Husband has something else to be especially gleeful about this year: high school football. Bar Mitzvahzilla is already training to be a punter for the high school team.
Since somehow, even though he's still in eighth grade, Bar Mitzvahzilla is already in a "kicking clinic," I had to take him shopping to buy some football cleats. Of course, I wanted him to just use his soccer cleats and call it a day, but it turns out that's unthinkable. There are actually very specific, different, cleats for Baseball, Soccer, and Football, and they're differentiated by something elusive in the pointiness and spacing of the spikes. What do I know? I was a hippie in high school.
Here's something else I learned: when the male Sales Associates at Sports Authority found out that Bar Mitzvahzilla would be playing high school football, they all got starry-eyed. You would've thought Bar Mitzvahzilla was Joe Montana. Here's my son, the computer game addict, the ten-year-old in a teenager's body, being fawned over by these grown men. My son as an object of adoration, and for something he hasn't even done yet. And for something that has a bit more to do with brawn than brains. The hippie inside me cringed. So there will be no peace for me. Football on TV day and night and actual live football games requiring the attendance of a real flesh and blood mother - an enthusiastic mother - on the other days.
How's your sports enthusiasm? Do you watch the NFL Draft? Have you ever watched your child get admired for something and realized how completely separate he/she is from you as they're growing up? What was your "label" in high school?
Terry, I know, I know. But I understand that the punter is only brought in at the end of the game to, um, punt! So, other than the entire outcome of the game depending on him, no other pressure and no chance of injury!
ReplyDeletelol, I know ONE draftee, that would be tim tebow...only because of a blog I read called casa hice...she loves tim tebow. and he went to denver today. So I got to go on over and crow about something I give two figs for.
ReplyDeleteAnywhoozle.
The only sports I ever really cared about was basketball...as in the 1990 and 91 pistons..and horseracing.
I love the horses...and if you ever want to see the greatest athlete to ever live...watch secretariat's triple crown run...particularly the third leg...the belmont...I 've never seen anything more beautiful...If you haven't seen this, I think it is something everyone should see once.
Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un-nt9O_MNg&fe...
watching a human, or in this case, a horse...do what they were born to do perfectly is a moment to revel in the beauty of G*ds creation.
I remember that, Chris, it was beautiful! I REALLY prefer basketball myself but I am going to pretend, for my son, that I love football, even if it kills me!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is total sports girl - lacrosse is her big love. I was a dancer and gymnast.... so a little out of the team sports loop - though it is fun going to her games, etc. Congrats that your son seems to have some talent - he'll enjoy working on his sport, being nurtured by coaches, etc. - it'll be a great experience for him. You'll hang out with all the other "football moms" and have a great time watching (though with sports like football, gymnastics, even lacrosse - there are a lot of "I can't watch this" / ouch moments - all good :-) .
ReplyDeleteSherri, I just have to remember not to spend all my time yakking it up with the moms instead of watching the game! I can be very annoying like that. It doesn't help that I have purposely shunned football and learning anything about it all these years! But thanks for the tips. I'll try!
ReplyDeleteThat whole different cleats for different sports threw me for a loop, too. I'm not a big sports fan and it was never watched while I was growing up. Why I married a college football player, I can't fathom, but now we watch all kinds of sports all the time. Well he watches. I usually sit by him on the computer or reading a book.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, I've always tried to offer companionship (well, not ALWAYS), but I did give him those kids who he turned into football addicts! But if it's my kid playing I have to be a real fan. Definitely no pretending, and NO BOOK! I can't even play with my BlackBerry!
ReplyDeleteOh Linda! I feel for you. I would have advised you to have your hubby take Bar Mitzvahzilla to get the cleats. On the other hand, I have done this trip with sons and daughters for football, baseball, soccer, and track for years.
ReplyDeleteI am a sports fanatic!! Not just a little liking of them but LOVE them. My second son's senior year in high school, the football team he was a part of won the state championship for our class (based on enrollment). I worked my way through college tutoring for the athletic department at a major division 1 university. I know people who play (played mostly because well, let's face it, university was a while back) in the NFL.
Your son will be a natural at punting. The football teams here try hard to convince soccer players to come be punters. Enjoy it as it is truly a unique experience.
