Children can remind us what's important

As I write this column I am preparing to cover my 10th Masters Tournament.

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Wow, I'm getting old, I guess. I still feel young. Overweight, sure, but old? No way.

For me there is nothing better than spring. The college basketball season is winding down, Major League Baseball is getting under way (and my newest love, college baseball, is in full swing), and of course the Masters is here in Augusta.

The season is even more fun for me this year because I have someone to share in the fun. My son, John Chandler Brown, is 2. He is still young, but to my surprise, he is already in love with baseball and golf.

The minute I come home each day I hear "Dad I want to hit my hard bay-ball." The moment we sit down to watch a little TV, "Daddy I want to watch bay-ball."

Recently I have taken him to the driving range to hit golf balls, and he loved it. I simply cannot explain how special it is to me. I have never had such a proud feeling in my body. I cover sports for a living, and sometimes I feel that over the past couple of years it has become just that - work.

When I began my career in sports broadcasting, and later as a writer, I truly loved it. It was never considered work. Maybe I was getting lazy, who knows, but all it took was the look in my son's eyes when I told him we were going to an ASU baseball game or when I said "Get your golf clubs. We are going to hit some balls."

My passion for sports is back and stronger than ever. I always thought I would share my love for sports with my son, and he would develop that same love. I never imagined it would be reversed. He is actually the one who has inspired me. He has reminded me just how special sports can be. Not just watching the big game, but for sharing special moments such as watching opening night for Major League Baseball, which we did Sunday night, or enjoying our first Masters together, which we will do this week.

So today, I want to thank my son for reminding me why I fell in love with sports years ago, and also for giving me so many terrific new reasons to keep sports as a big part of my (and his) life.