Two f-words have become huge in my life over the last year. Football and Facebook.
Growing up, my father would watch any football game that was on television. Didn’t matter what teams were playing. He knew them all and he had a favorite that he was pulling for in every matchup. It didn’t make sense to me, as a little girl. I’d think, “But we live in Georgia. Why are you pulling for the Dallas Cowboys?” I knew nothing about the game and didn’t understand how the path to the playoffs worked and that there was a method to the madness if you wanted to see your team in the Super Bowl.
By the time I was in college, I’d figured it out. I pledged allegiance to the 49’ers and the Saints. And when they faced each other, I had to cheer for the Saints (I’m a southern girl, after all).
A funny thing happened, though, and over time I cared less about pro football, but got totally absorbed in college football. I became a fan of one certain team, and would watch every game. I kept up with the rankings every week and kept my fingers crossed that we’d end up in the national championship game.
Then, strangely, this past season got much bigger for me. I started following not only my own favorite team, but I followed all the others as well. I started becoming just like my dad…watching football because there was a game on, regardless of the team. I’d watch to see who was defeating whom, and how much of a threat would they be when we played them later in the season. And it extended not just beyond my favorite team, but even beyond our own conference. I watched Ohio State, FSU, Oklahoma, Duke, Notre Dame, Stanford, Oregon, Clemson (well, you get the idea). I kept up with how, if this team loses it helps our ranking go up, and if that team wins it will hurt our ranking. I’d go to work on Monday mornings and chat with all the guys about the miracle plays we’d seen, or how this team crumbled, or that player got hurt, or there was a new rising star on another team.
So it is safe to say that football has a bigger role in my life than ever before.
And as this past season progressed, I found myself spending more and more time on the second F-word I am writing about today. Facebook. Oh, I’m neglectful about posting things to it myself. I rarely update my status or post photos about anything. But I’ve gotten somewhat obsessive about reading what other people post during games. You can learn a lot about your friends by looking at their written sentiments. Some people who seem so demure are absolutely evil when it comes to putting down the opposing team. Some, who have every right to take cheap shots, will never stoop that low and find something positive to say about both teams. Others – my favorites- inject humor in their posts and come up with some of the funniest plays on words or catch phrases. Yeah, they might still take a cheap shot (maybe even against my favorite team), but it’s so witty and clever you find yourself laughing with them rather than getting irked.
Phew! I guess it’s good that the college ball season and bowl games are almost over. Only a couple more days and I’ll no longer be chained to my favorite easy chair in front of the television. I need to use those hours to go to the gym to tackle my own new year’s resolution.
See, even I can make a pun once in a while. 🙂
joanchandler 