In theory, I’d love for this section to read just like the back of a baseball card. But since my budding baseball career wilted away back in high school, I don’t have a whole lot of runs, hits and errors to document.
That should, however, at least give a good hint as to where my priorities lie. Sports are an enormous part of my life. Some family members claim it’s an unhealthy part of my life due to the stress with which I handle sports, but I can’t get enough. Sports are an unparalleled passion. They provide immense entertainment and drama, while fans like myself can live almost vicariously through the ups and downs of our on-field heroes. To me, there is nothing quite like it.
Some previous blog iterations of mine have been entirely focused on sports. That won’t be the case with this one. Why? Quite frankly because there’s more to my life than sports. Oh, sports talk will still dominate, but I’ll surely throw in some thoughts on current events, television, movies and music as well. And I’ll also talk plenty about my family. That’s my real life passion. There’s nothing vicarious about that.
Ok, that’s all still pretty vague. Since this blog is all about “what I think” I should probably get a little more specific.
About Me
I think it’s slightly unfair that I’ve been a lifelong short guy. Now that I’m 30, my days of upward growth are done at a mere 5′ 6″. I was always behind the curve in that category, and it was really easy to let it get into my head. Do you realize how much better a 5′ 6″ guy has to be than a 5′ 11″ guy in order to make it through a basketball tryout. If all other things were equal, or even close to equal, they’re not going to choose the runt.
I think most people really have no idea who looks like whom. Over the past several years I’ve been told I look like everyone from Grey’s Anatomy actor Patrick Dempsey to New York Mets outfielder Shawn Green.
About Sports
I think there may not be anything better than college sports. As a proud alumnus of the University of Illinois, I hang my hat and heart with the Illini athletic department. You know how some people hate it when you refer to your favorite sports team as ‘we’? Well, I love it when people try to call me out on that with the Illini. I am a part of these Illini teams. I’m proud to say that the money I have paid and contributed to our fine institution has helped maintain the university’s great facilities and paved the way for some of the best athletes in the country to wear the Orange and Blue. I will root them on with all of my spirit until the day I die.
Speaking of death, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that I’m going to die one day while watching a sporting event, and it will more than likely involve the U of I or a Chicago sports franchise. I come from a Chicago family and have been raised as a die-hard Cubs and Bears fan. Hockey and pro hoops are of much less importance, so I hardly claim the Blackhawks and Bulls as my own, but my freakish fandom for the city’s other franchises more than makes up for that.
About Entertainment
I think there are far too many movies, television shows and musicians to actually be able to say which one is the best or my absolute favorite. I love just about everything Martin Scorcese does, but how could I attempt to equally weigh the likes of Casino, GoodFellas and Gangs of New York alongside my favorite comedies, such as Rushmore, The Cable Guy and The 40-Year-Old Virgin? Nearly impossible, I tell you. You’d almost have to break each down into genres or subcategories and take it from there. Still, though, I think that’s even too daunting a task.
That’s enough of a taste of me for now. Thanks for stopping by, and please comment whenever you see fit.
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