I remember watching games and hearing the announcer yell "Big E" before I even realized who Elvin Hayes was.
I remember wondering why that white-haired old man (Tom McMillen) was playing with all those youngsters.
I remember Dan Roundfield's multi-layered knee brace and elbow braces. I remember identifying with Jeff Malone's widow's peak.
My dad used to take me to the Bullets' open practices at Ft. Meade. I saw John Williams before he bought a hot plate ("he's going to be a great player," my dad predicted), and Manute Bol up close.
I remember Steve Colter hanging on to that jheri curl about 5 years too long, then shifting to a high-top just as most other guys were starting to abandon them.
I remember meeting Muggsy Bogues at the Phil Chenier-Dave DuPree Baskeball Camp (which was held at Howard Community College, across the street from my house).
I remember Tracey Murray going off. I remember Darrell Walker's crab dribble (and his penchant for fighting).
When I was in college, my dad used to mail me the Washington Post sports section, and I felt a glimmer of hope when Webber and Howard joined the team. I remember Rod Strickland's uncanny ability to penetrate and finish at the rim.
I've been underwhelmed countless times. By Cheaney. Jarvis. Jeffries. Courtney "Hitch" Alexander.
I used to get laughed at for rooting for the Bullets when I was in high school -- despite the fact that I went to school in Takoma Park.
I've rooted for chubby 5s (Feitl, Duckworth), chubby 4s (Hot Plate), and chubby guards (Eackles). I've rooted for bony bigs (Pervis, Bol), bony swingmen (Porter), and bony guards (Dixon). I've rooted for over-the-hill stars (Moses, Bernard), unathletic-but-skilled guys (Alerie), and athletic-but-unskilled guys (Ben Wallace).
And, as many flaws as this team has, this year's edition is the most successful team in my experience as a fan. For all intents and purposes, this is my first experience rooting for a nationally relevant team.
I've even seen some of the guys who used to laugh at me for being a Bullets fan jump on the bandwagon on Facebook.
I'm sad the season's over, but I'm proud of the team. Go Wizards.

I figured this didn't belong in the "Woo! Wizards win" thread, so here's a place, separate from the game threads, to give a little tip of the cap to this year's squad before moving on to offseason speculation.