Lifelong Pats fan here- currently checking the web to give myself a break from yelling at said team for making Mark F%&$ing Sanchez look like Steve Young- but the first major sporting event I ever watched was the 83 Superbowl against the Dolphins. I pulled for the Skins cuz I thought John Riggins was cool. So I've always had a soft spot for the Hogs. And they're rivals with the Cowboys. Fuck the Cowboys.
I sincerely hope D-Nabb and company drop AT LEAST 50 points on the Eagles when they go to Philly. He deserves it after what he took from that fanbase.
otherbill - As you probably can guess, I'm not doing too well today. I spent the 4th quarter pacing around like I was waiting for health news about a loved one. It was bad.
But we looked great, for the most part. As good as we have in a decade, at least. Much better than I ever expected, which made the whole thing worse.
Still -- we're still at the top of our division, and the Cowboys lost, because they're a joke! So there's a bright side!
I do not like the Patriots at all, but since you've been so polite, allow me to offer my condolences.
Greg, you told me a long time ago that you didn't even like them anymore. You stopped caring about football when you stopped liking the Patriots. Quit pretending, you goddamn skeehag.
otherbill - Yes indeed. I have the DVR set. I'm planning a mini Losey marathon, since I already have THE BOY WITH GREEN HAIR on DVR, and THESE ARE THE DAMNED on DVD.
Okay, all jokes aside, here's the full story. After that season I stopped watching the games because I really did think, "What the fuck am I doing this for?" I mean, it doesn't matter until the final game anyway and until then I get much more from conversation, a book, a movie, a good tv show, etc than I do giving up three and a half fucking hours of my day to a football game. Seriously, think back on how many games you've watched. How many were memorable? How many left you thinking, "That was a great allotment of my time." I just found the weekly devotion of several hours of my time to be pointless.
Also, I always root for the underdog and the Patriots stopped being that, clearly. Still, you're a fan your entire life and it doesn't just disappear. I keep up with all the college and pro games on the sports pages and I find myself still a little disappointed every time I read of a Pats loss, like yesterday's. I'd like to become a fan of another team but it's weird, I just can't. I mean, I was a Patriots fan my whole life, and it's not like I'm saying that as a 24 year old or something. I'm talking decades of adult age fanship.
So, I'll always keep up with the game, watch big match-ups and, of course, the post-season. But for the rest of it, I left it behind and, honestly, I've never missed losing four hours every Sunday to it.
So that's the story.
Also, you go Car Insurance! Spamming all up yo' bad self!
@Bryce-- I'm a Browns fan, too. We're going to win one this year, right? I was so hopeful in the pre-season, and still think we have a good team. But each game makes me think we're snake-bitten (or perhaps skeehagged) in the regular season.
I honestly don't think it's a waste of time to watch football (or any sport, if you happen to be a fan). There is great, intense drama in it, as seen by, well, yesterday's Redskins game, goddamn motherfuck of a game though it was. Kubrick, as you're all probably aware, was a huge tennis fan, and once said that the drama generated by that sport could never be matched by any film. Disagree with him if you want, and I'm not sure even I agree with him, but there's something to that regardless.
Not a waste of time, maybe, but I don't learn anything of any consequence from the drama before me. The drama is fleeting (will they score, will they hold them off, etc), not profound. So, yes, I would disagree with Kubrick on that.
I find if I am given the choice between writing, watching a great film, having a conversation with my wife or watching a football game and I choose watching a football game, then I have made a poor choice. For me, obviously, not for everyone and I understand that. Since those other options are always options, at least at this point, I never choose football anymore. But, as strange as it sounds, I do still love the game. I just devote less time to it now in preference to other pursuits.
Ah, but see, my wife has become a convert, and we both look forward to every season, and every Sunday, so in our case it's a mutual interest that we can share, and other sweet things like that.
Beyond that (although Redzone, which I just disovered we have in our cable package, is going to throw a wrench into this, I fear), historically I'll read during whatever game is not the Redskins game on Sunday, and have it on as background. So it's not like I do nothing else with my day. Although, again, that fuckin' Redzone...
Plus, you and I both watch a lot of movies that are just fun, and from which we learn nothing. I don't see a big difference.
historically I'll read during whatever game is not the Redskins game on Sunday, and have it on as background...
I'll still do that too. It's nice to have football on during a fall day. I guess the difference being that that would be the case even during a Pats game. Again, I'm not trying to saying watching football is a waste for anyone or everyone, I just don't prefer it anymore, not like I used to.
I'm still pissed that "Man-gina" somehow salvaged enough games to save his mangy cur hide last year. I'd do anything to have Holgrem down there making the calls instead.
I work Sunday afternoons, so twice now I've left with a spring in my step feeling so damn good. Only to forget that I'm a Browns fan.
@Greg: Hunter S. Thompson and Sarah Vowell are big sports fans to, its an entirely OK thing for people with functioning brains to like.
Football may not have the poetry or greater meaning of say marathon running or rock climbing. It just hits that primal place were we love to see people do things stronger better and faster then we can. And it goes great with beer and bar food!
