen to Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic break down the latest news and notes and goings on in the NFL and listening to them do it with such passion made me realize that the NFL means a lot to many people.

What also helped me become a big fan of the sport is when my friend took me to a New England Patriots game against the Indianapolis Colts on Foxboro. It was great to see how passionate the fans were, how they all form a terrific bond in rooting for their favorite team.

The game itself was also terrific. I got to see Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady work his magic and I also got to see Colts' rookie quarterback Andrew Luck put on an admirable performance.

I never thought I would say this but I am now hooked on the NFL.