LOS ANGELES, CA – As the Super Bowl nears, it is the super fans who are stealing the spotlight.
- Friends bond over love of the Rams
- Super fans are gaining their own fans
- Deemed Los Ramcheros
Hector Guzman blows the ram horn while his best friend Edgar Mercado draws a loud whistle. They are both die hard Rams fans, waiting in front of the Los Angeles Stadium to send the NFC Champions off to Atlanta with a final cheer. The stadium will become the Rams future home in Inglewood.
“Ram’s house,” they shouted.
As the team thanks their loyal fans before hopping on the plane, it is a sea of blue and gold. Guzman and Mercado epitomize Rams fandom. Decked out from head-to-toe, they refer to themselves as Los Ramcheros, paying homage to both the Rams and their Hispanic culture.
“We went on a trip to Mexico, and we ended up coming back with mariachi hats. And then we started going to the games and people started throwing out different characters and we just got engulfed in that whole atmosphere,” said Mercado.
It is clear their hats have become famous. The mariachi-style caps are recognized by their fellow fans, with many stopping to snap a picture.
“Everybody loves it, the community loves it, the Latino family, the ‘Ram-ily’ loves it,” said Guzman.
“At the tailgate I got offered about a $150 for someone to buy my hat, and I was like no I can’t, I’m sorry it’s my hat,” said Mercado.
However, like many SoCal Rams fans, this team means much more to Guzman and Mercado than football Sundays or even being season-ticket holders. The two met in high school and for the last 20 years have been friends.
They have stay friends through getting married, starting careers and having kids, but while life changed their love for the Rams never did. They have become more like brothers, or as they call each other compadres.
“It’s like oh hey there goes the guys the Ramcheros,” said Mercado.
“Everybody taking pictures of us, we have them tag us, and we just make a bigger family like that,” said Guzman.