My Favorite Kelce

Long before Taylor Swift starting showing up at NFL games, I was a fan of Travis Kelce. In addition to his appearance on Saturday Night Live, I've loved seeing him inside Harrah's Casino in South Lake Tahoe and on the course beside his QB Pat Mahommes in the American Century Golf Championship. He's a goof ball off the gridiron and a gladiator on it. Though the Niners have a great tight end in George Kittle, it' hard to argue that #87 for the Kansas City Chiefs isn't the best in the game. But, he's not my favorite Kelce.

And, as much as I admire Travis' older brother Jason, he's not my favorite Kelce either. Sports fans know Jason is the reason Travis is even in the league. He has paved the way for his little brother—from convincing their college coach to give Travis a second chance to starting "New Heights." This is the podcast that created the platform and buzz for TayTay to take notice. In short, Jason is NOT to be underestimated. At center/offensive lineman for the Eagles, Jason has been team captain for the past six seasons. But, he's second to someone else.

My favorite Kelce is "Mama Kelce," but not the one that the public knows by now. Jason and Travis' mom Donna is famous for her two team shirts at the Super Bowl, sitting next to Taylor in a box on a game day and ubiquitous ads for Campbell's soup. However, the Mama Kelce I am talking about is the wife of Jason and mother of their three daughters. Her name is Kylie. And if If Taylor Swift marries into this family, I hope she knows what she's up against. Kylie grew up an Eagles fan and is a woman that I believe all female sports fans can appreciate and admire. 

One can "meet" Kylie and get to know her story/their story vis à vis Amazon's tremendously popular video "Kelce" which came out in September 2023. As noted on the Prime Video page, 

NFL All-Pro center Jason Kelce started documenting what he thought was his final year in the NFL. Instead, the film intimately captures the most epic year in Jason and Travis’s life, from starting a hit podcast together, Jason’s wife Kylie being pregnant with their third child, and ultimately meeting each other at the Super Bowl. All while Jason grapples with the decision of his retirement.

Football fans know, Jason Kelce is still in the league. While his brother is getting most of the attention right now, Jason is the primary focus of this documentary. And with Jason, comes Kylie.

"Kelce," reveals that Kylie and Jason met on Tinder, a popular dating app. Although none of his profile pictures showed anything Eagles or football, she admits that he looked familiar. Let's give credit where credit is due. It's unlikely for most women AND men to recognize players on the O-Line. Go Ky.

Early on in the program, she states "I feel like it's the true Philadelphia way, but when I'm watching broadcast, I'm like, can you STOP focusing on the other team?" You don't have to be from Philly to feel that way. What sports fan hasn't uttered that cry. #PreachOn.

Kylie's father—a background figure in the film— is a diehard football fan, too. I thought how he must have felt when his daughter married an Eagle. JACKPOT. He lays low, setting a good example for his daughter and she too keeps it real. For example, following the NFC Championship—when the Super Bowl became a reality—the camera shows Jason, Kylie and kids in their living room.

She says, "Alright so I'm doing the maximum amount of tickets that you can purchase—because that's what we were counting for." She pauses and puts the phone down."This is why I don't go on the calculator on my phone," she said.

"Yeah it's a lot of money," said Jason.

"$50,000 DOLLARS!" said Kylie. 

"Yep." said Jason.

Kylie responds "We are paying $4k to for a f***Ing kid who is not going to sit in her seat to watch her dad play in a game. That's bananas!"

"It is," said Jason.

My jaw, which dropped upon hearing the price tag, suddenly closed and then smiled as their two year old daughter said (as she pushes a baby stroller), "I''m going to the Eagles game. My baby wants to go tot the Super Bowl, too." This is as real as their life gets....and I love it. But not as much as what she said about her team. The one that her husband happens to play for. 

Kylie said, "to be clear, I am an Eagles to the extent that If Jason ever went and played for another team,  I would wear Kelce, but I would not wear another team's stuff. I've genuinely thought about that a number of times. I just couldn't do it. Travis was in the playoffs one year, and the Eagles were not and so we went to a playoff game in Kansas City and I was so like--Do I have to? Trav knows that I always want Travis to be successful, OBVIOUSLY I always want Jason to be successful but I'm not going to be out there doing the Chief's chop, whatever that tomahawk thing. No."

I am not in this position, but I do not and have never had it in me to wear anything but Notre Dame. I have no interest in wearing another team's stuff. None. If someone asked me to do that, the closest indicator of support for another school I can offer is in the form of their colors. Maybe. You will not see me taking on another school's cheers, traditions or logos. Ever. And I won't apologize for this. No way. Kylie, I got you. I get you. Thank you.

In the Netflix series "Beckham," Victoria Beckham said loud and proud "I am NOT into football. I wasn't into football then. I'm not into football now." While some partners will appreciate Posh Spice's point-of-view, it does not resonate with me in the least. 

