Let me frame it like this. Imagine that I keep telling you how much I want to start watching Grey’s Anatomy with you. As far as you can tell from my repeated requests, this is something I really want to do. We mark the date on the calendar and cross off the days as the big day approaches. Soon enough, the day arrives. You’re super excited to sit down and watch Grey’s Anatomy and it’s all the more exciting because now you’re going to get to share your favorite show with me. We sit down on the couch and get comfortable. The show starts. I sense the excitement as you grab my arm and then enter into the sitcom zone, becoming one with the TV screen. Nothing can disrupt this moment. Approximately two minutes into the show, I pick up a sports magazine and start flipping through it. I browse through the magazine, stopping to read articles that catch my eye while periodically asking you questions about the episode that I probably wouldn’t need to ask if I was actually watching the show and if I actually was as interested in watching the show as I initially claimed. My guess is that my behavior would probably irritate you, not because I was reading a magazine, but because I was selling you on something that just wasn’t true – my level of interest.
That’s what you do.
If you want to watch games and want to learn about them, I’d be more than happy to teach you. But let’s just come terms with exactly what it is you want. Do you want to learn about the game? Or do you want to hang out? If it’s the latter, we can do that later … after the game. If it’s painfully clear that just about everything is actually more exciting to you than the prospect of watching a game, then let’s turn down the volume on how much you want to watch the game with me. Really. We’re both smarter than that. And we both know that you pretending to be interested is no fun for you, and it certainly isn’t fun for me.
But let’s get one thing straight. I’d enjoy watching the games with you if you really cared to watch. So let’s both agree to properly invest in this beloved pastime of mine, or divest from these false expectation creation exercises.
Yeah. Yeah, I said it.
Haha. The trials and travails of a footballing love affair.
Bwahaha! Good read…..Whilst watching the Lyon v Liverpool game on TV, a female friend explained to me, in all seriousness, that Liverpool need to take their players for training and practice shooting at the goal, then they might win more games. (looking into the camera)