I have to confess here that over the past couple of years, I've become a somewhat more intense NFL fan. Compared to many many people out there that can quote you player stats from the past 15 years, and many many others who enter elaborate multi-level marketing type fantasy football leagues, I'm no true fan. I'm just comparing myself to myself - and 5 years ago Steve didn't watch as much football as present day Steve. Now, it does help that Michelle and I aren't exactly in traditional church environments, so I can actually watch the 10am (PST) games.

Over the years, I've always had friends in the alternative and/or punk scene, who almost never enjoy playing or watching sports. Nobody has said anything outright to me, but for some reason, I always felt like a sellout for liking sports. Is it that major media sports are part of the Western Industrial Complex that represents all that is wrong with the world? I don't know. Somehow I doubt that my friends who dislike sports are appalled at the beer commercials. Not sure what it is.

I do know this - as my own level of interest and attention to pro football has increased, so has my level of fascination with the metaphors and cultural significance related to it. It's wacky how I can walk down the streets of Seattle and go from elation when I see a fellow Chargers fan sporting his hat/sweatshirt/jersey to absolute disdain when I see a Raiders fan with his gear. I can be in a sports pub high-fiving a guy I don't know, simply because he wears lightening bolts on his clothing. What's that about?

Is it just me, or is Super Bowl Sunday a bigger national holiday than Presidents Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and maybe Labor Day? All of the above are "stay-home-from-work" days for many people, but they're not as big a deal as the Super Bowl.

I remember meeting Rick Bennett back in May of 2002. At the time, he was doing church planting in Boston. He spoke with an intense love for his city, and wept at how deeply grieved people were after 9/11, because the airplanes that the terrorists used had originated in Boston. He then said what a major source of relief/joy/unity it was when the New England Patriots won that season's Super Bowl. People were desperate for something to feel good about. And they felt good about football.

I'll say that I'm not a big fan of publicly financed sports stadiums (stadia?), and I do think many people go way overboard in their affection for their chosen teams. But there's something about sports that has cultural power. I don't think that should be dismissed. Frankly, I'm more than a little surprised that there hasn't been some church planting movement surrounding sports metaphors. I'm not inviting one, mind you, I'm just saying.

O.k., with all that said, I'm a particularly chipper sports fan right about now. The San Diego Chargers have returned to greatness. I'm certainly not assuming that they're going to the Super Bowl this year. But they played a darn good season, and made football a blast to watch for me. Oh, also, the San Diego Padres are the National League West Champions - not nearly as dominant in their sport, but still fun. So, until early February, when I go into sports hibernation, I'll be singing that funky disco crap song "San Diego, Superchargers, SAN-DEEE-AYGO . . . CHARGERS!"