Had a new screen porch built last winter. Got NFL Sunday Ticket again this season. On Sunday I was enjoying multiple games and smoking two pork shoulders. Got plenty of bourbon.
From 2017-22, I went to my local sports bar most of the time, but the experience wasn't terrific. I was very glad to be able to buy Sunday Ticket via Youtube this year and just watch at home in my own basement. One day, I'll renovate it to be a man cave, but for now at least its convenient and quiet.
77 inch TV in front of me, either has the Dolphins or 4 games. Next to me is a laptop with another game from YoutubeTV NFL Sunday Ticket, which is pretty sweet. Then I have NFL+ so I have one of the local games on my phone in front of the laptop. Harder to pay attention to that . I also have paramount plus, so if the Dolphins are local on CBS, I am solid there.
I watch a replay of the game so I don't have to spend 3 plus hours in front of a TV on a beautiful Sunday.
Watching it live means everything to me. There's nothing that matches the emotional investment, and there's nothing that I'd rather be doing.
That is cool, that is the way I used to be until I realized their is so much more to do during that time. When I watch I do not know the score nor the outcome so all the emotions are still the same, except it is on my time.
My wife let me build a wooden box out back where the dogs are. I used some nails, a hammer, and some duck tape. I go out there on my phone and watch the game on a Facebook Dolphins group chat. I have to listen to the woman who hosts the group chat scream all game long at the opposing team players as if they can actually hear her. I usually have a corn dog or two going in the microwave.
I used to work at a job where I had to work a lot of Sundays, and I tried recording the games to the DVR, going on all media blackout, and then watching later that night. Couldn't do it. Even if I knew absolutely nothing, I still also felt absolutely nothing, because I knew it wasn't live. Felt like I might as well be watching extended highlights instead of a game.
I'm the opposite. I get more excited knowing the game is over and wondering what happened. Kinda like Christmas the gifts have been bought, wrapped, and under the tree. What is in them!!!
Yeah, we all feel and react to things in our own ways. I found that I had a lot more excitement and energy if I didn't see a single play but saw the scoring updates as they happened, compared to knowing nothing and watching it recorded later. Knowing, in real time, is what my heart wants. Watching it later is sort of a fake surprise, or like getting my presents a week after Christmas after everyone else has already opened theirs.
This Sunday I'll be at the Bills-Commanders game. I'll likely be watching the Dolphins game on my phone at the same time.
My dad is similar. In fact, for some basketball games, he will record the game and only watch if they win.