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Best 30 Years of My Life

posted by MarieS, a Women Talk Sports blogger
Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 12:10pm PST

About MarieS:

Marie Spano, MS, RD/LD, FISSN, CSCS is one of the leading sports nutrition and nutrition communications experts in North America. Currently serving as Vice President of the International Society of S...more

Last night as I sat in my seat, flipping the pages of a magazine and waiting for my plane to take off, my attention was quickly diverted to a conversation I overheard between a man walking down the isle and the gentleman in my row. After their quick manly exchange, I realized I was sitting next to an ABC (Channel 7, Washington, DC) sports reporter.

In my Katie Couric, question-asking manner, I engaged the sports reporter in a conversation, asking him about his career and the game he covered that day. He smiled, reminisced and told tales about the past few decades traveling abroad with ABC’s Wide World of Sports, covering games and highlighting the personalities behind each athlete and their path to success. "If I wasn’t doing what I’m doing now (coaching athletes on performance nutrition), I would love being a sports reporter," I mentioned. His response was profound, "Best 30 years of my life."

As the plane took off, we both sat back and dozed off though my mind was fixated on his words and the smile on his face that emulated that of a little boy playing a game he loved. For over 30 years this man was getting paid to do something he loved - watch and talk about sports. As Thanksgiving approaches I’m thankful that I am meeting incredible people everyday, learning about their successes and struggles, watching some athletes rehab and others battle it out on the ice, court and field. I’m thankful for the many opportunities various sports have brought into my life. And one day, a few decades from now, I hope I can turn to the person next to me and say "Best 30 years of my life."

Some people come into your life for just a moment, but their words are so profound that they last a lifetime....

View MarieS's Profile

Filed Under:
Sports, SportsPLUS, Media/Marketing, Television, College Football, Personal

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