I'm Still Trying: Part Three

The quest continues. Become a fan of football. This past weekend I worked really hard toward my goal. Oh hush, we all need goals.

We sold a child and got tickets to a pro game. Ok, that's just mean. She went to grandma's, someone gave us 4 tickets.

This wasn't my first professional football game. I've been to a Bears game in Chicago, Pats games in Foxboro, and I worked at a little building called the Super Dome. I've been to plenty of pro games, but never while on a mission to like the sport.

First up, lunch. Hot dogs, drinks and some peanuts- I won't tell you how much but if I got a dollar a blog, I would have to write 60 of them.

Yes, this is my boob.  Covered in mustard. Good plan to wear a white shirt, huh?

Some words of advice from a father to his son...

...when the cheerleaders were the only action on the field. ( I can't make this stuff up, true)

He's six. At six you take any opportunity  you get to scream your head off. He lived beyond his potential in this area. The whole game. Even though the Chiefs fumbled at the kick off and pretty much kept that pace the whole game.

If you give a screaming six year old a foam finger, you are pretty much doomed to see this view the whole game.

We stayed til the end. I think, as a sport, I would rather watch the high school kids. The play is faster, they don't have to wait for commercials, and you can hear the crunch of the helmets from any seat. As an activity, though, this type of football is more to my liking. Except for the leaving part when some drunken idiots screamed, "Oh yeah! Your mother called and asked me if she could f******* s*** my d***"!!! About 4 feet from Noah. Who was enthralled. *sigh*

Final score: Oh, it was as pathetic as those drunken fools-- Chiefs- 7.Buffalo Bills- 41.

I'm Trying: Game Two

Last night was the second home football game. I went. Of course. Not only am I on this quest to like football, but Bekah is in the marching band, and Luke and his middle school football team were getting recognized at halftime as,"the future of Warrior football"

Good grief.

For this game I had a date, Brian came. He won't make it to many games this season (read: any more) but Noah went to spend the night at Grandma's and Brian didn't have any good excuse not to go.

I will say, the game went a little faster, although the plays got kinda boring towards the end because the other team failed to score. The whole game.

And it was better because it wasn't a bajillion degrees. We needed sweatshirts and it felt more football weathery. I spotted our neighbors Jamie and Kelly and I shouted, " punch him in the face!" while walking up the bleacher steps. While they were paralyzed with embarrassment for me, we slipped  into the seats beside them.

Good strategy, non?

Brian trying to figure out which one is his daughter

When the band marched onto the field, I pointed out Bekah. Then she moved, because- you know- that's the point of marching. So I followed her with my finger for Brian to keep track. (No, not that finger, the pointer one.) We followed her for the whole routine. Too bad we were following the wrong kid. Bekah showed me where she was when we looked at these pictures.

The band plays the Star Wars theme and the Color Guard battles with light sabers. I'm very easily amused, but this was fun to watch.

Brian sent commentary on the plays my way, and I tried to pay attention. You know, when I wasn't wondering what idiot started the trend of freaking ginormous bows on the top of the heads of the cheerleaders. Not low on the head, or in the middle holding a ponytail. Stuck on top? Why? Tim Gunn would not think that worked. Not at all. The bows were distracting, but the cheerleaders taught me that those who win, want it and we want it more. (I'm paraphrasing.)


Finally, Luke and his middle school teammates took the field for a few brief and glorious moments.

 Luke was very excited to rush back and tell us about his experiences. It was a lesson for the poor lad.

Hey, Luke--where is the rest of your team?

Rule #1: Stay with the team

I learned quite a bit at last night's game. I learned I can't pick my kid out at a distance, that the path to winning is paved with desire, never to wear a ginormous bow on the top of my head, and that it's always best to stay with the pack.

Game recap: Smithville scored in the first 32 seconds against the Chillicothe Hornets. Our boys got the fumble on the kickoff, and scored on the 1st play on offense.  Final score: 35-0 Warrior victory.

Football Report: I'm trying

Last night was the first time that I went to high school football game and actually saw my own kid on the field.

Well, that isn't entirely accurate- I did go to several games when Bekah was in elementary school. The high school cheerleaders hold an annual camp for elementary kids. At the end of a week of after-school practices, the little girls (yeah, mostly girls, although I'm sure it's open to all) line the field and perform during the half time show. It's really super adorable and the times that Bekah did it, the line stretched from end zone to end zone.

Cheerleading wasn't exactly playing to her strengths. Our team is the Warriors. She screached, "GOOO! Worriers!!'  And once I heard, " GOOOO! Lawyers!"

Sigh.

But this time was just the first of many when that same former (not really her thing) cheerleader took the field  playing her flute, and marching with the band.

Band! Love band! Plays to her strengths, yet a team activity. She can stay in band as long as she wants, then one extra year because I think it's good for her.

The band did great ! Sure I'm slightly biased...but I recognized the tunes which- in my book- gets them 3/4 of the way to a Great review.

Yeah, you can't see anything. That's because the picture that you CAN see the band, and the flash went off, I look slightly moderately, deranged.

sigh.

My plan to only stay until halftime was thwarted when Bekah told me that she has to stay for the whole game. Mom taxi-ing is one of my least favorite chores--and once I go home and it's dark all I want to do is sleep. I went to the game knowing that I was going to stay the whole time.

I chose my seat carefully when Luke (who wanted to go hang out with all his middle schoolites) and I got to the game. By "carefully" I mean that I looked for someone I knew who was sitting as far away from other people as possible.

Hello, Kelly!

I was quite sure Kelly wasn't entirely thrilled to sit next to negative, chatty me. She likes football. I think that she was sitting at the top of the bleachers so that she could watch the game with her husband. But I think she also likes me so I told her I would be quiet as I settled in next to her.

And I was. Sorta. I asked a few questions because she knew all the players, and, oh yes, she likes football. I told her about my quest to learn to enjoy the game and she was kind enough to include me on some of the details of the action I was watching.

I'm not entirely a football newbie. I understand the basics of the game, I can follow it. Sorta. Her husband, who sat on the other side of her, really follows it. He was shouting all kinds of stuff that made me laugh.

 " 'Punch him in the mouth?' " I asked after he had screamed it a few times.

He just smiled at me. Not the, YEAH! smile, more like the ,*pat pat* There Now smile.

"I want to get in on that. Can you tell me when to yell it?" I asked.

"Sure."

Pause.

"Ok, now." he quietly said.

And I dragged up, deep from my gut where I store away my aggression, " PUNCH HIM IN THE MOUTH!!!"

The husband smiled. It was a Wow smile.

"You keep that up, I may let you sit next to me at a game," he told me.

"Well, it's going to be a while, I'm still watching to see how the cheerleaders are doing."

I do believe The Husband rolled his eyes.


Final score: Smithville 30.....Maryville 36 (came from behind, Warriors led, 30-12 at the half. OOOH, lookit me getting with the lingo!)