fan, not ashamed

Sometimes I've found in the academic writing world there seems to be one thing missing- sports. I have rarely had a conversation with friends who are writing majors about sports, save my friend who runs a zillion miles a day. But even then, we only talk about track and field. They don't start a conversation about the amazing game on television the night before, the steroids scandal with that tool Roger Clemens, they don't even talk about the possibility of Michael Phelps breaking Mark Spitz's record for number of golds won at a single Olympics. It's as if sometimes, I should be thinking about more cerebral things than sports- that sports are only meant for overweight middle aged men and frat boys.

But I want to talk about sports. I want to have a beer and talk about the Celtics coming back from 24 down in Game 4 to eventually kick the crap out of Kobe, and I want to talk about it while still at the same time being "academic" and "smart". I think it's possible to talk about with others, but I just miss having someone around like my Dad who always knows what's going on the world of sports. And even though he might not catch a game, or even like to watch certain sports (i.e. tennis, which he deems merely a 'recreational event'), he still knows what's going on. Same with me. I like to keep myself updated on just about everything in the sports world, even baseball (sooooo boring). It's a problem. But also comforting.

I love sports. I am a sports fan.

There.

When I was growing up, my dream was to be a sportscaster for ESPN. I'd be the girl on the side of the field talking to Brett Favre before he walked into the tunnel at halftime of the Super Bowl, I would be the one holding the microphone while being soaked with champagne in the locker room of the Chicago Bulls after they won their 15th Championship (bear in mind when I was a kid), and I would finally get to hit balls with Pete Sampras (14 singles Championships...how the hell do you do that?). Unfortunately, I am neither a former amazing athlete that got a job at ESPN after my career is over, nor am I a busty blond. So I'm out. Also, I don't really have much affinity for Com majors. That dream eventually had to fall by the wayside.

I have sports heroes, even though I suck at sports. I care when I see a terrible injury on the field, and I cry when a see a touching montage when a sports figures career has finally come to a close. I was watching the ESPY awards on Sunday and I got misty three times. I don't think that is normal. I have favorite sports movie moments, my most favorite being the end of Rudy- you can't help but cry like a baby during that- and I know odd facts and figures about athletes that are long gone. I don't particularly know why I care. I just do.

Again, I am a sports fan. Maybe it's because of my father, but I'm not sure. Maybe it's because I like to memorize facts. I think it might just be because I love my emotions going up and down like all good sports fans do while waiting for the underdog to finally beat the giant (Nadal-Federer Wimbledon 08). Or watching the statements that can be made on the largest of stages (Tommie Smith-John Carlos raising the gloved fist on the 1968 Olympic podium). I don't know why I got to love sports the way I do, I just do. So my husband better be ready to attend football games, buy me tickets to the U.S. Open, and get his ass kicked in Trivial Pursuit. That might be asking too much, but that would be perfect. He better be ready for me to cry during sports movies.

And yes, I will be buying cable so I can watch the Olympics. There's nothing my brother can do about it.