I'd like to take this time to wish my mom, and all of the other mothers out there, a Happy Mother's Day.  I wrote an entry last Father's Day talking about my relationship with my father, and how there would be a time to discuss my relationship with my mother.

Well, while my father is the one who introduced me to sports, my mother is the one whose love of them continues to grow, and it could not make me happier. I knew things had changed when in 1995, I was up in my parent's bedroom watching the Bulls play the Magic in the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs. My mother walked in the room, and immediately said, "Is this a tape?" I said, "No, why?" Her response..."Michael's wearing 23..." Impressive, right?!?

A couple of years later, I was away with my baseball team in Florida during March Madness, and when I called home, she began reeling off the names of the teams in the Final Four and discussing their chances!

Today, whether my dad is home or not, she will turn on the Yankee game, watch golf, or even have football on in the background, not because she has to, but because she wants to. Just in the past year, she has learned how hitters will try to hit behind runners, or how pitchers will try to set up hitters. In other words, she's learning the nuances of baseball, and is able to appreciate the game that much more.

And while all of this is great, when I think about sports and my mom, I think of all the practices and games she drove me to growing up. I am one of four kids, and all of us were very active in sports, yet my mom did her best to attend all of our games, even if there were three in one day and a couple going on at the same time. She was running non-stop from game to game, making sure we all felt special. Heck, rewind just a few years ago, and she came to watch a basketball game involving 6th graders because I was coaching! In other words, she's never stopped being that sports mom.

I can remember times sitting in the car in the garage with my gear on and a pitcher of Gatorade at my feet (which she made for me), getting upset because she was running a few minutes late. She'd always walk in and apologize, and then try her best to make sure I got to practice on time. To now look back, and think how I would get upset, I owe her a huge apology. Not once did she ever complain about driving me here, there, and everywhere, but instead she did it with a smile. To look at mothers now, and see how much help some get, I've come to the realization that my mom must have been SuperMom. At least, that's the only explanation I can come up with.

So, Mom, first things first, I'm sorry for ever getting upset at you for being late. If I can do for my kids (whenever I have them), half of what you did for me, then I think I will have done a great job. And second, thank you for all of those countless hours of driving me to games and practices, and for being who you are. If it weren't for your support, I certainly would not be doing what I am doing today. Happy Mother's Day, I love you!