They always say you’ll remember your first love. I know I sure do.

I’ve been in a very happy relationship with my girlfriend for nearly six years. Don’t tell her, but she wasn’t my first love. It was the Dodgers.

I can’t exactly remember when I attended my first game at Dodger Stadium. I know that I was very young, so let’s say somewhere between 2000-2002. My parents would take me to numerous games every season.

We made it a tradition to attend the bobblehead giveaway games. When they first started 20 years ago, the Dodgers would only give away three bobbleheads a season, maybe a few more. Fast forward to 2022 and my collection stands at 200+ bobbleheads. All because of the Dodgers.

I remember experiencing heartbreak for the first time, because of the Dodgers. 2004 was the first time they made the playoffs in my lifetime. I remember being so sad when they were eliminated. That was just the appetizer.

I remember going to my first postseason game in the NLCS against the Phillies. It seemed like we could never beat those damn Phillies. Then we had all those postseason runs in the 2010’s where they came up just short. The pain every year, knowing they were so close but couldn’t get over the hump.

Then in 2017, for the first time in my life, I saw the Dodgers go to the World Series. Watching them win the National League was truly a feeling I will never forget. It just didn’t seem real. You have to remember I was 21 at the time, so this was the first time in my life I ever saw them win the pennant.

2017, 2018 and 2019 all delivered pain and heartbreak in their own way. We all went through it. Seasons filled with many ups, but a finish that seemed to reach a new rock bottom each year.

Then, we had 2020. A year so awful for so many people. I don’t think you could have asked for a better end-of-year celebration, though. Finally seeing the Dodgers win it all. Seeing Clayton Kershaw earn that first ring. Seeing Tommy Lasorda in the stands watching the Dodgers win their first ring since he was the manager.

All the stories from fans across the world on what the championship meant to them. All the videos of people celebrating in their homes, in the streets or wherever they were. Dodgers fans were all coming together as one huge family after that win.

That’s what this is all truly about. Sure, the Dodgers provide three hours of entertainment a night for most of the year. It’s much more than that. It’s family. When you go to Dodger Stadium, you have something in common with 50,000 people there. Your love for the Dodgers.

We all share that same love and passion for our Dodgers. Whether you’ve been a fan since the Brooklyn days or since the 2010’s, we have countless stories about the Dodgers. Different memories. Different favorite players. Various opinions on the new Dodger Dog.

Here at The Sporting Tribune, I’d love to share my passion and love for this team with all of you. More importantly, I’d love for you to share your passion with me as well.