My Sports Fanatic Profile
Continuing with my blog’s theme (Maris’ passions from mini to humongous), this blog will expound upon one of the biggest pieces of me: my affinity and love for sports. I talked about a fun sports experience I had recently in my first blog, but I have gone far too many posts without mentioning my passion for sports again! Who are my favorite teams? Who are my favorite athletes? What are my favorite moments in sports? Why do I like these sports/teams? It’s time to find out!
College Sports:
Whether basketball or football, I am a Tar Heel born and bred. My fandom began with basketball, obviously, when I was just a little girl. My godfather, an alumni of UNC, would give me extra basketball tickets and take me to football games when I was quite young, and I fell in love with all of it. I became the most hardcore Tar Heel fan. UNC vs. Duke games were like a national holiday to me, and I would sit on my couch and literally start trembling if the game was coming down to the wire. I remember being so happy to go to middle or high school the next day after UNC beat Duke. My favorite all-time UNC player? Danny Green. He had some iconic Carolina moments, won a ring, is a very supportive alumni, and has had a lucrative NBA career. My most emotional moment? The 2016 National Championship loss. I cried a lot that night… and skipped half of school the next day. It was rough. However, the 2017 National Championship victory brought lots of happy redemption tears!
Recently, during my time in college, UNC Football has been super exciting. With the return of Mack Brown, there has been excellent recruiting. Additionally, we are coming up on Sam Howell’s third year of football, which means the #HowellforHeisman campaign has officially begun. My mom has had both UNC football and basketball season tickets over the past couple of years, and it has been an absolute blast to go to all of the games. Nothing beats the exciting Tar Heel atmosphere.
NBA:
I am a huge NBA fan. When it comes to my loyalties, they reside with the Charlotte Hornets. I have great North Carolina pride, and I think it is important to root for one’s local teams. It has been super exciting this season to watch the Hornets play, and they are arguably one of the most exciting teams to watch this season. Although they are still improving and developing, a spark in the team has been the rookie, LaMelo Ball, son of the infamous Lavar Ball. LaMelo is beyond talented in his ball handling, passing, playmaking, and more, and he has brought an amazing energy to the team.
Although my loyalties are with the Charlotte Hornets, they have not had the bast track record during my time as a fan. However, I think the NBA is special as a league because there are so many interesting athletes and stars to follow. I definitely have other favorite players in the league, such as Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, any Tar Heel alumni, and countless others.
NFL:
If you have not caught on to the trend yet, I am definitely a fan of all North Carolina teams. The Carolina Panthers have been an electric franchise to watch and be a fan of. I wish there were more Panthers fans in general. I feel like I know a lot of people whose home is North Carolina but choose other teams (and often for no reason). Either way, the cultural impact of the Panthers has been nation-wide. Cam Newton, renowned Carolina quarterback, is the very person who popularized the famous dance move, “the dab.” They have been a joy to watch, and I don’t know how anyone could not be a fan.
My favorite Panthers? Cam Newton and Luke Keuchly. One of the coolest Panthers moments I have watched? You better check this video out. Badass, right? The future of the Panthers is uncertain. With many veteran players and veteran coach, Ron Rivera, no longer with the organization, there is great uncertainty as to where the future of the Panthers will go. With a strong need for a solid quarterback, lots of cap space, and a star running back, Christian McCaffrey, back in action from injury, the future could be promising. Keep Pounding!
Tennis:
Out of all of the sports I have mentioned so far, tennis is the sport I enjoy playing the most. Playing tennis has been a lifelong passion of mine, and after almost everyday in middle and high school, I used to do some sort of tennis activity, whether that be play or hit against a wall. In terms of watching, my favorite tennis player by far is Rafael (aka Rafa) Nadal. I have always loved his passion and style. Not to mention, he is by far the “King of the Clay.”
When it comes to women’s tennis, I have never had a strong allegiance to any particular player, but I have really been enjoying watching Naiomi Osaka. She is en route to have the type of career that Serena Williams has had. She has a “silent killer” vibe, which I really enjoy in tennis. Calm while you play, and loud when you win.
Golf:
In my career as a sports fanatic, golf has been the sport I have followed longer than any other. This is mostly due to my upbringing. My family, especially my dad, is obsessed with golf and everything about it, so I was introduced to golf as early as I can remember. The Golf Channel has always been a staple in my household, and I used to be very annoyed as a child when I would have to fight over a TV because of golf. As much as my dad tried to put many sets of clubs in my hands throughout my life, tennis is truly my sport. However, I love watching golf, keeping up with it regularly, and playing fantasy golf. My favorite player? Rory McIlroy. I even named my dog after him! My favorite golf course? TPC Sawgrass, the site of the Players Championship. I have never been there, but I would love to visit it and the famous island green in person.
I could write pages and pages about each of these sports, the athletes within, and my experience as a fan. In fact, I think I just gave myself some possible future blog ideas. Either way, now you know where my loyalties lie, and we can either cheer on teams together or become fierce rivals, your choice!