Single White Fan Seeks NFL Team...

It started with a void, a 26 year old American male without a team to root for in America's biggest sport... 

That led to a letter, a plea for the 31 NFL teams to make their case as to why they were the team for me...

While the letters were in the mail, a system was developed, a blueprint scoring, ranking, and differentiating the contenders...

The ball began to roll.  Teams were scored and ranked on tradition, location, uniforms, fans, the current team, intangibles, and their weekly performances...

Meanwhile, I checked the mail, and checked the mail, and checked the mail...

Then it happened.  An envelope with a logo and the anticipation and mystery of what was inside...

Then another letter came...and another...and another...and they kept coming...

Somewhere along the way, people began to notice...

First it was Sports Illustrated, then it was ESPN, then Rick and Bubba,  then the WJOX Roundtable, then the Times Daily,  then The Birmingham News, and then the Alabama Alumni Magazine...

Then the teams' fans made their cases, some inviting me to join the mayhem, some advising me to run the other way,  and some passionately pleading for respect...

One team went above and beyond to make their case, writing their own letter that capture what this was all about (as well as throwing in some swag for good measure).  They invited me to their place, and I accepted...

Then came the hard part...the cuts.  The first 2 were eliminated, then 2 more,  and so on,  and so on...

Then came the playoffs, and we went from 12...to 8, to 4, and now to 2....

And here we are...Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals.  Both have made their case, both have survived the cuts, and both have their pros and their cons.  They're alike in some ways, both often struggling more than succeeding, both transitioning toward the future, and both, well, wearing red.  In other ways, they're completely different.  One is the pride its city while the other works to get their city behind them.  One roster has its share of stars while the other is building from youth.  Either team would make a great choice and its a shame I can't just root for both.

Things have gotten a little behind schedule, and for that I apologize.  But, we're close...really close, and by this time next week, I will have an NFL fan to root for.  Can I really just become a die-hard fan overnight?  No, but I can work at it.  I can follow the team, I can cheer for them year in and year out, and eventually the losses are going to start to sting and the victories are going to get sweeter.  I'll get there.

So to anyone who has kept up with the search and visited the site once, occasionally, or regularly, Thank You.  I hope you've enjoyed reading along a fraction as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

To anyone who has commented or e-mailed, Thank You.  I have read every comment, every e-mail, every tweet, every facebook message and I've appreciated every one of them (even if I've failed to respond).  I'd like to think I could write as convincing of cases for my teams as you all have for yours.

This has been a lot of fun and been one of the more memorable experiences I will ever have.  I had no idea if a single team would even respond, and still cannot believe I somehow ended up getting noticed by Sports Illustrated and interviewed by ESPN.  To those of you who have asked "what happens to the blog after you pick your team?", well, I'm not sure yet.  Maybe I'll keep it up and running and share what it's like to be a first year fan of a team.  We'll see...

So now, it's on to the moment of truth.  I hope you'll check back next week as I make the final decision and commit for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to the team I will spend the rest of my life supporting.  It's time to tie the knot...

Semifinals: Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos

2. Arizona Cardinals vs. 6. Denver Broncos

The second of the semifinals matchups pits the Arizona Cardinals against the Denver Broncos. The teams have gotten this far for very different reasons, one because they rolled out the red carpet and made a personal appeal, the other because they 're a team with a good history and fanbase in a great city.

Arizona Cardinals

Pros

• The city of Phoenix. Great weather...plenty to do...just a cool place to visit.
• An incredible stadium. It's lost a lot of the attention in the wake of Jerry-Land, but it's an impressive facility
• Some big and diverse personalities on the roster like Larry Fitzgerald, Antrel Rolle, and Darnell Dockett
• Oh, and there was this...and then there was this.

Cons

• Not your most passionate fan-base. They've had some trouble filling the seats in recent years.
• Not a lot of winning in the modern era.
• Let's just say the QB position post-Kurt Warner is a big question mark

Denver Broncos


Pros

• The city of Denver. A much different climate than Phoenix, but one of the best winter destinations in the country.
• A more passionate and established fanbase. Rarely an empty seat no matter the weather
• With Elway and a couple Super Bowls, a good team history to fall back on.

