Allow me to get gay for a little bit

[ivan_drago]

My dad lost his job a few weeks ago - he'd been a bartender for almost 30 years. That meant working Saturdays - every Saturday during the fall - and never getting to Kinnick. The last time he got to go was over 15 years ago - to his youngest brother's bachelor party. When he lost his job, I decided to take a small chunk out of my savings and get him some nice tickets to the Minnesota game (you'll all recall me pandering for tickets on here) and give him a Saturday off for once.

Too often, I harp on people for taking sports too seriously. Whether it be making cracks at people for flying back for the Marhsalltown High School football game or crying about a college sporting event, I've always been of the opinion that it's hard to get invested personally in something that you're not really involved in.

Saturday changed my mind - because I saw first-hand just how much of a welcomed distraction from real life college sporting events can be.

My dad just had to re-asses his entire life at the age of 53 - but for three (albeit incredibly boring) hours, a college sporting event made him forget all about it. When we walked into Kinnick, it was like my dad was 14 again.

He couldn't believe how nice it was compared to the last time we were there.

"It looks like a cathedral in here," he said to me as we walked through the concourse to our seats.

The game, like I said, was boring and frustrating, but it didn't make a bit of difference to him. He was so happy to just be there that Iowa could have lost 55-0 and it wouldn't have mattered to him. Or me either, for once. Getting down on the field after the game and taking a walk around had him choking up for a little bit, and I'm sure the picture of us will be framed on my desk soon.

Because of that, I'm not going to make fun of people for at taking these things too seriously anymore. Well, yeah I am, but not for awhile.

/end gay story

[LutherBlue89]

thanks for stopping by the tailgate to say hi, you dick.

[ivan_drago]

thanks for stopping by the tailgate to say hi, you dick.

"Hey dad, these are a bunch of strangers I spend lots of time with on the internet. Dad, why are you running away? How am I gonna get home?"

[Debit One]

That's not gay, Ivan, it's being a good son.

Well done.

[opiate of the masses]

yah that's a cool story, bro

[hawkchick79]

Good story.

And next time, just say you're meeting some friends.

[JD720]

Cool story, but feel free to continue to harp on people who take sports too seriously. As you said, you or your dad wouldn't care if Iowa lost 55-0. You are just there for the experience and the result doesn't affect your life. You clearly aren't the the people you make fun of.

[Jimmie Dimmick]

Gamedays are the only time my dad and I hang out really. We're two totally different people, but our love of Hawkeye football brings us together for 7 Saturdays a year.

[brantshawks]

Homo.

[Debit One]

Because of that, I'm not going to make fun of people for at taking these things too seriously anymore. Well, yeah I am, but not for awhile.

/end gay story

BTW - it is interesting that you recognize that some people take sports too seriously, yet have dedicated the last 3 months of your life to the Joe Mauer for MVP campaign.

[funnelcake]

Dude, Joe Mauer is larger than baseball.......

[newsbreaker]

That's a neat story, Ivan. I'd give my left arm to spend a Saturday at Kinnick with my father. Enjoy what you've got while you've got it.

[blacklespaul]

I wish I could take my dad to a game at Kinnick. Wait. I did that for the AZ game. nm

[Monster]

My dad and I go to every game. We're pretty tight.

[Corporate Raider]

My dad and I go to every game. We're pretty tight.

You two don't already see enough of each other at Firestone?

[Monster]

My dad and I go to every game. We're pretty tight.

You two don't already see enough of each other at Firestone?

He's still on overnights.

[Iza]

Good story, Ivan. Couldn't Danish hire him as a personal bartender/assistant? :^) Then he could go to all the home games!

[Corporate Raider]

My dad and I go to every game. We're pretty tight.

You two don't already see enough of each other at Firestone?

He's still on overnights.

well played! :D

[ollie 4 iowa]

Very nice story Ivan. Your dad has served me up a few cold Budweisers during my past visits to Perry. Great guy who very much deserved that.

[danish_hawkeye]

Good story, Ivan. Couldn't Danish hire him as a personal bartender/assistant? :^) Then he could go to all the home games!

LMAO!!!

[TallGrass]

My dad lost his job a few weeks ago - he'd been a bartender for almost 30 years. That meant working Saturdays - every Saturday during the fall - and never getting to Kinnick. The last time he got to go was over 15 years ago - to his youngest brother's bachelor party. When he lost his job, I decided to take a small chunk out of my savings and get him some nice tickets to the Minnesota game (you'll all recall me pandering for tickets on here) and give him a Saturday off for once.

Too often, I harp on people for taking sports too seriously. Whether it be making cracks at people for flying back for the Marhsalltown High School football game or crying about a college sporting event, I've always been of the opinion that it's hard to get invested personally in something that you're not really involved in.

Saturday changed my mind - because I saw first-hand just how much of a welcomed distraction from real life college sporting events can be.

My dad just had to re-asses his entire life at the age of 53 - but for three (albeit incredibly boring) hours, a college sporting event made him forget all about it. When we walked into Kinnick, it was like my dad was 14 again.

He couldn't believe how nice it was compared to the last time we were there.

"It looks like a cathedral in here," he said to me as we walked through the concourse to our seats.

The game, like I said, was boring and frustrating, but it didn't make a bit of difference to him. He was so happy to just be there that Iowa could have lost 55-0 and it wouldn't have mattered to him. Or me either, for once. Getting down on the field after the game and taking a walk around had him choking up for a little bit, and I'm sure the picture of us will be framed on my desk soon.

Because of that, I'm not going to make fun of people for at taking these things too seriously anymore. Well, yeah I am, but not for awhile.

/end gay story
It's like The Road, but with punctuation.