Major Hester said he’s willing to risk death so that he can
watch Saturday’s game in Ann Arbor on television. The Spartans are ranked 17th
in the country and the Wolverines are ranked 18th.
The 69-year-old retired office supply clerk said he put off
the procedure until next week because he can’t risk something going wrong on
the operating table that would prevent him from watching the game.
“You never know,” Hester told The Detroit News as he paced
back and forth in his living room. “It’s like going into combat. You may come
home alive or you may come home dead.”
Hester said he’s aware of the risk he’s taking but is
willing to take the chance.
“Whatever happens, I want to see the game,” he said.
His friends took Hester’s decision in stride.
They say Hester gives himself pep talks to try to “keep it
calm” during games, turns down the television volume to keep from getting too
excited, and smacks the coffee table, screams at coaches and curses out the
referees from his couch. He’s even been banished to his bedroom like a scolded
child and forced to watch games alone.
“I want to run the ball with them,” said Hester, who suffers
from cardiomyopathy. “I want to catch the pass.”