Still Leagues Apart
I love football.
As a man, the sport simply speaks to the inherent barbarism that has trickled down my side of the species for time ad nauseum. Some of my fondest high school memories revolve around strapping on the pads and hitting people as hard as I possibly could, without getting in trouble for it. In fact, I can honestly say that I enjoyed getting hit — laid out on my back with stars circling overhead — more than doing the hitting (see Fight Club).
And the language of football is deeply connected to the language of our cave-dwelling ancestors:
Arggh. Me want. Arggh. Me take. Arggh. Touchdown!
Football provides that wormhole back to warriorism — where heroes are born for their stubbornness to quit, where the last guy standing reigns supreme, whether he’s got all of his limbs or not. From this we have been treated to Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Reggie White — WARRIORS the whole lot!!!
And I respect that. All of that. Every single bit of it.
Still, football ain’t baseball.
It’s not even close.
So, for me, when football playoffs come around, it’s just not the same as when baseball playoffs come around.
I don’t obsess over every matchup. I don’t lose sleep at night wondering how the benches will play out. I don’t break things or make women cry or have the cops called on me for repeated noise violations. And this is for games in which my team isn’t even in it.
‘Cuz if my team is in it, you can fuhgettabout me paying attention to anything else but the game, series, trophy, until it’s over.
Hate me ‘cuz it’s the thing to do, just don’t hate me ‘cuz I’m right.
Peace,
Jeff
Red State Blue State 
Argh! I like football, but I love baseball. The only sports that are close to baseball for me are NCAA Basketball and when Michael Jordan played for the Bulls. The NFL comes after that. But that’s just me.
Ron
http://strictlycubsbaseball.mlblogs.com/
This is the first year in a long time that I had no interest in the NFL Playoffs. Not because the Vikings aren’t in it – and I was taken for a ride last year on that bloody ship. It’s just that last baseball season simply couldn’t be topped no hit on Brett Favre on a frozen field or a Brad Childress presser bamboozle (thankfully, supplanted by Leslie Frazier) could ever resolve my frustration and vitriol over the NFL this season.
To think that Jerry Jones would welcome the Steelers and Packers to his Megachurch of All Things Cowboys (except for a tiny mention of Tom Landry on the ark) in the guise of Super Bowl XLV. I think I’ll start watching the Cardiac Wild until the pitchers and catchers report for camp…
– Randy
http://heirloom.mlblogs.com
I agree, Jeff, that nothing can compare to baseball. I love hockey and enjoy it all winter, but am really starting to feel the baseball itch. Spring can’t come soon enough, especially since it’s -8 out right now…
-Mike
http://burrilltalksbaseball.mlblogs.com
Ron — Well, Jordan with the Bulls ought to get its own category. Still pinching myself that I got to be a witness!
Randy — Go Cardiac! Megachurch of All Things Cowboys? Talk about things that disgust my ears!
Mike — Exactly. It’ll be here. Soon! And the Tigers look better than last year already. I mean, don’t get all your hopes up (yet)… but still…
–Jeff
“Arggh. Me want. Arggh. Me take. Arggh. Touchdown!”
That quote reminded me of Bill Maher’s line the other night about “Country Strong”; who came up with this title? The Hulk? “Here money!! Give ticket!!!”
http://paullebowitz.com.previewyoursite.com/blog/?p=273
Great minds think alike. I wrote a similar post over the weekend, although I don’t even watch football. My husband had the Jets game on last night and got pretty excited when it looked like they might rally. Me? I cooked dinner.
http://janeheller.mlblogs.com
Prince — Sounds about right!
Jane — Mmmm. Food! Me like food! Me like many many foooood! 😉
–Jeff