I'll apologize in advance: this is going to be a long post. 

I was thinking this evening about why I love the sport, game, and all of the associated elements with American football.  I think the love of the sport was cemented by playing.  In high school I played every year.  I was not a great athlete then, nor am I one now.  I was never a standout, didn't win any awards, and wasn't given the merest hint of a look by a college - any college.  That didn't bother me, however, nor does it bother me now.  For in my high school days, now almost twenty years ago, I didn't play for glory or a reputation; I played because I loved it.

As I started thinking about it, I realized that I have only fractured memories of those days.  I can't tell you about the