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DEL.ICIO.USSports-watching tips for people who aren’t into sports
Tattoo sightings, critiquing coaches' clothes and gossipy back stories told by my sports-fanatic husband help
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Like many American wives I will be watching the Super Bowl Sunday night, but I won’t really be paying attention. At least not until they flash to a particularly suggestive cheerleader or they show a player up close with some interesting tattoos.
I know there are a lot of women out there who truly like sports, but I think there are even more women who have just learned to put up with it being on the TV all the time. During the last 15 years, I have developed my own coping mechanisms to survive watching sports with my husband.
It was quite a shock when we first starting dating to adapt to a true sports fanatic’s viewing life. I rarely watched sports as a child. My dad went to Georgia Tech, and he’s just not that into it. On top of which, my parents didn’t have cable until I went off to college so I had never even seen ESPN.
But I learned quickly.
Michael and his roommates watched about six SportsCenter broadcasts a day. I was baffled - how much could change in a 12-hour period. With each subsequent child, my husband’s sports viewing has lessened, but to this day whenever I turn the TV on after him I know I will hear “Na Na Na, Na Na Na.”
We had only been dating about three months when Michael invited me to a Final Four party. I was clueless. I didn’t know what March Madness was. I thought a bracket held up a window treatment, and I didn’t know that people really had a “party” to watch a basketball game. I showed up with my school books. I figured I could study during the game.
He claims he seriously thought about breaking up with me that night.
But now I’m a seasoned veteran. I have my favorite sports to watch, my favorite ESPN anchors and my own little points of interest to keep an eye out for during games.
My husband also has made some adjustments in his viewing. He’s learned that I love back stories. If he can tell me interesting factoids about a player’s childhood, his marriage, his recruitment or his training then I am far more likely to follow along. All these details make the games more human and help me feel a vested interest in the athletes.
One of my favorite sports — because it always has compelling back stories — is boxing. I know this goes against all my peacenik ways, but I love watching these scrappy little guys duke it out for the American dream.
I’m not sure my husband can tell you where we went for our first Valentine’s Day together, but he does remember the first boxing match I ever got into. Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was getting beaten to a pulp. He could barely see through his swollen face and he came back to win.
My husband tells me how and where the fighters grew up. He tells me about the different trainers and their methods, and he gives me inside scoop on dirty management deals.
My interest will wane when other professional sports are on. When that happens, I have a list of things to look for, which may help others like me.
— Tattoos are always fun to look at. Who’s got the most? What do they say? What do they mean?
— Check out the appearance of the coaches. Are they in shape? How badly do their clothes fit? That Notre Dame football coach is killing me. A better tailor could really help his appearance on the field. And what is with the Patriot’s head coach who always wears sweatshirts (often with torn sleeves)? It’s like he’s reliving “Flashdance.”
— Which players are affected by the weather? I love to see who pretends it’s not cold and doesn’t wear long sleeves under their uniform despite snow and ice. This can apply to baseball too.
— Salacious questions are always fun and help keep you involved and informed. Ask your husband: Who’s been accused of steroid use or drug use? Who’s cheated on their wives? Who’s left their wives? Who didn’t show up to training camp on time? Who’s blown all their money?
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment | Categories: Family Life
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Comments
By misawa
February 2, 2007 08:09 AM | Link to this
For many years, my wife thought Sportscenter and ESPN were two different channels.
Anyway, I’ve been giving her backstories on players for years. It backfires a bit though when a big play happens and she misses it because she was following her guy around the field and he was no where close to the action.
It’s the thought that counts, right?
By beth
February 2, 2007 08:12 AM | Link to this
I too am married to a big sports fan. I sit in the room with him, usually reading a book or magazine while “watching” the game. Sometimes I make snacks. Its good together time for us. He used to watch SportsCenter over and over in college too!
He thinks I’m crazy but I think Payton Manning reminds me of Ashley Wilkes.
By TheOne
February 2, 2007 08:21 AM | Link to this
I LOVE sports, seems like I always have…..and now my 14 yr old and I LOVE sports together. I’m sure there were little things along the way that helped that love to develop (like the nice buns in the football pants, or the array of tattoos-esp. in football and basketball, or the histories of the individual players, or the fact that my high school team was one of the BEST-Go Astros!!). My daughter and I are always laughing at the evolution of certain uniforms, especially in basketball. So, I agree, Theresa, little things can help develop interest. We are also quite fond of the commercials during the Super Bowl…….GO BEARS!!!!!
