The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

With the Hall of Fame game (yawn) in the books, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel…Football season is nearly upon us. For those of us who love the game, this is the greatest time of the year. Whether your team ended last season in the proverbial Summerfest Port-a-john or Favre threw an interception in the NFC Championship to end the season, this is when things can begin anew!

With hope in their collective hearts, fans all over the country (and the world) will tune in to preseason football to see what may be in store for their beloved teams. I'm sure some fans will be heartened by the 3 plays the 1^st teamers put in or the 4^th qtr. punt return for a TD. Some will undoubtedly be disappointed that the 1^st round draft pick isn't living up to the hype or that those O linemen look older, fatter and slower this year or that the $100 Million free agent that was signed last year looks lazy and out of shape. That is preseason football. I am just worried that we all have some kind of collective disorder!

There can be no other reason for any pre-season games to be broadcast nationally! I am personally considering treatment for my addiction. Why do I have the need to tune in to see players I'll never hear from, or about, again line up and play "football" in a preseason game? What is wrong with me? I'm sure some of it can be attributed to my fantasy football habit, but c'mon, watching these guys is worse than watching grass grow in the winter!

Someday there may be a cure for my addiction… the XFL wasn't it, the AFL is unwatchable and soccer isn't nearly as exciting when you watch it at 6 AM sober. Personally, I descend into NFL hibernation after the Super Bowl, poking my head out periodically in April and June to check the weather. The awakening is happening now and I guess I need to have these games as a cold splash of water in the face. I love it every year!

The yuletide may be the time for peace and happiness, but Football Season is MY favorite season! Enjoy the ride!