December 2nd: Army-Navy Game

Growing up a "Navy brat," I was brainwashed into believing the annual Army-Navy football game was the highlight of the sports calendar. The propaganda took because I still consider it one of the sporting events I can't miss.


Once upon a time, the military schools had powerful teams. In 1944, Army-Navy played for the national championship.


But this was before college football became the big-time professional recruiting league that it is today. Army-Navy haven't been competitive in football in a long time. But, in one way, this only enhances the value of the game for me. Professional careers are not at stake. What's at stake is pride and bragging rights for a year.


Another thing I like about this competition is that it's never lost that these career military men and women have more in common than sports rivalry. Good sportsmanship is at the highest level. The game ends on friendly terms, no matter who wins. It's a game, not an audition for bigger things. These players show more class than you find in most sporting events these days. After playing football, they go off to pull their military duty.

Two weeks to go, then, for a major sporting event in my fan's year.