Christian was never not going to play in the NFL. Maybe Kansas City Chiefs legend Derrick Thomas knew that when he introduced me to his teammate Tim Watson, Christian’s father. Tim played for the Chiefs when I met him and actually started his career with the Green Bay Packers. And while I knew from experience life for most players in the NFL was hardly the glamorous existence it’s made out to be, I always made sure Christian and his brother Tre’s dreams of playing the game their father loved could be a reality, even if it ultimately broke their hearts the same way it did their father’s. I have to be their rock, their home base.
Christa, thank you for sharing your story. As the son of a single mom and the dad of two boys with NFL dreams, this was basically gospel to me. :)
P.S. Your boy is not only a great player, but a good man, too. We met him at Lambeau on one of the bike rides to training camp practice. My younger son told him how we scouted him on YouTube and wanted the Packers to draft him, and we were so stoked when they called his name. Now he's got a hat signed by Christian. Looking forward to watching him score a lot of touchdowns for the green and gold!
Excellent article on life as a sports mom. Thank you for writing this. You have raised not only a talented athlete but a brilliant one.
Christa, thank you for sharing your story. As the son of a single mom and the dad of two boys with NFL dreams, this was basically gospel to me. :)
P.S. Your boy is not only a great player, but a good man, too. We met him at Lambeau on one of the bike rides to training camp practice. My younger son told him how we scouted him on YouTube and wanted the Packers to draft him, and we were so stoked when they called his name. Now he's got a hat signed by Christian. Looking forward to watching him score a lot of touchdowns for the green and gold!
Great story and perspective - thanks for sharing, Christa! It's always a good reminder that players are just people too.