Thanks, Jarrett — I’ll do my best to clarify. I mentioned football at the outset to point out that my hero for most of my childhood was white. I didn’t have much of a perspective of racial differences at that point. My daughter’s experience in that game — or, more accurately, my perception of it — felt fitting in the midst of my post.

(An aside: Often writers write ahead of themselves, and perhaps don’t put enough of the mortar between bricks. I apologize for that.)

It’s my writing style, however. And I know not everyone will find it appealing. I can appreciate that you do not.

Even in the instances you feel you’ve wasted reading something, you’ve actually gained something. Never forget that.