The NFL season kicks off tonight, with another game tomorrow, 13 more on Sunday, and a Monday Night Football matchup set to cap off the Week One slate. Millions will be tuning in, although not everyone will be able to watch their favorite team (or keep close tabs on their fantasy football squad). Among those missing out will be the vast majority of big leaguers. At the same time that pigskin luminaries like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are performing on the gridiron, major leaguers will be plying their trade on the baseball diamond. When you’re a professional athlete, forgoing other pastimes — watching other sports is but one of many — comes with the territory. What is it like to miss out on things you’d be enjoying were it not for your responsibilities as a ballplayer? I asked several big league players for their perspectives on that very subject. Here is what they had to say.
George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder:
“I wouldn’t ever say ‘Why do I have to play today?’ but I love football. I’m a big football fan. When the NFL gets going, and college football gets going, it’s exciting for me. A lot of it is just a break from the constant everyday grind of baseball, having a chance to go to an NFL game, to a hockey game, to a concert. Anything like that.
“I’m a Patriots fan, and yes [I will have to miss their opener]. But it’s not that I don’t get a chance to watch things and go to things. I’ve kind of learned to appreciate the times that I do have to watch. During the offseason, me and my buddies, or me and my son, get to sit down and watch football on Sundays. It’s awesome to have that chance. Yeah, there might be some games that I have to miss, but at the end of the day, I’m playing major league baseball. I get to enjoy that, too.”
Patrick Wisdom, Chicago Cubs infielder:
“My perspective is that I’m grateful to be on the field in a big league game during another important sporting event. However, there are times you wish you could watch the other sports. For instance, when the Olympics were on and Mal was playing [Mallory Swanson, the wife of Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, plays soccer for the United States Women’s National Team], it would have been pretty awesome to watch one of her games with the guys, especially with Dansby.
“The Masters, too, being able to watch that on a Sunday, although when we play a day game we can watch them come down the stretch; we can get the last few holes in. But to your point, yes, it is tough. You do miss a lot in the summer. At the same time, like I said, I’m grateful to be out there playing in a big league game.”
//Continued for other players.
