A new sports fan and amazing Irish hair

It all began with the purchase of a 40-inch flat-screen television shortly after we came back from Mexico last April. Since then I have spent hours and hours watching sporting events. This is personally shocking and rather embarrassing. I was always quick to criticize my Dad, who watched hours of football on weekends while I was growing up. Our family of seven had one television and Dad was the king of the television on the weekends. I hated football and never became interested in other televised sporting events. Now at age 60, I find myself watching a variety sports and not just on weekends.

The first sporting event I watched on our new flat screen was the World Cup held in South Africa last summer. I had wanted a large screen television for years, but could never rationalize the expense because my 25-year-old 27-inch Sony was doing just fine. The perfect rationalization occurred, however, when we came from Mexico. I told my badly-injured husband that we should buy a 40-inch flat-screen television so that he could watch the World Cup in style, soccer fan that he is. I told him he deserved a new big television after all he had been through. Sure enough, that was the trick, we were off to COSTCO with our credit card in no time flat.

It came as no surprise that I loved our new 40" flat-screen television. Who wouldn't? Then something unexpected happened. I found I enjoyed watching the World Cup as much as Harry did. I learned to appreciate the different styles of play exhibited by the teams from all over the world and I loved those crazy vuvuzuelas. Next, I told myself I was just going to stay in the living room long enough to hear Jim Neighbors croon his famous "My Indiana Home" at the Indy 500 that Harry was watching. The next thing I knew I was watching the entire race. One of the drivers, Helio Castronueves, had won on Dancing with the Stars last year and that was enough to peak my curiosity. The 2010 winner turned out to be the adorable Scotsman with the Italian name Dario Franchitti, who is married to the actress Ashley Judd. Ashley came running out onto the race track to congratulate her husband who was busy swigging down the traditional bottle of milk that the winner always has to drink. Charming!

Next came the Tour de France, which we are watching again this year. There is much to learn about the sport of cycling. I am at a loss to follow all the intricate rules of this 100-year-old bike race, although the broadcast does include mini tutorials to help the viewer understand cycling. I did learn this week that the cyclists must take in 7,000 calories each day while on the three week, 2,ooo mile tour. It is lovely to watch the peloton of riders race across the beautiful French countryside with it's magnificent churches, chateaus and castles. The two veteran British tour commentators, with their passable French pronunciation, take time to offer some history of the different geographic areas of France as the bikers wheel along at 40mph speeds.

We watched the US Open last month as the Irishman, Rory Mcilroy, became the world's new Tiger Woods. Every sport needs a super star and since Tiger lost that status it is fun to watch the rise of another amazing talent. Mcilory's record breaking score of 11 under par at this year's American Open was unbelievable. I watched an interview Piers Morgan did with Mcilroy last week and was struck by his simplicity and lack of the arrogance which I always felt often characterized Tiger. Mcilroy seemed very grounded, perhaps due to his working-class family background. He grew up in a small town outside Belfast, raised by hard-working middle-class parents. His Dad often held down three jobs and his Mom worked her entire life in a factory. The CNN hair stylist seemed to get the Irish lad's wild curly locks under control, at least for the interview.

We had our friend, Dr. Bob, over last Sunday to watch the men's final at Wimbledon. Earlier in the week we had watched the Williams sisters go out, as well as the eventual demise of the two men, Nadal and Federer who, like Venus and Serena, dominated the sport for many years. It was fun to watch the new generation of men and women players do well on the grass at Wimbledon. I loved watching each day to see who was sitting in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. One of the best box moments was seeing Billy Jean King (my personal favorite) schmoozing with Will and Kate. Billie Jean had not missed a Wimbledon for the past 50 years. She stills plays tennis at age 67, thanks to her knee replacements. Some of the Brits were in an uproar this year due to some of the women players consistently screaming with each stroke. I had to admit, I think these high-decibel screams might best be saved for the privacy of a bedroom.

Harry is looking forward to when the Tour de France gets up to Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps in two weeks. He lived in this part of France for a year and has promised to take me there, perhaps in September of 2012. Next up in the sports world is the "Open" as my resident Brit calls it. I incorrectly refer to it as the British Open. A few years back, while in England, we watched when the tournament was played in Scotland at Carnoustie. I remember watching the stylishly dressed Tiger tantrum his way around the course as the 17-year-old Mcilory, looking a bit unkempt, played as an amateur. It would be great fun to see Tiger and Rory go head to head. (Mcilroy would win that one before the golf started.)

Sports! Yes, I am surprisingly into them big time. My Dad would be shocked. Actually, I find my new interest shocking too, but, I still hate American football.