Rather, Kylie has captured the Kelce crown because she is so relatable. (She might be my soul sister?!) I appreciate how she is super supportive and low key. She is beautiful and funny. While watching your husband and brother-in-law play in the Super Bowl or convincing your OB-GYN to travel with you to the game is far from real life, in the midst of that madness I think she does all she can to keep things grounded. She keeps her priorities straight—and that starts with support for her team.

Yes, it's Team Kelce, but that name happens to be on her favorite team's green/silver/black/white jersey. 

Taylor, I hope you get to sit next to her in for a game sometime soon.

Photo Credits
Kylie, Jason and Kids

Jason and Ky

Two Kelces
Donna and Taylor

Seek and You Will Find: 5 Things Making Me Happy

In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus proclaims “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." If only it were that easy—says the cynic in me. But far be it from me to argue with Christ the Teacher. 

In my last post I wrote about 5 Things that made me happy from the 2023 Masters. I could have written 25. I have wondered if I should author my own 5 ways that sports and spirituality make me happy. However, I wasn't sure I could list or name five on a regular basis. Well, there's something to those words: seek and find. The master teacher had it right. Here are five from my spring break. 

1. More, more, more!
Travis Kelce the two time Super Bowl champion tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs  hosted Saturday Night Live (in early March) and killed it. Ever since he first played in the American Century Classic golf tourney in Tahoe—and I offered my friend money to play Black Jack next to him—I've been a fan. With his older brother Jason, center for the Philadelphia Eagles in the audience, #87 was a great host. 

The part that made me laugh is when he admitted he was nervous to give a monologue until he remembered, "I'm pretty good with words." He added "during games I give these super eloquent pump up speeches for my teammates." As he says, "please watch: here."

2. Don't Count Me Out
Maggie Eastland is the editor-in-chief of The Observer, the student run daily paper at the University of Notre Dame. In the latest issue of the alumni magazine she writes a piece on her Baraka Bouts debut (the female equivalent of Bengal Bouts) which offered new and unsuspecting insights into the virtues of boxing.

Women’s boxing strikes a balance between competition and collaboration, personal growth and charity.

She went so far as to connect it to her major. Curran finds the similarities between the ring and her finance major striking. She’s not a violent person, “yet people see the fire that I have for academics,” she says. “Finance is inherently risky. . . .  I like to think I am a person who is very much willing to take risks.”

She writes "For me, junior captain Nicole Lies captured the bouts’ spirit. “It’s about so much more than just boxing. It brings such empowerment, not only to people in it, but also through the mission of education,” she told me. “People have said it’s the most Notre Dame thing you can do, and I think that’s so true.”

I have to say, I agree. I'm so happy it's open to men and women—a range of weight classes, encouraged and accepted. I wonder if she tells herself what Kelce tells his teammates....

3. Wall of Clocks
During spring break, I took my mom to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the day. We had dinner and drinks at the Inn at Spanish Bay by the fireside pits (HIGHLY recommend this space). In the lobby, I noticed a wall of clocks telling the time of various golf destinations around the world: St. Andrew's, Augusta National, and of course Pebble Beach, California.

Tine is so valuable. Time is precious. A clock keeps time and tells time—the same minute, but a different hour in a different part of the world. Based on the world clock, I could see that no one would be on the Old Course for but a few hours...

I regret not taking a photo of this wall. Next time! Pun intended. 

4. How Great Thou Art
I have already made the argument for an American cannon of literature. In order to gain a stronger sense of what it means to be an American, I believe elementary, middle and high school students should have a "shared reading experience." This cannon includes but a few great works of American literature; it can change over time. We can agree and disagree on what is and should be in this cannon. But let's share something....anything! I feel this way about poetry and music, t00. How I wish we al knew but a few folk songs and dare I say it—spirituals.

One of the songs I would include in that cannon is "How Great Thou Art." This song does not resonate with me personally. I would be lying if I told you it moves me spiritually. But on Easter Sunday Mass, I must admit it was very powerful to hear the entire congregation gathered in song. 

This realization prompted me to play this spiritual in class. I said to my sophomores, "if we're going to do this, it might as well be sung by one of America's greats: Elvis Presley."

5. PBJ con cariño
My friend Jimmy and I now have an unfolding story about the significance of a sandwich—a PBJ no less. Low and behold, he packed one for me and offered to do the same for the others in our foursome. It was made with cariño—loving care. How do I know this? For one, sandwiches made with this secret sauce always taste better. Second, it was wrapped in this awesome packaging. The little things really do make life better....or in the case of the PBJ, savory and sweet.

What are 5 that made you happy this week? Seek and ye will find....

Photo Credits
How Great Thou Art
Wall of Clocks
Inn at Spanish
Travis and Pat
Boxer