An often heard complaint from young men whom I had interviewed for a column called “Men’s 4 Top Wishes and Why You Should Grant Them” had to do with game play. Men wanted women to ask for what they wanted, “rather than play games,” particularly if the men were planning to watch a game of football or basketball. With March Madness closing in on us from March 19 to April 8, here are some tips that may help you survive living with a die-hard sports fan.
During March Madness, saying “You can’t watch that college basketball game today, you promised to help me clean the house. Besides there will be another game tomorrow,” are fighting words. Here’s why: Cody Thompson for the Daily Muse calls this 64-team tournament “a one-and-done style — as in, if you lose once, you’re headed back to campus to play flip-cup or bouncy-cup or destroy-cup or whatever they’re playing these days.”
Some of the addictive quality that takes place with fantasy football spills over into March Madness, but here is the good news — unlike an entire football season, it is short-lived and there are ways for couples to survive — through some friendly negotiations.
Tip 1: You can spend time with your best female friends — shopping or just watching a marathon of “Dancing with the Stars” or “Suits” or “Downton Abbey” or whatever is a “can’t miss” show for you.
Tip 2: You can choose to join the sports addicted by getting involved in the game. Check out March Madness on the Internet. Catch terms such as “brackets” and ask him to explain. You may not be the least bit interested, but consider this — is he really interested when you ask him if you should wear blue or purple?
Tip 3: Be outrageous. Sit next to your guy wearing nothing more than a basketball shirt and hope for passion. But don’t be disappointed if he says, “You’re distracting me.”
Tip 4: You can have a huge fight about his sports addiction and hope it leads to great makeup sex. Professor Dr. Aaron Ben-Zeév, explains on PsychologyToday.com that “when we are excited by one stimulus, we are likely to be easily excited by another one. Makeup sex is considered by many to be the best sex there is, which in many cases is worth the fight.”
However, he points out that enjoying an event together can trigger great sex. How about watching a game together? Yes, it could be painful, but have you ever had him sit through a movie that you should have attended with your BFF?
Start getting the March Madness mindset. Get involved in the game, and instead of pouting — smile.
Rita Watson, an incurable romantic, is one of our relationship columnists and a regular Journal contributor. Her Web address is ritawatson.com