Captain’s Log. Daddy Chronicles. Diaper Date 1671. Play Ball. For Lent this year I gave up watching live sporting events.
You heard me. I essentially gave up watching sports.
I was still able to watch highlight shows, or listen to games on the radio – but for the most part I didn’t. I think for the entire period of Lent I only watched two Pardon The Interruptions, listened to Mike and Mike twice, and watched the sports highlights on the news twice. All of these things were permissible – as they were not “sporting events” (e.g. games).
What did I miss? The very first weekend of Lent was the NBA All Star game. I didn’t miss that one too much. Then there was the NFL Combine (yes, I am one of the nerds who watches that). Of course, there was the regular NBA season and the ending of college basketball. That kinda hurt.
Then for the first time since I was in college, I didn’t fill out a March Madness bracket. That one hurt. I teach middle schoolers who love to carry their brackets around talk about the tournament between periods. I had no clue what they were talking about this year. I kept hearing about Creighton and IU, but I had no real idea of the upsets, who was remaining, or even what the match-ups were.
Through Facebook updates I learned that my beloved Buckeyes were a game away from the championship. I was worried that if they did win that I might have to do this every year. That I might be the jinx for them and all my other Cleveland teams. Alas, I heard they lost.
If the tournament wasn’t hard enough, there was Opening Day. I am a huge baseball fan. I love to see the opening of baseball season. The tradition. But not this year.
The funny thing was that even as difficult as I thought it would be – I didn’t miss it much. It was funny being as uninformed as I think my wife is about sports (she’s not a big fan and that is okay). It was funny how the sports world kept turning without me.
It was funny how much I learned as well. I learned that I let my world revolve around sports all too often. I learned that there were other things that come on the t.v. and the radio. I learned that playing with a goofy 4 year old on a swing, or a 10 month old impersonating Godzilla, might be more fun than worrying about a game that I haven’t played a single minute in, or for a team that is not paying me a check.
I learned that I didn’t need to let sports play me.
There was a personal spiritual lesson as well. After all, this all began as an opportunity to build my faith. And for purpose alone it was successful. Consequently, I think it made me a better father and, hopefully in the long run, a better husband.
Does this mean that I am giving up sports permanently? Um, no. I do enjoy sports and probably always will. Funny thing is that now that I “can” watch sports I still haven’t seen a single inning of baseball. But it is only a matter of time. And baseball is a natural fit.
I think Nat King Cole sang it best:
My sermon today, said Reverend Jones,
is baseball and whence it came.
Now, if you take the Good Book and you take a good look,
you will find the first Baseball Game.
It says Eve stole first, Adam second;
Solomon umpired the game.
Rebecca went to the well with a pitcher,
And Ruth in the field made a name.
Goliath was struck out by David —
A base hit was made on Abel by Cain,
And the Prodigal Son made a great home-run.
Brother Noah gave checks out for rain…
That’s all I’ve got for now.
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