I LOVE YOU, BUT…

By Jacqueline Jung

Our wedding anniversary was quickly approaching. My romantic husband came up with a brilliant idea to celebrate. How about driving two hours down to San Diego to sit and watch a pre-season football game? How wonderful! In fact, on the exact date of our anniversary, his Seahawks would be battling my Chargers. I love marital conflict. Of course, our two teens would join us to create a real, bloody war. My son and I would root for the Chargers while my rebellious daughter would cheer for any team that plays the Chargers.

I pushed my daughter off the computer to order tickets. Typing away, I finally navigated to single games. Oh, there were still tickets on sale. I entered to order, but my heart plummeted. A pre-season game would put us out $79 a ticket. Add parking, hot dogs and beer; my head throbbed. LaDainian Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander, the top players from both teams, don’t even see much action during pre-season.

When I recovered from the shock, I closed my eyes to rationally figure out our options. What should we do? Fight the traffic, crash some tailgate parties, then view it on T.V.? Somehow that wouldn’t be the same as witnessing the live action and the fans cursing and spitting beer on my husband. We could dip into my kids’ college funds. No, pre-season just isn’t worth it. OK, I’m spoiled. We use to buy 50 yard line tickets from a season holder. Binoculars weren’t necessary as I could see every bit of sweat drizzling off of Antonio Gates’ face. After the Chargers made the playoffs, ticket prices soared, and our friend had to choose between making his mortgage and renewing his tickets. So I’m supposed to believe the team owners’ claims that they only make money on the television rights?

I made peace with myself that I wouldn’t be screaming at any live games this season. However, while viewing the Chargers’ schedule, I noticed that they were going to wage war against my (not their) nemesis, the St. Louis Rams on October 29. I just had to be there to witness the former L.A. team’s annihilation first hand. Crying my misfortune to a co-worker, he sympathetically advised me that I should check online bidding sites such as eBay or craigslist. I anxiously, entered as many sites that I could think of. Yes, tickets were for sale…but should we? My dear husband then reminded me that we could buy that huge plasma television set that I‘ve been drooling over for the same price as four tickets.

So this year’s Pro Football season will consist of high bar tabs and NFL Access. We did drive up to the Cowboys training camp to watch them hit each other during practice. The highlight: Terrell Owens stretching and strutting in his street clothes. Not a bad anniversary.

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