A Day Without Football - 10 Things to Pass the Time

First, the writer's strike left me with no new Family Guy episodes. Then, the stock market went away and took all of my money. Now, I have a day without football. What am I supposed to do? Well, to quote Winston Churchill (a man who would have loved football - I just know it) "If you are going to go through hell, keep going." Here are 10 things you can do to help pass the time on Sunday without football.

10) Watch some other sport. This one will be tough. A quick scan of the TV-Guide tells me there is a little hope. There is an NBA game or two (um, go Lakers???), The Final Round of the Buick International (for the purposes of this plan, we will consider golf a sport), a college basketball game, some skiing, and some motocross. Personally, I recommend the motocross, but basketball is a close second. While NBA basketball is a national professional sport, in motocross, they wear helmets and there is a real strong chance of a spectacular crash. Spectacular crashes win.

9) Prepare for the real thing. There is only one week until the Super Bowl. Your party is going to take some planning. Get out to the local warehouse store and get your chips, beer, pizza, hot wings, chips, beer and pizza. Make sure that all of your requisite fan gear is in order. Make sure and rearrange your living room so that your chair is directly in front of the television. If necessary, relocate the bedroom night-stands on either side of your chair for proper party food placement.

8) Make your New York / New England voodoo dolls. Whether you want to be the one responsible for finally taking New England down, or you really need to get back at New York for beating Green Bay, take time this Sunday to whip up some mojo to help your team out. For bonus points, involve young kids (yours or a neighbor's) and call it a craft. Children love craft time, and you could use the help.

7) Reconnect with your loved ones. A quick scan of the national weather map shows that with the exception of some storms out west, it is probably going to be a pretty nice day. It could be a blast to go out and play (football) with your kids, or take your spouse on a nice long walk. Sundays used to be very nice for your family back in August; you can relive those glory days by treating them like it was summer. Even if you feel football hasn't been the center of your world, it wouldn't hurt to make sure your family knows that it isn't.

6) Start reading a good book series. Monday night and Sunday night are open now. The television writers aren't putting out new content, and with the exception of Thursday night (Lost is coming up after all) you have some extra time. Take time this Sunday to stop by the library or a book store and pick up a good read. With the exception of next weekend, there is no football until September. By then, you could read a whole series of books. Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos has a great read in Monday Night Jihad.

5) Catch a movie. For New England fans, I recommend Cloverfield. It is a story about an unstoppable monster that rages through New York and leaves a path of destruction in its wake. If you are a New York fan, Rambo is a good choice. It's the story of a New Yorker who won a battle some 20 years ago and is now back with a vengeance to prove that he can do it again.

4) Make a shopping list for your economic stimulus check. In about two months, you are going to be getting a few hundred dollars from Uncle Sam. The government is betting you are going to spend it, and you shouldn't let them down. Take time out Sunday with your family to go through your bills, credit cards, needs and wants and come up with the most responsible and fun ways to stimulate the economy.

3) Prepare your reality show audition tape. Like I pointed out before, the writer's strike has left television in a real rut. Soon, all we will have are reality shows. There is no reason that you can't take hold of your 15 minutes of fame. Can you dance, sing, swap a spouse, or loose a few hundred pounds? Take advantage of the free time this Sunday and your God given talents of being gawked at for being a freak to become famous.

2) Take down the Christmas lights. It's almost February, I know it has been cold, but really, take them down.

1) Pretend it isn't really happening. You don't have to accept reality. I mean, you use credit cards when you don't really have money right? When the hot waitress had something in her eye, you insisted that she was winking at you. You can pull this off too. All you need is a TiVo or a VCR and a recording of a football game. Invite your friends over, get out your jersey, buy some snacks and throw a party. This idea works best if you invite someone clueless who isn't a football fan. Make them a bet on the game and rejoice when you win.

It has been heaven for the past 26 weeks. The warm glow of the television, the cheers of the fans, and the reassuring heft of the remote in your hand have made you feel safe. It is all coming to an end with a dramatic and staggering climax, and while that is exciting, you can't help but to feel heartache. Take a chance and make the best of this day away from football. You'll be OK, and you are not alone.