"SPORTS STEVE"Image: hometownannapolis.com
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NFL QUOTES
Quotes about a NFL Hall of Fame fan winner
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The NFL season starts on 9/8/08 and its rabid fans
will be there in droves.
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With so many rabid fans supporting the sport,
the NFL honors selected fans who qualify in a
very special way.
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Meet ‘Sports Steve’, a Hall of Fame-worthy fan (see photo above)
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On Sundays, Steve LaPlanche becomes Sports Steve, the Ravens superfan who was inducted into the Pro Football Fan Hall of Fame last week.
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On Sundays, Steve LaPlanche becomes Sports Steve, the Ravens superfan who was inducted into the Pro Football Fan Hall of Fame last week.
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By E.B. FURGURSON III, Staff Writer
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By E.B. FURGURSON III, Staff Writer
Published August 10, 2008
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By day, Steve LaPlanche is a 32-year veteran Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s captain. On weekends he’s Sports Steve, the Baltimore Ravens uber-fan.
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And last weekend, he was inducted into the Pro Football Fan Hall of Fame.
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He has been a loyal Baltimore football fan since his dad took him to his first Colts game in 1956, when he was just 3 years old. He has not missed a home game for any Baltimore football team since.
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That’s the Colts, Stars, Stallions and now the Ravens.“It’s really overwhelming,” he said during an interview at the county courthouse, where he commands the court security unit. “It’s the best thing related to football that has ever happened to me.”
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And that’s saying something.
And that’s saying something.
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After all, Johnny Unitas himself wrapped his Colts game cape on a young Mr. LaPlanche after a game in 1959. He still has it. The Colts Hall of Famer became good friends with Mr. LaPlanche’s father, and later, Mr. LaPlanche. On his Web site, http://www.sportssteve.com/, there are pictures of him with Mr. Unitas and others over the years.
After all, Johnny Unitas himself wrapped his Colts game cape on a young Mr. LaPlanche after a game in 1959. He still has it. The Colts Hall of Famer became good friends with Mr. LaPlanche’s father, and later, Mr. LaPlanche. On his Web site, http://www.sportssteve.com/, there are pictures of him with Mr. Unitas and others over the years.
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However, the most famous picture of Mr. LaPlanche was the shot of the Mayflower moving van carrying the Colts off to Indianapolis. In the snowy frame one sees the van, and one lone Colts fan standing vigil in the cold. It was Mr. laPlanche.
However, the most famous picture of Mr. LaPlanche was the shot of the Mayflower moving van carrying the Colts off to Indianapolis. In the snowy frame one sees the van, and one lone Colts fan standing vigil in the cold. It was Mr. laPlanche.
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These days he can be found in section 138 at M&T Bank Stadium exuding purple passion, with his face painted, including a trademark load of team-color beads, close to 50 pounds worth, around his neck.
These days he can be found in section 138 at M&T Bank Stadium exuding purple passion, with his face painted, including a trademark load of team-color beads, close to 50 pounds worth, around his neck.
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“I try to lead cheers, get the fans going,” he said. “I try to do my duty as a 12th man.”
“I try to lead cheers, get the fans going,” he said. “I try to do my duty as a 12th man.”
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But it’s not just his perfect attendance and game-day aplomb that won him the honor bestowed by the Professional Football Ultimate Fan Association in Canton, Ohio, last weekend.
But it’s not just his perfect attendance and game-day aplomb that won him the honor bestowed by the Professional Football Ultimate Fan Association in Canton, Ohio, last weekend.
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It’s the charity work and good example he sets that added to the case for him to join 13 others in this year’s class of inductees.
It’s the charity work and good example he sets that added to the case for him to join 13 others in this year’s class of inductees.
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“I don’t drink before or during the games. There are kids all around and I don’t want to be pointed out as some kind of wild man. I’m wild, but in a good way,” he said.
“I don’t drink before or during the games. There are kids all around and I don’t want to be pointed out as some kind of wild man. I’m wild, but in a good way,” he said.
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He uses the Sports Steve moniker and Ultimate Fan persona to help raise money for various causes.
He uses the Sports Steve moniker and Ultimate Fan persona to help raise money for various causes.
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His favorite is Maryland Special Olympics. “I am a Super Plunger at the Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point. You have to raise at least $10,000 to qualify, and last year I raised $12,664.”
