It’s game day and I still don’t have a solid game plan. It’s tough because part of me wants to be out there among fellow fans, and another part of me wants (needs) to be in a more mellow setting. It comes down to nerves. Well, nerves and focus.
Okay, nerves, focus, and composure.
The adrenaline has been building all week. I love the NFL playoffs. Something about a real must-win situation is exhilarating. (Not to mention that it’s one of the few times the term “must-win” is actually used correctly by sports commentators and fans alike. The blatant misuse of the term is one of my real pet peeves. But I digress…)
I can deal with the nerves. In fact, I embrace the nerves. Because it’s games like tonight’s that we sports fans live for. So I guess it really isn’t about the nerves.
It is, partly, about focus. I want to watch the game. I don’t want to miss a play – because replays just aren’t the same. I don’t want to be distracted, and I definitely don’t want to hold a conversation during the game. So I need to choose my fellow viewers wisely. Since I have yet to add “sports bar bouncer” to my ever-growing list of job descriptions, I have little control over the crowd at local establishments, which means I’m taking my chances if I venture out for tonight’s game. With my luck, I’d be belly up to the bar next to an Atlanta transplant decked out in his Falcon attire. And that brings me to the issue of composure.
I’ve mentioned it before, but it probably warrants another note here – I’m a high school teacher. This is important in that it helps to explain my level of patience. I like to think I’m a pretty patient person. But all bets are off when it comes to sports – and this is especially true during the playoffs. I can’t be bothered with smack talk or taunting or (worse still) useless banter. While I can keep my composure in such situations (again, my profession often makes for great training), it takes effort. And in a playoff situation, all my effort needs to be focused on the game.
To be more candid still, I get excited during games like these. I jump, shout, yell, bust a few moves, and act in a manner I’m not sure the general public is ready for.
So maybe I’ll stay home today. In fact, I think I will. That way I can focus and flaunt in my own FANtastic way.
