A Love Letter to sports

A Love Letter to Sports,

I have grown up loving and watching sports. So many of my favorite memories have been centered around sports. Growing up Sundays meant one thing, football. I would wake up, go to the couch, and sit with my dad watching football all day. My dad taught me everything I know about football. From the rules, to how pain and losing are a part of the game- this was especially prominent considering he’s a Cleveland Browns fan. The Seahawks growing up were my favorite things growing up, standing in my DIYed Seahawks shirt and imitating a football helmet with my ski helmet and goggles ready to watch the Superbowl. The parade was the most freezing cold morning in February but somehow those donuts and Marshawn Lynch throwing Skittles into the crowd made the whole thing more than worth it. 

Since starting my time at the University of Washington, my love for football has only grown. This freshman season where the Huskies went undefeated and I got to experience the adrenaline-filled time of rushing the field after beating the Oregon Ducks and Washington State Cougars. Truly now I bleed purple and gold.

But if anyone were to ask me what sport is my favorite, I would have to say my sports fan heart lies with soccer. Specifically women’s soccer. The 2011 Women’s World Cup is the beginning of my love for soccer. In a sports bar filled with people adorned in their stars and stripes, I sat with my little drawing of Homare Sawa, who I decided was my favorite player. Since then I have passionately sat watching my USWNT and not only that but the Seattle Reign. I remember sitting in Memorial Stadium watching the inaugural season thrilled every time we scored and being in awe the first time I saw Megan Rapinoe play. Flash forward 10 years- I had my high school graduation at Memorial Stadium and have been a season ticket holder for the past 3 seasons. The magic hasn’t faded, every time I saw Megan Rapione's play I was transported back to that little girl watching the Reign play excited at seeing this hero. 

I have become a major football and hockey fan (thanks to my mom and dad, go Kraken) and an advocate for investing in women’s sports always ready to argue about it. 

Thank you sports for providing me this passion, these role models.

Go Dawgs

L

Megan Rapinoe during Brazil v. US friendly 2015