By Teacher's Kid
February 2, 2007 08:23 AM | Link to this
My husband and I are big baseball fans (Mets for him, Braves for me) and I’ve loved the game more after learning more about how it is played. Still, I’m a firm believer that football fields are for marching band practice :-)!
By wren
February 2, 2007 08:26 AM | Link to this
since when is the American dream watching two people pummel each other?
By wren
February 2, 2007 08:39 AM | Link to this
how about these for ideas for your site: AP - attachment parenting. Moms who are baby-wearers (sling mamas), cloth diapering, lactivists, co-sleeping and want their babes to be self weaners (up to age 3 and older)
By fk
February 2, 2007 08:50 AM | Link to this
I watch sports if my husband is watching. I will sit and watch baseball alone, but more likely than not, I’ll pick up a book. I absolutely do not like listening to the games on the radio. I prefer college football over pro. Teacher’s kid…our home has Mets and Braves fans, too! My husband and I were Mets fans, but “switched” over to the Braves when we moved to ATL in 1990…we went to the games when they were in last place, when no one else did. How is it that our son, born and raised here in GA, likes the Mets? Have been to Cooperstown 3x, my husband 2x, our son 1x.
Theresa, the boxing thing is a surprise. I do not have the stomach to watch that sport.
By Theresa
February 2, 2007 08:51 AM | Link to this
hey wren — the pummeling part is actually on the statue of liberty — just kidding - he he he
On the attachment parenting — would love to do some more on it — did a little bit when we first started (nursing for 18 months each of them) — I actually have a column coming up right before the baby comes on co-sleeping — I’m sure that will get them going (we did a blog when ferber sort of recanted some of the crying out and discussed some of the alternatives to ferber but there is more we can do on it) —- All very good ideas! will cut and paste into my idea file —
P.S. I’m looking for a new sling — do you have a brand and style that you like? I saw one online that is like mesh so it’s cool in the summer and has a spf so it protects from sun burn — sounds just right for Georgia (not to change the topic) —
By past50mom
February 2, 2007 08:57 AM | Link to this
I never watched TV sports until my kids went to college. I like college football, basketball and baseball, but I don’t watch any pro sports. My husband hates all of it. The only sports we watch together are Olympic events every four years. News Flash! Husbands and wives are individuals with individual interests. You should develop and enjoy common interests together, but you both need your own activities, too. Even separate vacations are sometimes just what a marriage needs! Let your spouse enjoy his or her activities without whining and complaining, or engaging in mindless celebrity gossip chatter. Let them watch the game, because if you are sitting there running your mouth, you are probably ticking them off! Go do your own thing! I am not going to watch the Super Bowl and don’t even know who’s playing, and I certainly don’t care about their personal lives and gossip. I have a stack of books to read while my husband goes mountain biking with his friends.
By Theresa
February 2, 2007 09:03 AM | Link to this
Fk — the only time I don’t like boxing is if I feel like a kid is being taken advantage of — like he has no business being there and someone has made a deal for him and they’re making money and he’s getting killed — but I’ve rarely seen fights like that —- I’d like to put in a plug in for HBO boxing on Saturday nights — love watching the announcers Jim Lampley and George Foreman — Sometimes they have Roy Jones jr. and Emanuel Steward (he’s a trainer) and I love watching Larry Merchant trying to get the boxers to be coherent after a fight — it’s a good saturday night if there’s a good fight on. (it’s funny because I have a hard time watching the Sopranos or Deadwood or Rome because of the violence but somehow I’m ok with boxing.)
By fk
February 2, 2007 09:42 AM | Link to this
past50mom…from where are you coming? we’re not your kids, please get off the soapbox. we all have outside interests. i’m sure a lot of our husbands sit thru movies , go to a play or other artistic shows they’d rather not see, but do so, just to spend time together. and, they do it with a smile. no one, so far, has complained about having to sit and watch a sporting event with a husband. marriage is give and take, mostly a lot more giving.
theresa, i’m squeamish about the sopranos, too, but i am still drawn in. i don’t know why. when i sense a gory scene is approaching, i leave.
By Honey
February 2, 2007 09:42 AM | Link to this
I grew up in a house where there was always a sporting event on tv, but I mostly remember football. I love football, wish I had a hubby to watch it with. Sometimes, if I’m not interested in a football game, I will still turn it on for background noise. It’s comforting…..and takes me back to the security of my youth. My daughter will sit and watch the Falcons with me. I am rooting for Chicago in the SuperBowl!!!!! GO BEARS!!
