It's in the Blood

I am no sports fan. I'm even kind of noted for not being interested in sports. So it's a bit of an anomaly that I care what happens to the Red Sox. I think it's an inherited condition.

My mother is no sports fan either, except when it comes to the boys from Fenway.

Late in the summer, when it becomes evident that the Sox are headed for another pennant race, Mom starts to rearrange her TV viewing to make sure she can follow the action. This year, I think she was secretly pleased that the Red Sox dropped three games behind Tampa Bay because it gave her the satisfaction of watching them roar back to tie the series.

So it was kind of sad to see her scuffle into the kitchen this morning to announce, "The Red Sox lost." But beneath her disappointment, I could see a hint of the indomitable spirit of a true Sox fan, that there is always next year.

I know how she feels. You see, I stayed up way too late too to see how our boys fared. I was sorry to see them lose, but it was a good game. And like a true fan, I believe there is always next year. I can't help it -- it's in my blood.


P.S. I shoul note that there is one other baseball enterprise Mom has a soft spot for -- the champion little league teams from Toms River, NJ. When those little guys are in the little league world series, Mom is at the top of her game.