While there are many sports I am interested in and follow religiously, I have never gotten into football. For whatever reason, football was just something that never peaked my interest. I have never been to a live football game, I have never watched a game on TV - and couldn't tell you the difference between a place kick and a recovery. Mary, on the other hand - is such a die hard football fan with such an extensive knowledge of the sport that she could easily replace John Madden or Al Michaels.

Since we have been dating, she has not spent a single Sunday afternoon or Monday night away from the television set when a football game is on - especially if the game involves her Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When I speak to her on the phone during a game - I am astounded by how much she is into the sport. She says things to me on the phone about the team's offense and defense that to her, make perfect sense - but to me - sound like a foreign language. So, because we are dating and want to enjoy each other's interests - and because I do not want to become America's only male "football widow" - I decided to get into the game - and actually found myself enjoying it.

While we were in Chicago, we watched our first football game together. At first, I knew nothing at all about what I was watching or what was going on. And when it was 1st and 10 - I was totally lost. But after a few quick lessons from Mary - I started to get the hang of the game - and when I guessed what the next down was - I was right.

My sudden interest in the sport has not only given me something else to enjoy with Mary - but has made me feel less stupid when people discuss the sport in my presence. Just this morning, I went down to get a cup of coffee and overheard two guys talking about last night's "big game." - and for the first time in my life - understood what they were saying. I was even able to put my two cents in and get into a conversation about a sport that just three months ago - was completely foreign to me.

Before I met Mary, I had no interest in football - and no desire to even attempt to get into the game. I would skip the football section in the sports pages, had no idea what a "Monday Morning Quarterback" was - and make other "non-football" plans on Super Bowl Sunday. Now that I gave it a shot, I think football is pretty cool, and look forward to watching the rest of the season with the woman I love.

I am glad that Mary and I can now enjoy football together. I think that one of the best things about relationships is when a couple can get into each other's hobbies and interests and be able to enjoy them together. So I look forward to spending many Sunday afternoons and Monday nights getting ready for some football. GO BUCS!