Also, anytime I hear someone harping on sports meaninglessness too much, my mind just reverses this.
Bryce, don't misunderstand. Bill knows the whole story. I was a lifelong football junkie and diehard Patriots fan from back when they were in the AFL! That undefeated season culminating in a Superbowl loss (with a goddamn helmet catch no less) really knocked the wind out of me. Not trying to sound too philosophical or anything, but honestly, you can't help but think after you go through that that none of it matters until the final whistle anyway so why tie yourself up in knots the rest of the time? I realize all of this is hard to understand because only a fan who went through a goddamn undefeated season only to see it end that way can see it in quite the same way. I see Bill or someone else get upset, and understandably, over an overtime loss and I think, "Are you fucking kidding me? Try 18 and fucking 0 only to lose the last fucking game!" Take every frustration you've ever had during an overtime loss or close playoff loss or, hell, even a normal Superbowl loss of a favorite team and multiply it by a 100.
I say this with all and complete seriousness: I hope no football fan of any team ever has to endure that again.
I would say I hope the Cowboys go through that, except that any time they win, a part of me dies. Luckily, so far this season, no part of me has died for that reason.
Haters can shut their pretty girl holes! We did not win, but the game was fantastic and a real fan will appreciate a well fought battle more than a winning score anyway. McNabb is the shit! HTTR! (It also helped matters that I watched only the last two minutes and the OT in a field with some tailgating RVers at a kick ass concert and I was in a great mood!)
I came very close to using the phrase "pretty girl hole" in my update, but I figured nobody reading this would get it. Looks like I was wrong!
Shawnee, it does help that you only saw the end of the game, but McNabb did look amazing. The whole team was amazing for about 99.9% of the game. A small handful of mistakes did us in.
Granted, if they lose, I'm setting myself up for a lot of shit talk in the comments from a bunch of stupid jerks, but whatever. Go 'Skins.
Lifelong Pats fan here- currently checking the web to give myself a break from yelling at said team for making Mark F%&$ing Sanchez look like Steve Young- but the first major sporting event I ever watched was the 83 Superbowl against the Dolphins. I pulled for the Skins cuz I thought John Riggins was cool. So I've always had a soft spot for the Hogs. And they're rivals with the Cowboys. Fuck the Cowboys.
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope D-Nabb and company drop AT LEAST 50 points on the Eagles when they go to Philly. He deserves it after what he took from that fanbase.
this's pretty good!
ReplyDeleteotherbill - As you probably can guess, I'm not doing too well today. I spent the 4th quarter pacing around like I was waiting for health news about a loved one. It was bad.
ReplyDeleteBut we looked great, for the most part. As good as we have in a decade, at least. Much better than I ever expected, which made the whole thing worse.
Still -- we're still at the top of our division, and the Cowboys lost, because they're a joke! So there's a bright side!
I do not like the Patriots at all, but since you've been so polite, allow me to offer my condolences.
And thanks, Car Insurance! You're hot!
I do not like the Patriots at all...
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd point out your typo. You meant to write, "I kind of like the Patriots because my good blogging friend Greg is a fan..."
Sometimes Blogger doesn't catch every typo, even when you use spellcheck.
By the way, my word verification on that last one was "skeehagg." Man, that's like, the most awesome word verification ever!
ReplyDeleteUsage:
"Dude, Steve's going out with Monica."
"Are you serious? She's such a skeehagg."
Unrelated FYI- Losey's PROWLER on TCM tonite. I recall you recently mentioning a desire to see it. I know where I'll be @ 8:00.
ReplyDeleteGreg, you told me a long time ago that you didn't even like them anymore. You stopped caring about football when you stopped liking the Patriots. Quit pretending, you goddamn skeehag.
ReplyDeleteotherbill - Yes indeed. I have the DVR set. I'm planning a mini Losey marathon, since I already have THE BOY WITH GREEN HAIR on DVR, and THESE ARE THE DAMNED on DVD.
Okay, all jokes aside, here's the full story. After that season I stopped watching the games because I really did think, "What the fuck am I doing this for?" I mean, it doesn't matter until the final game anyway and until then I get much more from conversation, a book, a movie, a good tv show, etc than I do giving up three and a half fucking hours of my day to a football game. Seriously, think back on how many games you've watched. How many were memorable? How many left you thinking, "That was a great allotment of my time." I just found the weekly devotion of several hours of my time to be pointless.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I always root for the underdog and the Patriots stopped being that, clearly. Still, you're a fan your entire life and it doesn't just disappear. I keep up with all the college and pro games on the sports pages and I find myself still a little disappointed every time I read of a Pats loss, like yesterday's. I'd like to become a fan of another team but it's weird, I just can't. I mean, I was a Patriots fan my whole life, and it's not like I'm saying that as a 24 year old or something. I'm talking decades of adult age fanship.
So, I'll always keep up with the game, watch big match-ups and, of course, the post-season. But for the rest of it, I left it behind and, honestly, I've never missed losing four hours every Sunday to it.
So that's the story.