By wren
February 2, 2007 09:51 AM | Link to this
taylor made and mama roo get the best props for babywearing
By Jennifer
February 2, 2007 09:53 AM | Link to this
I don’t do sports! I’ll make his “football food” and sit in the same room, but honestly he may as well be watching paint dry. Watching paint dry would be more exciting. Sports playing on the tv is like taking an Ambien (sleeping pill) for me. Seriously, I can’t make it through a NASCAR race, football game, whatever without nodding off.
I grew up with a really outdoor-sy family so watching sports wasn’t something we did.
By past50mom
February 2, 2007 09:56 AM | Link to this
fk, I know none of my kids are on this blog, just giving my response to Theresa’s posting. Have a nice weekend, Super Bowl or not!
By nurse&mother
February 2, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
Theresa, I have a great sling called the Peanut SHell. You can find it at goo-ga.com They have lots of different types of material as well as patterns. You can choose from microfleece to cotton to sateen fabrics. My son is one year old and likes to walk around, but he loved it until he could walk. When he was about a month old, we had to constantly hold him. That’s when we discovered the Peanut Shell. There are also several ways you can “wear” your baby. Good luck
By jsmom
February 2, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
Theresa, I have a padded ring sling that I love. We used the bjorn until J outgrew it and then happily went to the sling. J was not a fan of the sling in the smaller/younger days though.
As for sports… I have several friends who have grown to like sports because of their DH’s. One who can spot penalties before they are called and gets competitive with the other guys on predicting what the penalty will be. Another friend got into GT football b/c she was convinced that Reggie Ball had a problem with Calvin Johnson and that drama would ensue. I have other friends that don’t give a rip, but come for the social aspect and will bring a project with them in case the game is good and sucks us all in.
And at our house, if there’s a game on tv, we’ve got it on. Not necessarily watching it, but it’s on. I am a HUGE fan of baseball games on the radio, it reminds me of my grandfather! Right now, we’re trying to teach J how to say HOSSA!
By threekids
February 2, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
My husband has always liked sports. I will tune in for a while, then do other things. I enjoy SEC football, but don’t really care for pro ball. Usually, I will sit in the same room and read while he watches baseball, soccer or golf. He will show me the highlights, and that’s plenty for me.
Growing up I played tennis, so I will actively watch that on TV. My husband will watch occasionally.
However, the one sport we will both watch together is cricket. The Ashes test between England and Australia this winter had us both sitting up together until 2-3 a.m. for five nights a week watching the matches, discussing the teams’ strengths and weaknesses, citing player statistics, etc. After six weeks of that schedule and a disappointing performance by England, we were both exhausted. But test cricket may be the only TV sport over which we have truly bonded.
By John
February 2, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
I am a sports fanatic married to a casual sports fan who likes college football but not much else. Our children are gone from home and it’s usually just the two of us on nights we’re not still at our respective offices or involved in church and community affairs. My wife and I have compromised over the years. Saturday in college football season is all mine. She may sit and read a book, go shopping, work in the garden, or actually watch if Auburn or Georgia or Alabama is playing but she lets me watch (when I’m not at a game) all I want from morning to night. I may do other stuff around the house during the less important games but we are fine. I also watch the big golf tournaments, some NFL games (especially at playoff time), select college basketball (more at tournament time), a little of Sunday afternoon NASCAR and an occasional Braves game. I stay away from the NHL, NBA, etc. because those are generally boring sports anyhow. I do watch Sportscenter many nights and a few other events but only if she is not at home or doesn’t want to watch anything else. The TV choices at night during the week are hers 90 percent of the year. I would like to watch Monday night football, Thursday night football, every SEC and ACC basketball game that is on and NASCAR too but there has to be some give and take.
By scubber
February 2, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
Being a graphic designer, I am a slave to good color and design. Same goes with teams I like. Seattles colors are fantastic! Those PMS colors, by the way, are 653, 5395, 877, 369 and white. A beautiful color melody.
My wife laughed when she first met me and inquired why I like a certain team. It was because I had fallen out of love with the Patriots, as they had changed their logo from the figure in three-point stance on a white helmet. I could not believe they would replace a classic design for such pap, common design. That is why I love teams like the Packers, Colts, etc. who have classic logos I know and admire for their simplicity and long life. I also love their colors!
