Sports

With the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup win last night, I have been thinking about the impact sports has had (or not had) on my life.

Growing up in the middle of four fields in Northwest Tennessee did not lend itself to being a real sports fan (at least of professional sports). Sure, I was very into the Obion County version of Friday Night Lights in high school, even if we did not win very many games. I went to all the basketball games, too. I didn't have a professional team close enough geographically to get too excited about.

Football: The Titans didn't make their debut until I was on my way out of Tennessee. When I was about 13 my dad let me pick which team I would support with the caveat that I stay loyal to that team through thick and thin. I picked the Green Bay Packers. I like green and yellow together. Did I know I would move to the heart of Bears country at the time? Um, no. Upon learning early in our dating life that I was a Packers fan (which he can almost forgive, being his dad is from Wisconsin and is also a Cheese-Head), he looked me square in the eye and said, "Please tell me you are a Cubs fan. I don't think I can date a Packers fan who roots for the White Sox. I said, "Sure. I'm a Cubs fan."

Baseball: The closest team for me growing up was the St. Louis Cardinals. I didn't really care that much about baseball, so I was never a fan. Thank goodness for that - if I had shown up in Chicago as a Packers fan AND a Cardinals fan I never would have married my husband. If there is one other team that is the bane of a Cubs fan besides the White Sox, it is the Cardinals.

Basketball: I thought the Lakers were cool during high school, but I was honestly more interested in my own high school team and some college basketball. I have no qualms in calling myself a Bulls fan today. None at all.

Hockey: Um, yeah. There's only ice in Tennessee about every 4 years, in the form of a massive ice storm...I went to a few hockey games while I lived in Nashville, and I found it very violent. My only earlier exposure to hockey was Mighty Ducks. Yep. A Disney movie. I can say firmly now that I am a Hawks fan (and a Wolves fan), and have been since I moved here. I wouldn't say I am a big fan, but I think it's awesome a Chicago team won a title.

In the last ten years, mostly thanks to my wonderful sports fan of a husband, I have been to professional baseball games (in multiple parks), a professional football game, professional hockey games (Wolves and Blackhawks), professional arena football games (Chicago Rush), a professional soccer game (Chicago Fire), and a professional basketball game (Bulls).

That's pretty good for someone who is a marginal sports fan at best.