CONFESSION: I have never been to a football game. Gasp
Am I an American, you ask? Yes, a 14th generation American. I'm a Pilgrim. I have been to basketball, baseball and hockey games. Not many, but I've been to them. But never a football game. I never paid attention to sports in school. My high school boyfriend was not a jock, and I just wasn't much of a joiner. Going to games never appealed to me.
My father wasn't much of a sports fan either. He watched a little professional basketball when I was a kid , and he did seem to like car racing later in life. Paul doesn't care for ball sports of any kind, but I suppose he went to games when he was a kid. I've never really been around sports much.
I have, however, watched every Super Bowl that the Patriots have played in since 1997. I believe that would be five. Being a New Englander and not watching the Patriots in the Super Bowl would just be wrong. But I also confess that I really still don't understand the game.
When he was about 11, our grandson Travis tried to explain the whole game to me. Travis LIVES for the Patriots. I thought it was so cute that he wanted me to know so I paid serious attention until the end even though my eyes glazed over after the first three minutes, and I was thinking about what I was going to make for dinner when we got home.
During one of my first Super Bowls back when I was really trying to understand the game beyond the concept of touchdowns (I got THAT right away), I started asking Paul questions. What's first down? What are they snapping? What was that penalty for?
At first he answered the questions as patiently as he could which always lead to more questions. Finally, after about the fourth one, he said "Why don't you just shut up and watch the game?"
I decided right then and there that he didn't know any more about it than I did!
Am I an American, you ask? Yes, a 14th generation American. I'm a Pilgrim. I have been to basketball, baseball and hockey games. Not many, but I've been to them. But never a football game. I never paid attention to sports in school. My high school boyfriend was not a jock, and I just wasn't much of a joiner. Going to games never appealed to me.
My father wasn't much of a sports fan either. He watched a little professional basketball when I was a kid , and he did seem to like car racing later in life. Paul doesn't care for ball sports of any kind, but I suppose he went to games when he was a kid. I've never really been around sports much.
I have, however, watched every Super Bowl that the Patriots have played in since 1997. I believe that would be five. Being a New Englander and not watching the Patriots in the Super Bowl would just be wrong. But I also confess that I really still don't understand the game.
When he was about 11, our grandson Travis tried to explain the whole game to me. Travis LIVES for the Patriots. I thought it was so cute that he wanted me to know so I paid serious attention until the end even though my eyes glazed over after the first three minutes, and I was thinking about what I was going to make for dinner when we got home.
During one of my first Super Bowls back when I was really trying to understand the game beyond the concept of touchdowns (I got THAT right away), I started asking Paul questions. What's first down? What are they snapping? What was that penalty for?
At first he answered the questions as patiently as he could which always lead to more questions. Finally, after about the fourth one, he said "Why don't you just shut up and watch the game?"
I decided right then and there that he didn't know any more about it than I did!
17 comments:
You can come to my house on a Sunday. I am happy to endlessly and bombastically explain it all to you.
Football isn't for everyone. It took my dad almost 25 years to get my mom to begin to enjoy it, and I've been working on getting my wife to tolerate it for almost five years now.
It's a lot of work.
Although i too watch the superbowl (but only for the ads!) i have never been to a live football game. Not even a hs match. I know that the throwy guy throws the ball to cute butt guy who gets tackled by big fat guy. And yes, when Hubby forces to me to watch that's what i call them. :p
I like football, but it's stressful! I didn't learn to like it till after I was married because my dad was one of those who would change the channel at every commercial and I couldn't keep track of what game we were actually watching. Tom would turn on a game and watch the whole game. I learned to like it then. We don't have a pro team here, but we're a HUGE college ball town. That's been a whole 'nother set of rules to get accustomed to. Sigh.
Haha! I still watch, but I stopped trying to understand a long, loooong time ago. I like the excitement of Superbowl Sunday, but anything beyond that is lost on me. I am the same with baseball, basketball, and... well, most conventional sports. But, ask me anything about ski races, hockey, MMA or other "unconventional" sports and I know more than I should. I think I have it backwards! :)
Travis is welcome at my house anytime. My husband is a big fan of the Pats.
They did explain the game on the show "The Big Bang Theory" this week. lol.
I have to admit it, football is one of the few sports where I could sit there and watch game after game, even if the Patriots weren't playing. I used to play in a flag football league, so that helps feed my ethusiasm. It's always a little more interesting to watch a sport when you've actually played it.
If it makes you feel better, my brother played football all the way through Division 1 college ball. I went to every single one of his games (which basically means I went to a football game every week of my life!) and I still don't really understand the game!
(ps- found you through SITS!)
Hi Sandy - thanks for dropping by my blog (they usually aren't that sad).
I can't stand football but I am Canadian so I can get away with that. Funny thing was back in highschool (many many moons ago) the girls formed a football team - we were coached by the boys team and I sort of understood and enjoyed the actual playing - after that not so much.
I can't say go Patriots - my husband is a Colts fan *winks*
I have been to a few Bears games in Chicago years ago. It was a fun time. I don't watch football, only when the kids are over and I try not to hide in my office when they are here. I do however watch the Super Bowl, mainly for the commercials and snacks! My husband gave up trying to teach me too! He would rather I not watch with him, I talk too much!!!
I grew up around football, everyone in my family, male and female, are serious football fans and Patriots fanatics, but it is a tough game to grasp! Even after watching it all my life I still have to ask my husband or Dad questions now and then!
Come by my blog! I have something there for you! :-)
I'm thinking there are worse things in life than not having been to a football game. I can probably tell you way too much about it.
Go Packers!
I've never been able to understand football either. But I have watched the Patriots in Superbowl games. Maybe not all of them, but at least parts of some of them.
I've never been to one either! I've watched a few..or parts of few anyway on tv but never in person. It's just not my sport, you know?
I'm with you. I have never been a football fan but your cousin loves it. She wants to watch every Saints game and every Patriots game. After the Saints' Monday night game this week, my son commented that the game was nerve wracking and I asked, "Why?" Needless to say, he and Betty looked at me as I were some alien life form and then she let out a tirade of insulting names on me. I watched an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" recently which covered, more or less, this same subject. I finally have something in common with a nerd genius.
People in AR -- hawg country (AR Razorbacks) think I am downright weird for not seeing the hogs play once after graduating college.....I made sure Excy wasn't one of those guys glued to the tube watching sports before becoming seriously involved.....I will tolerate a super bowl for the half time commercials.....but it's a great time to be out! ;)
I grew up with a father and brother who were absolutely obsessed with football. I even had NFL clothing and memorabilia and I didn't like the game! I understand the game but that doesn't mean I like to watch it!! My hubs only likes outdoorsy stuff like kayaking, etc. Not team sports; so it is never on in our house. I will still watch the super bowl though; brings back lots of memories. blah blah.
My brother will watch OLD football games for fun!!!!! He's a wanna be quarterback.
And now you know My Life story. This post resonated with me!!
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