Balls

As most of you know, I am not a sports fan. As a matter of fact, I’ve been known to actively avoid watching sports in all it’s myriad forms. Perhaps it goes back to growing up and playing (I use the term VERY loosely) Baseball on a little league team. I was awful. I was the kid in DEEP right field making necklaces of dandelions and outfield grass. I was the kid who screamed at incoming pop-flies and covered his head with his glove. I closed my eyes when I swung the bat and was more shocked than anyone on the field when I hit the ball. I was also “the fat kid”, so when I did hit the ball, it usually beat me to 1st base. To this day, it’s universally acknowledged that I’m slightly less athletic than Stephen Hawkings. Bearing that in mind, it’s really no surprise that I’ve reached the age of 29 without any interest in watching organized sports on television or at a stadium. There really isn’t one that I find even mildly entertaining (though Ultimate Fighting on Spike is sort of intriguing, but for different reasons). What is surprising is that I spent the entire weekend watching sports and was completely enthralled. Pick up your jaw and let me explain.

This weekend, we went out to NJ to visit Jenn and her husband at a fabulous BBQ. Jenn’s brother-in-law was there and insisted on watching the World Cup match between Portugal and Germany. This was, perhaps, one of the most interesting and (dare I say it) sports I’ve ever seen. Did you catch it? It was AMAZING. There is SO much action and passion to this game! It’s really no surprise that the ENTIRE WORLD gets off on it! (the real surprise is that Americans actually enjoy watching baseball, which is about as thrilling as watching grandma get a mani/pedi). We won’t even get into how hot the players are; considering the amount of running and jumping and kicking involved, it really goes without saying that they’re f’n RIPPED. So after 20 minutes I was absolutely HOOKED and couldn’t WAIT till Sunday to see the final match between Italy and France. We only caught the last few minutes, as we were at another BBQ at Erin’s house, but the company was much more preferable to sitting in front of the television. Next year (it does happen every year, right?) I plan on watching as much coverage as I can. the pic, below is of the Italian Soccer team in their Dolce & Gabana ad. Viva Italia.

After Sunday’s BBQ, we adjourned to the ball-field to watch my 9 year old niece play softball in game 1 of the Staten Island Little League All Star Series. Usually, the games have a 2 hour or 6 inning time limit (whichever comes 1st). unfortunately, they usually hit 2 hours LONG before they’re even CLOSE to 6 innings. The games seem to go on FOREVER and the scores read like basket ball games, with all the base stealing due to errors. It’s comedy. The All Star Game, however, was AMAZING. These little girls are the cream of SI’s crop of softball players. They moved like a well oiled machine with military precision. They were so serious and so focused that they all looked like they were 35 year olds that were shrunk in the dryer. I was beyond impressed, I was flabbergasted. The game was over in less than an hour. Six innings in less than an hour. The score was 3-0 (my niece’s team kicked ASS). The other team didn’t stand a CHANCE. It’s a shame that they don’t cultivate the girls like they do the boys. Some of these kids look like they could REALLY go far.

Her next game is tomorrow night at 8 o’clock and I can’t wait. I’ve become one of those uncles that stands up and screams and hoots and hollers every time ANYTHING happens. I have a bruise on my hand from clapping with my ring on and I’m a little hoarse. If they win the series, i think I’ll go insane. Who knew that you could that fascinated by balls without there being a man attached?

“My doctor told me I can’t be involved in any activity where balls fly at my face” “Well there goes your social life”~ Amber and Cher (Clueless)