 I grew up in the upper midwest, and, by osmosis, became a fan of some of the worst franchises around at the time — the Cubs and the Packers. In basketball, I chose the Mavericks when they entered the league
because there was noone else. In the 1980s, I chose the Penguins based on a single player, stating whomever wound up with Mario would be my team.
Suffice it to say, I've known suffering. But as a result of suffering through horrid seasons, bad decisions, and being the butt of the respective league's jokes, I became a fan of the sports themselves. While partial to my perennial losers,
I learned to enjoy the well-executed play, largely because I saw so many against my teams. Watching a catcher block the plate ahead of the throw (rather than trying to just tag the runner), watching a well-executed stunt or trap,
watching a defense play smartly when outnumbered on the break — this is what I love about the games.
I started ContractBud.com around that concept — the love of the sport, rather than the love of a team or a player. The guy who hustles even though he's signed the big contract.
The guy who signs autographs after a tough loss. The guy who allows himself to be taped to a pole in the dugout to make the game fun. A well-umpired game. This is what I love.
Sport is a business — a huge business — filled with business realities. Players have a short shelf-life, and never know if the career ends tomorrow. Owners come and go. Players come and go. Sport lives on.
Competitively, I spent my youth on the diamond, all-field, no-hit (okay, I hit for average and stole a ton of bases, but my fielding and heads-up play kept me a starter), on the soccer field (if my knees had held out, I could have played Division III soccer),
and wrestling (I was a much better coach than a wrestler. I was a .500 wrestler, but the teammates I coached in tournaments were closer to .900). I still play golf, though I'm nowhere near the 12 handicap I achieved in high school.
And, when my wife lets me, I get out on the softball field and run out every hit and try to make every play. And I limp for days afterwards. And love it.
My new sport? Don't laugh, but I am exhibiting my Bernese Mountain Dog Bison in Conformation. This is my first run at the "Best In Show" circuit, and yes, I loved that movie. I already know several folks like some of the major characters.
Adam Conn is the founder of ContractBud.com. He recently moved the HQ of ContractBud.com from Massachusetts to Minnesota (along with his wife and three dogs Panda, Pockets, and Bison) to bask in the glory of the Twins.
Contact: Founder@ContractBud.com
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