For those who follow on social media, you all have heard me say numerous times that I have the best job in the world. 

Not to sound like a broken record, but it’s true.

I am sure many of you who work in different professions — and love what you do — will say the same about your job.

But being a sports fanatic has its benefits other than just getting paid to attend events.

Sports in general are great.

A couple of weeks ago I shared a photo that I captured during a volleyball match, with a parent. The photo wasn’t some award-winning type of art, but it was just a funny moment that I thought the parent would appreciate.

As it turns out, the family was having a rough week and it brought a little joy.

It’s nice to know that sports can be so uplifting. It can definitely bring out the worst in people — just ask a certain Sullivan tennis parent about their experience with another parent from the opposing team Thursday night (LET’S GO!). But if you look hard enough, you can find much more good that it brings, than the bad.

It should come to no surprise that sports have been a part of my life since I can remember. Growing up I didn’t want to be an astronaut, a doctor, police officer or any other of the typical professions that kids proclaim. Or at least I don’t recall.

I wanted to be a professional baseball player. Those dreams dashed away probably in high school when I decided track would be my spring sport. Although I did still play summer baseball.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do later in life. I just knew that I wanted to be involved in sports.

Twenty-plus years later, here we are and sports are still the center of my world.

And now I get to share love and joy. Not only with what you all see on here and my social media accounts, but I get to share the love of sports with my family.

Since moving back home last year, I have been able to enjoy rounds of golf with my dad.

Even when I don’t have time to get out and chase the white ball with the old man, I still enjoy getting text

updates on what he shot that day.

Also I get to share a love of sports with my niece and nephew. Those that have me on social media know that I often refer to them as my “favorite little goofballs” and “the sassy five-year old” for my niece Reece or my “little man” for my nephew Archer.

Mom and dad, if you end up reading this to Reese, just skip over the reference to the sassy part (I got in trouble by Reese) for this earlier lol.

Anyway … I may be a little biased when it comes to those two, but they are little all-stars who are going to be great athletes. Even if they didn’t share my same love for sports, I would still love them just the same. But let me tell you, I sure do absolutely love watching them play soccer, baseball/softball, flag football and soon-to-be basketball.

Reese is an absolute bulldog. She’s playing up an age division this year for baseball and soccer, but she’s still crushing it.

Archer may just be the Pele of youth soccer. That kid can score from anywhere on the field and he is learning to use both his left and right foot as a weapon. 

I couldn’t help but smile last weekend when the opposing coach told his players to “keep the ball away from Archer”. He’s that good. He’s still only seven, but I think soccer is going to be his main sport in his older years.

And he’s pretty darn good on the baseball diamond as well. I had to miss the game, but he hit his first inside-the-park home run earlier this week and ended up hitting for the cycle. If that kid hits one to the gap and there’s no one in front of him to slow him down, he’s going to touch all the bases with ease.

Not that I was some hall of fame athlete growing up, but I am just glad that both those goofballs get their athletic ability from their uncle and not their mother. Sorry Sam, although I know you agree. 

I also love their competitive spirit. They are oftentimes their harshest critic, but wanting to be the best isn’t always a bad thing. And trust me, they both want to be the best!

I also enjoy getting to share special moments with the athletes that I cover on a daily basis and their families. They may give me a hard time about wearing certain colors, but the rapport we have built up is one of the best parts of the job. I absolutely love all the interactions I can share with them — even the stuff that I can’t share in stories and social media.

I could go on and on here, but I think you all get the point. I am not sure why anyone would try, but I am certain you would not be able to convince me that sports are not the absolute best.

Oh, and fire truck rides around town will never, ever get old.

Travis David is the publisher of PressBox812 Sports and can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @Tdavid_21.