PINK GLOVES and a Golden Trophy

Adrenaline was running high all week in our house.  Practices were a little more amped, it was a little harder to concentrate on homework, even I had to rethink my daily things that really needed to get done...outside of taking care of my "other 25 boys."  The last six months of Jax's work had come down to his final game of the season....  The AZYSFO State Championship game between the Titans and the Vikings.

During Wednesday's practice, Jax ripped his beloved pink gloves.  The gloves that we had bought for the month of October.  The gloves that had brought him touchdown after touchdown and win after win.   The gloves that everytime a player made fun of him for wearing, he flattened them, sacked them, tackled them, or just flat out, took them out.  He made the last minute decision to switch to one black and white and one pink.  Whatever works.

During Friday nights practice, one of the Dad's and I met with Steve Breaston, #15, of the AZ Cardinals.  He graciously handed over 53 tickets to Sunday's game against the Rams along with hats, food and drink vouchers and parking passes.  Just to do a good deed for the boys. The story of how it all came about is way to long to even go into, but I can only hope that anyone reading about Jax today, decides TO PAY IT FORWARD too.  I quickly calculated that he donated over $700.00 worth of goodies to our TITANS family and man do we feel loved!!

ONTO THE BIG GAME.......

With all that adrenaline flowing, eye black smeared, signs waving, freshly patched knees, coolers filled, hearts racing, and 21 TITANS anxiously waiting to hear their names called out before the whilstles blew, I said one quick prayer to keep these boys healthy and unhurt during this final game of their JPW season. 

Our first half did not go very well.  We scored only one touchdown but had over 75 yards in penalties for false starts, off sides and tackling in the back field.  Our little guys were anxious and making a lot of mistakes.  Thankfully our defense was holding strong, as always, and the Vikings were not able to score. At halftime I could see how upset Jax was.  He was beyond angry and could barely contain tears of frustration.  The only words that came out of his mouth were, "I WANT MY PINK GLOVE MOM!"  After a coaches talk and some quick oranges our boys came back with a new outlook on the game.

The third quarter brought on a few penalties at the start but the Vikings finally stopped covering the BIG BOY and on came his first touchdown, pushing the score up to 12-0.  Jax was excited and finally found his groove again.  He had been making all his tackles and hitting everyone but had way too many kids covering him to risk a pass his way.  Later in the night Jax told me that he finally looked at David, our quarterback, and told him, "I can't drop the ball (shaking his hands that were now wearing both pink gloves   .......throw to me." David agreed..... and the Titans came alive again.

A few plays later Jax scored his second touchdown of the game. This boy was psyched beyond belief.  he was all over the field, making tackles right and left and made a huge fumble recovery to allow for the final touchdown of the game.  The game came to an end with the TITANS victorious with a score of 26-6.  I couldn't wait to pass out their golden CHAMPION medals.  I took a chance buying them in advance but knew these boys were that good that they would win.

It wasn't until each boy had their medals and I went to put Jax's around his neck that I realized that he had HUGE tears of joy streaming down his face.  That was when I lost it.  I had been completely emotional all week about this game but really tried hard to keep it in check.  He was so happy and I was so proud.  A few of the other moms kind of made fun of me about me crying, others started getting tears in their eyes when they saw mine...either way.... I didn't care...... my kid scored two touchdowns and played his heart out for this team and I was simply PROUD beyond words!

You earned the right to be called a CHAMPION Jax.  You earned that Huge golden trophy for your Coach and your played your heart out with those pink gloves....even with all those boys that had the nerve to make fun of you for wearing them.  You had the last laugh though didn't you?  I will miss your team as you move up to a new level next season.  It will be bigger and stronger boys and you will have to train to meet the demands of that team.  I know you can do it.  You have proven yourself this season.  You proved you are capable of being a top athlete, an honors student and wonderful son.  Not that any of those were ever in question!!!!  Keep up the great work.......Just make sure you take a shower!!!!!!