Cons

• So they've got a young hot coach, who apparently no one likes.
• While it's not about who sent the best stuff, the Broncos chose to make no case for themselves at all with no response.
• Orange Crush uniforms? Awesome Today's? Awful

The Verdict:
So we've got two cities I'd have no problems spending a winter weekend in. One team brings a little more of a history and an established fanbase, the other team is looking to swing its past fortunes and build on some young talent on its roster. Both appealing, but...

I just can't get past one factor on this, and that is the way the Cardinals responded. It's not just about who made the best response, but the Cardinals was convincing and personal. They got to me. The letter, the invite, the name on the scoreboard. When someone makes a case like that, it's a little easier to take a chance on them.

Cardinals Move On....

Semifinals: Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs

We continue to fly along at a brisk pace here (right...) but it's time for the semis. I know I'm going into broken record mode, but for anyone still reading this, I sincerely apologize for the lack of updates. Since no team decided to put me on the payroll for this, I'm forced to make a living off my day job, which unfortunately involve a thing known as tax season. In my attempt to keep the unemployment numbers down, something's had to give...

But what we've started, we will finish. Which brings us to where we are today, the semi-finals....and for our first match-up

4.  Baltimore Ravens vs. 9. Kansas City Chiefs


These 2 have been a little bit of a surprise to this point. Neither is traditional power, neither is particularly close by, and neither is necessarily one of the first teams that come to mind when thinking of an NFL team to root for. Still, they've made their respective case in various categories and made strong cases as to why they're deserving of fandom. But, one's got to go. Let's review what these guys are bringing to the table...


Baltimore Ravens

Pros

• I'm not ashamed at all to wear purple. In fact I encourage it. Show your royalty.
• I respect the fans who waited it out until Baltimore got a team again. I know it wasn't the prettiest situation in which a team was brought back, but you can't blame Baltimore for that.
• A fellow Bama alum at GM, so you know things are well run
• A better-late-than-never response.

Cons

• OK, I've been hard on Baltimore, especially considering I've never been there. I'm partly joking considering my own experience with the city involved Stringer Bell and Omar, but these are facts: it's not nearby and it is cold
• The Ray Lewis factor
• Joe Flacco's unibrow

Kansas City Chiefs


Pros

• A terrific fan-base that shows up even wen the team doesn't
• Legendary tailgating and bbq
• Some of the best and most convincing e-mails/comments of any fan-base
• A good, early response with a little bit of a personal touch

Cons

• Haven't exactly established themselves as a traditional power, or even contender
• Kanas City isn't in my top 10 cities to spend a winter weekend
• Some young talent? Sure. Are they going to be winning any time soon? We'll see...

The Verdict:


This one isn't easy. Both teams have fanbases I'd be proud to be a part of, both teams have some major strengths, and both are imperfect enough where a full commitment will have its challenges. But one team's fanbase has made a more compelling case.

Throughout the search, despite not having the best scores and multiple appearances in the Bottom 10, I've heard from the Chiefs fans consistently. You can tell what it means to them to be Chiefs fans when they extoll the virtues of a Sunday at Arrowhead and share their optimism for the years to come. You can tell there are years of loyalty behind these emails and they're not going to let a few years of losing change that. Consider me persuaded. I'm intrigued by the stadium's atmosphere, the pride of the small market franchise, and a loyal, passionate fanbase. Who knows, maybe I'll be sending those emails one day.

Kansas City Chiefs with a big assist from their 12th man.

Down to the Wire

Talk about a last minute effort, look who decided to make a last-minute pitch.  Conveniently, it was one of the Final 4 remaining.  The Ravens have made their official response.  Let's look at the contents:

• Form letter addressed to "Ravens Fan" discussing the teams optimism for the 2009 season (yes, 2009 season).
• Ravens Sticker
• Ravens Temporary Tattoo
• Ravens Pocket Schedule

Ok, so they send me a letter about their upcoming 2009 season in 2010.  It happens.  I guess they were a little too focused on football to deal with these types of distractions during the season.  Not a bad response, but not Earth-shattering, but it was definitely fashionably late.  Intentional?  Perhaps...

