Tips, tricks, and winning plays for athletes and their families.
We’ve already shared some of our favorite sports-themed engagement stories that we’ve collected over the years, stories that remind us you don’t have to be rich and do something crazy like spend half a million dollars on a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl (that she’s likely to miss) to create a special moment that you’ll both talk about the rest of your lives, long after you’re married. Here are three more of our favorites.
Tara was the star pitcher on her college softball team – and Ben loved watching her play. She had an arm like no other – truly, the player other coaches warned their teams about. But she was also striking with long blonde hair that she pulled back into a ponytail, though some strands would always fall into her face anyway. He worked at the concession stand to earn extra money, so he was at every game. They started dating during their sophomore year, and stayed together after graduation, opting to move to Baltimore after Ben was offered a great job opportunity working in the front office of a major sports team. They were super busy the first year after college – Ben learning the ropes at his new job and Tara finding a job in her field, and hadn’t talked much about getting married, though the topic had come up. The second year, things had settled down a bit and they decided to travel back to Ohio for their school’s alumni weekend. It was a whirlwind of activities and on Saturday evening, around dusk, Ben suggested to Tara they hit the softball field because he wanted to see his girl on the field and take some photos of them back where they first met. Once they got there, he pulled out two softball gloves and said, “let’s have a catch.” Tara smiled and agreed – and Ben immediately overthrew the ball. Laughing and joking at his expense, Tara went to pick up the ball and stopped in her tracks. It said, “Marry Me, Superstar?”
Ben came and put his arms around her, and said, “I always wanted to marry a superstar. Will you make my dreams come true and marry me?” as he pulled the glove off her hand and slipped a ring on her finger. The couple kissed on the field where Tara had won so many games; the place they fell for each other. Five years later, the married couple makes a point to go to alumni weekend and visit the field where they got engaged.
Find the perfect softball for your superstar (and future wife) here.
Sara worked in a small accounting office and her boyfriend of ten years, Mark, knew all her co-workers, including her boss, so he was able to surprise her in a way most people never get to. The two had met at a local Michigan hockey game, by chance – as they happened to sit next to each other. They bonded over their love for the game and Mark wanted to do a unique hockey proposal that would really catch Sara (who figured they’d never actually get married since they’d been together so long – and she was fine with that) by surprise. He worked closely with Debbie, who shared an office with Sara, to sneak a custom printed mini hockey stick into her pencil and pen cup. And then he hid out in the conference room, waiting for a signal that Sara had found the stick that read, “Sara, Will You Marry Me? Love Always, Mark” It wasn’t a long wait (accountants are always using different pens and pencils) and Sara found the hockey stick. She looked around, but there was nobody there. Mark slowly walked into her office with a smile on his face and a heart-shaped ring. Sara actually knocked her desk chair over, getting up to jump into Mark’s arms and say “YES!” Mark yelled out, “she said yes!” and all of Sara’s co-workers came out congratulating them and even brought a cake so they could all be a part of the celebration. After all of this, the boss told Sara to take the rest of the day off to celebrate with her fiance – and she started crying because it was the first time someone had used that word. This was in 2009.
Today, Mark and Sara have season tickets to that very same local hockey team’s games – only they now know they’ll be sitting together… as a married couple.
Surprise the love of your life with a personalized hockey stick – choose carefully!
It was one of those days when it felt like there was nothing to do and Paul and Gail were going crazy trying to think of something to do when they got together later that day. Well, Gail was, anyway. Paul was just saying “no” to everything she suggested. Lunch and a movie. The aquarium. A carnival that happened to be in town. The beach. Paul let her make all these suggestions before finally saying, “I know. Grab your old lacrosse stick and I’ll grab mine. We’ll have a catch in the park.” Gail was just relieved Paul finally figured out something they could do, and it was a good idea. They’d both played lacrosse in high school and college, and even though they didn’t play regularly, they still shared a love for the sport and reminiscing about their best games over their respective lax careers.
When they got to the park, they tossed the ball around, a little clumsily at first, as it had been some time since they played but they shook off the rust and started to get competitive, as anyone who plays sports has a habit of doing. They were laughing as each tried to throw the ball a little harder every time and after an hour or so, decided to sit down under a shady tree and relax. They laughed and talked about their best – and worst – game moments, former teammates, and the craziest things they ever saw happen on the field. Once they had cooled down, Gail suggested they grab lunch at their favorite taco place and Paul said he wanted to throw the ball around some more. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a specially engraved ball that he tossed to Gail. She looked at it and gasped. It read, “Paul and Gail… Forever. Please?” He then reached into his other pocket and took out a small box containing his great-grandmother’s engagement ring, which had been passed down through the family to him. He got down on one knee and said, “So, what do you think?” looking up at her with his big brown eyes. She smiled and said, “Absolutely. Forever.” And he said, “So that means you’ll marry me?” As if there were any question!
The married couple still plays lacrosse from time to time, but when they take a break to talk about their greatest lacrosse moment, it’s now always the story of how they got engaged… 7 years ago (and counting.) And yes, the two future lax stars they’re raising have heard it once, or twice, or seven hundred times.
Have a special lacrosse ball engraved with your proposal message today.
These are just some of our favorite sports proposal stories. Have you asked someone to marry you in a similar way? Are you thinking of it? Did your husband propose to you that way? Share your stories – we’d love to hear about them – and all the amazing and wonderful marriages that came as a result of the bonds that sports build between us.
The post Sports-Themed Marriage Proposals, Part 2 appeared first on ChalkTalkSPORTS Blog.