My accident happened two days before the Superbowl. The passage about Superbowl Sunday 1992, is shared in part in the STORY section of this website.

Like most Americans, I watch the Superbowl each year. And while I still follow the NFL, once I went to Notre Dame I became more interested in football at the college level.

However, in 1996, thanks to then-New York Times sports writer and friend, Malcolm Moran, I attended Superbowl XXX with my dad in Tempe, Arizona. The Dallas Cowboys played the Pittsburgh Steelers. What a thrill to actually attend a Superbowl and all the hoopla. It is a memory with my dad that I will always treasure.

My oldest son is a football nut. He too, like me growing up, can watch any game - no matter who is playing. He cheers for Notre Dame during the Fall, but also roots for Navy, the Florida Gators, Penn State and some of the local professional teams: the Ravens, the Redskins and a family favorite: the Jets. He actually just likes to root for whichever team is winning. Last year during the Superbowl, he cheered for the Patriots until the end of the game, when he switched his season-long loyalty to the Giants. He just wanted to root for the winning team. When you are 7 years old, it is all about winning.

But two weeks ago while watching the Ravens-Steelers game, I had a great teaching moment with my son. One of the Ravens’ players was injured and the game was delayed for several minutes while he was removed from the field. During that time, we talked about good sportsmanship (when both teams clapped when the player was taken away), and how football really is just a game. I am always telling my children that we only root for our teams - we never root against another team. We never wish ill-will on another team or player, and we are always respectful to our opponents.

Out of the blue, while waiting for the Ravens-Steelers game to resume, my son asked, “Mom, did they carry you away on a board like that?” With tears in my eyes I realized he had made the connection and I replied, “Yes, and aren’t you glad all the other teams and other swimmers cheered for me?”

He got it.