My mother, Therese, has evolved into a consummate sports fan. While this revelation became startlingly clear several weeks ago, its origin has been more difficult to track.

It may have occurred with the steady decline of good TV shows over the years. Or it may have started with the many agonizingly close runs the Boston Red Sox made at a World Series title until they ended their 86-year drought in 2004. Still yet, it may have begun when my late father started playing golf after his retirement.

Over the last several months, my mother’s appreciation of sports has been maintained despite the loss of her beloved husband, Harold, after 54 years of marriage. We’re sure that Dad is still following the games – although he may take a brief respite now and then to catch some reruns of the “Andy Griffith Show.”

Over the last decade or so, my parents started watching more sports on TV.

It wasn’t always like that.

Their sports time and knowledge used to center around their four children and nine grandchildren. They would always take the time to attend as many ballgames as possible.

The support was always welcome, although my mother always thought – like most loving mothers – that I should have gained more playing time on the basketball court. However, unlike some overbearing parents of today, she thankfully never complained to my coach and even more importantly convinced my oldest brother, Don, that it wouldn’t be a good idea to sit behind the coach at our games and yell at him to put me in.

During those days there was little time for our parents to listen to Red Sox games on the radio or, especially, watch them on TV. Golf tournaments were considered the ultimate in boredom.

That started to change as our games ended and the grandchildren’s games became fewer. A little more time was probably the push toward more Red Sox games and PGA tournaments.

My mother’s perspective on the games and athletes has followed her upbringing. She appreciates the hard-working players and those who espouse good family values.

She has her favorites.

Phil Mickelson is one. It’s really not because Phil is such a good golfer but more because during the 1999 U.S. Open he played with a beeper in his golf bag when his wife was nine months pregnant. Mickelson promised he would leave the tourney – even though he ultimately came within one shot of winning – if his wife went into labor.

My mother has been one of Phil’s best fans ever since.

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is another huge favorite because he is a devout family man with a strong faith in God.

And then there’s Johnny Damon.

He’s an ex-favorite. However, when he was in Boston, his hustling play and clutch hits made my mother a fan. Oh, and it didn’t hurt that he was just a bit on the handsome side. Sorry, Ma, your secret’s out.

Despite a realization of my mother’s favorite teams and athletes, it wasn’t until after Mickelson won The Players Championship in May that I finally realized her late evolution as a sports fan. She missed watching the last day of the tourney because she was in Bangor watching two of her granddaughters – my daughter, Tess, and niece, Katie Butler – perform in a dance recital. When I told my mother of Mickelson’s win, she replied, “Wow, and he was 1-over yesterday.”

A consummate sports fan with the jargon to back it up.

Sports editor Joe McLaughlin may be reached at 990-8229, 1-800-310-8600 or at jmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net