As a football fan, I find it's been very uplifting to redirect pointless, potentially abrasive holiday discussions into football talk, especially with people who grew up watching football.
Everyone around me is a 49ers fan. I can go into the arguments about their draft pick QB, their odds of making the playoffs, and who did what even though I personally am not a 9ers fan, but a Seahawks fan. It takes the pressure off of weird political discussions or unpleasant stuff. I just redirect it to football, and it works.
I know the ALs know this from seeing the activity calendar. They are having seminars about how football works so that the women (it is mostly women) will bond over that, plus it gives one more thing to talk about with the men in there.
I recommend football as a positive technique!
Yeah, we're stoked. We've got some great players and it's been a great year.
With local college, we have Stanford and Cal, neither of which has really done anything for years. I'll watch the Big Game between them, but don't really expect more. You guys making it to Rose Bowl is almost like Super Bowl. Congratulations1
I texted my son after the 2nd amazing win over the Oregon Ducks and said "Hey, you should take your old man to the Rose Bowl". AND HE IS GOING TO. It's turning into quite the mancation and I am so excited to have DH gone for 4 days with his son and favorite SIL.
And and SIL Are picking up the entire tab (this wasn't necessary, but they insisted!) and DH is in a good mood--he's usually pretty grumpy as he watches FoxNews all day long. Now he can yell politics at the boys all he wants and I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN.
We only follow MLB when it comes time for the pennant races and the Utes.
I watch the Lions too sometimes, and while they suck also, their plan is rather clear. With their high picks they'll be going for a QB no doubt and trying to trade Goff, and there's a sense with Dan Campbell that the team is under control.
I loved football on my own, but this additional benefit is why I really love football!