I guess I am going to have to say American Football, if I have to pick a favorite sport to watch AND play.
I have had a “love/hate” relationship with Football. First, I was born on Monday, December 3, 1973, and made my Dad miss Monday Night Football. He had to hear the outcome from the male OB/GYN’s delivering me. Just know, if my birthday ever falls on a Monday, we always talk during half-time.
I would grow up playing “touch” football with the boys in the neighborhood, that would miraculously turn into “tackle” football when I would play. The best thing I could say is I learned to run FAST and be nimble. I really think that boys just liked piling on so they could touch a girl…
Football games were social events during high school. I was editor of the high school newspaper and was often there taking pictures, because I loved taking pictures AND because I had to fire the newspaper photographer for developing inappropriate pictures in our school darkroom. A few of my photographs from the high school games somehow also made it into the yearbook. Our team, the Kirby Cougars, were a really terrible team, but we all came together to cheer them on, regardless.
I grew up watching football, continuing to follow and watch it in adulthood with my then-husband. We loved watching our Indianapolis Colts on TV. I’d yell at the TV, as if the teams could hear me. It’s what I grew up hearing, so it made me feel at home. It was my comfort passtime.
Our youngest wanted to play football, so I signed him up, even though my then-husband lost his job. I asked for a sponsor and a local business owner did just that. He played two years in a row and I got him to practices religiously and worked extra to pay for his equipment. I paced up and down the sidelines, shouting positive things and cheering for all the kids. The other parents watched me like as if I were insane. I brought juice and snacks every few weeks, when it was my turn.
In 2017, I went through a tough year. My then-husband beat me, and I had him removed from my home never return. Part of that was banning football from my home. I was also VERY perturbed at how the baseball and football pro athletes were talking about striking, as they lived in multi-million dollar homes…it was madness. That really disgusts me with the majority of them. The few that give to major charities are the ones that grab my attention and keep me from hating football completely — like Peyton Manning and his children’s hospital.
TBH, I’ve never gravitated back to football. Maybe I will next season. I still love watching the Super Bowl, maybe for the commercials, or the snacky foods and camaraderie, but it still takes me back to a happier time, sitting at Thanksgiving and watching the game with my family. I shouldn’t punish the whole sport, I suppose.
