n Utd are really getting some momentum behind them and

TORONTO -- I have two sons. The first one, Charley, is 10 years old and a nerd. He loves books. The second one, Sam, is 8 years old and a jock. I dont think he can read.Charley has autism. Im not sure if all kids with autism are the same (probably not, because no two kids with autism are the same), but Charley doesnt understand sports. I mean, he understands that in soccer, for instance, the object of the game is to put the ball in the other teams net. But Charley doesnt understand why anyone would play sports, and he really doesnt understand why anybody would bother watching other people play them.Im always a little flummoxed when he asks me to explain it. There isnt much of an answer except: Its fun. Sports are fun, Charley, I say, and he looks at me with pity and hands me another book to read him as though he has to show me what Ive been missing.Sam knows that Charley is a little different, but he thinks Charley has something called optimism, and Ive never had the heart to correct him. Sam doesnt just understand sports. Sam was born believing in sports the way Charley believes in books and everything in them. Charley believes in dragons and ghosts and fairies. Sam believes in keeping score.The only toy I can remember him playing with, at least with any regularity, was a ball. I have pictures of us playing soccer together when he wasnt yet 2. (He sucked. I crushed him.) Golf entered the picture, then baseball, then hockey, then basketball. Im pretty relieved that he doesnt seem to like football, but I expect thats just a matter of time. I caught him watching darts the other day.He is a natural athlete, and when he isnt playing sports, he wants to watch them or talk about them or, worst comes to worst, think about them. He has an enormous head, both literally and egotistically, and I swear its because there are so many sports and he cant stop thinking about them all and how great he is at whichever one he decides to play in that moment.That has led to a different strain of parental flummoxing.Because I love sports, too, and its so easy to play catch with your kid or coach his soccer team or take him to the driving range and pretend youre the father of the year. Sports parenting is the cheapest kind of parenting, because its not really parenting at all. Its like being a kid again and your best friend is this other kid who you love more than anything. Its perfection.But there is so much more to life than sports. I know that. Charley knows that. The trouble is, those other things arent dragons and ghosts and fairies. They are hard and complicated and sad and real. More and more the world seems like a place that isnt much fun anymore, and its especially not much fun for grownups.So here is what Ive decided to do, as the flummoxed father of simple sons. Im going to read books to Charley, as many as I can. And Im going to watch sports with Sam, as many as I can.On Saturday, we woke up and turned on the TV to watch Liverpool, Sams team, dismantle Hull in the English Premier League. Then we drove into Toronto with some friends, and I took him to his first professional soccer game: Toronto FC against the Philadelphia Union.It was, to be kind, some garbage football, but Sam was open-mouthed most of the time. He couldnt get over the thrill of the grass, or the view from our seats of the lake, or how far the goalies could kick the ball in real life. Toronto scored a nice goal semi-late to tie it, and Sam jumped up so high that he missed the ground on his way back down and fell into the seat in front of him.Then, because this life is just the purest sort of blessing and still works out beautifully sometimes if we let it, we caught a train one minute after that game ended that took us back downtown, where Canada was playing Russia in the World Cup of Hockey at the Air Canada Centre. It was Sams first hockey game, too.We were in our seats seconds after the opening faceoff, and the first hockey goal Sam ever saw in the flesh was Sidney Crosbys steal and finish to give Canada the lead, 1-0. It happened less than 100 feet in front of his wide eyes, and his arms shot up as though hed been electrocuted. Then we ate popcorn and watched Canada go on to win.This is the funnest day ever, Sam said toward the end of it, and it was everything I could do to keep my chest from caving in.Now Im sitting in the dark, listening to him snore in the hotel bed beside me. His head barely fits on the pillow. Charley is at home with his mother, dreaming under the pile of books that he uses as a blanket.I used to think it was my job as a parent to show my boys the world, to introduce them to every last one of its wonders, to make the planet and its possibilities seem as big as possible. Ive come to think its up to them to find that out on their own. My job, when they find something they love, is to tell them that their love is wise and justified, and I love those things, too, and Id love to do those things with them for as long as they will let me.Not every day can be the funnest day ever. But today might still be pretty great, if we spend time with the people we love doing the things they love. And the more we love them, and the more they love those things, whatever they are, the better all of our chances will be.Authentic NHL Jerseys Cheap . