I am not a football fan........

The last couple of weeks I've actually watched the playoff games. Today, the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC championship and now we're going to the Superbowl! Yay! I sort of enjoyed the game, and even more, providing commentary on Facebook, but the truth of the matter is, I'm NOT really a football fan.

It's not that I don't like football. I like it just fine. Sort of. In a non-committal way. Because I'm just not a super fan of anything. Except Shemar Moore, but that's another story (Hello, Chocolate Thunder!). What I AM a fan of is jumping on the bandwagon. As in, I can be a fan for anyone or anything for a limited time. I just can't invest myself in anything for too long or with too much effort. I lack the attention span. 

I'm a lazy fan. I heard some chatter on the interwebs that there should be a "13th man" designation for all the people who jumped on the bandwagon once the Seahawks were winning. Yeah, that's me. I'd wear that shirt proudly. Except I'm not a man, so it would have to say "13th woman." But then, I'd wear it. Because I don't care that much. What I DO care about isn't the game. It's something else.

I care about people coming together to support a common cause. It doesn't have to be a football game. I feel the same way when I'm part of a 5K walk for charity, or celebrating someone's birthday. Just coming together to cheer on someone (or something, or a cause) and to feel the camaraderie - that's pretty cool stuff. I'll buy the t-shirt.

I love that my city is lit up with "12" and blue and green. Who wouldn't want to be a part of something that makes you proud? But I also feel the same way when my kids are in a play at school. I want the whole world to come and see how awesome those kids are. I just like celebration, and pride and a feeling of accomplishment, even if that accomplishment is not mine.

I don't like the trash-talking, the screaming at the TV, the hateful words of competition. I'm not competitive myself, nor have my kids played many sports, and I just don't CARE enough to get all hyped up about it. It's a game. Seriously. I was not sorry when my kids stopped playing sports and I could leave behind all those crazed, screaming parents living vicariously through their kids. I don't hate sports, it's just that they're not for me when it comes to the negative side of things. I just don't care enough and I'm ok with that.

I rarely win anything. I've never won a carnival game, a radio contest, or any major awards (leg lamp anyone?). The stress and anxiety of trying to win is just too much for me. I can get worked up over anything, I don't need the additional stress of competition or needing to be on top. It's not that I wouldn't LIKE to win, but I'm rarely motivated to put forth the effort needed to be a winner.

Does that make me lazy? Uncaring? Unmotivated? Sure, when it comes to sports. But that's because they're not for me. That doesn't mean I won't cheer YOU on, because I want to celebrate your success. I CAN be the biggest fan when I want to be. But when I don't, I don't want the pressure. I won't lose any sleep over who wins the Superbowl, but I'll gloat appropriately if the Seahawks win. For my city. 

And because I'm a fan. Of fun.

Also, where can I buy a confetti cannon?

Friday Night Lights

Nice title, huh? I'm pretty sure it has something to do with football or a football show or something. Anyway, I know it refers to playing football in high school under the lights on a Friday. Right? Right?

Tonight we went to the high school football game. It was very crowded. We stood in line to get in and got in just about.....halftime. There was no place to sit. But my husband and I did find a nice piece of fence line upon which to lean, so it wasn't all bad. We went to the game at the request of our daughter, who just HAD to go. But not to watch a football game, heavens no! Only the high-schoolers and the parents watch the game. The under 15 crowd shows up to see and be seen. And to see who can wear the most outrageous outfit, hair extensions in approved school colors, glitter, make-up, face paint, fishnet stockings under shorty shorts, and all manner of shredded apparel in school colors.

Not being a huge fan of football, I only remember attending one high school game. It was fun. We won. It was big deal because it was some sort of championship. I don't really remember the details, but I remember rushing the field after the big win and thinking, hey, this is fun! Did I know the score? Did I even know who the opposing team was? Nah. In college, I never attended a single game. Not a one! My college experience was more work/school/sleep than football games and frat parties. I did attend a college game once, but it was at another college and only because the friend I was visiting for the weekend invited me along.

Thus, I have never painted my face in the spirit of the game, never shredded a t-shirt, never sat stuffed like sardines on metal bleachers shouting cheers and fist-pumping my way through a football game. And now, well, it's just not cool to paint your face after 40. So, I go to the games when my kids ask me to take them. I watch the game (sorta). I people-watch a LOT and I overhear things that would shock the parents of the children I know saying them (oh my, I don't remember using that kind of language when I was 13!). Once we hit the main gate, we don't see the kids until they need a ride home. I have no idea what they do during the game - for all I know, they sneak right out the gate and go smoke pot behind QFC. Haha. Just kidding. I think. I know what they do. They walk around, bump into similarly-dressed friends, chat, move on. They circulate. For the most part, they are not even aware there's a game going on except for the sudden burst of cheers when their team makes a touchdown. Then they look up, vaguely aware that they are, in fact, at a football stadium, not a spirit-wear fashion show that serves pizza.

But sometimes they surprise you. Tonight, after the game, I asked our daughter "who won?" and she said "we did!" then added "32-30". Wow. She knew the score. They grow up so fast.