I absolutely LOVE the Navasota Rattlers!! I get the love of them from my Daddy, Julian Sanchez. (He worked at Brookshire Bros. and was the produce manager. He has been gone from this Earth for 23 years, so my love of the Rattlers goes WAY BACK!!) But I get the love of sports from both of my parents. A little bit of background about my family: My Mom is a Conroe Tiger. (Where our football team is playing today). My Mom is one of the smartest people I know. She was extremely smart in school, beautiful, and athletic! She was very involved in activities, including being captain of her basketball team.
She met my Daddy at a baseball game many moons ago. He lived in Navasota (thank God). So once they married, she moved here.
My Sanchez family was very involved in activities - since there were 13 of them suckers!! As my Dad became a parent and adult, he became very involved in Little League. I practically grew up on those fields! I remember chasing butterflies and running around those fields. He coached my brothers, uncles, and lots of Navasota folks. I love looking at old pictures of the good old days!
My Dad also played golf (was great at it btw - I still have some of his trophies). As my fat butt has begun working out, I enjoy walking and jogging at the old golf course in town. Being there seeing the huge ants, circling the last hole, coming around to the clubhouse brings back so many memories. As crazy as it is.......I can almost see and hear those old men again. I can hear my Daddy tell me to be quiet and drive the cart carefully.
My Dad also played poker (his poker room is behind our house now), went to Astros games often (I'm sure he's annoyed at how sorry they've been lately), and Oilers games too. We have old movies from when they went to the Dome - SUCH GREAT MEMORIES!!
Anyway - back to the Rattlers.........my Daddy was a huge Rattler fan!! My parents had season tickets to the football games. I remember we used to park behind the football bus (where the old gym at Intermediate is now)..........we would always wait after the game and congratulate the team, and I'm sure my Dad talked to the coaches about what they could do better. LOL. I LOVED BRULE FIELD - there is nothing like it!!!! Seeing those boys come down those cement steps pumped up, letting go of those blue and white balloons, catching countless footballs, etc. was so much fun!! Rattler Stadium is beautiful, but doesn't come close to the excitement of Brule!! It never will.
My two brothers played Rattler football, and my Dad also LOVED Rattler basketball! I used to go with him to some games. I remember seeing Cori Dacus play while her Dad coached. (While I'm mentioning the Dacus family, let me say one of NISD's greatest losses was when they left - they were FREAKING AWESOME on so many levels!!! I'll shut up about it now).
One of my Dad's closest friends was John Moody. They went to many games together and sat by each other. Oddly enough - Mr. Moody now sits two seats down from David and me at Rattler Stadium. I'm sure if my Dad were still alive, he'd have chosen seats right where David and I sit - which makes me smile!!
I remember so many road trips - we were the ultimate Rattler Backers!! We rode many times in Johnny and Minette Grice's RV!!! Now that's pretty dang serious - when you take an RV to a high school football game!! I also remember the long rides home after a loss. David and I still have those days, although it's been a while thank God.
I'm so glad my Dad got to see Navasota win a state championship in basketball. I remember going to Navasota's football state championship when we played South Lake Carroll and lost. If I'm not mistaken, we rode a charter bus. And it was a heartbreaker. In the past four/five years, our teams have deserved to win state. They have come so close and can't seem to get past a certain point. I hope this year is different. I have had the privilege of my daughter being a Rattler cheerleader and going far into playoffs watching her cheer. This year my JV Rattler son gets to travel and be on the field with the team, which is pretty cool!! This year is our best chance yet of winning. I hope we do and I'm going to eat so much before entering Jerry's World so that I can .......... oops, I digress. Sorry about that.
As I'm in the stands cheering with my binoculars around my neck tonight and every Rattler football night, I'm totally doing things my Daddy would have done and I couldn't be more proud to be his daughter. Not only do I get my good looks, AWESOME SENSE OF HUMOR, foul mouth (sorry Momma) from him, but I get his love of Navasota Rattlers, which is probably the one thing I'm most proud of!!! GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
