It's a love/hate relationship

WOO HOO! Today is D-NO Day (Departure for New Orleans Day)!!! WHO DAT?! S AND C DAT!! Wedding day is tomorrow!!

Superman should be so proud.

I sent him a joking text message a few days ago saying, "I hate you because now I'm in love with sports." He replied something about indoctrination, brainwashing, and stuff like that. I don't know. I'm not always the best listener. But apparently something has clicked lately.

Let's back up: Growing up, I didn't watch sports. At. All. I may have gone to church Super Bowl parties, but it was always to watch the commercials. I couldn't have cared less about the game. I played tennis in high school. Did I watch tennis on TV? Maybe for five minutes.

In college, I tried going to some football games. I mean, everyone else did (well, actually, everyone else didn't, as I went to a suitcase college, but you get the idea). I got bored before halftime.

In fact, I remember dating a guy and asking Superman (remember, we were buds for a while before we started dating) what I should get him for Christmas. Here's how the conversation went:

Superman -- "Well, what sports does he like?"
Me -- "Uh...I dunno."
Superman: "Wh-? What? How can you not know what sports he likes or what his favorite team is? That's what you base his gifts off of!"

Yep.

After I started dating Superman, I realized exactly what a sports fan is. He went to football games. He went to basketball games. He went to baseball games. And any game he didn't get to go to, he watched on TV.

We married, and Superman became a sports information director for our alma mater. He continued with this occupation for four years, in which time I learned that each team actually has more than one coach -- you have the defensive coach, the offensive coach, and scores of others. I learned Superman's favorite teams: the Saints and the Boston Red Sox. I learned who my alma mater's coaches for various sports were. I listened to Colin Cowherd, Bill Simmons, and Lord knows who all else.

Most of the time I tuned it out. But here's how it dragged me in: sports also sometimes encompasses pop culture.

Seriously, think about it: A-Rod's crazy behavior during a photo shoot (can't remember which one) and his dating Kate Hudson. Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson. Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian. So when I heard news like that, I listened.

And, while it took about four years, I believe I'm stuck.

Here's how I know.

I was talking to a coworker this morning about a new coaching hire and how the new coach made a funny joke about Mike Leach and was defending the search committee, saying, "Actually, five days is a normal amount of time to hire a coach. Kiffin left UT on Monday, and UT hired Derek Dooley on Friday..." and discussed Brett Farve and the Saints and how the Dome is going to go crazy when the Saints (possibly) retire Deuce's number before the game...

Sigh. Hooked.