I always hated football

In 1975, we spent nine months living near Coffee, Missouri, trying to decide if we could become real farmers.  It didn't take long to figure out we were not cut out for that kind of grief, with the uncertain income making one go deeper into debt hoping for a better year.  We moved to Wellington, settled back into God's Country, and raised our kids.

But there was one lasting change made while we lived at Coffee:  Cliff, who had never cared about any professional sport, learned to love football.  Only one channel came in clearly, but Cliff, missing our friends 100 miles away and being able to find so little on television, decided he was going to start watching Monday Night Football and see what it was all about.  I had no desire to join him in this pursuit.  About the only thing I figured out during that time was that I hated Howard Cossell, with his know-it-all voice.  One time I went through the living room during a game, heard him talking as usual, and said, "Why don't you shut up, you can of crap!"  

Cliff thought that was hilarious.

I have dreaded football season ever since.  My husband looks forward to it, and I have not tried to rain on his parade.  I learned to find a good book and put on headphones playing classical music to cover the sound of the TV.  That way I could concentrate on my reading and we were both happy.  I did take enough interest in the Kansas  City Chiefs to ask sometimes if they were winning; they seldom were, but I did care whether they won or lost.  

In 2017 Patrick Mahomes showed up.  I took no notice of his arrival, because football was boring.  But in 2019, I couldn't help but notice what was happening on the screen, and decided to figure out how football works.  I still have a lot to learn, but I have watched every Chief's game for two seasons.  I love the personalities!  They make me laugh all the time.  Kelce's dances, all the little show-off moves the guys do when they do something special, Tyreek Hill's 22-miles-per-hour speed, and Patrick Mahomes' grace and genius (although I always fear he'll break something... he seems a little frail).

Cliff loves having someone beside him who enjoys football.  I had hoped my interest would make all football interesting for me, but alas, I just don't care who wins if the Chiefs aren't playing.  But I will tell you that some of the brightest spots during the pandemic, and some of the greatest joys ever, have happened when I was watching our Chiefs do their thing.

It was Patrick Mahomes who drew me in.  

But Andy Reid makes it work.

I love my Chiefs!