I hate baseball. No, no, that’s not accurate. I don’t hate it, I’m just not particularly fond of it. Actually, I’m really not overly fond of any team sport other than the greatest sport of all time- ice hockey. There, I said it. I’m just speaking my truth here, folks. Well, o.k., I do enjoy watching some other sports on occasion. Soccer would be an example. And…. hold on…. I’m thinking… well, soccer. Let’s just leave it at soccer. But here’s another thing I notice about my inclinations as a sport fan (or not). I am not, I repeat NOT, a fan of professional sports. No, wait, wait… that’s not true either. It would be more accurate to say that I’m not a fan of professional sports of the male variety… not even when it comes to hockey! Wait a minute, did I just say that??? Well, yes, yes, I did and it is mostly true, but then again not 100% true. On a rare occasion I will even get into the NHL if and when some really great story is unfolding.
Now drop down to the college ranks and all sports instantly become more interesting to me. It has something to do with an increase in purity the more the money drops out of it. I still don’t choose to watch, say, college football, but I might on occasion in the post season. And, yes, I’ll even occasionally watch the Texans in the post season, mostly because I appreciate J.J. Watt not just as a player, but as a person. As for basketball, sorry, not much dice there. That’s just how it is with me folks. I’m not making a political statement here, I’m just telling you what it is like to be me. Oh, hell, everything is political isn’t it? I suppose truth be told I don’t enjoy watching (male) professional sports for the same reason that I don’t like watching TV. I don’t like the way that it distracts, taking away time and energy from the things that matter to me. Well, that, and I don’t appreciate some of the antics that it breeds in some people some of the time. I’m being careful not to over-generalize here. Some professional athletes are truly phenomenal people whom I admire, such as J.J.
Side note, that wish I wish would stop being a side note. When it comes to professional sports that involve women, that’s an entirely different story. I tend to love those no matter what the sport, but especially when it involves playing hockey. What can I say, I’m biased. I would just much rather watch women playing sports than men. I’m sure this in part has to do with the aforementioned dropping out of way too much money and partially to do with I just like watching people who are more like me. I can relate to women playing sports at all levels and therefore it is just a million times more interesting to me. End of side note.
Back to athletes whom I admire. When we were preparing to leave Houston, I realized that I had really nothing in my wardrobe that would signal to anybody that I was a Houstonian (other than a desperate lack of winter attire!). I wanted people to know where I was from up here in Vermont. So I thought about it. I thought about what is something that has touched me and made me feel pride for this place. The answer was crystal clear. Astros. Jose Altuve, specifically. I’m just going to be honest here, folks. I love, love, love… love, love, love!…. Jose Altuve. Love him. I fell in love with him when the Astros won the World Series in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Remember that thing about loving watching women play because I can relate to them? Yes, I am just going to come out and say it. Altuve is my honorary female athlete. That is the greatest compliment that I can give the guy in case you are thinking otherwise. He is in touch with his feminine side, his sensitive side, and he’s not afraid to show it. There is a reason that everybody but everybody loves Altuve. Oh, and, of course I can relate to him because he is only 4 inches taller than I am! Shorties unite!!!!
So my Houston pride purchase was an Astros World Series Champions shirt with Altuve 27 on the back. Yes, I wear it proudly up here in Red Sox country. For me to wear any athlete’s name and number is HUGE. I just don’t idolize athletes that way. Let that be a testament to all that Altuve represents. For me, he is everything that I hope for professional sports and for professional athletes to be about. Did I mention I love him? I do. I love him so much that I will even watch baseball just to get to see him play. And as for his teammates, I think they are pretty awesome too. When they won the World Series in 2017, Houston was reeling from Harvey. Altuve and his teammates knew how much the city needed a picker upper and they got the job done. This is sports at its finest hour. This is sports bringing people together and giving a sense of hope for what is possible in the world. I can get behind that.
All I ask is that in the midst of such endeavors, we not forget what we are truly fighting for. Is it a title? Is it bragging rights? Is it more money? Or is it a community that we believe in and that represents the best of our potential as human beings? I’m going to go with the latter, and I’ll appreciate any athlete or any team that keeps that intent front and center. I believe the Astros are such a team. Let their accomplishments inspire us to face the adversities that Houston (and the entire world) now faces with the perseverance, creativity, compassion, and determination that we need to bring forth a world that we are all proud to live in and that we would all like to call home. Go ‘Stros!