I start to become agitated (dare I say, a feeling of withdrawal) from of a lack of football. Sure, the NHL and NBA have just wrapped up exciting seasons. Hockey produced a seven-game Stanley Cup Finals between two of its premier teams, while Kobe and Phil celebrated another Lakers title. But all I can think about is football.
This year, however, I am trying desperately to focus on other things while awaiting the start of training camp. Here is how I’m spending my lazy days of summer.
June
- Thursday night, I ate my way through Camden Yards—as I usually do—starting with the cashews, crabcake sandwiches and ice cream, and ending with sausage and peppers and several Coronas with lime. Oh, did I mention that my husband and I sat behind home plate for the rubber match between the O’s and Mets? I root O’s; he roots Mets. I had taken him to Camden for his birthday, which wasn’t so happy after the Tweets came back late in the game to win. (The Mets are in second place in the NL East and the Tweets are in the AL East’s cellar, but who cares about the big picture?)
- In June, as I do year-around, I watch several hours of the NFL Network (This is the best idea since sliced breaded wheels and computers). On Saturday, they ran a list of the top defenses of all time. Good stuff.
- The U.S. Open, filled with rain, heartfelt stories of Phil Mickelson and his wife’s cancer battle and Tiger, have kept me plenty busy over the past few days. (I’m still missing football, but not as much.)
- Wimbledon starts this week. Federer has a lot riding on this tournament, but with no Nadal, it may lack some excitement on the men’s side. (Whatever happened to the American men, by the way?)
- For Christmas (December 13, to be exact), I’ve booked a trip to Oakland to watch my Redskins take on my husband’s Raiders. Did I mention that I purchased tickets in the Black Hole? I’ve been on the Internet making travel plans. (This really makes me miss football.)
- At some point this month, I will eat my way through Nationals Park—haven’t chosen a game yet—starting with Ben’s Chili Bowl.
- I’ll watch lots and lots more of NFL Network programming.
July
- My Redskins season tickets will arrive. I’ll spend a week looking at the tickets, reading the glossy inserts, and plotting which jersey I’ll where to which home game. Sean Taylor for the home opener, followed by my Art Monk Hall of Fame T-Shirt, and then my Clinton Portis jersey, and so on.
- Baseball’s All-Star Game and all of its festivities will fill in a handful of empty days.
- On July 30, Redskins training camp opens.
August
- More training camp, followed by more NFL Network.
- On August 8, the Redskins will hold Fan Appreciation Day where a bunch of us football-starved fans will show up a Redskins Park and cheer on an intra-squad scrimmage as if it was fourth-quarter, with the Redskins down by seven, against Dallas in December.
- Around this time, “Hard Knocks” featuring the Bengals will begin. I love this show.
- I will eat my way through another Orioles game—this time, focusing on Boog’s BBQ.
