Ever since a couple of friends who most often hosted Super Bowl parties each relocated out of town, I’ve…discovered the sheer joy and found time that comes with not following the NFL. An intense, grueling season of Sundays to myself and my family culminates in Super Bowl Sunday, when I can go wherever I want and not another soul is around.
Yesterday I went hiking and continued reading The Wayfinder; last night I remembered I’ll have very little idea what people are talking about as they run through their small talk this morning. I used to feel obliged to pay attention to maintain that sort of pop culture literacy, but it was very freeing once I got over that.
This is not a self-help column nor a “you should do X” thing, just a transition as the NHL turns toward the Olympics this month and most humans get past the hoopla of the NFL trademarked championship game. I understand there were field goals and AI commercials.
As for us, the other global sports hype machine is now underway. For the men, Olympic hockey starts Wednesday with two games (Slovakia vs. Finland and Sweden vs. Italy). On the women’s side, things began last week already and there are four preliminary round games today, with both the U.S. and Canada in action.
Good luck as you discuss that one commercial or that one play today.