How I Became a Caps Fan

How did I become a Caps fan? Blame my parents! My parents are avid Caps fans and raised me to be one too. I went to seven Caps games in the nine months before I was born, and haven't stopped since. When I was a toddler, and not required to have my own ticket, I would sit on my parents' lap at games at the US Air Arena. We would watch other Caps games on TV, and I would raise my arms and yell "score" every time the Caps got a goal. Watching games from such a young age helped me to fall in love with the game and the Caps. The Caps soon became a huge part of my life and continue to be.

I consider myself to be one of the biggest and most passionate Caps fans, and people who know me agree. Starting from my elementary school days, I gained the reputation as being "that girl who loves the Caps," and I considered this to be a great complement. In fourth grade I had to write a business letter for an assignment. While everyone else was sending their letters to superstars, I sent mine to Mr. Leonsis and still have his response hanging on my bedroom wall. I decorated my school locker with Caps gear and I would wear Caps apparel every game day. In each of my graduating class group pictures (5th, 8th, and 12th grades) I stood out by wearing a Caps t-shirt.

Obsession easily describes my love for the Caps and I am perfectly fine with this depiction. I rarely miss watching any games and when I do I feel lost. The Caps are such a major part of my life that what happens with the team affects my personal emotions. I've ridden a rollercoaster of emotions from disbelief and sadness when Peter Bondra was traded, to stress and intensity watching Matt Bradley win the 12 round shootout against Edmonton from a few rows behind the goal (in student rush night tickets), to extreme happiness when we clinched the Southeast Division and got back to the playoffs in the 2007-2008 season after an epic comeback.

My extreme passion for the team is evident in many ways. About half of my large walk in closet is filled with Caps apparel spanning three different eras of uniforms. My bedroom walls are covered with so much Caps memorabilia that I no longer have any free wall space. At my insistence, the walls in our basement were painted in the Caps colors at that time (blue, copper, white, and black) and filled with more memorabilia. My car even has Caps license plates on it (number 0118-Gartner and Ovechkin, a good combination). I love to show my support for the team wherever I go. Going to college in upstate New York, I show my support with two huge Caps banners hanging in my dorm room so everyone can see I am a Caps fan. I even watch Caps games while at college by using a Slingbox to get my parents' DC area cable channels on my computer. I love being able to rock the red at college and boast about my team. My love for the game has also led me to major in sport management.

While it was my parents who started me out as a Caps fan, my own passion for the team has made me an extreme Caps fan. The Caps are a fundamental part of my life and I could not imagine my life without the excitement of being a Caps fan.

By Laura G.