Quarterfinals: Arizona Cardinals vs Tennessee Titans

2.  Arizona Cardinals vs. 7. Tennessee Titans

Let's be honest, the Cardinals have established themselves as the popular choice among the millions across the nation who debate which team I will pick every morning. They gave quite possibly the perfect answer to my letter, keeping it personal but plentiful. Still, as I've said since the beginning, this wasn't about getting free stuff or who would send the best package, but it certainly doesn't hurt…

Arizona Cardinals

Pros

• By far the best and most personal response from any team to date.
• Phoenix - a great city with guaranteed perfect weather.
• Larry Fitzgerald. Not just one of the best receivers in the NFL, but one of the best guys. You have to cheer for this guy
• Oh, and this

Cons

• So Kurt Warner retired, which leaves Matt Leinart at the helm…anyone nervous?
• Their history involves a whole lot of losing
• A pretty fair-weather fanbase, except they don't always show up when the team is winning

Tennessee Titans

Pros -

• Nashville - An awesome city only a couple of hours away.
• Chris Johnson's uncanny resemblance to Lil Wayne
• The appeal of finally cheering for the local favorite pro team
• Again, - Bud Adams' middle finger

Cons -

• Blue on blue uniforms? Is a little contrast so wrong?
• Sometimes, it's more fun to be the one guy NOT cheering for the local guys
• It's widely expected if the Titans underachieve this year, Fisher is out. He's been the only coach in Nashville, so who knows what things will look at if that were to happen 

The Verdict:

At the beginning of the contest, I would have put the Titans among the favorites in this search. The appeal of having a team in Nashville spoke to me as I thought about the $200 I have to fork up for NBA League Pass to follow the Lakers or XM Radio to listen to Vin Scully and the Dodgers. Location has always been the Titans trump card, but it's just not enough.

Like the Falcons, the Titans have been a local team for a while, but it just hasn't stuck with me. I even had the chance to get in on the ground floor when the team relocated from Houston, but I just wasn't interested. That hasn't changed. Convenience should never be the reason to give away your heart.

Arizona moves on…

Quarterfinals: Baltimore Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4. Baltimore Ravens vs. 12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The teams with the First Round Byes were a little predictable, except for one. The Steelers had the tradition. The Packers had the uniqueness. The Cardinals had the persuasion. The Ravens had…purple? The most unpredictable of the byes, but one of the more consistent scorers week in and week out. The Ravens have shown they aren't a one trick pony, scoring toward the top end of almost every category. But, then again, the Bucs have consistently survived the Bottom 10 for some reason…

Baltimore Ravens

Pros -

• A patient, but rowdy fan-base.
• How can you not love a team with an Alabama grad as the GM
• When you take into account the Colts bolting on the city, it makes you forget the Ravens did the same thing to Cleveland
• Gives me another excuse to wear purple...

Cons -

• I watched The Wire, which means I don't have exactly the finest impression of Baltimore
• While Ray Lewis is a heck of a linebacker, he's not exactly a player I'd love to root for
• The only remaining cold-weather team, and this isn't exactly Denver

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pros -

• Possibly the sharpest uniforms in football
• Great location. Not too far away, good beaches nearby, and plenty to do.
• Again, their stadium has a Pirate Ship.

Cons -

• More often than not, they've been the Yuckaneers
• The current team is a long way from competing.
• Not exactly the most passionate of fan-bases.

The Verdict:

With all due respect to the Bucs, this one isn't a contest. One team has been consistently at the top while the other has hung closer to the bottom. The Ravens scored well in every single category outside of location, while the Bucs clung to their high scoring uniforms and beach-side location. The Ravens are a legitimate contender here. They've got a lot to offer a new fan, including a team that's ready to compete, a unique history, intimidating uniforms, and a fanbase that waited a long time for football. They're not going away easily.

Ravens in a beat-down

Quarterfinals: Pittsburght Steelers vs. Denver Broncos

2. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. 6. Denver Broncos

The SWF Playoffs continue with the Steelers taking on AFC foe the Denver Broncos. Two teams with good histories, strong fanbases, and young coaches.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pros -

- 6 Super Bowl Titles. You can't really argue with that.
- Coaching abilities aside, Mike Tomlin is the coolest coach in the NFL. Hands down.
- Rabid, passionate fan-base
- The epitome of a well-run sports team. The consistency starts with the Rooney family and works its way down.

Cons -

- True Steelers fans are among the NFL's best…but along with winning comes a lot of fringe fans. The Steelers bandwagon may be full.
- Pittsburgh is a great American city full of good, hardworking people. But I'm not aware of any ski slopes or snow lodges in Pittsburgh
- No response to my letter…heartbreaking.

