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i just want to make it abundantly clear that i have been a los angeles clipper fan longer than anyone else in the world.
i was an immediate fan as soon as they moved the franchise from buffalo to san diego in 1978. i cheered for swen nater and kermit washington and freeman williams and the amazing world b. free…as my hometown heroes.
i was ecstatic when bill walton moved back home to SD to join the clippers in 1979. for me, he will always be the greatest all-around center in the history of the NBA. too bad his long list of injuries will always soften my argument. by the way, 1979 also brought the clips bingo smith and joe bryant…kobe’s daddy.
i was so hopeful in 1982 when this millionaire dude named donald sterling bought my team. two years later, i cursed the day he did it. that’s when he moved the franchise to los angeles. he…and the entire franchise have been beyond miserable ever since. yuck.
i could go on and on. it’s been mostly horrible being a clipper fan all these years. embarrassed to be known as the worst franchise in the NBA for over 25 years. the laughing stock of basketball fans around the world. the curse that rivals boston and the great bambino. two decades of being the red-headed step child of the lakers.
i hate the lakers. being a clipper fan in the backyard of the lakers has been excruciatingly painful.
but i have always stayed true. they are my team.
i have lived 17 years in texas. i have never met…or even heard of…another clipper fan here. and trust me…i have taken my fair share of grief in the great state over my clipper loyalty.
but i have persevered. things have finally started to turn around. maybe. i’m always aware of the “curse”. but i am hopeful. chris paul, chauncey billups, caron butler, deandre jordan, and blake griffin have a way of inspiring me right now. and they spanked the lakers last night.
so for all of you who will consider joining the clipper bandwagon…you need to ask me first.
no. i really mean it.
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