Up until very recently I was always something of a sponge. If I met someone new who was into philosophy, I would be out for coffee with them debating until the coffee shop closed. If a friend had discovered Mystery Science Theatre 3000, I would be at their house until 2 AM watching movies with them. I even went so far as meeting the coke dealers of some of my friends who were going through scary phases, because if that’s not blogging fodder down the line I’m not sure what is.

And if my boyfriend was into sports, we’d throw on the football game! What’s the big deal?

You know what the big deal is? I married that boyfriend.

Mister’s family is, decidedly, a sports family. They’re decidedly a lot of things actually – American, loud, passionate, fun loving, out going – and meeting them, initially, I was terrified. I had never really met people like them before. All my family friends are more quiet or more exclusive. Mister’s family was so down to earth it was jarring – they didn’t just want me to date their son, they wanted to really get to know me. They wanted me to come over whenever I wanted.

So in week three of our relationship the first offer came.

“Come over on Sunday to our football party!” Mister’s Mom shouted from the kitchen.
“This Sunday?”
“The Vikings are playing! There’s food! We’ll teach you football!”
“Sure, that sounds good.”

It sounded good for having no idea at all what I had signed up for. I pictured a Super Bowl party with twenty people gathered around the TV. I was already picturing myself trying to find a way out of the party at the last moment. I pictured not understanding a thing that was on the screen. They would know I was a hopeless anti-fan, and I would be bored and upset for however long the game lasted. It would end our relationship. On Sunday we were going to break up. I was doomed.

“I don’t know what I’m getting into here! What should I wear? How long does it last? How many of these do I have to go to?” I asked all of my friends but no one had any answers. Apparently I was dating the only NFL fan in a CFL town. God save me, I was really doomed.

I drove over to the party by myself with the music on loudly so I couldn’t think too much. I had gone online to find out who the Vikings were and came over wearing something purple under a sweater so no one would have to know if I’d worn the wrong thing. I was doomed, I could feel it. We were done for. At least I would have one last afternoon with his family before we broke up.
But instead of the scores of people, the shouting, and the drama – it was just his family. They sat me down between his mom and his dad, each making separate diagrams on pieces of paper, talking about different things on top of each other and overflowing with excitement to explain while Mister laughed and covered his face with his hands before pulling me away when I started looking really overwhelmed.

But eventually I got it, someone explained the downs to me and I kind of got it. And I kind of liked it. Football was like having the Olympics on TV again, it became very comfortable background noise and part of our weekend routine.

Last year was the third year that we were dating I was finally allowed to join the family football pool. For the first time in 17 years, Mister’s Dad didn’t win – because I did! And I won again this year too!

I haven’t tried to push myself into following it as closely as I did the first year I played the pool – I’m not a die hard sporty person and I’m not trying to be. As much fun as it was being a sponge when I was younger, it was exhausting too and it left me spinning, grasping for interests of my own.

But sponginess aside, my football pool career has taught me a few very valuable things:

• Sports really are amazing live.
• Sports on TV are a great chance to knit – just don’t forget to look at the score every now and then.
• If your mother in law’s Mom is a fan of the Browns, once and a while you should just take them. It will do your relationship good.
• If you pick based on record you can break anyone’s 17 year win streak.

I’m never going to be a superfan, but football is part of the background noise of my life now….and because I won the pool this year, football just bought me a new bag. Between that and the snacks? Football and I are totally cool.