sports fan(atic)

Mom has been content to read and watch football this weekend. A certain high school which she, I, and the President-elect are graduates of was playing for its first ever (yes, 100+ years) state championship this Friday past. On Saturday, the local university team that she has held season tickets to since forever was playing its last regular season game against a ranked team. She also had several other college games to follow.

Our family comes by our sports-nuts-hood honestly. Mom rarely loses a sports trivia contest. Before her illness she could be found puttering around her yard and beach combing wearing a headset with large earphones often conducting conversations (even on the telephone) without removing the headset as she listened to whatever sport was in season. This should explain any odd distraction if you called her while any game was being broadcast.

She was a standout athlete in high school, having transferred to our shared alma mater in 7th grade and she won a HS tennis title despite having picked up the game very late and playing against girls who had years of lessons in the tennis clubs. For those of you who know me, she's wa-a-a-y more competitive than I am. Really. She was also a pretty good baseball infielder. I remember her in Germany in the 80s listening to baseball games on the radio at 2am.

My Brother-in-law V (only character flaw - Dallas Cowboy fan) has found a kindred soul in my mom. The two of them can be found in the sports bar of the C Hotel during much of our bi-annual trips to Vegas.

Our immediate clan can live, breathe, play, talk and argue about sports, athletes, coaches, games, philosophy, character, integrity, honesty, techniques, technicalities, technical fouls ad nauseum (to anyone not as sports-obsessed).

Mom's closing quote of the night after her local college team (she picked to upset their ranked opponent) lost their season ending game in the closing minutes:

"Well, they played badly all season in bits and pieces. Tonight they put it all together."