Hey, Sportsfans!

This blog isn’t just about the virtues I find in myself but maybe a vice or two I discover. So I uncovered yet another one, and I try not to judge myself too harshly and hope you won’t either.

First off, a thing you should know about me is that I do not, nor have I ever cared for sports. My grandpa, Pope, always asked me if the Rangers were playing tonight, and I could only shrug. Do they play during the summer? Was this a trick question?

My dad would always watch the game or listen to baseball on the radio while I was driving around with him. He would get so excited if someone made a home run that you would have thought he had money riding on the game. Even as a kid, I couldn’t fathom how listening to the announcer could elicit emotion, but there it was.

However, my cousin was in town a few months ago, and I was able to score some tickets from my boss to a Rangers game. They were right behind the away team. Like row one. Seats one and two. And with parking next to the entrance. I even realized that these were a big deal when I was driving up and seeing the droves of people walking from the further parking spots.

The tickets included entrance to a buffet area with prime rib and an open bar.

My cousin was impressed, which made me happy.

Later, I asked my son if he would like to go to a baseball game if I ever scored tickets again. He said, “Nah,” but my wife overheard and said she would like to go. Last week, one of my coworkers mentioned that a vendor had hooked us up with four tickets to a Rangers game, and since it was my birthday, she gave me first dibs. I could also take my wife and son and thought it would be cool for them, so I accepted. My cousin was returning to town, so I invited him, knowing he would be excited.

These seats were on the Terrace and around a counter-height table with a buffet behind us. My wife and son were in awe. My cousin had been front row but still thought the seats were great (mainly because of the buffet’s proximity).

However, before I snagged those tickets, I received two more from my boss for yesterday’s game for my cousin and me. My cousin will Facetime his kids and then his girlfriend to show him where we are and how cool it is. I feel a smidge responsible, though, for creating such an experience, even if it was only through my work connections.

So there are three baseball games I have been to recently, but remember what I started out saying? I do not like sports. I am going solely for the prestige. How it makes my family happy and feel important to feel like they are in the “special seats.” And more so, how I feel as the one that was able to provide that for them. If offered to go solo, I would most likely pass.

Maybe there is something to bringing a little light into the eyes of my loved ones and making them feel special. I feel my motives aren’t as altruistic as they could be. And I’m a little self-serving.

Although last night, the crowd did a wave that lapped the stadium a few times, and that was a pretty cool experience to be a part of. So there is a joy I take from the event, just not the one a true sports fan would.

What about you? Does a similar scenario shake out in your life? Do you find yourself doing something for others that you wouldn’t do otherwise? Or for the wrong reason? Should you stop? Even if it brings someone else joy? Let me know below!