'Once you’re in, you’re forever': How Isaac and Sun Min Kimes fell in love with Tottenham
'Once you’re in, you’re forever': How Isaac and Sun Min Kimes fell in love with Tottenham
Isaac became a Spurs fan after the Seahawks' crushing Super Bowl loss and convinced Sun Min to join him on the journey
Isaac Kimes found himself reflecting on his single-team fandom in the aftermath of Malcolm Butler’s interception in Super Bowl XLIX.
The rabid Seattle Seahawks fandom was passed down to Isaac and his sister — ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes — by their father. Isaac had taken an interest in the Seattle Mariners during the Ken Griffey Jr. years but never grew a strong attachment to the team.
Watching the Seahawks lose in such dramatic fashion led Isaac to consider the possibility of adding another team to cheer for. He turned to soccer, the sport he and Mina played competitively all the way through high school.
Isaac had played soccer his whole life, watched World Cups on TV and even went to the 2002 World Cup in Korea, but knew very little about the European leagues and the club game.
“Came back [from the World Cup], and that was just kind of the end of it,” he said. “It was just like every four years.”
Major League Soccer had failed to capture his attention even though he’d gone to D.C. United games while living in Virginia.
So, Isaac started following the Premier League closely during the 2015-16 season as a neutral observer. He was captivated by the drama that was unfolding as 5000-1 underdogs Leicester City battled Tottenham and Arsenal for the title.
“I was just completely enthralled with the race to a championship and how tight it was and how contentious it was,” Isaac said. “And, of course, Tottenham’s long trophy drought and what it would’ve meant to them to have won that. I was really intrigued by both Leicester – Claudio Ranieri – and definitely Tottenham – Mauricio Pochettino.”
Tottenham’s 5-1 defeat at Newcastle on the final day of the 2015-16 season combined with Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa allowed Arsenal jump Spurs in the table and finish in second ahead of their north London rivals.
The emotions Isaac experienced watching the events of that final day play out led him to discard his one-team fandom for good.
“I realized at that moment that I was Spurs — that I was Tottenham — because I felt so bad,” he said.
Sun Min Kimes, the mother of Isaac and Mina, is texting to see how long the interview will take. Manchester United face Chelsea 45 minutes after the interview is scheduled to begin and she doesn’t want to miss it. United are in sixth place — directly behind Tottenham — so she’s cheering for Chelsea.
It was Isaac who roped her in.
She was unsure at first but became more and more intrigued over time. These days, she aims to watch every Spurs game and loves everything about the Premier League.
In a few short years, Tottenham has become one of the main topics of conversation between Sun Min and Isaac.
“We talk about Tottenham all the time,” Sun Min said. “There are other subjects and other interests as a family member and sharing family dynamics and family stories, but lots of times, we’re talking about [Tottenham].”
Born in Korea, Sun Min met a Seattle native stationed there as a member of the U.S. Air Force in 1979. They got married and eventually moved to America.
Her Twitter account that started as a way to “troll” Mina now has 27,300 followers and is filled with sports analysis, most of which is about Tottenham and the Premier League.
“It’s funny because her Twitter is so wholesome, and I think that’s what people love about it,” Isaac said. “I can be kind of cynical – maybe that’s because I’m a lawyer, maybe because I’m a little younger.”
“Men in Blazers” co-host Roger Bennett learned Sun Min was a massive soccer fan and asks her to give him some questions if a Tottenham guest is coming on the show. Whether it’s her social media accounts or her approach to supporting Tottenham, Sun Min strives to bring positivity to an environment prone to toxicity.
“It’s like having a child,” she said of her Tottenham fan experience. “Sometimes he or she brings a bad report card, and then you feel bad and upset, but you just cannot scold a kid, you know?”
South Korean international Son Heung-min arrived at Tottenham the same season Isaac started following the Premier League closely. It was not until the following season that the forward solidified himself as a regular starter for Spurs, but Isaac saw his potential.
And the existence of a Korean player played no small role in Isaac’s decision to support Tottenham.
“The way [Son] plays, the way he handles himself, his professionalism, the way he uses both feet, his speed, how liked he is by everyone – I just love him to death, and he’s the main reason I’m Tottenham for sure,” he said.
By the time Sun Min had taken an interest, Son Heung-min was one of the most dangerous attackers in the Premier League and an international superstar.
“In Korea, he’s a serious star,” Sun Min said. “He’s like BTS level.”
Isaac said the goal is for him and Sun Min to visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to watch Spurs play at some point in the near future. In the meantime, Tottenham find themselves in another battle with Arsenal in the final weeks of the season — this one for the Premier League’s fourth and final Champions League spot — as the club chases its first trophy since 2008.
“They’ve got such a huge fanbase, and it’s just kind of amazing that they have this huge fanbase even though they haven’t gotten over the line,” Isaac said. “I think that that shows you how much that club means to so many people, including myself.”
No matter how long the trophy drought lasts or how many players come and go, Isaac and Sun Min are in it for the long haul.
“I don’t think I have the heart to change teams because they’re not doing well or my favorite player left,” Sun Min said. “I don’t want to do that. So even [if Son] leaves, I’m still going to be just Tottenham. Once you’re in, you’re forever.”