BETWEEN THE LINES: In sports world, football is king
The rest of the United States is confirming what Texans have known for years: Football is king among sports. It has been said the top two sports in the state are football and off-season football.
The season starts in August and ends with the Super Bowl in early February. However, football news continues as writers and sports-talk shows cover the NFL draft, spring practice and mini-camps. Then, there are the countless websites.
Growing up in New Jersey in the 1950s, I saw no particular importance to the pigskin. It was baseball and the New York Yankees that got my attention. Mickey Mantle was my childhood hero. My attachment to the Bronx Bombers was aided by the fact that Yankees player Joe Collins lived in my neighborhood. In those days, baseball players’ salaries were not so extravagant.
My football leanings were limited to the New York Giants, whose stars were Y.A. Tittle and Frank Gifford. There were no local colleges that drew my attention. However, when my dad got transferred to Houston in the early 1960s, things dramatically changed.
My older brother transferred from Bucknell University to the University of Texas at Austin to become a member of the Longhorns band. I found myself listening to Kern Tipps’ radio broadcasts of the Longhorns on the old Humble Oil and Refining Network. The team was coached by a relatively young Darryl Royal, soon to be an icon.
Over the years, my interest in baseball waned while my fondness for football grew. Like most Americans, I was drawn by the action and the raw athleticism. I am sure the growth of television and the expansion of sports programming helped.
The Super Bowl has become the crown jewel of all sports in this country, becoming almost a national holiday. Often, the game hype ends in a dud of a match, but not this year. Fans were treated to a gem Feb. 5. That game went down to the wire as a desperation Hail Mary pass from New England’s Tom Brady fell to the turf; the horn sounded, giving the New York Giants a come-from-behind victory against the Patriots.
Ironically, the same two teams met four years earlier in a Super Bowl contest with the same result. Both games saw Giants quarterback Eli Manning lead game-winning drives to notch the victories. The win was a surprising comeback for the Giants, who ended the regular season with a 9-7 record.
This year’s halftime show featured Madonna. I have never been a fan of hers, but I have to admit the 53-year-old entertainer exhibited great conditioning and stamina in her performance. Of course, the technological aspect of the show was truly amazing, reminiscent of the opening of the Olympics.
In spite of the NFL lockout of players and scandals that seem to occur on a regular basis, the sport continues to experience more popularity. Already fans are looking forward to the NFL draft and the hope this year will be their team’s turn to be in the limelight.
Laughlin is a Christian Libertarian. He is an economist, teacher, father, husband and most recently a grandfather. He has written a weekly column for The Tribune for 13 years. He and his wife Gina reside in Meadowlakes. To contact him, email ablaughlin@nctv.com. He is an independent columnist, not a staff member, and his views do not necessarily reflect those of The Tribune or its parent company.