Generally I will buffer some time before plopping on the couch so that I can skip the commercials.  But if I’m scanning through or have run out of buffer, if there is a spot for Chuck or Heroes, it is just as exciting as anything else I could be watching.  The writer’s strike really left me unsatiated with last season’s run – not enough episodes, not knowing even when to catch new ones, etc.  Don’t get me wrong – I was for the strike and I’m glad they worked things out.  But I need me some good TV!

In recent years, it seems that NBC has captured my attention with new shows more than any other network.  I enjoy a couple of shows on ABC and Fox and the CW.  I watch a few things on cable (such as Psych on USA and It’s Always Sunny on FX).  But last season i found myself watching 3 hour blocks on some nights on NBC.  And I’m psyched to see so many of the shows I enjoyed coming back – Chuck, Heroes, Life, The Office, 30 Rock.  I’m also intrigued by some of the new blood (somewhat by My Own Worst Enemy, not as much about Knight Rider).

Yes, I know – I’m a TV junkie.  I am addicted to staged drama and comedy.  I practice escapism for a large portion of my free time.  But at least I haven’t succumbed to the dark side – at least I haven’t become a reality TV fan – that would just be too far, too much … well … except the Olympics.  But that doesn’t really count, right?

Fast forward 5 years later, we have 2 kids – a 4 1/2 year-old girl and a 1 1/2 year old boy … and they managed to find their own way into fairly typical gender roles.  My daughter loves the color pink, playing dress-up, dolls, and tea party.  My son is a small tornado of what can only be described as boyish energy – he throws things, he bangs on things, and he will scale just about anything for the purpose of jumping off of it.  And now, he is focusing his attention on balls … the sports varieties, that is.  And I have to say he is pretty good at handling them (again, think sports … weirdos).

The other day we were in the backyard cleaning up after a BBQ party we had and he came across a small football that someone left behind.  He picks it up, takes it back over his shoulder with one hand, and launches it halfway across the yard to my wife.  She tosses it back and he manages to reproduce the feat a good dozen times or so before he decides to start throwing it to me instead and makes me run to catch it.  The whole thing devolves into touchdown dances on our patio before we finish up our cleaning task and head inside.  Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself pegging him as a future quarterback, but who am I to stand in the way of talent if it is there.

Since then, though, he has taken to another sport – soccer.  He decided to start kicking around a soccer ball in the living room.  And wouldn’t you know, he kicked the ball a good 12 feet across the room to my wife some 20 times or so with surprising precision before our little princess decided she wanted a turn at the ball.  If they both want to play soccer, I have no problem with that.  But I don’t think I’m being prejudiced in thinking that my son will likely prove to be more impressive to watch.

So here I am, a father who would have been happy having all girls so as to avoid these issues:  Who am I, a man who has never played or had aptitude in any sport, to raise an athlete?  Will I lack the proper enthusiasm or appreciation to push my son to be the kind of athlete he has the potential to be?  While I’m not really losing sleep over the matter, I do have concerns – how much do I encourage; how much pressure is too much … or not enough?  Or am I just getting way too ahead of myself?