You’ve been loving sports for so long, it can be hard to imagine a lasting relationship with someone who doesn’t. But what do you do when your otherwise perfect woman just so happens to have a football sitting in her blind spot? Do you run in the other direction or do you boldly accept the challenge? Here are a few helpful tips:
Compromise is the name of the game. Relationships are all about compromise, and that’s perhaps no more true than when you’re trying to share something you’re really passionate about, like sports. You have to be willing to give up a little to get a little, which means valuing her interests and realizing that you probably have some learning to do as well. It also means that you might not be spending the entirety of your weekend glued to the TV, switching back and forth between games.
Learn about and participate in some of her favorite activities. In the end, you want her to be comfortable with the fact that sports are a big part of your life, but you don’t want her to think it’s your whole life. If it is, then where does she fit?
It’s a woman’s world. A big criticism of the sports world from women is that it’s dominated by large men in tights crashing into one another over and over. Breaking this stereotype is one of the first hurdles you’ll have to overcome. You don’t want her to pretend to like them just because you do—you want her to actually like them, to form a meaningful connection and find teams and players she can invest in on a personal level.
Lucky for you, there have been fantastic high profile runs of female athletes. From the U.S. victory in the World Cup to Rhonda Rousey’s dominance and the growth of women’s MMA overall to Serena William’s continued dominance, you have a lot of good examples at your disposal to start changing her preconceived notions about the sports world. Who knows? You might even find someone new to root for yourself — if you’re not already.
The first round. At some point you are going to want to take her to a sporting event, whether it’s an actual game or just out to a bar to watch one with your friends. Make a good impression; don’t just leave her sitting in a booth in the corner while you chant fight songs and down shots at the bar. Keep at least some of the focus on her and use this as an opportunity to start educating her about the game. When deciding which game to take her to first, pick a place or team that has some personal significance to you. Tell her a story that shows why you’re so passionate about the game. You want her to know that your love of sports comes from a personal place, and that it has greater meaning beyond just being something fun to do on a Sunday. Ironically, the thing that’s been creating distance in your relationship might be the thing that enables a deeper connection. Sounds like a win-win.
Aaron Rote
Aaron Rote is a Chicago-based writer who specializes in entertainment, outdoors and craft beer culture. He is an avid runner and hiker who is currently teaching himself to commute by bike without being hit by a speeding bus. Having recently relocated from the Pittsburgh area, he is also torn between his loyalty to the Pirates and his new home team, the Cubs.
