Just spend two minutes with my husband, Jim, and me and you’ll know we love our sports. The NFL, college football, college basketball, high school football, NASCAR and the Cavaliers are among our favorites.
The afternoon of our first date more than 32 years ago, Jim called about picking me up for our date and he heard the television in the background. He asked if I was watching the play-off game and I replied, “Of course.” He’ll tell you, he knew at that moment, he was in love.
I’m looking forward to the Super Bowl. I’m rooting for the New Orleans Saints. It would be fun to see a team that never won go all the way.
But I hate to see the end of football season arrive. It means waiting until August for the Hall of Fame Festivities and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.
That’s a long wait - especially for someone who never watches baseball on television.
Howie Long said it best in Canton during his induction speech, “Baseball may be America’s pastime, but football is America’s passion.”
Baseball is like watching grass grow. I hate those huddles on the mound where they talk to the pitcher. Get him out of there and get a fresh arm on the mound. What is there to talk about?
There’s nothing more exciting than college football and basketball. The traditions, the cheers, the excitement make for an atmosphere unlike any other. The Big Ten is fun, but I don’t miss many SEC games. They have speed off the line.
Todd Blackledge is probably one of the best announcers-analysts on television and he covers the major SEC games, making that conference all the more interesting. Brent Musberger is probably the worst announcer. Ever.
And I loved it when Tim Tebow cried. I was so sick of hearing how great Tim Tebow was. He can run. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There are talented young men in different programs who never got the attention Tebow did. So when he cried it was like Superman’s kryptonite.
College basketball is underway. Bob Huggins has the Mountaineers playing to win. They’re my underdog this year.
NASCAR starts their season with their Super Bowl - the Daytona 500. America’s race. I won’t miss a minute of that race. I’ll root for Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Dale Earnhardt Jr. and I’ll scream at anyone who trades paint with them. It’s a good race when Kyle Busch finishes with a DNF.
If you don’t know what a DNF is, you gotta watch America’s race Feb. 14. That’s how Jim and I will spend our Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t get any more romantic than this.
You can reach Tammy Proctor via e-mail at tammy.proctor@thesuburbanite.com
