I’m a pretty big sports fan, and have been since I was about five years old. I’m one of those types who obsess over every team’s games, but I am the type who obsesses over MY TEAM’s games. I guess my fandom peaked in college especially for football (American), when I would not study or do any of my homework until after the Steelers games on Sundays, no matter how far behind I was in my studies. If the Steelers lost that week, I would let it affect my mood for at least a few days.
I tell you all of this because I think I’m growing up, or maturing, or whatever. Why do I say this? Well, there was a Steelers game Sunday and I didn’t watch it. This would’ve been unheard of a few years ago. I’m not sure what has changed. Maybe it was when the won the Super Bowl a few years ago, their first since I have witnessed (seeing it as an infant in 1980 doesn’t count). Anyhow, I remember being really into the playoff games, nervous during the Super Bowl and then when they won thinking, “That’s nice. Now what?” It’s not as though I really gained anything personal when they won.
Or maybe I’m just getting more mature since I’m now a Dad? Nah.
Anyhow, instead of watching the game my wife, my daughter, and I hopped in the car and went to see the Penn State Women’s Soccer team play Texas A&M. We had a great time. We live only 10 miles from the stadium, entrance into the games is free, and the weather was so nice (it will soon be Autumn here, so it’s not too hot anymore). My daughter sat on my lap for a good portion of the game and I would hold her with one hand and slap my other hand on my leg to clap and she would clap along. Every now and then I would say, “Look at the ball” and she would get excited.
Penn State wound up tying the game with 4 minutes remaining. At that point our daughter had her fill of sitting still and made sure to let us know. We watched the two ten minute overtime periods standing near the fence outside the playing field while our daughter played in the dirt. The game finished tied at 1, but Penn State was lower ranked so I think they’re happy with the result. When we got home, I checked the score of the Steelers game. They had won. That was nice, maybe I’ll watch the game next Sunday.
In the evening, we were all pretty tired. My wife and I sat on the carpet in our Living Room as our daughter played, handing us toys and then taking them back. Actually I was animating two stuffed animals(Ted the Teddy Bear and Elmo), and my wife was animating two others (Paddington Bear and another Elmo) and our daughter would give each of us something and then rotate it between all of us. So cute.
At one point my daughter stopped, bent down, and patted my leg and said “Ball!” and then pointed at the door and said “Door!”. I guess she really enjoyed going to the game because she remembered me patting my leg to clap. We’ll have to take her to another game.
Anyhow, that was my day. I hope you had a nice one too.
The Struggling Writer 