Saying No To NFL

I have decided not to follow the Indianapolis Colts this year or for that matter any football (high school, college or professional).  I actually toyed with this idea in the off season but figured it would be a game time decision once the season started.  I was still undecided heading into the weekend.  I have read the stories of how the sport is too violent and then there are the few bad apples of players that bring the sport down.  I also (for whatever reason) do not like the emotional ride that occurs during a typical game (Colts games anyways).  I’m happy, I’m mad, I’m upset, I’m ecstatic then I am disappointed only to be lifted up again.  To some that is part of the joy of watching football but I don’t like the ride.  I think in the end it is the injuries that bother me the most (interesting site discussing, among other things, the lasting effect of ex nfl player’s injuries).  I know these guys choose on their own to play but I feel partly guilty in encouraging them to do so.  Anyway, I thought about all these things over the summer (with the bitter taste of a Colt’s super bowl loss still in my mouth).

Fast forward to this past weekend.  The Colts (being in the AFC) are typically broadcast on CBS.  I have never been able to pick up the Indianapolis CBS station with my Radio Shack rabbit ears.  I can get ABC and NBC and even Fox out of Indianapolis but never CBS.  I have been able to get the CBS affiliate out of Lafayette (a city about 30 miles to our west) but only if I put the rabbit ears about 3 foot in front of the tv and a few feet to the left of it.  They also have to be suspended about 5 to 6 foot in the air.  I usually accomplish this by scooting the coffee table over and then stacking all 9 seasons of Little House on the Prairie DVD sets on top of a few board game boxes (Yahtzee and Rummikub work well for this).  Even then the signal is weak and if anyone is in the hallway bathroom, the signal is interrupted.  I usually have to allow 30 minutes to set up my structure for my CBS reception in case I need to move it left or right or need to add or remove DVD sets.

I have not needed to use the CBS setup all summer long (I think I used it in April for The Masters golf tournament) so maybe I am a little out of practice or maybe the trees have grown between Lafayette and my house or maybe some other obstruction has been erected but I could not get even the weakest of signals.  And just like that my decision was made for me (for week 1 of the NFL season anyway).  The wife had the van so I could not drive to somewhere else to watch the game so I assumed the fates had made my decision.

I am not sure what I am supposed to do with my Sunday afternoons once the weather turns cold.  For now I will be OK as the outside can be enjoyed.  Soon though the temperature will turn colder and I will have to decide whether or not to stick with my decision (assuming the rabbit ears start picking up the station again).  I will have to keep you posted.

Jon