Brian loves sports. I hate them.
This makes for a very interesting dynamic in our marriage. We are alike in so many ways, but when it comes to everyday interests...we are miles apart. I like to play sports (now that I'm in this very "sporty" phase of my life); Brian likes to watch sports. He's a good coach, I'm a good player. Maybe that's how it works?
Either way, we got married in the month of May for a reason: it was the only time we could find when there were no major sporting events on television. College basketball had wrapped up; pro basketball was not yet in the finals. Football was still in off season and the Masters was a week away. Baseball was just in its early stages, but lets face it: as Cubs/Dodgers fans, we could have safely married in October with no notable consequences. Brian hasn't missed a Packer game since the Carter administration.
I've only seen Brian cry three times. When he proposed to me, when Emma died, and when Nate Poole caught a last-minute touchdown for the Cardinals in 2004, eliminating the Vikings from the playoffs, thus giving the Packers a coveted spot. Yup. Not joking.
Brett Favre signed with the Vikings the same day Scotty was born. At one point during that day, I actually took Brian's phone away and requested he stop talking to his friends about football and acknowledge the fact I just had a baby. He did...for a few minutes. But it was like asking a zebra to not be striped. He just can't help himself; that's who he is.
I shouldn't know who Mel Kiper is. I shouldn't receive phone calls about breaking sports news. I shouldn't cringe at the sound of Bob Costa's voice or that silly piano music they play during golf. I shouldn't...but I do.
When Scotty joined us, we both had the same feeling: which way is this kid going to swing? Be like Mommy, who only attends sporting events because soft pretzels are served, or like Daddy, who can "catch up" with an old friend for 45 minutes and talk about nothing but draft potentials and whether or not Tiger did, in fact, cheat. (Let me help you with that: he did). Scotty didn't appear to be the most coordinated child at first; he didn't crawl until ten months, and he rarely attempted to climb. Now, he enjoys standing at the base of the structure on the playground, helpfully telling other children to be careful. Whenever he struggles with something or flails around in a bounce house, I usually turn to the mom next to me and comment, "We're hoping for an academic scholarship."
So last night, as Brian sat with his eyes glued to the Ranger game, our little Bear, who has shown little athletic prowess and even less interest in watching professional sports, out of nowhere, just declared, "Daddy, you know what we haven't watched in awhile? Football. Let's watch some football."
Brian's face practically melted. You could see the wheels turning in his head - well, it's the off season, but I can start talking to him about the defensive line and the Packer's prospects for next year - while joy blossomed in his heart. That's my boy!
I sighed heavily. Two-thirds of my household is football crazy. I just hope Scotty's future spouse is okay with a May wedding.
This makes for a very interesting dynamic in our marriage. We are alike in so many ways, but when it comes to everyday interests...we are miles apart. I like to play sports (now that I'm in this very "sporty" phase of my life); Brian likes to watch sports. He's a good coach, I'm a good player. Maybe that's how it works?
Either way, we got married in the month of May for a reason: it was the only time we could find when there were no major sporting events on television. College basketball had wrapped up; pro basketball was not yet in the finals. Football was still in off season and the Masters was a week away. Baseball was just in its early stages, but lets face it: as Cubs/Dodgers fans, we could have safely married in October with no notable consequences. Brian hasn't missed a Packer game since the Carter administration.
I've only seen Brian cry three times. When he proposed to me, when Emma died, and when Nate Poole caught a last-minute touchdown for the Cardinals in 2004, eliminating the Vikings from the playoffs, thus giving the Packers a coveted spot. Yup. Not joking.
Brett Favre signed with the Vikings the same day Scotty was born. At one point during that day, I actually took Brian's phone away and requested he stop talking to his friends about football and acknowledge the fact I just had a baby. He did...for a few minutes. But it was like asking a zebra to not be striped. He just can't help himself; that's who he is.
I shouldn't know who Mel Kiper is. I shouldn't receive phone calls about breaking sports news. I shouldn't cringe at the sound of Bob Costa's voice or that silly piano music they play during golf. I shouldn't...but I do.
When Scotty joined us, we both had the same feeling: which way is this kid going to swing? Be like Mommy, who only attends sporting events because soft pretzels are served, or like Daddy, who can "catch up" with an old friend for 45 minutes and talk about nothing but draft potentials and whether or not Tiger did, in fact, cheat. (Let me help you with that: he did). Scotty didn't appear to be the most coordinated child at first; he didn't crawl until ten months, and he rarely attempted to climb. Now, he enjoys standing at the base of the structure on the playground, helpfully telling other children to be careful. Whenever he struggles with something or flails around in a bounce house, I usually turn to the mom next to me and comment, "We're hoping for an academic scholarship."
So last night, as Brian sat with his eyes glued to the Ranger game, our little Bear, who has shown little athletic prowess and even less interest in watching professional sports, out of nowhere, just declared, "Daddy, you know what we haven't watched in awhile? Football. Let's watch some football."
Brian's face practically melted. You could see the wheels turning in his head - well, it's the off season, but I can start talking to him about the defensive line and the Packer's prospects for next year - while joy blossomed in his heart. That's my boy!
I sighed heavily. Two-thirds of my household is football crazy. I just hope Scotty's future spouse is okay with a May wedding.
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