(Travis Kelce tosses a Baltimore helmet so Patrick Mahomes can warm up.) *** Let me explain. Under normal circumstances, I do not watch American football because (a) I am retired and don’t have to watch anymore, and (b) there is always something else to do. But Sunday was blighted by meteorological misery – rain and cold and wind – ruling out any outdoor activity. Plus, the European soccer season seems to be in some sleepwalking mode, with minimal glimpses of the storied franchises of the Premiership or Serie A. So what to do on a rainy Sunday? My wife roasted a delicious lunch of organic chicken thighs, and I cleaned up the kitchen, by chance tuning the TV to Lidia Bastianich. I cannot cook, but I love to listen to this wise and eloquent teacher, with her chewy Queens immigrant accent. (I found out recently that Lidia grew up in the same Astoria neighborhood as the Walkens and their bakery. (Christopher Walken, included.) On this rainy Sunday, Lidia was showing single people how to prepare days’ worth of meals. (Like the best teachers, Lidia anticipates questions and confusion: “Put the knife in the center, and it will find its own way.”) She sounded lonely, and ran a few quickie tapes of her late mother. Then, it was nearly 3 PM, so I had to find something to do. My wife was otherwise occupied at home, and our three “kids” were elsewhere. I happen to know that Laura and Diane consider Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs to be a spunky and talented kid-brother type – but they were hours away, watching the conference final, and I opted for television. I’ve been following, at a distance, the romance of Taylor Swift, the entertainer, and Travis Kelce, the tight end of the Chiefs. I don’t believe I could recognize her voice, but I can spot her incandescent smile when she pops up in some secure hospitality box at a Chiefs game. I can also place Kelce’s enlightened-caveman looks. So, a football game. The Baltimore Ravens, with their sturdy and athletic quarterback, Lamar Jackson, tried to claim the home-team advantage but their players seemed a bit chippy and undisciplined. The visitors declined to be intimidated – and Kelce fought for his space, at times landing karate chops on the defenders’ forearms, so he could clamp his paws on the ball. Mahomes scampered here and there, a banty rooster (by comparison), claiming every angle of the barnyard. I forgot to mention that Patrick Mahomes’ his dad, Pat Mahomes, was a pitcher for a decade, helping to upgrade the Mets in 1998-99 – a lifer who could converse with reporters, and set an example for the younger pitchers around him. From a distance, I root for the son and his football team. The CBS crew showed a few seconds’ worth of Taylor Swift, here and there, rooting in a private box, her smile identifying her, and the broadcasters Jim Nantz and Tony Romo went about their business without a word of sideshow. I am normally repelled by the manly-man blathering of football broadcasters, but Nantz and Romo called the plays, with Romo quickly explaining how the burly Chiefs linemen slid across the line, opening holes for the ball carriers, including the aforementioned Patrick Mahomes. The broadcasters did not harp on it, but the camera made it clear that quarterback Jackson was frustrated by the cheap shots and blunders of his teammates. To be truthful, they were out of control, whereas Kansas City was disciplined. Not having seen much football in the past decade, I was impressed by the booming kickoffs, effective punts, acrobatic catches. It’s easy for me to say football games eat up a lot of time – three hours plus! -- with precious little action, but I have to be honest, both sides showed skills and athleticism. The Chiefs won, 17-10, with Kelce making 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown, and now the Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 11, in Las Vegas, the new spiritual home of American sports. (The New York Times – the New York Times – running gambling odds.) I can’t predict whether I will watch the Super Bowl. It really depends on the weather….and the schedule of European soccer that day.
Darrell Berger
1/29/2024 09:57:13 am
I had a similar reaction to watching Lions/49ers, my first football game since 2011. There seemed to be less macho, WWF BS and more athleticism. More like Soccer actually. Less posturing. The coaches seemed more human, less Patton imitators. Less jingoism around the edges, even. Good signs. I enjoyed it, even if my Lions lost. Actually looking forward to the Super Bow.
GV
1/29/2024 11:32:07 am
Darrell: thank you...maybe there is so much braying and lying in the public sector that a flat-out football game on TV seems soothing,GV
Lonnie Shalton
1/29/2024 11:27:49 am
George, there is a significant soccer/Mahomes connection for us in KC. Patrick and Brittany are co-owners of the Kansas City Current, our NWSL team. Brittany is a former college soccer star and briefly played pro ball. The Current has built the first stadium for women's pro soccer, and all seats allotted to 2024 season ticketholders are sold out. The inaugural game for the new stadium is March 16, nationally televised on ABC (1:00 ET). Will be a good TV Saturday for you.
GV
1/29/2024 11:37:59 am
Lonnie, I did not know that. Lot of good signs of money -- male and female -- backing up women's sports. In Europe, the historic clubs have gotten into the women's league -- so to see the name Chelsea v Arsenal, one has to look carefully for a W or an M.
Roy Edelsack
1/29/2024 12:01:55 pm
Live long enough and everything seems connected. In 1957 the Lions and the 49ers tied for the NFL Western Conference title at 8-4. In a one game playoff at Kezar Stadium the Lions trailed 27-7 at half time but came back to win 31-27. A mere 66 years later the 49ers turned the tables on the Lions. As Phil Rizzuto once said in a different context, “That’s what makes baseball, and all sports, such a great game.” Indeed.
GV
1/30/2024 08:11:05 pm
Roy, the old teams have so much history...they add an extra element to old sports fans...conjure up names and faces and uniforms. Thanks, GV
Altenir Silva
1/29/2024 01:35:25 pm
Dear George,
GV
1/30/2024 08:17:07 pm
Altenir, agreed, Kelce dominated the field...starting with policing the area of the opposing helmet,....
Altenir
1/30/2024 08:42:37 pm
George: I love WQXR and WNYC, which I listen to Radio Hour (David Remnick), Radiolab, All Of It with Alison Stewart, Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me!, New Sounds, Holiday Standards, and Brian Lehrer. Of course, I know all these shows because you introduced them to me. Thank you, my friend.
Andy Tansey
1/29/2024 11:10:35 pm
George, your comments resonate at many levels, all within and beneath the subject line.
GV
1/30/2024 08:26:10 pm
Andy, I admire you for going 5 miles in open terrain. On Saturday, I climbed the hill to the local high school track-- my favorite place for 8 laps of walking -- but the breeze dissuaded me from bucking the wind.
bruce
1/29/2024 11:46:41 pm
george,
GV
1/30/2024 08:30:24 pm
Bruce: I have friends and family members who watch NFL. I'm sure they think I'm snotty...
bruce
1/31/2024 09:20:20 am
george, 2/1/2024 05:06:49 pm
I stopped watching American football when I began my soccer goalkeeping career in 1948. The only exceptions are when I'm visiting my daughter Jen's family in Madison, WI. Then it either a Green Bay of U of Wisconsin game.
bruce
2/1/2024 05:16:18 pm
alan,
Mike from NW Queens
2/4/2024 11:17:53 am
GV Comments are closed.
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