An Introduction

Fellow Pirates Fans,

My name is Greg Allison.  I am a lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan and a recent graduate of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh where I majored in film making.  This past winter I started toying with the idea of combining my two passions into a project exploring what drives people to still root for the team with the most consecutive losing seasons in history (19 and counting).  As a 21 year old, I have no memory of winning baseball here in Pittsburgh. 

For that reason, I feel like the Pirates fans that are still here are the greatest fans in professional sports.  There's no other way to describe their dedication and loyalty.  I want to make a film that explores who these people are.  Why do they still buy tickets?  Why do they buy jerseys for players that will be playing for another team before August?  Why do they comment and debate over who should be the back up middle infielder on a 90-loss team?

I want to shed some light on the people that support these lovable losers who are treated as a laughingstock by the rest of the league.  I want this to be a film about us.  I want to hear your stories about the season tickets that have been in your family since the 60s.  I want to hear about that trade that made you want to rip your hair out.  I want to hear about your love for the game and for this team.  I'm interested in talking to fans young and old.

I can't do this alone.  This is not my story, this is our story.  I want this to be a season-long celebration of our fandom.  This blog and following contact information are a means of opening a dialogue between you and I.  If there's something you want me to include, let me know.  If you have a story to tell about your Pirates love, let me know.  I want to hear your feedback and keep you updated on what's happening.  I'll likely be doing a lot of question asking myself.  Some documentaries form with a story in mind.  While I certainly have some things I want to emphasize or touch on, this project, like the season, is just beginning and like the season, I'm extremely excited to see what it has in store for us.

With that said, spread the word and check up on this blog.  Don't be afraid to get involved.  You can email me at piratesfandoc@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter @piratesfandoc