The Magic of Sports

So...this past weekend, I was out shopping at Costco, and I was wearing my Green Bay Packers hat. As I was sitting my daughter in the cart, I looked up and saw this guy staring at me...I thought it was a little weird right?! But then I saw what it was...he was wearing a Green Bay Packers hat as well. Then the magic happened...there was a split second we gave each other a little smile and a understanding nod.

Now I didn't know this guy, I had never seen him before in my life, but for that moment, we were friends...two strangers connected by one thing...Sports.

In thinking about this post, I remember all the times where I will be out in public (wearing a hat with a team logo,) and the people I really notice are those who might be wearing something with the same logo on it. There are even times when I'll be wearing my U of U hat, and someone will walk by and whisper "Go Utes!" It is awesome, and for you sports fans out there, you know what I am talking about.

I can't speak for other sports fans, but if I dissect my mind, I love showing off my favorite sports teams, and by wearing it, I feel like I am an extension to the team...then, when I see others wearing the same colors, logos, whatever...I see a "teammate."

I firmly believe there is a kind of magic when it comes to sports...and with that, I want to share one of my favorite videos. I can't watch this without getting the chills...this is the magic that I am talking about -> Sports Magic

An Apology to my Wife or "Cold Soup"

So a year or so ago, I heard about this iPhone application called Foursquare where you could use your mobile device and "check-in" to places. If you were lucky enough, you could even earn Foursquare Badges...pretty exciting I know.

However, as Foursquare opened up in more cities, you could start to see the application behind it. Businesses were using it to engage their loyal fans/customers/patrons in a whole new way...through their mobile devices by offering "Specials." This is pretty exciting and cool.

So needless to say, I jumped onto Foursquare because it was the "New Shiny" and I wanted to be a part of something...and that is where it all started.

Since jumping onto Foursquare, I have adopted other geolocation applications like Gowalla, Whrrl...Yelp...etc. etc. etc. - I wanted to check each of these to see what each of them brings to the table and really wanted to see how businesses were using each. Maybe I could get some ideas...

ANYWAYS, I think my poor wife has exercised as much patience with me as she possibly can...I mean it is like when we go through the drive-thru, I'll grab the food and go pull into a stall so I can check-in. (In reading that, I realize how sad it is.) Or when we go out on a date...I'll put my phone on the table and check-in, leave a tip, see who else might be there...you get the idea, only to look up and see her giving me "That Look," the "Put that @#%& thing away right now."

Even when I'm out with a buddy, he'll have half his burger or sushi thrown down before I can leave a tip on Yelp. Sadly, after all the checking-in, I have even noticed that my food has gotten cold. (Uggh, this is really sad...rethinking publishing this post now.)

If you really know me, you can testify that I have my phone on me 24/7 and that I am always on it...email, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare...text messages...it has really started to drive people nuts how my iPhone has morphed into another falange. Maybe I do need to give it a rest...or at least calm the freak down.

So sorry Jen...sorry it seems like I am out on a date with my phone and you sometimes seem to be the 3rd Wheel...I'll be better, I promise.

So my resolution is this...wait a second, my phone just beeped...