Oh how I hate Ohio..

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I was raised in a family where you don't use the h-word and we share that same value with our kids. BUT, on Saturday after my Wolverines fell to the undefeted Buckeyes, it seemed to be the only verb that could come close to describing the feeling in the pit of my stomach.
 
I know, I know…it’s only football and more so than ever itis over marketed and a gross sign that Americans have nothing better to do thancheer on 19 year old kids with a veracity that could solve world hunger 7 timesover.

 
The beautiful thing about this rivalry is it reminds me howtwo football foes make each other better given their shared goal to win achampionship. Through taking on the foe of Myeloma, some of my dearest friendswho are helping make me better and stay on track to kick cancer and dominate life are those whosaw nothing wrong with parading Jim Tressel around the field, as if he wasn’tthe reason that their 12-0 season means very little to ESPN college footballcommentators.
It is the passion these Buckeyes have for their team that I findthem transferring to other worthy causes that can make a monumental differencein lives of others. They will paint their face, drink their kool-aid and neverlose hope in their Buckeyes. It may annoy many of us who don’t understand how invested someonecan be in a sport they never played or a school they didn’t go to, but I havelearned to embrace that passion of some Buckeyes, who have had a deep impact on my life.
Below is one of my most memorable photos of the year. Itincludes my good friend Barb, a diehard Buckeye from Columbus, who’s motherpassed away with Multiple Myeloma this year. She paced me through the Chicagohalf marathon so I could reach my goal of finishing in 2 hours. Believe it or not,I crossed the line at 2 hours and 34 seconds. She not only has become a running coach of sorts for me, she has also raised close to $20,000 for cancer research at..guess where??...The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center of all places. She doesn't allow allegiance to her football team get in the way of advancing research towards a cure. She has been has faithful in myjourney as she is with her Buckeyes in the fall. For that, I am thankful.

Before I get targeted as a heretic by the Michiganfaithful, I will add that three of the people in the car are Michigan Alums whoalso ran the race with me and assisted me in my domination of the race. So the hatred for Ohio has in some cases turned to love, but I still think often about stiff arming Buckeyes.