People are sometimes surprised by my passion for sports, because as a woman I'm often expected to be more interested in the color of the uniforms, or know more about the cheerleaders than about what's going on on the field or the court.  But, I truly love sports. 

I love the weekend little league games and can't wait until this fall when my son will be old enough to play organized sport, I love sports talk radio in small doses, I love traveling to Gainesville for lesser watched sporting events, and bowl games, and March Madness, and the College World Series.... I even watch an occassional Nascar race, have been known to watch the preakness (although I know nothing about it), and am excited for weeks prior to the opening of the Olympic Games (though I must admit my partiality to the summer games). 

But why so many of you women say?

Maybe it's because I grew up as an athlete myself, competing in gymnastics seriously and dreaming of Olympic gold and I know what those athletes have endured, what they've given up, and I understand their drive.  Maybe it's because I've lived most of my 30 years surrounded by testosterone, with a brother, male cousins, male friends, a son, etc. and they've rubbed off on me.  Or, maybe (ding ding ding!!) it's because I've connected with the pure passion and beauty and raw emotion more than the physical acts themselves. 

I love the stories, the triumphs, the tears.  I love to read the biographies of great coaches, great teams, and learn their stories.  I had the privelege of volunteering with the Gator Football team when I was a student at UF, and there is magic in that empty stadium.  I could spend hours in the halls that lead to the training facilities looking over the history if I was able to. 

So women, if you don't appreciate your husband's love for sports, try looking from a different angle next time- the human angle, because that's where the real beauty lies!