THE END

 It’s about to end. The season will be over in a matter of weeks. (sigh)

I am a huge football fan which is odd given that I am not a violent person. I never think about nor write about force, thumping and bumping. I wince when I see dangerous collisions on the evening television news, feeling the pain. In my person encounters I avoid even the mildest confrontation whenever possible.  But I truly enjoy football season. Although it wasn’t always that way.

When I was a high school cheerleader, I had no idea how the game was played or what the rules were. Touchdowns were important. I knew that. Instead of learning about the game, I focused on the chilling fact that I was standing on an open, windswept field in the New England winter dressed in a short skirt, leaping into the frigid air and cheering for I knew not what. The corduroy fabric of the skirt did not keep me warm as pants might have. But we’re talking the 50’s here, and girls did not wear pants no matter what. Frostbite included. At least the squad was allowed wool socks.

Years, no decades, later I understand how the game is played and I love it. I love it so much that I have watched my home team lose game after game, after game. Our team has broken all NFL records for losing. (In all fairness there were signs of improvement with a few games won this year.)

And this is where I’d like to dispel a few myths regarding women and football in my experience. Not just your average woman…but your older, pleasantly mature women.

1) Grandmothers do play fantasy football. (Woe to those who underestimate her!)

2) Great-grandmothers often discuss games with their “girl” friends.

3) Super-Agers rate more players than just the quarterback on their appearance. (Mainly anatomy because that’s about the only aspect you can see clearly passed the pads and uniforms.)

There are thirty-two teams in the NFL and according to the last available stats...there are 84 million women football fans watching. More than likely this figure from USA Today has tripled. Another source records 45% of the fan base is women and 32% are avid fans, aged sixty-five and older. “Over 80 for Brady,” is a movie based on truly passionate New England fans of the now retired quarterback. (I expect these great ladies are still football fans, even without Brady.)

When the Super Bowl rolls around, we all know what that means. At the end of the game the start of a long, long, long, long off-season.

Did I mention long?