Hobby Highlight: Mr. James

Who is Michael James? Michael James is originally from Rhode Island and used to teach Spanish at Loveland High but left to pursue being a principal in Denver, Colorado. In his free time, he loves to travel and play flag football in the competitive team in the summit flag football league.

James has been traveling since he was a young child as he spoke about annual family trips to Florida. “We would literally drive 24-30 hours to get to Florida and we would spend two weeks or so in our family van or tents and we could camp all over Florida…I think that's where my passion began.”

“I think you really do need to know how to be a good traveler,” he went on; “There is some skill involved and I think I'm really really good at it,” states James. He loves traveling to places where he can practice the other languages he speaks (French and Spanish).

Although he can travel independently he prefers to travel with a group of friends. When picking a place to travel James said, “ you have to have a sense of where you want to go and where you’re willing to go and then usually want to go with friends who want to explore.”

But, traveling isn’t the only thing that captures James’s free-time.

Mr. James got to combine his hobbies by being on a competitive team where he travels to different locations to play different tournaments and games.

He joined Summit flag football league about 14 years ago and has absolutely fallen in love with the social aspect of the sport. “I just love to play because of the comradery, meeting new people, being with old friends…”

During his games, James said he is “...usually a center blocker” where he hikes the ball and makes sure the quarterback doesn't get rushed upon. Flag football seasons are in the spring and fall.