Bonding Over Football & Outfits

“Football fans share a universal language that cuts across many cultures and many personality types. A serious football fan is never alone. We are legion, and football is often the only thing we have in common.”

                                                                                                Hunter S. Thompson

What is football? Is it just twenty-two men shouting at each other chasing a ball? To some people that is exactly what it is; however, to me it is more that. It’s more than a bunch of men standing across from each other shouting things like,Omaha-Omaha, or Blue Forty-Two-Hut Hut-Hike! No, to me it’s like being a part of an unusual large—an unusually friendly community. All you need is a matching jersey and your accepted instantly. But, it isn’t always glamorous—wear the opposing teams colors, or jersey and there will be hell to pay.

I started watching football in my late teens, early twenties. I mostly started watching it to spend time with my dad, and before I knew it I was enthralled. It became our ritual to sit every Sunday and watch game after game. Of course, still being new I would ask question after question like, “Do they have to redraw those lines every single time?” My dad would be as patient as possible and honestly I don’t think he minded. (Oh, and they don’t repaint those lines just in case you were wondering.) Before I knew it my father and I had bonded over the Indianapolis Colts, or should I say Peyton Manning. When I left for my second year of college I was disappointed that these Sunday ventures with my father would no longer exist, but I was wrong. After every game I would call my dad, and we’d talk about the ridiculous calls made by the ref’s or yell at how the O-Line wasn’t protecting Manning enough. The tradition didn’t end, and it still hasn’t.

This year I took my love for football *cough—Peyton Manning*, a little further. Since I had church during a prime hour of playoff time, and I didn’t have TiVo, which really puts a damper on priorities. I thought I would ask God to bless me a little bit more, seeing on how I was missing Manning (who is probably God’s nephew) to go to church. I wore my very own BRIGHT ORANGE, Denver Broncos jersey to church. I tucked it into my skirt threw on a pair of heals and made it work. For extra points I made my husband wear his Bronco’s tie! When I arrived at church I sent my dad a picture to show him how dedicated to Peyton and the Bronco’s I really was. The caption read, It’s only weird if it doesn’t work, right? My dad replied, right! Of course, if you are a football fan then you know what happened. My jersey-wearing church going outfit worked until the last game. Yes, the Super Bowl. Now, I’m still too distraught to go in to depth about what had happened during the game, but I will say that I wore the wrong heals, and I know that’s what messed Manning up. But as always, the season ends and we’re left waiting, and wanting for the next year! Because as always, we’ll get’em next year!