| | By Doug Brien
Special to ESPN.com
Editor's note: What is life in an NFL training camp like? Kicker Doug Brien takes you inside the camp of the New Orleans Saints with his weekday diary for ESPN.com.
Tuesday, Aug. 1
THIBODAUX, La. -- Yesterday we flew to Jacksonville to scrimmage against the Jaguars. Since, I wouldn't have access to a computer today, I asked my wife, Shanti, to a do a diary entry about what it's like to be an "NFL wife." Because she is an attorney by trade, she is frequently asked what the NFL lifestyle is like and how she fits in. Here are her thoughts; I hope you find them interesting:
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| Brien |
"Doug and I have been together since college so I've experienced the NFL for six years. When Doug played for San Francisco in 1994, I didn't fit in with the other wives, decked out in leather outfits and diamonds. I had just graduated from U.C. Berkeley as an Ethnic Studies major. Doug had what most people think of as the ultimate life after being drafted by his hometown team in the third round – mega media coverage, adoring fans, big parties, high-paying appearances, and, to top it off, a Super Bowl ring. It all overwhelmed me. The NFL and my feminist neo-hippie ways didn't really mesh.
Once with the Saints, Doug's career blossomed but the lifestyle settled down. After graduating from Stanford Law School (for all you Cal alumni – I know, I sold out), we got married and I moved to New Orleans. We live downtown only a few blocks from where I work. In the offseason, we have a typical life: I work and Doug works on his MBA at Tulane. We like to go out to dinner (sometimes with friends from the Saints). We both work out, contribute to the community, and see our families as much as possible.
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But when the team gets into field goal range, I start to get very nervous – nauseous really. I don't think most wives experience this because their husbands have so many plays in each game. ” |
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— Shanti Brien |
When the season begins, life changes. The five weeks when Doug is at camp are a rude awakening. No longer do we have weekends together. Doug has Tuesdays off and I don't. Friday nights we try to get out and do something fun. But Saturday and Sunday night center around getting reading for the game. Doug gets serious and quiet. I often go out and entertain the hoard of family and/or friends in town for the game.
At the game, I sit in the section with the other families. Our section is easy to spot – it's the one with all of the really small children (no one without free tickets would bring three children all under 5 years old to a football game) and the dressed-up women (that didn't change since the 49ers). Many of us have become friends over the years and we catch up on kids and news just about as much as we watch the game. But when the team gets into field goal range, I start to get very nervous – nauseous really. I don't think most wives experience this because their husbands have so many plays in each game. A field goal attempt may be Doug's only big play of the whole afternoon. When Doug makes the field goal I'm excited and relieved. My back usually goes into spasms because of the relief after such tension. If the game goes well we go out for dinner after; if it doesn't, you can find us on the couch for the next day or so.
So as this season approaches, I find myself nervous, excited and proud. I'm nervous because each season is a challenge – a long stressful time with no job security, more than enough game-winning field goals and a lot of out-of-town relatives. I'm excited to see some old friends at the game and witness the "new" Saints. I'm proud of Doug for working hard this offseason and making it to his seventh season."
Material from kicking.com.
Visit Doug Brien's web site at http://www.kicking.com
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