SAN DIEGO — We're in the middle of the NFL football season and all of these years later, many San Diegans are still trying to decide if they should root for the Los Angeles Chargers.
I was pretty upset in 2016 when the Chargers bailed on San Diego.
All of my Charger gear has been gathering dust since then but for this story, I decided to suit up.
In this Zevely Zone, I met a Charger fan who never lost faith in the team. Bay Park's Larry Branton isn't one to hold a grudge. When the Chargers left San Diego, the tax attorney never blinked, but that's not the reason he may just be the Chargers all-time-number one fan.
"Since 1972, since I came to San Diego I have not missed a Charger home game," said Larry.
He was never sick? "Never," said Larry.
He never had a family emergency or just sat one game out? "Nope," said Larry who also acquired another season ticket holder's pass and retained that fan's original rights back to 1961. "I called the Chargers yesterday and there is no one else as a season ticket holder whose rights go back to 1961," said Larry.
I told Larry that I am stuck in the past. I still wear my Tomlinson jersey. Larry lives in the now and was wearing a Herbert jersey for the interview. The LA Chargers recently honored Larry for his commitment to the team. He showed me a picture of him on the SoFi Jumbo-Tron.
He also showed me a picture of his daughter Lara with LT. Lara lives in Los Angeles, where the father and daughter watch every home game together.
Larry even went to London to watch the Chargers play. "Yes, I did. And I have a picture with myself and Derwin James," said Larry.
As for Larry's wife, she is a different story. "Lynn is not a football fan," said Larry. "I sent her to "Football 101 School' that the Chargers had, and she came back and said it was too complicated but that the Charger quarterback had a nice butt. Jim Harbaugh," said Larry. Lynn then repeated for emphasis, "Jim Harbaugh."
During one trip to Green Bay to watch the Chargers play the Packers, Lynn was called out for not paying attention to the game. "A policeman comes over and tells us and tells Lynn who is reading a book, that you are not allowed to read a book during the football game," said Larry.
That's right Lynn was reading a book during a Packer game and got called out. "I did twice," said Lynn. That's okay, Larry bleeds enough Charger blue and gold for both of them.
For people like me who still need Charger therapy, Larry offers this advice. "Bury the hatchet and move on. If you don't want to root for the Chargers then pick another football team to root for," said Larry who says the Chargers will never return to San Diego but that won't stop him from being their biggest fan.
"Never missing a home game since 1972 is a major accomplishment," said Larry. His wife Lynn has not been to a game at SoFi Stadium, not because she dislikes the Chargers, but because she is not a football fan.