Sports and Reilly

I always enjoy reading The Life of Reilly in Sports Illustrated and he always has a great take on everything...not just sports. But I thought I would share this one. This Rick Reilly story explains why a Texas football coach told parents to root for the opposing team. Weird, I know, but it’s a great story that kind of put things in perspective.

This second piece comes from sports personalities blog in Texas. In one of his more recent posts, he perfectly describes what it means to be a die hard sports fan in a fatherly advice sort of way. Perhaps it will help the ladies understand us men a little bit more.

As I was leaving a frigid Texas Stadium after the game, I was walking right behind a Dad and his boy. The boy must have been 7 or 8 years old and was crying about the result. Some people might roll their eyes, but I knew how the boy felt. When you are young, and you love a sports team, you believe the games and the seasons will all have the happy endings of the Disney movies that you watch. Guess what, son, if you are going to pledge allegiance to a team as it appears you have with the Dallas Cowboys, I want to welcome you to the fellowship of the die-hards. Understand, that once you do, you are not allowed out of this commitment, and you should also understand that most seasons are going to end in tears. A favorite team is the only thing a male human feels the same about when he is 5 and when he is 45 and when he is 75. You will change your mind on everything else. Girls, money, hobbies. But, you will always still feel the adrenaline rush of a win, and the gutting sadness of a horrible loss. I didn’t say anything to the boy, as his Dad was handling it (and he might not have welcomed my advice) but I felt for him. Welcome to sports, young man. Someday, you may live to see a championship or five, but most years will end with your guts spilling onto the floor.