By Steve Haywood Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Oct 23, 2007 at 4:10 PM

Trust me, it's OK to cry tears of joy when you are blessed to have your favorite athlete or team win a championship, or if it helps you deal with the hurt of loss.

I write this blog knowing that there are "real sports fans" out there who think that is a sign of softness or stupidity. If you are a Cleveland Indians fan, cry your eyes out -- you have my blessing, because that is a tough way to lose a chance at a world championship.

I admitted to myself recently that it's OK to let the tears flow, whenever you feel the need to let them flow. Passion is part of my job, having passion is what makes for good debate in conversation and good drama within the context of the sporting competition. If you are a Colorado Rockies fan delirious after what they did, it's OK to cry tears of joy.

Maybe it is because of my illness and personal life issues that I let more water out of the eye sockets than in the past, and I make no excuses for that.

You shouldn't, either.

If Brewers fans are ever fortunate enough to celebrate a World Series, I've already picked out a spot where I will let the tears of joy flow in Miller Park.

Of course, they may be tears of disappointment, too. There is crying in baseball, basketball, football and whatever sport that stokes your passion.

That is what makes life worth living. Trust me, it does.

We will chat again soon. In the meantime, be sure and check out the radio highlights in the attached podcast. 

Steve Haywood Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Steve Haywood is the host of “That Being Said,” which airs weeknights at 6 p.m. on Milwaukee’s ESPN Radio 1510 Days / 1290 Nights. A lifelong Milwaukee resident, Steve has been working on the radio since 1996 and also is executive producer of Sports Perspectives on MATA Community Media.

After graduating from Milwaukee Tech High School in 1985, Haywood attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he graduated in 1991.

He has covered a number of major events, including the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2002 and the NBA All-Star Game in 2003.

Haywood, 39, is married with two kids, a dumb cat and a dog described as a “real curmudgeon.”