by Tyson Abaroa

Created on: August 03, 2010   Last Updated: August 04, 2010

There is fierce competition for a spot on the roster. Fans observe random fights breaking out between brothers in arms. Media speculation keeps the cities abuzz with what “could be.” Drops of professional sweat and blood grace the field of a high school or college making it worthy of the pig skin. NFL Preseason, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. The time of the year we can really count on Hope and Change.

I have finally been blessed the last couple of years with a winning team. I am an Arizona Cardinals fan; let me tell you it can be a tragic life, loving the Cardinals. For too many decades in Arizona, preseason was all we had. Anyone can be a Superbowl, Conference, or Division champion during the preseason. In the preseason there is hope for the faintest possibility of at least a winning season. Preseason is where we can see the mental battles of the NFL exposed to the world. Players battle themselves and their teammates just to survive the hot brutal months of camp and preseason games. We also love seeing them earn their millions.

From a professional standpoint the preseason is essential. All the teams start off with more players than they are allowed, so coaches can keep up the competition for a jersey. On every professional team there are changes big and small to a team’s roster. Strategies have to be revised or tweaked, chemistry must develop, and there have to be names cemented to starting positions. Thus, a practice game that won’t affect a divisional standing is so important. They get to test their combinations in the test tube of the preseason game.

There is still a strange sense of hype to games that don’t really count for much. However, right now, football is America’s Pastime. Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, they just keep us occupied during the offseason. Fans line up just to watch football players practice at camp. They of course are going to be drawn to even a practice game.  Practice or Real we love seeing twenty-two men crash into each other and fight for that precious green real estate.

In the end thirty-one groups of fans will end the season with broken hearts. They’ll pick up their pride, maybe jump behind a basketball or hockey team. But, they won’t stop watching contract disputes or the trades or drafts that can return them to hope next August.

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