AURORA — I won’t be with you this weekend, Colorado.
You don’t need me.
For the first time in 30 years, I won’t see any of your high school sports’ final weekend. In this case, there will be no championships in baseball for me. No boys lacrosse. No swimming and diving. No track and field.
I also may miss more dreary weather in a spring full of it, unhappy prom dates waiting for events to be completed or competitors crying with joy or at disappointment, but that’s the way it goes.
Nothing personal, but it is — my younger son will be graduating from college. Can you guess where I’ll be this weekend?
Be advised: Requests for Post staff writers, photographers, editors and newspaper space have been entered and I’m sure they’ll be honored.
Besides, my family has handed me my marching orders.
While most of you have paid fees of $100 or so for your daughters and sons to complete their final sports seasons as seniors, we’ll have thrown for more than six figures over the past four school years for one of ours to complete college.
But, hey, it’s not a money thing. . . .
As it is, I’ll get a peek — thank goodness there will be various track and field championships Thursday. Hence, in between packing and squaring it with neighbors, I’ll still see Mason Finley’s final discus throws for Buena Vista. Who knows? Maybe I’ll see him extend his national record of 236 feet, 6 inches, then have him dwarf and crush my hand in a congratulatory shake.
Still, I’ll miss lots that I have grown fond of seeing. If I have figured correctly, I’ll begin with a seven- to eight-hour drive in a family caravan on Friday to Creighton University in Omaha about the time competitors will embark on assorted preliminaries and finals in track and field at Jefferson County Stadium.
We’ll stop for lunch out of state at about the time upper classes of baseballers will continue Championship Series play in Denver, Lakewood and Greeley, and we should be within range of the land of big beef when ensuing rounds are completed and swimming and diving preliminaries in Fort Collins and Loveland are underway.
By Friday night, eager Colorado competitors will be having a good meal at home, then trying to sleep the night before events that will stick with them the rest of their lives. Me, too, although I’ll have eaten restaurant food and been well on my way to sleeping on a hotel mattress with hotel sheets, hotel pillow cases and a hotel comforter. (If I’m prepared, it won’t also include hotel shampoo and conditioner.)
On Saturday morning, we’ll both wake up with anticipation. Yours will be about competing in or viewing championship athletics. Mine will be as a dad who will mind his place and attempt to keep family members under control (yeah, right) in what I assume will be a couple of rows of uncomfortable arena chairs.
While you’re waiting to hear announcers throughout the day calling out certain names, schools and numbers amid assorted cheers, I’ll likewise be in place to hear the following among a prominent list of college graduates: Rory Neil Devlin.
Almost embarrassingly, more than one mom has thanked me and, for some reason, kissed me on a Championship Saturday. I see no reason why my personal Championship Saturday can’t include a series of long, knowing smooches.
Even though both of our Saturdays will involve individuals, you and I will note that none of it could have happened without a team.
No matter what occurs, you’ll be emotional and supportive; so will I.
Just like you, I’ll be telling young people how proud I am of them.
By early Saturday evening, you’ll probably be partying and reflecting on the day. Ditto for me as well as my clan.
Then you’ll have Sunday to reflect and relax. Meanwhile, I’ll spend most of it driving.
You’ll have your big weekend, Colorado, and I’ll have mine. We won’t be together, but here’s to a great one, no matter where we find ourselves.
