WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Playing off the Monday Night Football theme, attendees of CUNA's Future Forum are invited to show their team sprit by wearing some logowear of their favorite sports team at the Monday night opening reception. Credit Union Times set out to find just what kind of sports fanatics are out there. We found plenty of them and their passion runs deep. There are people who like to watch a game or two and then there are sports fans. Some say a true sports fan is someone who not only appreciates the talent of an individual or a team but who genuinely enjoys the competition. Others say a fan is someone who doesn't give up hope on “their” team even if they have the worst record in history. But all sports fans agree that everyone at some point should see a sports game live in order to get the most out of the experience. Credit Union Times spoke with a few credit union CEOs to find out which teams and sports make them stand up and cheer: “I grew up in Washington and I have always been a Redskins fan. I've been going to their games since I was seven years old and have been lucky enough to go to two of their Superbowl games.” Kirk Kordelski Bethpage FCU Bethpage, N.Y. “I have been a Green Bay Packer fan since I was a little girl. With four brothers and a dad who really respected and admired Vince Lombardi for his principles how could I not be a Packer fan. But I've always loved sports and in college I was a sports editor of our college paper. Later on I even married a Packer fan and John and I go to as many games as we can at Lambeau Field decked out with cheese heads and all.” Patsy Van Ouwerkerk Travis CU Vacaville, Calif. “I am a fan of every New York team except the Mets. You name the game I've been there for Superbowls, Stanley Cups, World Series. I've got Jets season tickets, have been to a lot of training camps, and have been in a fantasy football league since 1989. It has grown to such a point that I've got all my family and friends involved. The great thing about sports is that it is something that gets everyone talking. It also gives people a great opportunity to get together – for example since being married with kids I don't go to as many games but every once in a while I make a point to go to a game with five friends I've known since high school and we have a great time.” Mark Welshoff Palisades FCU Pearl River, N.Y. “I have always been a baseball fan and my whole life I've been a New York Yankees fan. For college football I used to occasionally watch Notre Dame games but about two years ago my daughter not only attended Notre Dame but made the varsity swim team. Now I am glued to my set watching the games wearing my Notre Dame football jersey. My wife and I also hit the road for 12 hours to see our daughter's meet and catch a few football games live. We have a lot of fun tailgating, meeting new people and my daughter is friends with a few of the football players so we get to know them personally and then see them play in front of 100,000 people -it's incredible.” Richard Mantey Ulster FCU Kingston, N.Y. “I had been going to local dirt track car races since I was a teenager in the 60s. It was a natural progression to move from dirt tracks to asphalt though I still enjoy the `dirt track slide'! I can remember seeing footage of when the Daytona track was half on the beach and half on Highway A1A. I have visited that part of the beach – where it all began. My first NASCAR in-person experience was at Firecracker 400 (now the Pepsi 400) at Daytona in July 1972 and I have been hooked ever since. What I like best about the races is the pure competition and complexity of the sport. Casual observers don't realize that there's a lot more to the sport than `go fast and turn left'. I have tickets for Bristol every year. I've also seen races at three other tracks. Dale Earnhardt Sr. is still my favorite driver of all time and his son is my favorite active driver-both play within the rules and focused on winning.” William J. Rissel Fort Knox FCU Radcliff, Ky. “I am such a big sports fan you name the sport I've got a favorite. I'm a University of Auburn alumnus and since I have a daughter that attends Auburn and now all my money goes there -Auburn has to be it for college football. In the NFL it is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and in baseball it has to be the Braves. My dad is the one who made me a sports fan. He took me to so many Braves games as a kid and I remember the best part of Sundays would always be just watching football games with my dad.” Lynn W. Owen Insight Financial CU Orlando, Fla.