I'll never forget that when I was first a Ram fan, my favorite Ram was Nolan Cromwell.
And I remember when we played sandlot football, no kids caught passes against me because...*I* was Nolan Cromwell out there.
When I get down about our broken scheme or our win loss record or our greedy owner...
I remember Nolan Cromwell.
I remember that kid who cheered on those horns.
He woulda cheered them on down 42-0 at the end of a 0-15 season with the enthusiasm that would make you think they were about to go to the Super Bowl.
If I'm truly gonna be a grown up, for dozens of reasons, I'd probably give up the NFL completely.
But, I can never abandon that kid. And that kid...is an unabashed, unashamed, totally enthusiastic, uncompromisingly optimistic fanatic about all things Rams.
So, while I'm not that kid, I keep him in my heart. I have to remember to keep in touch with him.
And when I do, I'm right back to listening to Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier as the CBS announcing team talk about MY team. The pride I felt just hearing them talk about MY Rams. (The only greater thing at that time was hearing the GOAT announcer, Vin Scully, do Dodger baseball)
I honestly didn't CARE what kind of season they were having. I just wanted to play and be like my favorite player.
So...while some may be reflecting on our recent records, blown draft picks or fired coaches...
I'm gonna be getting in touch with that kid..that kid who cheered for those horns.
Cuz he knew.
And sometimes...I forget.