With the Dallas game coming up this week, I felt there is no better time than now to share my Rams fandom.

Born and raised in LA, I’m a die hard Lakers/Dodgers/USC fan. But being in my mid-30s, I unfortunately grew up without a local team to root for. So, with family in Texas, I gravitated towards the Dallas Cowboys. They won championships when I was a child but have been mediocre ever since (though their fans will tell you different haha).

Around 2015, I started business school at USC. As you all know, our Rams came back to LA in 2016 and played at the Coli. But my fandom did not start there. School kept my focus, so I paid less and less attention to NFL football and spent my only free weekend days (Saturdays) watching Clay Helton coach my Trojans into the abyss. But I digress. I continued to support the Cowboys from a distance, but became more and more passive as time passed. Went to a few games as a Cowboys fan, and I would look around, and think to myself “I’m not like you.” My heart was no longer in it. I graduated in 2018 and took a job out in NYC soon thereafter.

While living out in NYC I would frequently get homesick, and this feeling was amplified when covid struck in 2020. Being 3,000 miles away from family and friends, you start to cling on to things that are familiar, things that give you comfort, and sports is one of those things. FF to 2021, I took my dad (old school Raiders fan) to the second game with fans in attendance at Sofi—I was hooked! Rams put on a show! Mariachi Rams after halftime, the names of the concession stands, celebrities in the stands. SoFi is made for LA! The game day experience felt like a Dodgers game to me—comfort! Rams get it.

At this point in time, I know a couple of things. 1. I am no longer a Cowboys fan. There’s no connection. 2. SoFi is fucking beautiful. It’s a palace! 3. Rams game day experience is familiar and comfortable. And fun!

So I had a decision to make. Do I latch on the the Rams? The historic LA franchise with a winning history, a boy-wonder head coach, studs across the roster. The A-Team, if you will (Lakers, Dodgers, USC, Kings). Or do I latch on to the San Diego Chargers? The lowly franchise that no one asked for. The tenants. The B-Team (Clippers, Angels, UCLA, ducks).

The choice was simple. HORNS UP BABY!!! 🤘🏽🐏🤘🏽🐏

Yes our new unis and logos leave a lot to be desired. Yes opposing fans of historic franchises outnumber us at home games (though there are plenty valid reasons for this that I won’t get into). BUT yes we won a fucking championship in the past 3 years. And yes we have a bright damn future with the decision makers at the head of this franchise, draft picks, and a shit load of cap space next year.

FF to now. I am a very happy defector and look forward to seeing our Rams every Sunday, especially when we get to play in that big beautiful stadium! The team this year is exceeding all expectations and it’s been enjoyable to watch these young guys step up. I am optimistic, but unlike Cowboys fans, I am realistic and objective with own expectations. It feels good to be a full homer with actual reasons behind my fandom. I am hoping that the fan base will continue to grow as LA area children are able to cling on to the home team so they don’t have to grow up like I did without a real connection to my team, without the ability to just go to a game on any given Sunday.

WHOSE HOUSE?! 🐏🐏🐏

TL;DR grew up a Cowboys fan but came to my senses and smelled the Rams colored roses because, connection to my city.

HORNS UP RAMILY!! 🤘🏽🤘🏽🐏🐏