Sports fans

I'm sure you have noticed that you are surrounded by sports fans. They are all around us. Some are closet sports fans, and some are the fanatical sports fans. The closet types, in my opinion, (which by the way, on this blog is the only one that counts), are the ones who will watch one or two sports, have a favorite team. However, they don't sport any of their teams gear, auto decals, license plate frames, etc etc. Most of these folks don't watch the games unless they just so happen to notice it's on. They don't read newspaper articles about their teams, or the games, or really even follow the rules of the sport much. Most of these folks really couldn't even name a player on their favorite team. Unless it was Dan Marino or John Elway or someone like that.

Then you have the fanatical types. You know the ones I'm talking about. The guys who paint their chests, and go shirtless in 10 degree weather at the Green Bay Packers game. Won't miss a game. Ever. The guys who have bumper stickers and tee shirts with the phrase "We interupt this marriage to bring you the football season!" These guys spend way too much money on their teams gear. They have everything in team colors, and logos. The diner table is set with plates that alternate Yellow and Green! (Packers colors), During Easter diner! They won't leave the house without wearing something team related.

Somewhere in the middle though, are the sport nerds. I have known a few of them over the years. These guys know every player on every team, of every sport. They know who won on July 7th, 1973, where the game was played, how many fans can the venue hold, how much a cup of beer costs, what brand of beer, and how big the cup was. You know someone like that too. These guys crack me up. Mostly because they seem unlikely candidates for the type. I work with a guy like that. He's is kinda weird if you ask me. He has the coke bottle glasses, cause he is legally blind without them. Wears black socks with long shorts, and has the whitest legs I have ever seen. The poster child for pasty nerd! However, this guy fits the bill. He can tell you any stat you every wanted to know, and 100 of the ones that you didn't even care about. But you would never know by lookin at him.

Now, that's not all. There is one more catagory. This is one of my favorites, and sometimes the most surprising of all. Women. I'm not saying that women shouldn't be sports fans. I'm not saying that women don't know anything about sports either. I just find woman sports fans amusing. They have their own "fan" style. My wife for instance, only likes to watch NFL football. She only likes to watch the Chicago Bears, and the Denver Broncos. She was born in Chicago, and we live in Colorado. Makes perfect sense to me. She couldn't name a single player on the Bears, except for "refrigerator" Perry, and Walter Payton. Both, long time retired. Sweetness of course, has since passed away. As for the Denver Broncos, she can name a few, both past and present. She has a great eye for the yellow flag, and can often call the penalty right. However, she doesn't understand the rules of the game very well. Her mother is the same way. My mother is pretty much the same way, only with the Buffalo Bills. My sister is a little more like me. I know alot about the sport or sports that I watch. I only watch football. She watches football and Hockey, with her husband.

The point that I was making about women sports fans is that they really can be the crazed lunatic of sports fans. My wife will knock the crap out of you, if you say that Denver Sucks! She can be down right violent about her sports team. She have some gear, that she wears proudly. Winning season or losing season. She, like many women, have very strong opinions about their sports teams, and will defend them to the death, and by god, don't disagree with them, or you're gonna be scrappin with 'em. And you know what I mean!!!

Then, you have me. There are alot of sports fans like myself. I'm too small to play, too old to try now, and wouldn't survive the first pile-up if I did play. However, I have a favorite team, have some gear that I only wear on game day, and if I leave the house. I am a football fan. Only the NFL though. Don't follow college, mostly because I don't have time, and I feel that the BCS is unfair, and a very poor setup. I have been to the Gator Bowl, and I will watch a bit of college ball if it is on, and I'm in the mood. College ball is much better than Professional ball. The players still have 20 million dollar salaries at stake, so they play like there is no tomorrow. Makes for a good game if you ask me.

I don't know every player on every team. I'm lucky if I can name every team. I can, but not quickly, and likely will miss one or two. I can't name every player on my team either. In fact, Because I live in Colorado, and I'm a Jacksonville Jaguars fan, I don't even get to see my team play except when they play Denver, Monday nights, Thursday nights, and Play-offs. Therefore, it would be proposterous for me to even attempt to closely follow my team. The best I can do, is look at the sports page, and watch the AFC standings.

I am the type of football fan who will go to a game occasionally, if I can afford it. I'm going to dress comfortably, and will not be the guy on tv. I'm not gonna carry a "D" or the "fence" in either. I do however, know all the rules well, I can generally tell you who will win a game, and be relatively close with a score estimate. I do follow the NFL. I love football. I don't watch the draft. I really don't care. I love the game, not the players. I am a good mix of the sports nerd and the closet sports fan, and the lunatic. Friends often ask me for rule clarification, who they should bet on, if they should bet the spread, etc. etc. I do not look the part though. I'm kind of a "sleeper." If I ever get the time, and energy, I would like to be an NFL referee. Although, I would have to start with my local High School leagues probably, and as of yet, haven't even begun to look into the "how to."

This concludes my rant on sports and sports fans. I hope you have enjoyed it. Whether or not you agree with me. I do enjoy your comments. I enjoy them even more if you don't agree, cause I like to argue anyway! Thanks and have a great day!