Know What? I Like Sports

Are you ready for some football? ESPN doesn't use that line much anymore, but I like it. I like watching sports. I like the physicality, the effort, the determination, and the competition. I enjoy the strategy. That last one is why it took so long for me to enjoy hockey, I didn't know enough about it to appreciate what they were doing. (I still only know enough to enjoy Predators hockey where I have an interest in the result.) The story lines (as the media likes to call them) are often interesting, too, but it's the game itself I want to see.

Football is king. I can watch any NFL game. Obviously, my team is the Titans. I don't understand people who don't pull for their local team. Prior loyalties I can understand. If you grew up a Steelers fan, I get that you can't change, but the local team should be a close second. I like the college game too, but it has to be a team I care about. (Fortunately, I care about enough teams that there's plenty of opportunities). Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Ohio State; they all hold me for an entire game. I peek into games that I have a passing interest: Troy (my brother's team), MTSU (local boys), Cincinnati (wife and daughter's). I like shows about football, NFL Network, NFL Primetime. I like football movies, but there's very few good ones (The Blind Side, Remember the Titans).

Having an NHL team has taught me about hockey. I don't think I'll ever get it to the same extent as football, but if the Preds are on TV, I'll try to watch it if I can, and I enjoy it. But if it ain't the Predators, I can't do it.

Baseball is great late in the season and in the playoff series. I really enjoyed the World Series this year. I guess I'm a Reds fan (since Monica is) but I don't have a team otherwise. I have an ages-old prejudice against Atlanta teams, so I have a hard time cheering the Braves (I just alienated two brothers, a nephew, and a niece with that line.)

I played basketball for years in grammar school and high school, but I can't hardly watch any of the pro game anymore. It's all offense and superstars. The college game is pretty good, I watch some of the NCAA tournament. Actually, the women's game is closer to what I call pure basketball nowadays. I'll peek at it occasionally.

See what happens when you get me on a subject I like? Gotta go now, it's 8 minutes left in the 3rd period, Nashville Predators are down 2-1 but are now on the power play. So if th..  PREDS SCORE ON THE PP!