Football: Fun or Foe?

For many, crisp Autumn Saturdays in the south usually mean one thing: football time! These days provide ample excuse to stock the kitchen with tasty snacks like chips and guacamole, cookies, hamburger meat, and various tasty refreshments.

Yesterday during a local football gathering, the smell of a freshly baked batch of pig-in-the-blankets wafted into the room, and believe me, it didn't take long to gobble up a huge handful. I love the days where friends can temporarily put their career and family responsibilities on pause and gather together for the enjoyment of a rousing sporting event.

Many people are outraged by the wayward behavior displayed during last evening's Georgia/Auburn match-up. Punches were thrown, teammates grew enraged, name-calling ensued. I watched the TV screen from kickoff to the end, but cannot describe all the actions in full, nor can I declare which team deserves the most blame. Honestly, in my 11 years of casually witnessing football, I still understand very little about the sport. While watching one of these Saturday events, the excitement of the competition certainly becomes contagious, and I can comprehend most of the basic details. However, I spend a lot of these moments watching, listening, and naturally, pretending.

I actually used to dislike football, simply because I did not understand it. Basketball is still more of my thing, but over the years, I've watched it less and less. Hopefully, this winter I'll get back into a routine of watching more b-ball. We'll see.