When I Grow Up I Want to Play Football

Ask just about any young boy what he wants to be when he grows up and the answer will likely involve being an elite athlete – usually football or baseball – or an astronaut.

My youngest son deviates slightly from these typical career ambitions as his dream is to be a professional skateboarder that moonlights as a rock star (or maybe it is the other way around).

However, my oldest son has his sights set on a prosperous career in Major League Baseball and I fully support his dream – although I did tell him he cannot play for the Chicago Cubs. You might think I am joking, but I did plead for him to be traded during Little League Baseball when he was placed on a team named the Cubs.

During my younger days, I had a dream of being a professional football player.

That dream was fueled by the fact that I played football for my Junior High School team as well as my High School team. For a brief period, I was distracted by the dream of being a professional hockey player but quickly came back to my love for playing football.

There was only one problem.

I wasn’t all that good.

Heck, just this past summer I was demoted to the second string in my very own yard playing with the above mentioned kids.

Talk about a dose of reality.

Even though I might not have been very good, and have long since given up the dream of being a professional football player (even though I know that I can tackle better than half the clowns making millions of dollars on the Chicago Bears defense!), that doesn’t mean my passion for football has disappeared.

That might explain my devotion to plunking my rear end down on Sunday morning – after setting my fantasy football lineup of course – to enjoy the selection of games.

Yes, there have been times where I have watched the early game, the late game, and the Sunday night game without much more than bathroom breaks.

No, I have never resorted to breaking out the Depends – don’t ask!

Ever since those days when I played football in school, I have always wanted to get my hands on an Authentic “ProLine” NFL Helmet to wear on game day display in my office. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that players were not allowed to keep their helmets in school, although I do still have the stylish CCM helmet that I wore during my hockey days.

There is just a certain “coolness” factor about having your own NFL helmet.

For those of you fortunate people that still have a team to cheer for in the NFL playoffs, you still have time to get your helmet to wear (there I go again) admire as your team marches towards the Super Bowl.

In case you are wondering, my Super Bowl prediction is the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles (maybe the throwback helmet is more your style) – with the Ravens walking away with the Vince Lombardi trophy.

As a dad, I believe it is your duty – if not your desire to live vicariously through your children – to support them in their dream to play football (or whatever it is they want to do) when they grow up.