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Was that a first down?
By adriana_acosta in To venus and back
September 8, 2010

Football is like a foreign language to me. No, take that back – all sports to me are like a foreign language. It can be football, soccer, baseball – you name it.

But today, I am here to write about football. It’s my own fault really; I have never taken the time to actually learn sports in general.

But I have tried, believe me. Have spent hours watching ESPN Sports Center and have even sat through several Dallas Cowboy games, thanks to my loving sister who is a season ticket holder.

I have read the football terminology, don’t get me wrong – I know what a touchdown is and I know what the offense and defense is, most of the time, but when they go into first and goal and a 3-4 defense, I am lost.

Being in a football conversation is the same as being in a room with my brother and sister, both electrical engineers and partaking in a discussion about integrated circuits.

Let’s fast forward to today – football season. The sport that closes down the town and gathers all football fans alike. It is Friday night lights. One of my journalism professors in college described football as the, “Friday night gathering,” a time when everyone let their worries go and enjoy a night of friendly rivalry, laughter and Frito pies. (His words not mine.)

A writer becomes better at what they do the more they learn about their craft, in this case writing football. But what about me? Am I just sports illiterate? Is there hope in the foreseeable future?

As an editor, I find it important to cover as much sports as I can for the Matagorda Advocate, especially football. I have attempted to ask a football coach if the outcome of a game they have just lost will bring them closer to the playoffs and he in return getting a confused and look of disbelief.

But I feel the outsider, the fish out of water.

The next time you see me down on the field taking photos of the game stop and talk football to me.

It is times like these that I am very grateful for the sport stringers around the world. Thanks for making sport illiterate writers like me, enjoy a night of football, with a Frito pie. Want to discuss football with me, e-mail me at aacosta@vicad.com