His favorite is Maryland Special Olympics. “I am a Super Plunger at the Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point. You have to raise at least $10,000 to qualify, and last year I raised $12,664.”
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Those top fundraisers spend the night before the actual winter event, running into the frigid waters every hour, on the hour, all night long.
Those top fundraisers spend the night before the actual winter event, running into the frigid waters every hour, on the hour, all night long.
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“At 3 a.m. last year the water was 34 degrees and the windchill was 5 below,” he said. “But I love it, it’s my favorite charity.”
“At 3 a.m. last year the water was 34 degrees and the windchill was 5 below,” he said. “But I love it, it’s my favorite charity.”
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He also makes appearances at other charity events, sometimes at Ravens Roost affairs. His own Ravens Roost 18 in Glen Burnie recently raised $6,000 for the Mackey Foundation, set up to help defer medical costs for former Colt great and Hall of Famer John Mackey who is suffering from dementia.
He also makes appearances at other charity events, sometimes at Ravens Roost affairs. His own Ravens Roost 18 in Glen Burnie recently raised $6,000 for the Mackey Foundation, set up to help defer medical costs for former Colt great and Hall of Famer John Mackey who is suffering from dementia.
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“That’s what I hope comes from all this Hall of Fame recognition. I hope it helps me raise more money for charities,” he said.
“That’s what I hope comes from all this Hall of Fame recognition. I hope it helps me raise more money for charities,” he said.
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Serving others has been his career. He has been working at the Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office for 32 years, starting in 1976 at a whopping $8,000 a year.
Serving others has been his career. He has been working at the Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office for 32 years, starting in 1976 at a whopping $8,000 a year.
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The Professional Football Ultimate Fan Association started back in 1999 when VISA teamed up with the Hall of Fame to recognize super fans from throughout the league. There are all sorts in there, the famous Hogettes from the neighboring Washington Redskins, and six other Ravens fans.
The Professional Football Ultimate Fan Association started back in 1999 when VISA teamed up with the Hall of Fame to recognize super fans from throughout the league. There are all sorts in there, the famous Hogettes from the neighboring Washington Redskins, and six other Ravens fans.
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“You think I dress crazy, you should see some of those others,” he said. Under new rules, a current member of the Fan Hall of Fame has to nominate another fan to represent the team. A Ravens fan known as Captain Dee-fence, aka Wes Henson of Waldorf, nominated Mr. LaPlanche this year. He had to submit a statement that was voted on by current super fan members of the association.
“You think I dress crazy, you should see some of those others,” he said. Under new rules, a current member of the Fan Hall of Fame has to nominate another fan to represent the team. A Ravens fan known as Captain Dee-fence, aka Wes Henson of Waldorf, nominated Mr. LaPlanche this year. He had to submit a statement that was voted on by current super fan members of the association.
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Once elected, Mr. LaPlanche and his fellow inductees were presented engraved coins signifying their induction at a special “tailgate party” event held before the players were inducted last Sunday.
Once elected, Mr. LaPlanche and his fellow inductees were presented engraved coins signifying their induction at a special “tailgate party” event held before the players were inducted last Sunday.
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They also got to be in the 2.5-mile-long Hall of Fame parade, which was a real treat for Mr. LaPlanche.
They also got to be in the 2.5-mile-long Hall of Fame parade, which was a real treat for Mr. LaPlanche.
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“It was great. The crowd was all Redskins fans, as they had two guys being inducted, but I kept looking for Ravens fans,” he said. “Then I saw this young woman come running down the bleachers, and she came running right into the street yelling, ‘There’s our Sports Steve.’ That was neat.”
“It was great. The crowd was all Redskins fans, as they had two guys being inducted, but I kept looking for Ravens fans,” he said. “Then I saw this young woman come running down the bleachers, and she came running right into the street yelling, ‘There’s our Sports Steve.’ That was neat.”
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He and other fans also spent time signing autographs at a children’s party held after the parade.
“I never turn down an autograph. I want to set a good example,” he said. A lesson learned by the example set by his childhood hero, Johnny U.
He and other fans also spent time signing autographs at a children’s party held after the parade.
“I never turn down an autograph. I want to set a good example,” he said. A lesson learned by the example set by his childhood hero, Johnny U.
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