Superbowl - Well, not really, but almost

Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll post about the Superbowl, since everyone else seems to be avoiding the elephant in the room.

Because here’s the thing – it seems that most of us (that I’ve read, anyway) in the blogosphere pride ourselves on our nerdiness. Myself included.

But here’s the other thing: I LOVE me some football! (American-style. What most of the world calls football, although appropriately named, is too tame and predictable for this random maniac.)…(Actually I think I would prefer a cricket match to soccer, just because it’s more confusing and therefore less predictable.)

But I digress…

I was raised with a high-school football star of a father, reliving his glory days whenever allowed. Although I’ve mentioned that my mom wouldn’t let him tell me all his teenage stories, football was okay, so in middle-school – since we lived overseas and American football was not readily available, my dad started having “chalk-talks” with me during summer vacations, reviewing plays and positions, and all that good stuff.

So by the time we came back to the States – to Chicago, the year they won Superbowl XX – I was well-versed in the sport and truly appreciated all the football I could ever watch. Frankly, I’m surprised more of my brainiac buddies aren’t in love with it. Football seems to me a thinking-man’s sport. The sheer variety of ways used to move the football down the field, the details of what makes a play illegal, and the to-the-untrained-eye seemingly capricious penalties applied could fill a book – oh wait. It does: The players’ handbook. (haha)

I’ve not watched football this year, though, for two reasons:

1.       Stupid players' union striking for more money during the off-season really put me off. Seriously? You need more money? In this economy? Ba$!ards. (sorry. I never swear. You know I don’t, but I could not think of a more appropriate clean term.)

2.       I decided to stop allowing my cable company to bleed me dry and cancelled my contract with them, which means I have no TV access at my house. It’s been a great experiment, and I was honestly most concerned about surviving football season, which I have now done, so Yea, me!

But the Superbowl is my favorite National Unofficial Holiday, so I had to party! I got together with the same friends as usual, and it was fun. Of course. Actually, I think I was more social this year because none of us really had a team in the game. As one person called it (based on the logos on the players’ helmets): “m&ms vs. the post office”! haha. Take a look at the Giants’ logo, and see if that isn’t the same font-type as m&ms! Hilarious.

I ate too much, but didn’t drink too much. Partly because I’d had a few earlier in the day, but mostly, I was just happy to be relaxing at a friend’s house because Sunday was insane for me - on the go until I arrived in her kitchen and offered pretend-assistance while munching on pita-chips and hummus while her hubby made some outstanding guacamole. Yum. I was glad the Giants won, mostly because they beat the Packers in the playoffs. The Packers, who suck with major cheese-loving suckage, but seemed to be winning a lot. I don’t hate any people, but I truly hate the Packers with an undying hatred that sears into my eyeballs and makes my hair bleed.

My dearly beloved brother is a Packer-backer. ...

I have to forgive him for this on a regular basis.

And he’s raising his son, my godson, into the cult.

Oh the shame of it.

Okay, so I didn’t really write about the Superbowl, just the cult of the NFL.

...and happy Waitangi Day, New Zealand! (I don't understand this holiday enough to write about it, but it's a big deal, so rock on!)