Are You Ready for Some Football???

So this weekend began another new football season...a time where fantasy leagues and weekly pools and instant replay become household terms and sanity and tranquility take a temporary reprieve. Yes, every sport has it's share of fanatics and blind devotees, but there is something a little different about football and the football season in general. Unlike the other sports, football games are all played on Sundays (with the exception of the Monday night game...oh, and now the Thursday night game...um, and some Saturday games late in the season), which creates something of an event for many football junkies.

Sundays during football season are something of a holy day for sports fans, where rituals and habits become normal and elevated decibel levels are understood and for the most part accepted. From when she was an infant, my daughter has worn Tampa Bay Buccaneers outfits and hair bows every game day during football season. She learned how to say "Let's Go Bucs" shortly after learning how to say "mommy" and "daddy". She now knows at 4 years old that Daddy is not really mad at anyone when he is yelling at the TV during the games (well, except maybe the stupid play calls or the Swiss cheese defense), but instead just really into the games.

Yes, Football season is very much a unique time in many households. To me, football is the one sport where I can watch just about any game even if my team isn't one of those playing, and really enjoy it. And so for people like me the NFL Sunday Ticket is a glorious invention. Being able to watch any and all games on Sunday, I almost need the relief of the lone Sunday night game in order to give my thumb a rest from clicking back and forth from game to game for 8 hours.

So here's to another season, another year of hope and pride, beer and snacks, jerseys and rally towels, big screens and surround sound, cheering and cursing. I am definitely ready for some football...