From the sidelines: Jamie's rebuttal
Editor's note: "From the Sidelines" will have a special guest columnist this week. Mike's wife Jamie decided to write a rebuttal to his column this past week about why men are wired to watch football.
Michael has graciously given me the opportunity to defend myself (and women everywhere) after last week's column.
I need to prove that I am not, after all, completely against Sunday afternoon football-watching.
First of all, he is right about one thing: Football is my favorite sport. Maybe it is because it's only on one day a week (or so I thought).
It could be that football season is the kickoff to the fall season which holds cool days, pumpkin-scented candles, Thanksgiving, and yes, cuddling up on the couch to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and read a book.
While I do love to watch an occasional football game and read a good book on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I also have other things on my mind when the clock hits noon.
As Michael pointed out, last Sunday we cleaned house and did some rearranging. I am one of those people who just cannot relax on the sofa knowing that the house needs dusted or vacuumed.
I also am one of those people who, once I get an idea in my head, I do it. Michael has learned this about me over the past couple of years. He has learned the hard way, but, nonetheless, he has learned.
So when I decided Saturday afternoon that we needed to rearrange the bedroom, I knew I should casually mention the idea a few times to him throughout the course of the day and then just jump into it the next day.
As I thought out my plans, it is quite possible that football slipped my mind all together.
Sunday afternoon, as we finished putting the furniture where I wanted it and we went from game one to game two, I remembered what football season really is all about.
My need to watch one or two games per week (depending on who is playing) has been overmatched by Michael's need to watch one or two games (or highlights) per day. I guess it's a good thing we have TIVO.
He is right, most women don't understand how or why men have to watch games so religiously. But I guess that most men don't understand why most women can watch a football game and read a book all at once.
It's called multi-tasking.
By the way, to prove my (and Michael's) point — he is watching Monday Night Football while I am writing this.
