I Love Sports!!

Thursday, February 14th, 2008 @ 4:07PM

From The Sports Page in The Standard Examiner

This is from my ”Stubbs on Sports” column printed in today’s Sports section of the Standard-Examiner .  Thought I’d share it with all of you.  Enjoy.

I Love Sports.

Happy Valentine’s Day to Sports.  Sports is what I love.  Sports is my naughty pleasure.  I am in love with sports and all the good it can bring.  Sports can bring good health, satisfy a competitive urge, teach teamwork, build self esteem and teach humility through victory and defeat.  Truth be told, I have learned more through defeat, of course, I have lost more than I have won.

Sports can also have an ugly side.  It can divide, undo, and destroy but that’s not the purpose of this column.

I love many kinds of sports at many levels.  College, professional, recreational, team and individual.  I even love participating in some sports, although not at a very high level as some have witnessed. 

Sports is my mistress.  Please don’t tell my Bishop.  So, on this Valentines Day the following is a tribute to who and what I love in and about sports.....and please don’t take that the wrong way.  When I say love, I mean love, not love......got it?

I Love...Jerry Sloan the coach of the Utah Jazz.  He is intense, a winner, a teacher and he never quits.  No matter what.  He doesn’t back down from what he believes...right or wrong.  Salty language and all.  He does get your attention.
I Love...when my team wins.
I Love...when the other team loses.
I Love...when I first break a sweat.  Hey, I am doing something...maybe this isn’t a waste of time.
I Love...brand new Nikes. Size 11. They still smell good and the squeak they make on the Gold’s Gym basketball court is music to my ears.
I Love...the mid-range jump shot.
I Love...the hot dogs topped with grilled onions at Chicago White Sox home games.
I Love...the National Anthem when sung properly.
I Love...whomever will actually throw me the ball while playing pick-up basketball.  Not as a last resort while they are ‘triple teamed’, but as a show of some confidence that I might actually make a shot or a decent pass.  For crying out loud.  Pass the dad-gum ball!!  Sorry about that, I had to tell someone.
I Love...Super Bowl Sunday.  I know they overdo the pre-game and it is over hyped but it truly is the best.
I Love...whatever team my brother is coaching.  My brother Charlie has coached college football for years from Oregon State to Memphis, UNLV to Alabama, Tulsa to Louisville.....and wherever he lands I will sport their gear.  That will be my new favorite team.  Blood is thicker than.....well, you know.

More than anything, I Love...watching my 8-year-old son Jake play soccer, Junior Jazz basketball, coach-pitch baseball and whatever sport he chooses.  I love Jake’s coaches. They volunteer what little time they have and come to games with their neckties loosened, Blackberries in their pockets and ready to teach a bunch of little fellas.  I love the way Jake looks at me for approval when he gets a rebound, hits the ball, makes a catch, scores a goal.  I love it when he puts on his new uniform.  I love the way he cheers for his teammates.  I love the way he is friends with the guys on the other team.  I love what Sports teaches both he and I.
I Love Sports.
Happy Valentines Day!