Shadows (Patrick Kane)

(28) Bring People Together

Sophia

Before we knew it it was the end of August and we were needed back in Chicago. I had training to start for my new job and Patrick had training of his own. So we say goodbye to his family and friends, promise to come back sometime soon before taking off.

I was really going to miss Buffalo. It was a big city but a small community. That place, those people, it all taught me a lot about life, about love, about the purpose of it all. And leaving there didn't mean I was going to forget everything those nice people taught me. Just made it a little harder to live in a reality where I'm not constantly surrounded by people who want to see me do good. There's people rooting against me because according to them I have no place in sports. I never played professional anything so what do I know? Chicago fans are quick to call out its teams if they're not doing well and I am going to be in the middle of it. There is a lot of pressure that comes with doing what I'm trying to do. Luckily I got a really good friend to help me through it.

I walk into CSN and I start my training nice and easy. One of the other reporters helps me out and I really enjoyed his company. Richard has been here for a long time and I will learn so much from him. Though he does all the sports I don't I know he is exactly who I need. He did really good work and he loved his job. I plan to soak up everything I can from him before I hit the TV screens for the first football game in September.

"Here's some film to watch from the Bears from fall ball. They don't allow cameras in the practice facilities so all we have is preseason games and not many of the starters play a lot in them. You chose a team that is famously good at making our job difficult" he teases.

"Wouldn't be the first time a football team surrounded by one of my family member's made my life difficult" I joke back as he laughs at me.

We cue up some tape from their game last year against the Janguars. I watch closely as the men line up on the line of scrimmage. Cutler sets his back in motion but the defense doesn't budge.

"They know he's passing, he's gonna get sacked" I announce

"I thought you said you haven't watch this game" Rich says.

"I haven't" I admit.

A second later Jay was on his back due to a pretty harsh blitz put on by the Jaguars. Richard stops the tape as he turns to me.

"How did you know that" he questions.

"It's not hard, really. It's predictability. Jay wanted you to follow the runners but the motion wasn't very convincing. Play action was out of question due to the positioning of the backs so it was a obvious play fake to throw the ball. It's in the design of the play and the poor execution.

Then you look at the o-line. They pick up the fact that the defense didn't budge knowing the blitz was coming. Blitz was always the call but now that the linebacker knows what happens next he sends five instead of four. The o-line gets overwhelmed and there is few people in the league worse with pocket pressure than Cutler. But he's no idiot either so he grabs the ball and instead of trying to force a play causing a turnover he takes the sack and wonders when the o-line protection will ever step up" I explain.

He just shakes his head as he laughs at me. "You got quite the gift there. There's players who can't see the game the way you do" he claims.

"I learned from a good friend and his dad about how a game can be controlled by a player who can do what I do. The predictability is a gift but no one can make it on gifts alone" I say.

"You got some smart friends" he notices.

"That I do" I smile.

We spend the rest of the day just hanging out and sharing our sports stories. Richard was 30 years older than me but I felt a connection with him. He admires this city and it's sports and it makes him great at his job. I've watched his stuff, he does some college football and mostly Cubs and Bulls but a good sports reporter can make anything sound like fun.

It gets late so I head on home. When I get there I see a package sitting outside and I stop. I haven't ordered anything which isn't like me. But with being away for so long I didn't want to order something and not be here to get it.

I pick up the package and bring it inside. I find my good scissors and open it up. I see some Bears stuff from my brother and I smile. He was being really supportive and probably trying to butter me up so I don't tear into him once the season starts. But as long as he plays well he has nothing to worry about.

I find a picture at the bottom of the box from when we were kids. He was just a baby and I was holding him in my arms. I loved him so so much growing up. He was really all I had for such a long time. Mom was gone and dad would be off taking care of other people. We had each other and for a while that was enough.

I wish it was still like that. Especially after seeing how close Patrick is with his family. Sports really does bring people together and maybe this is what brings us back together. I hope it does.

So I call him up and thank him for the cool stuff I get to wear into work. We talk for a while before he had a team dinner. I let him go and call up Patrick to see how he's doing since we've been back for a day.

"You miss me already" he teases.

"Was that not you who sent the I miss you text this morning" I accuse.

"No! That was... that was Jonny. He wanted to mess with me so he sent that" he claims.

"Uh huh" I mumble.

"You're not buying it huh" he asks.

"You can work on your sales pitch a little more" I joke.

"So how are you" he wonders.

"Good. I had a great time at work. I met with Rich and we got a lot of work done. Once I learn about all the cues and what camera to look to then I'll be ready. Training was great today and I got to work with the best mind around so I feel a lot better" I explain.

"So this Rich guy..." he trials off.

"Is 54 and has three kids my age" I assure him as he laughs.

"Good" he says.