Football Widow

The Packers Vs. The Giants Vs. The Sports Widow

January 18, 2008 5:56 AM | 0 Comments

Last Saturday I had my first-ever post-season football party, apart from having a handful of Super Bowl parties. And, this Sunday, it's looking like I may be doing an encore with the upcoming Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants game. Note, I've never had a pre-season football party, so this undoubtedly will be a very exciting event when it occurs. Like most things in life, I just tumbled into having a little football shindig. I was chatting with those cheesehead neighbors of mine (who, incidentally, are all named Mike), and before I knew it I had invited two families to my house and was launched into event planning. Here are some of my reflections, my deep thoughts on being a Football Game Tailgate Party Hostess.

Size Does Matter
The first thing I had to do was manage expectations. We do not have a HUGE, flat-screen, high-def TV. We have a diminutive, 27-inch Panasonic TV, so when I invited our guests I felt compelled to forewarn them. When I delivered this news to one of the Mike's over the telephone, I detected a big, pregnant pause, which in my mind signified a mental wrestling match between his desire to see the game on a large screen and a local social opportunity. But, in the final analysis, Mike seemed to feel he could live with our electronic inadequacies. Now, that defines the word neighbor.

A Divided House
One of our guests, a kindergartener, was celebrating his 6th birthday. His Dad Mike is a Packers fan, but at age 6, young Brian has already constructed a code of sports conduct: You are obligated to root for the team that is closest to you in geographic proximity. My sports fan husband Bryan has apparently adopted this, because he was the only adult guy in the family room rooting for the Seahawks. Bryan says that after living in Seattle for nearly 20 years, he had to switch sides. This was a relief to little Brian, who was initially in tears thinking he was the only Packers fan in the bunch. As it was, the Packers' fate weighed heavily on his young shoulders. I think we put too much pressure on our youth, don't you?

American Girl Cheeseheads???!!! Get out!
One of the moms at our party informed me that you can buy cheeseheads at the Green Bay Packers store to fit your dolls, including American Girl dolls. Now, that's style. By the way, I don't like to boast, but we have, not one, but three, cheeseheads signed by Ralph Bruno, founder of Foamation, Inc., the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company that makes those distinctive wedges.

The Snack Centerpiece: The Nacho Bar
With guests ranging in age from 3 to 47, I didn't want to glop on too many hot, spicy things on the nachos, so after melting the cheese on the tortilla chips in the oven and preparing ground beef stovetop, I chopped most of the add-on ingredients into small ramekins, enabling guests to cherry-pick.

So, there you have it. My maiden voyage in the realm of post-season football parties. Do I know the score? Did I watch much of the game? I'm sure you can answer those questions. But, one thing is true: Life is contact sport. Get in the Game. (Even if it is through the kitchen door.)

Tell me what's on your mind? When you entertain for sporting events, is it fun, or do you feel like the watergirl?

The Sports Widow
(aka Nan Hall)