Football: How a Girl Got into the Game
Football and I had a rough start. Nothing, absolutely nothing bored me more than football. Honest. That is no exaggeration. Many times over the years, though, friends would attempt to help me understand the game. With each attempt I would have what I would describe as an out of body experience. No joke. Football bored me so much I would completely space out. It made no sense to me. At the risk of sounding like a total girl, football to me just seemed like a bunch of guys grunting around running into and on top of each other all to get some ball that’s not really even ball shaped. Huh?! So, I pretty much accepted my relationship with the game as being more on acquaintance terms. I accepted that I would make yearly appearances at Super Bowl parties not for the game, but for the parties. Not a bad deal – Football gets my support for the day and I get to hang out with friends. But football and I, though, would never be friends.
Recently, though, I decided to give football another chance. Why? Well, my beau, Eric, really. See, Eric gets excited about football. From the sparkle in his eyes when game season rolls around you might think Christmas came early and often. So I thought I would give football another go. Maybe this time I would find something in it for me. Eric agrees to be my football coach. But when game time comes here come my questions: “Down? What does that mean? How come that’s not an interception? Fumble? What’s that?…” and more. And usually these questions came one right after the other during key plays. Not cool. Bad girlfriend! So, after a few games of this I get the stink eye from Eric. I don’t blame him or even take it personally. My questions were getting between him and the game. I decided it was time for me to give football a rest until next season.
When next season rolls around I take more of a listening approach. And something starts to click. What happened was I started to hear more and more stories about players. I heard stories of like how a kid raised by his single mom kept at it and kept at it until one day against all odds he made his dream of being in the NFL come true. Then that same kid, a young man now, turns around and gives back to his community working with kids to inspire them to follow their dreams. And then there are comeback stories like about a guy who was diagnosed with a life threatening disease. Doctor says he will never play again. But this guy keeps on believing and keeps on track with training and makes a full recovery to make it back in the game. These stories behind the game humanized football for me. Once I connected with the players I connected with the game and began to develop an appreciation for it. I admit I have a lot still to learn about football. For now, though, it tickles me and still surprises me that I have learned to actually like it. It inspires me. Yes, it’s true. It inspires me to get up and go, to just do it, to go for it. When it comes down to the last minutes of the game you don’t just lay down and die! No, Sir. No, Ma’am. You go for it! You work it play by play because most anything can happen to turn most any game around as long as you play. A lot like life.
Thanks for lending your ears.
Truly,
JR
(c) JR Rhodes
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Filed under: JR Rhodes Blog on Music, Love, Life | 3 Comments
Tags: Football
Yep, it sure is fun to watch, you just don’t want your kid playing it! Too many injuries!
Yep, I can see how that might get a wee bit tricky as a parent.
You could almost make me like football!
Love you, sweetie, and thinking of you always,
Scott