Clueless on Sports?
Sports are an instant conversation-starter or a great way to jump into conversation with teens. Of course, if you know nothing about sports, then you instantly find yourself sitting on the outside of the conversation.
I was always a huge sports fan, but once I got into full-time ministry, watching sports dropped down the priority food chain. It didn’t take long for me to realize how out of touch I really became until I overheard a group of kids talking football and arguing over “LT.” I’m like, “What do these guys know about Lawrence Taylor?” (Of course, he is in the news recently). But these guys were talking about a newer “LT” – Ladanian Tomlinson. Carmelo wasn’t a candy bar. About the only thing that hadn’t changed is that Bret Favre was still retiring – wait a minute, no he wasn’t!
My schedule wasn’t going to change, but I was going to be a little more intentional about picking up a few nuggets here and there. Try this before you head out of the house in the morning:
- Watch a solid 15 of Sportscenter
- Check just the top stories of ESPN.com
- Take a peek at Sports Illustrated’s website (but beware of some of the ads)
- Download a sports app on your phone
Don’t just get facts though, go over the top and get opinions.
Try these shows:
ESPN’s Around the Horn
Pardon the Interruption is another amazing show.
I’m not saying to become an expert, just grab a few nuggets to drop in and be conversant.
And let your teens be the expert. Ask them what they think about different things you’ve heard, players, teams, trades, etc. Then just kick back & listen.
