It's official! The NFL Lockout is over, the boys of summer are back on the gridiron, and Hank Williams, Jr, can once again be heard on ESPN. Did I lose you already? So many women feel like they are "football widows" from September till January, but you don't have to be...with a few short tips here from time to time (and participation in one of our upcoming "Rookie Camps") you, too, can become a passionate football fan. Or at least one who can yell at the refs without fear or hesitation!

 

You see, the NFL players & owners have been in a "lockout" since March 3, putting America's favorite sport on hold until a new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) could be agreed upon. That was settled last week, and training camps are finally underway around the country for the 32 professional teams that make up the National Football League. (In fact, the Carolina Panthers Training Camp is held in my hometown, Spartanburg, SC, on the campus of Wofford College (not Wofford University as Coach Fox called it on live television during March Madness, but that is for a different blog on a different day...).

 

Because of the new CBA, pre-season training was shortened and free agency signings were accelerated. The NFL Rookie Draft still occurred on schedule in April, however, and Cam Newton (quarterback from Auburn University) became the #1 pick, going to the Carolina Panthers. (Each year, the NFL team with the worst record is rewarded with the #1 pick in the next year's draft.)

 

So if your husband, boyfriend, or son has been glued to ESPN for the last 7-10 days, give him a break. The NFL has squeezed more than 5 months of work (& announcements) into the past 2 weeks, so there has been a lot to keep up with. (Will Brett Favre come out of retirement-AGAIN? Will someone give Plaxico Burriss another chance?) Soon you will have your Sunday afternoons free to do as you please while he sits in front of the television eating, drinking, and possibly yelling obscenities at the tv screen. You could certainly spend that time doing a little shopping, hiking or reading. Or you could wear one of his jerseys and reserve your own seat in the "Man Cave."

 

You don't have to be a cheerleader - you can also be a fan! (Just don't plan to pick your favorite team by your favorite color of jersey...last time I checked no team in the NFL was wearing pink!) Find out why he cheers for a particular team, decide if you want to follow along. Or better yet, google to find out who their biggest rival is, and choose that team. It could make for a very HOT winter in your household!