Sunday, January 24, 2010

Football's New Arena











"Who cares? It’s just a game.” This is a widely used decree for people who don't understand football culture. In my experience you are either a person who believes the previous statement or one who quivers at its use. I belong to the latter group. My house on Sunday is a flurry of football games and Pro Line tickets. All homework is done on Saturday to ensure absolute attention is paid to all games.


This same ritual is performed by numerous people across North America. Last Sunday night for the two division championship games over 11 million people tuned in to see who would battle it out in Super Bowl 44.



Being a fan is not what it used to be. Watching the games and cheering for a team (Go Colts) is no longer enough. We now have what is called the “Mega Fan”, someone who not only performs basic football rituals but also has adopted new rituals rooted within technology. These fans follow players such as quarterback Peyton Manning on twitter, erect Facebook fan groups in his honour, and build entire fantasy football teams around having him run their offense.



I have been converted. I am now a Mega fan. Bowls of munchies in my lap have been replaced by my laptop. My focus is now shared between the game in front of me and the live stats update on nfl.com. Which players earned me points in my fantasy pool is now just as important as who actually scored on the field. Screaming at my TV about bad calls made by coaches has been replaced with letting my frustration out on live blogs with other fans who feel the same way.



Networks such as nlf.com, twitter and Facebook also allow for players to become more connected with their fans. Problems have arose from usage of these application. As a result organizations have ban twitter not only in the locker room and on the sidelines but also in the stands during training camp. Organizations do not want team secrets to end up on Twittersphere.

The Bottom Line: So maybe half of the decree is true; it is no longer, just a game.


Nfl recap 2009-2010 Season:

Colts made it all the way to the Superbowl!!! I sat in my living room in my usual spot with 20 of my closest friends. I was wearing my Manning Jersey and showing my support for my favorite sports team of all time.


Almost everyone else was cheering for the other team, but I would never betray my team. I'm sure all football fans know how this turned out. My team lost. I felt defeated. I felt sad. But after the initial shock I realized something that helps me every season: THERE IS ALWAYS NEXT YEAR.


This week was the Nfl 2010 draft. This is the first milestone of the year that gets me pumped for the 2010-2011 season.


Bottom Line: 2011 is our year, Go Colts Go!!!

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