A quick football vocabulary lesson
If you're not much of a football fan, there's no need to feel left out when the fanatics start yapping. Here's a quick and easy primer so you can join the conversation during the big game.
Favorite: As in, "The New England Patriots are the favorite to win the Super Bowl." Has nothing to do with people's feelings--strictly means that more money was bet on New England than any other team and they're expected to win.
Running play: When the offensive team tries to move the ball forward with one of its men carrying the ball very carefully.
End zone: The 10-yard area at either end of a football field where touchdowns are scored and players do those funky dances. The entrance to the end zone is called the goal line, and in theory, the goal line extends off the field in both directions for infinity. Nobody knows why it goes to infinity, but announcers love to say that.
Fumble: When a player with butterfingers drops the ball, rendering it up for grabs to whoever can get to it first.
Interception: When a player on the defensive team catches a pass that the opposing team threw--after an interception, the quarterback can usually be seen shaking his head or yelling at his teammates.
Turnover: When one team goofs and loses the ball to the other team, as in a fumble or interception.
So if you're going to be at a Super Bowl party, find out who the favorite is before the game. Then if anyone asks you what you think will happen, just say: "Well, if [insert favorite here] can run the ball effectively and push it into the end zone a few times, and they avoid turnovers, I think they should pull this one out!" Stick to that script and you'll sound more knowledgeable than the guys announcing the game.
If you want to see the of football as it's played in the NFL or an extensive to football, go to nfl.com.
Extra Point
How did the Super Bowl get its name? Legend has it that Lamar Hunt, a football icon who owned the Kansas City Chiefs, came up with the name after watching his daughter play with a Super Ball. Another little nugget you can drop into the conversation!