I am also a bit perturbed that Boston Police are slowly replacing their classic 70s font very recognizable on their vehicles. Cannot immediately recal font type….
I work in retail advertising and recall a brainstorming session when the creative manager asked us in the room ‘why do people shop at wal-mart?’ I exclaimed with disgust, “Uggh! Why would anyone shop at a store whose colors are grey and flat blue. Those colors have such a tired, historically loaded history in the south and they are just tiresome to look at all together.” The manager paused for a moment, then requeried, “okay, anyone but [scubber] answer that question.”
I agree with the back stories, but they can become INCREDIBLY tiresome. Last year when Colt’s coach Ted Dungy’s son comitted suicide, days before the Playoffs, I groaned knowing it would be a relentless analysis of every minutia of the game that would somehow be paralleled to this story. Indeed it was. Would the players be able to give what it takes to win because of their love and condoloences for Ted’s family? It was non-stop throughout the game. You have to remember these guys are paid professionals and men, so sympathies are only skin deep and their focus is winning the game to reep the bonuses in their contracts for reaching postseason benchmarks.
Bret Favre’s stories always brings tears to mine and my wife’s eyes. We get teary-eyed over everything that represents honesty, beauty and earnest passion. The little girl in “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Just to See You Smile” by Will Oldham, Bret’s tearful goodbye in the Packers final game this season. We weep like babies.
We are going to watch bullriding tomorrow evening at the georgia dome. We are going with a group and will all be wearing cowboy/cowgirl attire, drinking beer and yelling like hicks. She is determined to get some rider named Justin McBride to sign her bare bottom. Somehow my wife fell in love with this sport, most likely because it occasionally plays on NBC on saturday afternoons. It is an absurd sport, and her fascination for it eventually sucked me into it as well.
I’ll be there looking for cowboys to cheer for with fantastically arranged colors on their chaps. Yee haw!!!!
By scubber
February 2, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this
My wife and I like to watch offbeat sports together. I am fortunate to receive comp tix through work for all of the local sports, so we tend to go to local games more than watch on television.
However, there are the gems like curling, motocross, swamp buggy racing, bullriding, hammer throw, etc. that we cannot find locally and certainly are not receiving comp tix to attend.
It is fun to discover a sport togetherand watch it partly for the oddity of it to what you are familiar with and that the players actually do this sport for a living.
It is like listening to a wierd rock jingle for some pharmaceutical company trying to hawk it’s cure for some embarassing prinate function, and you stop and think to yourself, “Wow! This means four people presumably wrote music to accompany the company’s cutesy lyrics. Not only did they play it once, but they probably had to practice it for some time to get it to sound good.”
There are athletes out there with a passion to be the best in absurdity. As an artist, that is what life is all about!
The olympics as Past50 Mom pointed out is a great venue to witness days of strange sports, especially the winter olympics. A sport like the luge, I wonder if someone invented by accident with near fatal outcome, only to exclaim, “I survived! Wow, I think I’d like to do that again”
If you are looking for some kick-axe wierdness in the realm of sports, come to the georgia dome tomorrow to watch bullriding. Look for a guy in western shirt, hat, boots and newly purchased wrangler jeans with wife in red western shirt, boots and hat showing off a newly penned Justin McBride Tatto on her tush.
By Michelle
February 2, 2007 01:01 PM | Link to this
I only watch the Superbowl for the commercials, personally.
By Renee
February 2, 2007 01:40 PM | Link to this
past50mom - separate vacations? Ewwwwwwwwww
By Lynn
February 2, 2007 01:46 PM | Link to this
I’m thrilled to have a hubby that could care less about football. We do both love Nascar though and have a blast watching with our friends (especially when betting).
By scubber
February 2, 2007 01:53 PM | Link to this
Separation makes the heart grow finder, as will five days without the other half of my spoon set. You quickly forget how cold the other side of the bed gets without the other beside you.
We enjoy our trips away from each other because it the thrill of seeing each other again is an amazing experience each time.
I highly recommend vacations separately every once in a while.
By Jennifer
February 2, 2007 02:15 PM | Link to this
Separate vacations rock! My husband does a few “boys” weekends during the year with business associates, so I do a few “girls” weekends. I don’t think I would do anything longer than a long weekend, but I have the best time on a short cruise or beach weekend with the girls.
