Member-only story
Dear Football
Dear Football,
I vividly remember falling in love with you at the age of six. It was a hot August day, my daddy and I went to watch my God-Brother’s pop warner jamboree. I had asked my dad if I could play but he told me I was too small. I saw the Mighty Mites team, and noticed I was taller than a few of the boys. I pointed at the smallest player on the field and told my dad “I am bigger than him!” The president of the organization came to me that day and told me “you have to be seven-years-old and 60lbs”. I had just turned six-years-old a few weeks prior but I had just weighed at 63lbs at my six-year-old check up. I told him repeatedly, “I’m 63 pounds!” He replied “next year we will be ready for you”. That was all I needed. That began my love affair with you football.
My daddy and I always watched 49ers games, but after that day I began to pay more attention to the games. My dad had each of the 49ers Super Bowl games on VHS and I watched, rewound, and rewatched all five of the 49ers Super Bowl victories that entire year religiously. I began to walk through the plays before they happened. I knew exactly when Ronnie Lott was going to hit Icky Woods. I knew exactly when Jerry Rice would win big on the post and split the Chargers Cover Two safeties. I had spent a year studying and falling in love with you. I was obsessed in 1996 and remain just as obsessed now.
