Friday, January 07, 2011

It Doesn't Matter Who's Playing

I don't even know who's playing this weekend. Still -- I'm going to watch the games, regardless. After all, it's the playoffs, but lately I can't even keep track of the Wild Card Teams.


It's not that I've been occupying myself with highly productive/lucrative/charitable tasks. Just the daily stuff, but when I think of getting to watch the games this weekend, I'm looking forward to a vicarious smashing out of everything that has to be put-up-with in real life.


I keep my eyes out there on the action. And keep the momentum drama of the game and its players going in my head, which reminds me of my own rise and fall in life. So much effort -- and reward -- in moving even one yard down the field.

Thursday, January 06, 2011

The Romance of Football

Sports offer up glorious metaphors for life.
The week Brett Favre's streak ended, the sky fell down in Minnesota.
My way into the romance of football came when I was 9 or 10 years old, and I stumbled upon a few NFL trading cards on the street. Naturally I picked them up. Back in those days (the 1970s, so far gone!) many players posed for close up pictures, and many of those without helmets.
Topps Trading Card, 1970s ...................... Eve's Trading Card, 1970s
Inspired>>>>>>> !


I would put row after row down on floor or table and study faces, consider personalities, thoughts, emotions of those players. Some looked angry -- game face on -- others innocent and hopeful, or determined. Some stood in the 3 point stance and smiled good-naturedly, and one looked up with pleading eyes as if he needed protection.

In my mind, I created alliances between the players on the cards whether they were on the same teams or not. And on Sundays I'd watch as many as I could.

This was my original Fantasy Football.