Guarantee Yourself a Good Time at the Next Sporting Event
5 simple tips from someone who doesn’t watch sports
“Try this. I call ‘em Man Candy.”
They were delicious. You can’t go wrong with mini hot dogs wrapped in bacon, sprinkled with brown sugar, and baked to perfection.
I must’ve had 10 to 15 of them that night. What else was I supposed to do? It was a Super Bowl party and I don’t follow sports, let alone football.
If you’re like me and you don’t have any clue about how many innings are in a round of hockey but you still want to fit in, read on.
I just don’t get it
The 2025 Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will air later today. It’s one of the most watched sporting events in the world. Last year over 123 million people tuned in.
Honestly I wish I cared about anything the way people care about sports.
So much emotion. So much time devoted to watching people run up and down fields or courts to score more points than the other team.
Look. I’m not knocking it. Lord knows I spend just as much time with my hobbies. There’s just something about sports that brings people together. (So long as they’re cheering for the same team.)
And that just might be the thing I’d like to be a part of.
Growing up I had friends who were into baseball, basketball, and football but I just never got into it. We would still hang out and I’d sit there watching whatever game was on but I was never invested in it. My dad didn’t watch much of anything so it wasn’t something he instilled in me.
For a time I tried watching golf since it’s a sport I actually like playing. But without anyone to talk to about it, I lost interest.
A few years ago, I joined a group chat for craft beer lovers in my area. Half the time we talk about the latest beers (usually IPAs) and occasionally trade some hard to find brews. The other half is devoted to whatever sport is in season. It’s during those times I zone out.
But it would be nice to join in.
You should still hang out
Here are some things you can do at tonight’s Super Bowl party (or any sporting event) to have a good time.
Since you don’t have a stake in who wins, cheer for whoever your friends are cheering for. What do you care? This way you can hitch a ride on whatever emotional roller coaster they’re on. Heck who knows? You might actually come to really like the Cincinnati Cinnamon Rolls.
You’re gonna be hanging out for a couple of hours anyway so you might try learning the rules of the game. Depending on who you’re with and their appetite for schooling you, you could try to ask them what’s going on. I’d imagine it would be like watching a movie with your mom — tons of questions, not a ton of comprehension.
So scratch that. Look up the rules ahead of time. And if you have a question during the game, whip out your phone and look it up yourself.
Find other people as clueless as you at the party. Chances are you’re not the only one that doesn’t know what’s going on. Strike up a conversation with the folks who aren’t glued to every play.
“Mmm… this is a damn fine guacamole. What’s your recipe?”
“Anyone catch the latest episode of Severance? What in Kier’s name is going on?”
That show really is wild. Hot take — Apple TV has better content than Netflix.
Focus on the parts of the event that you actually like. I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that most people are watching the Super Bowl for the half-time performance and the commercials. And while the performers don’t get paid anything (crazy, right?), companies are shelling out $8 million per 30-second commercial so you know they’re going to try to capture your attention with something entertaining.
Let’s just hope that commercials besides sports betting get some air time. I’m kind of tired seeing Kevin Hart in everything.
Incorporate another activity or hobby that you enjoy. Let’s say you care more about poker than sports. Host a game during the big game.
I like craft beers. I might bring a curated selection to share with others. Bonus: it spurs conversation on topics you’re actually knowledgeable about.
I hope these tips help you and if you know of any others, let me know!
P.S. If you’d like to learn how you can start living a Min-Max Life, book a free 30-minute call with me.
Here’s my 𝕏 post of the week.
