There is Crying in Football

Tom Hanks told the Rockford Peaches in "League of Their Own" that there is no crying in baseball. He is right. There is emotion for certain as baseball is the greatest game on earth. But it is a game than unfolds slowly over time with pauses for drama and strategy.

Football, particularly the NFL, is different. Emotion is everywhere. At the end of every NFL game, there are players who form a prayer circle no doubt giving thanks to God for making it through with their health and body in tact. It is a rough game. Look at the injury to Bills TE Kevin Everett who, at one point, looked like he would never walk again. Tears flowed around the NFL and his family. He then made a remarkable recovery and came back to inspire the Bills and encourage their fans - he encouraged them! Waterworks sprung forth.

As a fan, there can be tears as well. It sounds silly, but so is being a fan. Giving your time, money, and emotion to an organization who doesn't know who you are (OK, I've written on that today, so back to the point). Twice in the past couple years I found myself so emotionally spent at the end of a game that an emotional response, tears and all, came effortlessly from me.

I recall a game against the Cowboys at a time in my life when work was hard, money was tight, and I was flat out exhausted. I was praying for a win. I needed a win. The Redskins needed it, too. And we got it. I was so overjoyed and having this simple pleasure given to me that I wept. I can't explain it, it just happened. And the relief that came over me was overpowering. I let it all out and had no shame in doing so in the dark privacy of my home.

This afternoon, my beloved Redskins lost in their playoff bid. It was a magical run stemming from the tragic death of Sean Taylor that had this team playing together as a team for the memory of their murdered teammate. Though my tears were not at the loss; rather the dramatic telling of that story by the game commentators Tom Hammond and Chris Collinsworth. Their words perfectly captured the collective feelings of the Redskins franchise and its fans. It brought me to tears. We were all trying so hard to bring the team a win that the emotion overwhelmed us (yes us, as you know that I am a honorary member of the team).

Joe Gibbs, head coach for the Washington Redskins, was asked in a pregame interview if he felt his team had enough "in the tank" to make it to a 5th straight win and Gibbs candidly replied, "I don't know."

What I do know, and so does Gibbs, there will be tears shed tonight by Skins players and fans alike. Not because of the loss of the game, but for the loss of a young man who not only was a Pro Bowl athlete, but a man who was changing his life and beginning to inspire others. If he could only see how he inspired this team to come together, unified in his memory.

A very sad loss, indeed.