I don my annual protective coloring

Date: 2/10/2017

Ah it’s that time again, when I do extra work to develop somewhat protective coloring.

It’s difficult at times to lead an existence in America without being a sports fan and even more challenging to be a New Englander, especially in the past few weeks leading to the Superbowl.

I’ve had years of practice. My dad was not a fan of professional sports. It was not part of his youth and while he never discouraged it, he never made it a priority. Interestingly, my brother Patrick is a huge sports fan.

The only time in which pro sports played a role in my life was when I worked at the Basketball Hall of Fame – the original building at Springfield College – for seven years. I do enjoy the game, although I don’t follow it now.

These slender credentials, though, need a lot of shoring up in polite New England society.

Now my staff is well aware of my shortcomings when it comes to athletics and family members have apparently accepted this flaw in my character. Let me be clear: I have in-laws who, after the game’s conclusion, drove from their home in Belchertown to the nearest Dick’s Sporting Goods in order to buy their championship shirts and hats. I’m sure they have accepted me in some way into their social circle, but it’s not complete as if I was a football fan. I’ve learned to live with this impairment.

I’ve found though I need to be aware of a few facts if cornered in an impromptu social situation. I don’t plan on going to a bar today – well, maybe – but I may have to stand in a line someplace where idle social chatter turns to The Big Game. I need to be prepared.

Yes, I know who won the game. Yes, I know it was a come behind victory. Yes, I know it was a history-making event in professional football. Check, check and check.

Yes, I know about the conflict between Roger Goodell and the Patriots and how this must have been triumphant for one side and humiliating for another. Another check.

And yes, I make a point to do additional research. This morning I watched Lady Gaga’s halftime show. I thought it was epically entertaining, which I imagine is the standard for a half-time show.

People were apparently happy Gaga was not political, but she sang a little of Woody Guthrie’s classic “This Land is Your Land,” a highly politicized song born out of Depression America. Don’t let that spoil your enjoyment of the spectacle.

I also made a point to watch a bunch of Superbowl commercials, which I will readily admit are always interesting. Millions of dollars go into the purchase of the airtime and therefore the stakes are high if the commercials live up to the anticipation of creativity and impact. What I saw wasn’t impressive this year. Perhaps I watched the wrong bunch.

In a few days the warm after-glow of the win will be replaced with other kinds of conflict and others kinds of teams. I think I understand those a little bit better.

Which is it?

Language always fascinates me and the other day I saw a reference in a press release using the term “roundabout” instead of “rotary” and wondered if there has been a change in the descriptive term for a circular traffic-directing device that probably causes more confusion than it does order.

I asked my Facebook friends about it and it would appear “rotary” is a distinctively New England phrase to describe it. “Roundabout” appears to be in use in the South and in Great Britain, while “traffic circle” is another phrase for the same strategy.

One element of the conversation that seemed to reach some agreement was the prominence in the East Longmeadow rotary as a leading example of how it can confuse people.

What do you call them? Drop me a line.