I'm Declining

I was invited to a Super Bowl party tomorrow, but I have decided that I won't be going. I know there will likely be amazing food there based on who invited me and the always-delicious dishes this person seems to have available, but I'm declining the invitation for one major reason: I can't stand the NFL. People always seem to assume that because I'm a sports fan, I must love the NFL. I'm here to inform everyone that it's not true. In fact, if given the option of watching any NFL game at any point in the season or piercing my own ears, I'll choose earrings. I have zero desire to watch the NFL and any of the storylines leading up to and within the Super Bowl itself are non-starters for me.

I was told that I should come and just enjoy the party, but that also won't be done. It would be disingenuous of me to simply show up, eat food, drink beverages, and pretend to care about who scored a touchdown or which quarterback was sacked. The only reason that I know that the Seattle Seahwaks and the New England Patriots are playing tomorrow is because ten minutes of a work meeting on Friday was devoted to two people who cheer for each side. Needless to say, my focus for that portion of the meeting was less than zero.

I'm not here to tell anyone not to watch. If you enjoy the game, please indulge! There will be a great halftime show with Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny, there will likely be intrigue as the clock counts down towards the final, and I'm pretty sure one side will go home while the other will begin regrouping for next season.

Before anyone starts with "Teebz hates the NFL", I want to be clear that it's the presentation of the game that I don't enjoy. I watch and apprciate CFL football. I spent two hours watching the Kevin Costner-led film Draft Day and enjoyed it for its Hollywood-imagined look at how NFL drafts can go. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for how hard the atheletes train and play, so this isn't about me hating the NFL or having my heart ripped out by a team.

The easiest way I can say this is that I just don't care. At all.

I'm happy to follow hockey as closely as I do and make that my focus. I love the game, I love the stories within the game, I love the history, and I love the aesthetics. Fans of any sport can say the same things, though, and I understand that. I've heard baseball fans wax poetic about the game and its rich history. I know basketball fans that talk about the dynasties and the legends like they were family. But every sports fan has their one sport they favour more than the others.

For some, the NFL is that sport. Granted, the NFL's version of football is one of several variations of American football that is played across the planet, but the NFL has positioned itself through marketing and promotion as the best of the best. Its revenue streams and profits don't lie when it comes to its popularity, but the endless stream of TV commercials and sports betting advertisements and experts breaking down every play for ten minutes between snaps drives me bonkers.

In saying all that, I'll be at home on Sunday night. I plan on watching two guys who look like they should have played football in Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa in The Wrecking Crew rather than watching the NFL. That story appeals to me more than the one written by the Seahawks and Patriots so that'll be my entertainment.

If you're going to a Super Bowl party, please be responsible if you're going to enjoy adult beverages. Call an Uber, Lyft, or taxi if you're going to enjoy the food and drink, and get home safe and sound. If you like, we can swap stories tomorrow about the action that went on in the Super Bowl and the action in The Wrecking Crew!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!