Sports have been hard to follow at times this year. Not in the literal sense, as you can still find scores and updates all over the place, from your smartphone to your TV. But many sports fans are finding that the whole thing seems a bit heavier somehow. There are protests that politicians have tried to use to their advantage, and said politicians are at odds with the longtime fans who just wish they could watch a game of football or basketball without thinking about politics. Injuries also seem to be especially troubling this year. Some of that might be due to increased awareness, but it’s always unsettling to see a football player take a hard hit and then go limp because he’s been knocked unconscious. All that being said, there are still some great things about sports, and there are ways to remind yourself why you became a sports fan in the first place.
Up the Fantasy Game
A Beginner’s Guide to Playing Fantasy Football
Fantasy football has really taken off in recent years. There are websites that allow you to create teams and play against Internet strangers, which can be fun, but there’s still something to be said for your hometown fantasy league, the one you play with the friends you’ve known for years, if not decades. Fantasy football with your friends has it all, from trash-talking throughout the week to the stunning moment when a player scores a last-second touchdown and completely upends the standings. If you’re in the thick of the playoffs right now, then you can really bring some joy into your league by adding a fantasy football trophy to the mix. No, it won’t look like the one they hand to the players and coaches in February, but it’s still pretty darn cool. Bragging rights are a great prize, but this trophy is something more tangible. Whoever wins it will forever have a souvenir of the season when he or she drafted the best quarterback in the league and everything came together perfectly.
Get Active
Why Playing a Sport Should Be Your New Workout
Pro athletes aren’t built like you and I are. If you have any doubts, check out their social media posts from the weight room at the gym. It’s common to watch elite athletes in their prime and feel awed while also feeling fat and lazy. You’re not going to make the Olympics anytime soon, but you shouldn’t let that stop you from getting outside (or getting to a gym) and performing some sort of physical activity. If you like sports, there’s a decent chance you thrive on competition, so head to the sporting goods store and buy some softballs, softball bats, and other equipment. Softball works for people at a lot of different skill levels, but if it’s not your thing, you can go to the park and toss around a football instead. It’s also hard to go wrong with a good game of pickup basketball on the weekend. The point is to find something you’ll look forward to doing, because who wants to force him or herself into an activity he or she hates? Make fun your priority. The physical fitness part will take care of itself.