My name is Tom and I have lived in the suburbs of Detroit most of my life. My father was a big sports fan and we spent many wonderful hours together watching or listening to the Detroit sports teams. Now that my father is gone, some of those memories are the best of my life.

Watching sports with my father left an impression. I remember watching Nolan Ryan pitch a no hitter against the Tigers while my dad taught me that I was watching history and should not be mad that the Tigers were losing. I remember our joy at watching the Tigers win the World Series in 1968, then again in 1984. I learned to relish the great moments when they happen because they do not always come often. My father taught me valuable life lessons through the lens of sports.

I have always been a loyal fan of Detroit sports teams. Even when I moved to New York for five years, I always rooted for Detroit. While that earned me some derision from the New York fans around me, I learned that you should have the courage to stand your ground for what you believe and not allow those around you to dictate your position. Once again sports had taught me how to be a better person.

My love for sports has led me to learn a lot about them over the decades of my life. Though I was never very accomplished as an athlete, my joy in the game was never diminished. Even if I lacked the skills to do what the game asked, I could see and appreciate those skills in others when I saw them.

Here at Bleacher Report I hope to pass on what insight and joy that I can to others. Even though the Internet can be rather impersonal at times, it also affords an opportunity to reach out to others and share experiences. I hope that in sharing my thoughts and experiences with you that I can make your life a little brighter as many of the writers here do for me.