Denver Broncos -

Pros -

• Great winter vacation spot. A city I'd love to go to even if there was no football involved.
• Not as many Super Bowl Titles as the Steelers, but a solid team history thanks to Mr. Elway.
• An underrated, loyal fan-base.
• Knowshon Moreno. The guy is fun to watch.

Cons -

• Josh McDaniels may turn out to be a good coach, but do you really want to cheer for him over Tomlin?
• Those colors...still bad.
• Also failed to respond to my letter.

The Verdict:
There are a million good things you can say about the Steelers organization. It's class from the top down, and has set the precedent in how an organization should be run. It's got a unrivaled tradition, an incredible fanbase, and is one of those teams that can be having a .500 season, but if you beat them it's still a big deal. There's a reason they battled the Packers for the #1 score in the rankings all year.

But I don't think I can pick the Steelers. It's too easy of a choice. Of course if you're rating teams the Steelers are going to come out on top. The most Super Bowls, legendary players and coaches, one of the 2 largest fan-bases, it's just too easy. The true fans of Pittsburgh define what passionate, loyal fandom is all about and few cities intertwine the personality of their city with that of their team. That's bigger than picking a team based off a scoring system (and I'll be honest, my gut's just not with them).

I've extolled the virtues of Denver previously, and those still hold true.

The Broncos in the upset...

Quarterfinals: Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

1.  Green Bay Packers vs. 9.  Kansas City Chiefs

This side of the bracket continues to be a matchup of the small market powerhouses. After knocking off Buffalo,the Chiefs face the most notorious of the small-town phenomenons in the Green Bay Packers. The difference this time is that with the small town comes a lot of history and big-time national exposure, not to mention a #1 seed. But, being a true Packers fan isn't an easy task. Am I up for the challenge?

Green Bay Packers 

Pros -

• You won't find a better team history in the NFL (but you might find on just as good in Pittsburgh).
• The uniforms. I'm a sucker for the green/yellow combo.
• Incredible fan-base. I won't live long enough to see a non-sellout at Lambeau.
• The only team actually owned by its fans.

Cons -

• I will absolutely freeze in Lambeau field. I'm border-line convinced that my blood would turn to slush.
• If Southwest doesn't fly to a City, that's gonna be a problem.
• I'm always one of the "non-stock-owning" fans. I'll never have an answer for that trump card in a discussion with another fan.

Kansas City Chiefs

Pros -

• Also a great fan base that has had less to root for that the Packers.
• Persuasive responses via e-mails/comments from the fans and
• Any team that shares its colors with Hulk Hogan is o.k. by me.
• Kansas City's location isn't normally a strength, but compared to Green Bay? It's like Vegas.

Cons -

• Comparatively speaking, the team's history doesn't look too great.
• They traded away Jared Allen…
• I'm still not sure if it's in Kansas or Missouri…

Verdict:

What's the cost of cheering for a winner? Would you give up your time to watch them week in and week out? Absolutely? Will you give your emotion well-being to ride the rollercoaster of fandom? Sure. Will you give your money to travel to distant parts of the county just to \catch them live once a year or so? No question. Would you sit in sub-zero temperatures, knowing that your toes may never have their full flexibility that they enjoyed pre-frostbite, wondering at what temperature blood actually freezes? Umm…

I'm sure Green Bay's a lovely town. Here's the problem, I can't get there. OK, I can get there, but it's going to require a flight, a car rental with unlimited mileage, and then I'm going to have to pay a ridiculous amount for a ticket to sit in single digit temps and snow. I'm just going to say it…I'm not man enough to be a true Green Bay Packer fan.

Kansas City Chiefs Stays Hot

Update and Apology

For anyone still reading who hasn't given up on this yet, thanks. I do apologize for the lack of updates lately. It's just been a hectic few weeks lately.

As you may or may not know, today was supposed to be the day that I picked my team. Well, as you can see, we're still only in the 2nd round of the playoffs (and I'm currently working out of town). I've put too much time into this to rush through and just get to an ending, so I'm going to push it back. I'll set a definite time, but in the next week or two we will wrap this up and I will have my team.

For those of you who think it's moot because I'm going to pick the Cardinals, well, that's not really true. Have they made a strong case? Absolutely. Are they the leader? Probably. But there are a couple other teams that still have my eye as well. We'll just see how it goes.

Thanks again for reading and I hope to get back on track with the playoffs this weekend.