Label in high school - I was kind of a geek. I graduated high in my class without trying. Didn't make the cut when I tried to be a cheerleader. Worked days after school on the yearbook. Didn't do sports.
Nicki, I'm really proud of him and secretly (not so secretly) thrilled I didn't raise a hippie! I have the heart and soul of a geeky literature professor, so go figure why I was a hippie anyway. My only choices, since I was in Arizona, were Cowgirl, Jock, or Hippie.
ReplyDeleteI think starting the kids on an athletic tradition is something they can use their whole lives. I came to mine later but it's very important for my overall health and I've been active now for 21 years!
Oh I so feel for you! Makes me almost glad I don't have a son (in reality I'd love an addition to my three year old daughter, boy or girl!). I am not the least bit interested in watching sports, in particular on TV and don't understand this male need to watch anything and everything that is sport or sport related. My husband watched the draft last night and could barely look away from the TV set to talk to me. (Bit like when I watch The Good Wife perhaps but still, the Good Wife is great TV!). We are English so American Football was never his thing either, but in lieu of soccer and rugby he has adopted American Football as "his" sport with gusto!!
ReplyDeleteIs that funny or what - them all watching the draft? Besides the fact that watching the players become instant millionaires is too much for me (since I apparently will never be one!) I'm starting to wonder if they'll just start getting players from junior highs soon!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that funny how your husband started liking American Football? Do Americans EVER start liking soccer? And good luck on the hoping for an addition! I like not being the only aging mom out there!
Hoo-boy, do you have a journey ahead of you! I don't envy you this!
ReplyDeleteMy father always asks my mother, right before football season starts, "So, do you have any last words for me?" It makes her laugh, but he's not too far off.
TKW, I am so using that with my husband (he probably wouldn't be as witty as your dad...) "Here are my last words to you before you turn on the TV set!" What I love is that I'll be furiously arranging our schedule for date nights or special events or his days off and he'll be just as furiously arranging his schedule for football games. When these things conflict, it's not pretty.
ReplyDeleteMother of a daughter, married to a girlie-boy, no idea what you're talking about. But I'm available for shopping during football season!
ReplyDeleteLisa, I am so going to tell your husband you called him a girlie-boy! And then I'm going to turn green with jealousy! You mean there's no blasting games in your house? And all he does is collect awesome cars? Okay, I'm there. Shopping, whatever!
ReplyDeleteMy husband has already informed me of the NFL draft's results.
ReplyDeleteCringe.
I was just thinking yesterday how my life as I know it will soon turn upside down. That darned football.
On another note, when Emily saw the football player's cartoons on here she started cheering. I guess I am now outnumbered.
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ReplyDeleteI was much relieved that neither of my sons were interested in football. (The European influence, I imagine. They prefer soccer, tennis, cycling.) Around here, even back in the day, it was never a football household. Tennis, tennis, tennis. And that was great by me!
ReplyDeleteIn a house full of men, what can I possibly tell you. Blessedly, my husband prefers college football, and, as we are both University of Miami alumni, we have season tickets for the WHOLE family. Ever been to a college football game with a toddler, in the no alcohol section, in about 100 degrees in the shade in mid fall? Trust me, you don't want to know.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I love going and cursing, yelling at the ref's for their crappy calls. It is an acquired taste, but college football lacks the materialism and flaunting of money that accompanies the NFL...I think my husband would be proud of that last statement! LOL!
Amber, You're right. If it was just the husband it would be BAD ENOUGH, but this turning the kids into football fanatics? Too much!
ReplyDeleteBLW, yes Tennis. Nice, quiet sport. A little pinging of balls, mostly civilized behavior, right? So different than football with guys crashing into each other!
ReplyDeleteMaria, I'll bet your boys (all of them - husband included!) appreciate you being on board with the football. And I can imagine 100 degrees but I can't imagine 100 HUMID degrees or of not being in somewhere air conditioned to endure it!
ReplyDeleteAnd yelling at refs for calls? I'm all for that!
My youngest played at that age. The first scrimmage that I watched was horrible - I could hear the bodies thumping as they hit and cringed each time. I am glad that he moved on to running his sophomore year in high school. My husband was a big jock in HS. Captain of the football team and basketball teams. I told him we never would have dated if we'd met then:)
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