Also, you go Car Insurance! Spamming all up yo' bad self!
Yeah I'm a Browns fan.
ReplyDeleteI automatically win any football misery contest.
@Bryce-- I'm a Browns fan, too. We're going to win one this year, right? I was so hopeful in the pre-season, and still think we have a good team. But each game makes me think we're snake-bitten (or perhaps skeehagged) in the regular season.
ReplyDeleteBrian, you're such a skeehag.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Greg! That makes me feel like Tom Brady must feel everyday.
ReplyDeleteThat's because he sleeps with skeehags. I'm disappointed in him daily.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't think it's a waste of time to watch football (or any sport, if you happen to be a fan). There is great, intense drama in it, as seen by, well, yesterday's Redskins game, goddamn motherfuck of a game though it was. Kubrick, as you're all probably aware, was a huge tennis fan, and once said that the drama generated by that sport could never be matched by any film. Disagree with him if you want, and I'm not sure even I agree with him, but there's something to that regardless.
ReplyDeleteREDSKISN RULE! BROWNS DROOL!
Not a waste of time, maybe, but I don't learn anything of any consequence from the drama before me. The drama is fleeting (will they score, will they hold them off, etc), not profound. So, yes, I would disagree with Kubrick on that.
ReplyDeleteI find if I am given the choice between writing, watching a great film, having a conversation with my wife or watching a football game and I choose watching a football game, then I have made a poor choice. For me, obviously, not for everyone and I understand that. Since those other options are always options, at least at this point, I never choose football anymore. But, as strange as it sounds, I do still love the game. I just devote less time to it now in preference to other pursuits.
"in deference to other pursuits."
ReplyDeleteAh, but see, my wife has become a convert, and we both look forward to every season, and every Sunday, so in our case it's a mutual interest that we can share, and other sweet things like that.
ReplyDeleteBeyond that (although Redzone, which I just disovered we have in our cable package, is going to throw a wrench into this, I fear), historically I'll read during whatever game is not the Redskins game on Sunday, and have it on as background. So it's not like I do nothing else with my day. Although, again, that fuckin' Redzone...
Plus, you and I both watch a lot of movies that are just fun, and from which we learn nothing. I don't see a big difference.
historically I'll read during whatever game is not the Redskins game on Sunday, and have it on as background...
ReplyDeleteI'll still do that too. It's nice to have football on during a fall day. I guess the difference being that that would be the case even during a Pats game. Again, I'm not trying to saying watching football is a waste for anyone or everyone, I just don't prefer it anymore, not like I used to.
Brian: God I hope so.
ReplyDeleteI'm still pissed that "Man-gina" somehow salvaged enough games to save his mangy cur hide last year. I'd do anything to have Holgrem down there making the calls instead.
I work Sunday afternoons, so twice now I've left with a spring in my step feeling so damn good. Only to forget that I'm a Browns fan.
@Greg: Hunter S. Thompson and Sarah Vowell are big sports fans to, its an entirely OK thing for people with functioning brains to like.
Football may not have the poetry or greater meaning of say marathon running or rock climbing. It just hits that primal place were we love to see people do things stronger better and faster then we can. And it goes great with beer and bar food!
Also, anytime I hear someone harping on sports meaninglessness too much, my mind just reverses this.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/walking-sports-database-scorns-walking-scifi-datab,1442/
Bryce, don't misunderstand. Bill knows the whole story. I was a lifelong football junkie and diehard Patriots fan from back when they were in the AFL! That undefeated season culminating in a Superbowl loss (with a goddamn helmet catch no less) really knocked the wind out of me. Not trying to sound too philosophical or anything, but honestly, you can't help but think after you go through that that none of it matters until the final whistle anyway so why tie yourself up in knots the rest of the time? I realize all of this is hard to understand because only a fan who went through a goddamn undefeated season only to see it end that way can see it in quite the same way. I see Bill or someone else get upset, and understandably, over an overtime loss and I think, "Are you fucking kidding me? Try 18 and fucking 0 only to lose the last fucking game!" Take every frustration you've ever had during an overtime loss or close playoff loss or, hell, even a normal Superbowl loss of a favorite team and multiply it by a 100.
ReplyDeleteI say this with all and complete seriousness: I hope no football fan of any team ever has to endure that again.
I would say I hope the Cowboys go through that, except that any time they win, a part of me dies. Luckily, so far this season, no part of me has died for that reason.
ReplyDeleteHaters can shut their pretty girl holes! We did not win, but the game was fantastic and a real fan will appreciate a well fought battle more than a winning score anyway. McNabb is the shit! HTTR!
ReplyDelete(It also helped matters that I watched only the last two minutes and the OT in a field with some tailgating RVers at a kick ass concert and I was in a great mood!)
I came very close to using the phrase "pretty girl hole" in my update, but I figured nobody reading this would get it. Looks like I was wrong!
ReplyDeleteShawnee, it does help that you only saw the end of the game, but McNabb did look amazing. The whole team was amazing for about 99.9% of the game. A small handful of mistakes did us in.