In Focus

The way I look at it...volleyball, football, basketball, and softball fall under the same term...sportball. And sportball season is starting very soon.

I’m not a sports fan. I don’t watch it recreationaly, and Super Bowl commercials just aren’t what they used to be. I just never got into it. I tried track in high school, but ended up quitting because working and making money sounded so much better, and having exercise-induced asthma wasn’t fun. I was not built to be a runner. 

But I can take pictures of any sport. I’ve been doing this a long time. I know what angles to take, where to stand to get the best images, and so on. I’ve even won several awards for sports photos. It still makes me laugh because the pictures may have been great, but I couldn’t begin to tell you what was happening in them. My cutlines are terrible. They’re along the line of “they threw the ball,” “they caught the ball,” so you get the picture. You’d never see that in the paper because the people I work with can translate that into something proper like “hit a double,” “threw 20 yards,” and use all the proper terms. 

Okay, I’m not that bad, but you get the idea. I show up to a game long enough to get the pictures and leave when I’m satisfied with what I have. If it’s play-offs, that’s different, then I may have to stick around a little longer. I know sports are important for kids and the community, but not everyone likes sports, and that’s just fine too. 

I was relieved when my boyfriend told me he wasn’t really into sports. It wouldn’t have mattered if he was, it’s just a bonus that we have that in common.

I was surprised when he invited me to a semi-pro baseball game. It’s something his family does every year together, and they also celebrate his son’s birthday. So I went along for the ride. We went to watch the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks play a team from Texas. It was a different vibe than what I’m used to bouncing around high schools. And, I wasn’t working. This was an entirely new experience for me. And the fact that I could have an adult beverage and Dippin’ Dots may have made my night. And actually the game wasn’t bad. I paged through their 30th anniversary book and saw there is a guy from Wadena on the team. That was cool to know. 

Ultimately, it was anyone’s game, which kept it interesting. My jacket fell under the bleachers, and a nephew went and rescued it for me. The game ended with red lights flashing as the team celebrated their win.

The night ended with a spectacular fireworks display. It was a good time. Would I do it more than once a year? Probably not. But I can enjoy a little sportball every now and then.