Christ, I haven’t much followed pro football since that ignorant slut Georgia Frontiere took over the Rams, but I’ve been to a Superbowl party every year that I can remember. I’m a half-assed Chargers fan these days and everybody knows I’m a football idiot. The Superbowl is about drinking, overeating, choosing squares on the gambling sheet, watching commercials and bagging on the halftime musical act. I’ve also been to Vegas for the the past 12 years for the second round of football playoffs and everyone knows I don’t really give a shit about football.
Nevertheless, I always have a load of fun hanging out with friends and partying. I don’t celebrate my ignorance, and nobody cares. I still like watching the game though. Maybe if LA ever gets a franchise, I might get interested again. Don’t worry about, don’t fake it, but don’t be an ass about it and you’ll do fine.
Other good moments for this:
Someone starts running a really long distance without anyone around him.
A deep pass to the endzone with players on both team at the receiving end.
Another easy out is “I think it’ll be a good game, but it’s hard to get excited because (insert NFL team here) isn’t in it.”
Don’t fake it. Go for the company, enjoy the game and maybe learn some of it if that interests you, if it doesn’t just be sociable, and above all don’t try to act like you’re above it all by saying things like “it’s just a football game” or “who cares?”.
Oh, and if you have friends that are vested in one of the two teams, don’t be a jerk and taunt them if things start going badly for their team. That is a cardinal sin anywhere but a public bar, and even there it’s a dick move.
Seriously..if you’re not into the game..that’s fine at all the parties I’ve gone to. Just enjoy the party. People watch. Chat. Laugh at the ads. Don’t talk to people who are intent on the game..but that won’t be most of the people.
<sidenote>What if it’s a birthday party? I’m just asking..no reason..</sidenote>
You’re the one who wants to go to a Super Bowl party. There’s obviously something you want to do there-- Socialize, eat nachos and chili, drink beer, watch the commercials, whatever. So go to the party and do whatever it was that you wanted to do there.
Now, I personally can’t enjoy watching a game unless I pick one side to root for, but I don’t know about you. And often, the way I’ll pick a side is just to ask whom everyone else is rooting for, and then go with the consensus. Nobody minds someone rooting for the same team as them, even if it’s not all that enthusiastically.
Just say, “My mother died today but I’m such a football fan, I came here instead of her funeral.”
That way people will think your such a HUGE fan, you chose football over your mum. And everyone will avoid talking to you because it will be socially ackward to bring up your mother’s death.
Although getting so drunk that when you try to high-five someone you miss and face-plant into a coffee table is overdoing it. Or so I hear. It’s not like I know from personal experience and you can’t prove a thing and it was way back in '89 and people are allowed to do stupid things as college students so stop badgering me already.
Seriously, though, you pick a side and follow that team’s direction. (This applies to any sport, by the way.) It will change from left to right, depending on the quarter, but you can tell by the way your team’s players are facing. That’s the way you want the play to go. Look for feats of athleticism, and you’ll soon find out what a touchdown is.
And party as you would at any party.
At some point, nod your head admiringly, read the name on the back of the jersey most recently shown on close up, and say, “You know what’s best about ______? He’s just a FOOTBALL player.”
This works in every sport btw (with obvious adjustments). And you’re guaranteed to hear it at least once sometime during the game. Maybe not say it after that, though.
Just nod and look interested. If the conversation turns to a discussion about how this guy or that guy played in college then excuse yourself and go get something to drink. If anyone asks you a specific question, just say that you don’t like to talk about religion or politics and are only there for the food, then mention something about the average rodent population on a 17th century man of war and see what happens.
Me, I enjoy discussing the commercials, but all my friends know I’m militantly uninterested in the actual game, know nothing about the players and don’t follow the teams at all either during the regular season or during the play-offs. We will be having a Superbowl party at my house as usual, and I’m not even sure who is playing. What I DO know is that I’ll be making my southern style dry rub ribs, 6 different kind of homemade chicken wings, home made chips and salsa, and my mom is bringing over tamales and refried beans (and good Arizona style tortillas…not this crap they have in New Mexico by god!), plus some red and green chili and assorted other goodies. I’ll also have the guys fire going (assuming the weather isn’t as crappy as it it this week) with cigars and various intoxicants.
My advice is don’t try and fake it…just play it like you would someone who wants to talk religion or debate politics when you aren’t interested. Let the sports guys discuss to their little hearts content, and if they try and pull you in just let them know you aren’t into the discussion, don’t know much about the subject, but if they want to talk about the latest Mythbusters show and what Kerri was wearing on the last episode you are all over that. Otherwise, just tell em you are going to get a beer and some snacks…