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. Stitched NHL Jerseys . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. http://www.cheapnhlcustomjerseys.com/ . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Online . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Authentic . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec.Sky Sports Paul Merson is back to look ahead to another round of Premier League fixtures, as Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City look to pick up more points in the title race.Spurs can go top of the table with a win at West Ham, while Arsenal host Swansea and City play Liverpool for the second time in four days.Merse predicted five of the eight Premier League outcomes at the weekend, so read on for his Wednesday night shouts... Mersons last Premier League predicitions Result Merses prediction Leicester 1-0 Norwich 2-1 Southampton 1-2 Chelsea 1-1 Stoke 2-1 Aston Villa 3-0 Watford 0-0 Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham 1-0 Sunderland 3-1 West Brom 3-2 C Palace 1-1 Man Utd 3-2 Arsenal 1-2 Tottenham 2-1 Swansea 2-0 Arsenal v Swansea - 7.45pm, Wednesday I agree with Graeme Souness that Arsenal were a joke on Sunday, but I believe they will beat Swansea at home. They simply have to win this because if they lose, then its almost goodnight for the title race. For that reason, Id say this is probably the biggest game of the season so far for Arsenal. Swansea had a kick in the teeth after losing from 1-0 up at Spurs and they are probably the perfect team for Arsenal to play this week because theyre a nice team who wont kick Arsenal off the pitch. Arsenal should wiin - but if they dont score in the first 20 minutes, it could get very cagey.ddddddddddddPAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet Odds 5/1)Stoke v Newcastle - 7.45pm, Wednesday I never go against Stoke at home. They hit a bit of a brick wall a few weeks ago, but wins over Bournemouth and Aston Villa have made them a hot team again. When they get going, they can beat anybody - and I expect them to beat Newcastle. This is a very big game for Newcastle, but I have to go for Stoke.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (Sky Bet Odds 14/1)West Ham v Tottenham - 7.45pm, Wednesday This could be the hardest game Tottenham have got left to play this season. I know they play a north London derby on Saturday - but if Arsenal play like they did at Old Trafford, theyll get turned over. Every West Ham fan does not want Tottenham to win the Premier League and the atmosphere will be like a cup final on Wednesday night. Mark Noble was on The Fantasy Football Club recently saying the atmosphere against Liverpool was phenomenal - and I think this will be the same. The best I can see Tottenham coming away with is a draw. Theres not a lot between these teams on their day and I cant believe the bookies have got West Ham at 3/1 to win at home.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet Odds 5/1)Liverpool v Man City - 8pm, Wednesday I was speaking to Phil Thompson on Saturday and we thought whoever won the cup final would probably lose this game. Now Im not so sure. Liverpool will be so devastated at the manner of the defeat at Wembley and this is a bigger game for City because Man Utds win over Arsenal has put severe pressure on them finishing fourth. This is a game for the mind and the fitness of the players - Sunday will have taken more out of the losing team than the winning team - and I see another close one.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet Odds 5/1)Man Utd v Watford - 8pm, Wednesday Man Utd are really getting some momentum behind them and the goals of Marcus Rashford seem to have lifted the whole club and the fans. When one of your own scores a couple of goals, then the supporters walk away seeing a brighter future. Away from him, it feels like some of the others are now getting used to playing for a very big club. Anthony Martial was playing in front of small crowds at Monaco and now hes learning his trade in front of 75,000 at Old Trafford. This will be hard against a decent Watford team, but I expect United to win.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet Odds 15/2)Also See:Merse: LVG deserves creditPremier League questionsMarcus Rashford profileSouness on Arsenal ' ' '