| It is quite apparent that authors who achieve | | | | a whole new industry and participation grows |
| success write about that which excites them. | | | | yearly. This much support speaks volumes about |
| Their passion comes through with every word | | | | the sport's popularity and its ever-broadening |
| they scribe. Now, I am certainly not an | | | | viewership. |
| experienced writer but I do know what I love...the | | | | So, I've established why I love football so much. |
| sport of football, and namely the National Football | | | | Now comes the more tedious part. What practical |
| League. | | | | information can I impart to readers that will enable |
| After having read literally hundreds of articles | | | | them to not only understand the game better but |
| from industry "experts", I felt that their | | | | encourage them to join me in blissful fandom? |
| knowledge of the game often usurped any | | | | Well, for one thing I know that season after |
| emotion for the sport. What was/is missing is a | | | | season, those prognosticators who lay odds on |
| primal connection to that which brings hundreds of | | | | the outcome of each battle and the season-long |
| thousands to their feet each week all across the | | | | war, aren't as perfect as they would have you |
| country. As fans, we anticipate every nuance of | | | | believe. So knowledge is in the eye of the |
| the sport...the pageantry of every broadcast, the | | | | beholder. Far be it for me (or anyone) to question |
| raw physicality of every helmet to helmet hit, the | | | | a fan's support and hope for his/her team when |
| subtlety of an audible called right before the snap | | | | "on any given Sunday" anything can happen. Yes, |
| of the ball. Sure, we sometimes blindly pledge | | | | tendencies can help influence our opinions but |
| allegiance to our hometown heroes but that is | | | | ultimately the players on the field decide their own |
| what is even more telling about this incredible | | | | fate. All the rhetoric about whose quarterback is |
| gridiron battle. The late George Carlin once did a | | | | most accurate, whose running back is fastest and |
| bit concerning the differences between baseball | | | | whose defense the most opportunistic can't with |
| and football. Besides the obvious humor, and | | | | absolute certainty predict the outcome of each |
| believe me it was hilarious, one should listen to it | | | | contest. |
| to gain a keener insight into how this sport | | | | Look, fellow football aficionados...I have my |
| epitomizes the "soldier mentality" in all of us. | | | | thoughts on which teams will do well this coming |
| Perhaps that is why so many adore the NFL as | | | | season and which ones are still a season or two |
| much as I do. | | | | away. But these are my beliefs, not yours. Watch |
| Please understand. I positively enjoy college | | | | the games, ask questions, read information, |
| football, arena football, high school football, sandlot | | | | discuss the sport openly with others and then |
| football, etc. The NFL represents the best the | | | | follow your own mindset. Remember, perception |
| sport has to offer and so it takes a rightful place | | | | is 100% reality. Enjoy the awesomeness that is |
| atop the pedestal before all football fans. Video | | | | the NFL and be comfortable in your own feelings. |
| games, i.e. the Madden series, are huge sellers. | | | | Then and only then can you truly realize the glory |
| More money is bet on the Super Bowl each year | | | | that is football. |
| than on anything else. Fantasy Football opened up | | | | |