By Honey
February 2, 2007 02:19 PM | Link to this
I cannot figure out for the life of me, the fascination with NAP-CAR (yes I spelled the correctly). Watching cars go around and around and around. I’d rather watch paint dry or grass grow……. Baseball and golf are two of the most boring “sports” to watch.
By Dave
February 2, 2007 03:56 PM | Link to this
My wife and I are college football fanatics. She’s Auburn and I’m UGA. Problem is, she takes it more personally than I do! If Auburn loses…get out of the house….quickly. We both think baseball is a yawner, golf is a poor use of real estate and NASCAR fans are dirty ‘ol rednecks with moths full of tobacco (the cars go round n round…). I know a few ladies that don’t like sports and they are pretty miserable during certain seasons. Don’t like to be around them, much. I’m trying, but I don’t know any guys that don’t like at least SOME competitive sport. I guess the guys that hate sport would rather spend their time with their boyfriends.
By Dave
February 2, 2007 03:59 PM | Link to this
Oh yeah, we watch pro football to see the players we remembered from college. No loyalties to any pro teams, but if someone on that team has someone that I liked in college, I’ll pull for them. Baseball is for people that were too little to play football and too short to play basketball.
By anonymous
February 2, 2007 04:54 PM | Link to this
That’s funny to hear that your husband is still so intense about sports. Back when he was 13 or so living in Naples, Italy, he not only had a subscription to Sports Illustrated, but he actually READ it from cover to cover while the rest of us subscribed to comic books and whatever rags were displaying the latest hair bands of the day. He actually got the swimsuit edition FOR the sports articles while the rest of us just wanted it for the models. He’s known all those sports factoids since then. You never had a chance to sway him from that, it’s in his DNA.
By Theresa
February 2, 2007 05:41 PM | Link to this
Anonymous — I want to know who you are — send me an email to ajcmomania@gmail.com ——-
I neglected to also mention that my husband has covered sports for his company off and on for many years. he’s covered the super bowl, the rose bowl, final four and several olympics, among other things. He knows his sports.
By anonymous
February 2, 2007 05:53 PM | Link to this
It’s not in my nature to be mysterious…let’s just call me “the player to be named later”. Have a great weekend.
By faye
February 2, 2007 07:16 PM | Link to this
Well, i’m sitting here in my #4 Patriots jersey hoping to jinx the traitor that broke my heart - those in the know will get that - those who don’t, I’ll explain at the end. And, scubber, I laughed at your comments about the old Pats uniform - I was just having a discussion with someone at work about that today!
Like many others, I grew up in a sports dominated house, and most quality time with my dad was sports-related. Before I knew the rules to the games, we would wathc either sports related movies or the bloopers reels that used to be on (another fun way to get someone into it, IMO).
My husband and I love college football (Notre Dame and Charlie Weiss - despite his poor fashion sense referenced by Theresa), NFL (we both play fantasy football, too), March Madness (love it - I will sit glued to virtually EVERY game - I’m sad, really), horse racing (yes, Barbaro’s death saddened me - I was at the Derby last year with a ticket with his number on it when he won !), and, like Theresa, I love boxing (Theresa, how awesome were the three Ward-Gatti fights?). There were even times when I was watchig the game and my husband was off doing something else.
scubber and past50mom - I’m with you on the separate vacations - absence makes the heart grow fonder and not every couple shares every interest - my husband loves to go on fishing vacations with his brother - I like eco-tourist trips with other science geeks - but we also have plenty of things we like to do together. Variety is the spice of life!
By past50mom
February 2, 2007 07:38 PM | Link to this
Thanks scubber, Jennifer and Faye! Separate vacations for me usually means a trip with one of my children, either for fun or helping them move. We’ve been married for 29 years the end of this month, and a separate vacation does make the heart grow fonder. My husband goes diving every year in the Bahamas with a group of guys he’s known for over forty years. I go visit my daughter abroad and we visit museums, see plays, shop, eat out and have good bonding time. My son and I have gone to football bowl games together over the holidays, since my husband doesn’t like football. It’s fun to travel with my 20-something kids.
By faye
February 2, 2007 07:43 PM | Link to this
Forgot to explain - I am a huge Patriots fan (not bandwagon - grew up in MA and suffered through the lean years). I also love Adam Vinatieri, the former kicker and #4 who broke my heart when he accepted the trade to our arch-nemesis, the Colts. Boo.
Since my daughter’s boyfriend is from Chicago, I’m a lukewarm Bears fan this weekend (Superbowl XX was a long time ago and mostly forgiven).