Normally, I'm just not into sports. But with Super Bowl XLV in our backyard, I'm finding it impossible to ignore a historic event that could bring more than 100,000 fans and hundreds of millions of dollars into my hometown. (To be clear internets, the game is in ARLINGTON, not Dallas, as my Facebook friends are quick to point out.)
It'll be fun to watch the Green Bay Packers battle the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cowboys Stadium since I recently toured Jerry's World with my sister Pam and nephews Jake, Garrett and Zachary. I'm not sure about Bob's loyalties but I'll be cheering for Green Bay from the comfort of our media room. Back in the day of Bart Starr, they were my Dad's favorite team (that football-fanatic gene must have gone to my brother David).
Charlotte (before I changed my hair!), Garrett, Jake, Zachary and Pam at Cowboys Stadium
And I may even "get" what's happening on the field thanks to Melissa Malamut's straight-forward girl's guide to sports: She's Got Game: The Woman's Guide to Loving Sports (or Just How to Fake It!). Won't Bob be surprised?
ESPN researcher, journalist and author Malamut brings a lifelong love of sports, a girly-girl's sensibility and insight from fashion editors, friends and her own experiences to this information-packed resource.
Skipping ahead to the 50 pages devoted to professional football, I picked up both conversation-spurring trivia and practical game-day etiquette. For example, I learned:
Malamut also discusses tips for tailgating (how much beer should you bring?), what happens in the huddle (the offensive and defensive lineups and plays), and basics such as points, penalties and terminology (who knew "throwing it away" meant throwing the ball out of bounds to stop the clock ... not losing the game on purpose?). Illustrations help with understanding positions and referees' hand signals.
In addition to increasing your football IQ, She's Got Game covers the essentials of baseball, basketball, hockey, college football and basketball, tennis and golf, even offering guidance for major league soccer and NASCAR. It includes the rules, history and legends of each sport as well as do's and don'ts that'll shed plenty of light whether you're watching from the stands or your couch.
Author: Melissa Malamut
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Penned: June 2010
Time Out: 325 pages sure to help you tackle football, baseball, basketball, hockey and more. Not into all the games? No problem. It's organized by sport so you can pick-and-choose where to get involved.
Available: $14.99 from Amazon (paperback)