The Sun God festival holds a special meaning for a large percentage of UCSD students. After storing up endless amounts of partying through midterms, lab reports and hours upon hours of World of Warcraft, Tritons emerge from their rooms and gasp at the abundance of life surrounding them. An event this big necessitates not only the festivities of Friday but a Saturday recovery as well. Unfortunately, what might be lost in this mix is the eventuality of Sunday, when a more widely recognized holiday occurs — Mother’s Day.

Maybe you planned ahead and have a gift already wrapped, flowers already being sent or numerous alarms already prepared to wake you up in time to make that all-important morning phone call that shows Mom you remembered. Then again, maybe you didn’t remember and are now offering your profuse thanks to the timeliness of this article. Or perhaps, you’re wondering, what the hell does Mother’s Day have to do with sports?

I’m glad you asked. It would have been easy to write an entire Mother’s Day article on a famous sporting mom, like the commercialized Momma McNabb or the commendable Lucille “Holy Crap! You Gave Birth To Shaq!” O’Neal Harrison. Unfortunately, neither returned my calls. Nonetheless, moms play an integral part in sports and the sporting lives of their children.

Mom is the one who shuttles you to soccer and Little League. Mom is the one who eases the pressure, telling you that as long as you try your best, she’ll be proud. Mom gets the good snacks for after games, giving out cookies instead of apples and listening to the complaints of other parents while allowing you to bask in the sweet-filled glory. Mom goes out to get you a new basketball when yours is flat, a new mitt when yours is lost and new Nikes because yours are old.

By no means do I intend to portray moms, or women in general, as merely decorative features in sports. Nor is ‘Mom’ limited to the biological sense of the word. Mom can be a grandma, big sister or any motherly or inspiring figure in your life. No matter what form, Mom can be the driving force behind getting kids into sports, but Mom can also compete. Mom can pitch. Mom can hit. Mom can race. Mom can shoot. Mom can coach. Mom can win championships. Mom can give little girls someone to look up to and a reason to believe there’s a place for them. And Mom can give the hugs kids need to keep them from needlessly clotheslining an opponent in the waning minutes of a playoff game.

Mom is the one who drops whatever she’s doing to go out front and even up the teams in a soccer game, and then runs back inside to get ice after your friend learns the hard way that she’s an awesome goalie. Mom makes you feel like the greatest basketball player in the world by clapping and cheering even when you’re just practicing. Mom stands outside in the cold to buy the newest video game system and the sports-themed game to go with it, and then goes back out to buy the books and equipment you ask for when you think mastery of Madden could lead to a coaching career. Mom says games are over even when they’re not, and then listens intently as you explain that it’s only the third quarter or the fifth inning and a lot can happen. Mom calms you down when your hero retires, twice, and then gets you tickets when he makes a final comeback. Mom supports you when you tell her that you don’t want to be a lawyer anymore and instead want to do something in sports. Mom saves all of your articles, reading even those that make no sense to her.

Sure, sports are primarily a male-dominated arena, but if moms are just afterthoughts, why do so many championship and award acceptance speeches start with a shout-out to her? Maybe it’s success or just hindsight that lets you see how much mom really did.

Thanks, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.