Grant a New Football Passion

Would you be able to identify Charles Grant?  What if he knocked on your door?  What would you do?

When I was living in New Orleans, I answered a knock at my door and found a large man in a New Orleans Saints jump suit.  Sure, he was large enough that I had to tilt my head up to see him, but it didn't click in my head as to who he was at the time. 

He had asked for my roommate, who was not home, and just as I was about to close the door in his face, my other roommate ran up excitedly, "Dude, that's Charles Grant!"

I must have looked like a stumped blonde, because he clarified, "you know, from the New Orleans Saints?  One of the best defensive linemen in the country?"  He didn't wait for me to answer.

I got a lecture for not knowing who this legendary player was, so I decided to check him out for myself.  Gathering up a couple friends, we headed off to the next New Orleans Saints home game to watch Grant in action.  After watching that, I can't really say that I'd want his large body locomotioning into me at high speeds, ouch!

Needless to say, my respect grew for the guy.  He soon became the one player I'd keep tabs on, always asking how he did after each game, tuning in whenever I had the chance.  Maybe it was the personal connection—him knowing and having gone to school with my roommate—that really sparked my interest in the game.

Sure, I was into it before.  My uncle's team was one of the best in the Michigan when I was merely a youngster.  I knew how the adrenaline could pump just by watching, having that one person to cheer on, but maybe school, work, and other things distracted me from my love of the game.

In college, I was more into basketball and hockey.  Football fell by the wayside somewhere.  It's not that I detested the sport, it merely slipped from my priorities.

I'd watch a game or two a season.  Usually, I'd be the one invited to the Superbowl parties, totally confused as to how the season slipped by without me noticing.  Pick a team and cheer, and my selection would usually be based on what city I liked more, having nothing to do with statistics or logic.

When Charles Grant came knocking at my door, I can't say I was awe-struck, because I didn't realize who he was until after I started to close the door in his face.  I think it was my ignorance that re-sparked that flame of interest.  How could I be so oblivious to not know a national football player standing right in front of me?

It was that day that I vowed to get back into the sport.  I went to my first major football game, started paying more attention to the facts and figures, even got my first sports writer position at a newspaper, which really helped me learn facts fast. 

I may not be the walking football encyclopedia like other sports writers I know, but my passion has been rekindled and will not be extinguished again.