Sports Fanatics

Maicol and I love to watch sports. Basketball, baseball, soccer, football... it's all good. Maicol knows players, statistics, and the major history behind many of the college and professional level sports teams. And as a result, I've even picked up the lingo and some of the important statistics surrounding the current events of the athletics world. I could fall soundly to sleep every night without the recap from ESPN. However, the longer I've patiently endured the recaps I get from my highly knowledgeable husband, the more excited I get about the latest news and upsets.

I love making my bracket during NCAA playoffs; I love it even more when my bracket is doing better than Obama's! I love yelling "Gooooooooaaaaaaaallllllllllll" when Gremio scores on the soccer field. But what I seem to enjoy a little bit more than most sports fanatics you may find strange.

I love reading up on the personal lives of the players. I love feeling like I can get a glimpse of their personality, their passions, and the most foundational snippets of who they are and who they pay loyalties to. It always amazes me to see a player with unprecedented talent throw it all out the window with a bad attitude. Even more fascinating, players who set records on the field and carry around criminal records just as noteworthy.

I went to Kecoughtan High School with Jerod Mayo. He was actually in my 6th grade class. He was funny, amiable, and popular as usual. From what I saw, he was level headed with a long time girlfriend in high school that was also an athlete. He is now #51 for the New England Patriots. I love hearing them pronounce his name, even though the announcers usually say his first name wrong. It makes me so proud to see him so huge (6'1/245lbs), so successful, and doing what he loves. I'm glad he's not making the media for anything other than success. I remember hearing the stories of the conversations he had with his family as he was being drafted, he was just a normal kid and then suddenly he was the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year. I hope that somewhere inside of him he has a larger purpose than personal pride and accomplishment. Even still, it's nice that he isn't known for dog fighting, D.U.I.'s or scholarships scandals like some of the other crowned jewels of professional and college level sports.

Last year Maicol and I watched Auburn defeat Oregon. Maicol recounted to me that because Oregon was sponsored by Nike they had some of the most impressive uniforms in college sports. He told me about the impossible odds and how Oregon was sure to come out on top. A lot of the statistics and details came in one ear and out the other, but there are a few moments of that game I will never forget. Cam Newton's short interview after Auburn's victory. He thanked God. He recounted blessing. He unashamedly claimed victory due solely to his savior Jesus Christ and the love of his parents. I was floored, almost moved to tears to hear this young man swarmed by pride and popularity risking what others might think as he praised the Lord.

That's when I love sports. Trying to figure out the thoughts and actions in these individual players' lives. Does he realize the pressure he will face from believers if he doesn't live up to these claims? Does he realize the criticism he'll face as unbelievers react to his claims? All I kept saying to Maicol was that I was so glad for his public testimony and courage. I felt like a proud mother.

I just learned recently about Cam Newton's alleged scandal being "paid to play" for Auburn. He was almost disqualified from receiving the Heisman trophy. The NCAA dismissed the ineligibility claiming that while Cam's father was involved in the scandal, Cam had no idea. Regardless, I was somewhat discouraged. Yes maybe Cam didn't know. And still, maybe he did stand up there and thank God while knowing he was cheating the system. Either way, he must face a lot of inner turmoil over all this. Even now he's been drafted with the NFL Panthers, he'll be in the spotlight for many years to come. I will watch and hope that he shines pure, true, inspiring light.

Usually when we're watching a game I'm targeting a player trying to pick up on body language, facial expressions, and pinpoint who he or she is. Wikipedia helps too :) Good thing I have my husband recapping to me what actually takes place play by play otherwise all I remember is the winning score (if I'm lucky) and the latest hairstyle on the field. Maicol and I we make a good team, and the only reason my brackets ever do well is because I pick ridiculous wins based on if I like the players or not ;)