I’m a huge NFL fan.  I know, I know… That’s not a popular statement in the crowd that I run with.  In general, I’d say most folk singers don’t even know what the NFL is.  Not a huge organized sports crowd… at least not the folk singers I know.  Actually I do have two close folk singer friends who are sports fans:  Danny Schmidt and Robby Hecht — who is a fellow Tennessee Titans fan.  Actually Danny is more of a college football guy, but at least he doesn’t look at me like I’m speaking a foreign language when I say something like “Wow, if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, Detroit could really be a contender!”

I’ve spent large portions of the previous two NFL seasons here in Edinburgh (the Brah).  This season will mark 3 in a row in which I am 5 time zones away from most of the NFL action.  There are a number of challenges that go along with this geographic dilemma…

- The 1:00pm (early) games don’t start until 6:00pm.  When I’m in New York, I’m several beers in by 6:00.  Hell, the late game starts at 8:00, so by 6:00 most of the games have either finished, or they’re well on their way to being decided.  The only advantage is that I don’t have to feel like a lush when I start drinking when NFL Sunday Countdown comes on (10am in New York, but 3pm in the Brah)

- Just watching the games is extremely challenging.  As you can imagine, American football (even though the NFL is the most financially successful sports league on earth — take that FIFA!) is just not that popular over here.  Most people you meet on the street take the same view towards American football as the aforementioned folk singers.  You really need a friend who has Sky Sports (sort of a DirecTV type thing available over here) or a really great internet connection.

- Snacks aren’t that great here.  Nacho cheese doesn’t exist.  Well, I should say they have what they *call* nacho cheese, but it’s disgusting.  Also there are no Cool Ranch Doritos and no Nacho Cheese Doritos.  Instead they have ‘Cool Original’ and ‘Tangy Cheese’.  They’re not the same.

- The one pro of being an NFL fan over here though, is a big one.  The beer.  Cheap beer here is way better.  As I type this (and watch Countdown), I’m enjoying an 8.5% lager that cost me about what a 3.0 watered-down crappy Bud would’ve cost me in New York.  So here’s to week 4.  Go Titans!

xoaj