I’ve seen a lot

It occurred to me the other day that I’d witnessed a lot of sporting events. I’m not one of those that have the ability to see more than one game on a screen and I really wouldn’t want to.

But I can use my remote control and find six or so games that I can turn to during a commercial break, halftime or when the game has long been decided in a blowout.

I remember when I was a young sports fan in the early 1960’s when there was usually only one game on TV, in black and white and you were excited about getting a chance to watch it. Because of those games we had the chance to watch Oklahoma – Nebraska; Notre Dame –

Michigan State; USC –

UCLA and the Army –

Navy games which made us understand the great rivalries of college football.

I became the fan of some iconic football coaches like Oklahoma’s Bud Wilkinson, Notre Dame’s Ara Parseghian, Alabama’s Bear Bryant and Texas Coach Darrel Royal. I was intrigued by winning football programs and wanted to know all there was to know about these guys.

Pro football was also part of our Sunday viewing pleasure. I was watching a pro football game one Sunday when I was maybe eight years old and one of the two teams punted. As the ball rolled downfield the announcer said, “The football is taking a Philadelphia bounce.”

Since this was the first time I had heard this I thought that anytime a football rolled toward the goal line it was called a Philadelphia bounce! Fortunately it happened again the next week when Chicago and New York was playing and the Philadelphia bounce became the Chicago bounce. I’m glad I was paying attention in order to know what they meant but I did tell that story on myself on numerous occasions because it is funny.

We watched the Major League baseball game of the week and Saturday was the day it was broadcast. For a long time the game was between the New York Yankees and whoever they were playing that particular Saturday.

the World Series rolled around we were lucky enough to watch the Saturday and Sunday games because every game was played during the day and the only way we had a chance to watch a week day game was to take a sick day from school!

I had the chance to see Roger Maris hit home run number 61 in 1961 that broke Babe Ruth’s record set so many years before. I also remember watching Hank Aaron hit home run number 715 which also broke a Babe Ruth record. I was going to college at the time and that was a Monday night game.

The one thing I’ve noticed is that there was a deeper appreciation for every game telecast on TV so many years ago. There weren’t a lot of them broadcast so just getting to see one it was our hope that it was a good game. I think we appreciated seeing these great players of the day compete and entertain us. I also think we looked at our favorite players as heroes even though they were just ball players. But it is hard to not think that these players were bigger than life.

I can remember the first time that I saw a game broadcast on a color TV set. It wasn’t great color but the grass was somewhat green and we were in awe of this new technology for the small screen.

We take so much for granted now because of satellite TV with high definition and every game of our favorite teams broadcast straight to our homes. There are video games and fantasy leagues that change how we view athletes in our eyes.

Players change teams a lot more than in the past. That is one reason I will never purchase a team jersey with a certain player’s name on the back because with my luck he would get traded the next day.

I’ve seen a lot during my life and I appreciate every game I get to see both live and on TV. Sure I get frustrated with every loss that my team endures but in the end it is just a game even though each professional league is a multi-billion dollar entity, and the colleges make a lot of money because of TV revenue as well.

But it isn’t a life and death venture just entertainment, real, enjoyable entertainment.