The Greatest of all Conundrums
I am sure many of you have or will be facing this most unpleasant of choices in life. This is why I decided to post this just two short days before the game I am officially most excited for in about 4 years. My wife will be a bridesmaid in a wedding, this Saturday, Ceremony at 3:00pm. Why God, Why!?! I live in Update NY so the college football junkies are few and far between. I am hoping this will lead to some guidance for us who will face this in the future. I am asking that veterans of this great re-occurring conflict come forth and enlighten us.
My questions:
Do I try to stay up do date with my driod application and internet?
~OR~
Do I practice the ostrich technique by going off the grid, turning the off the phone and race home hung-over on Sunday morning and watch it on the DVR?
Remember friends don't let friends get married on Saturdays in the fall. Together we can stop this great plague destroying men's dreams and happiness across this great nation.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:17 AM ^
Then "watch it" on your phone. If we win watch the game if we lose.. Well dont
October 7th, 2010 at 8:29 AM ^
I'll be out of town this weekend and that's my plan... Might be good for my blood pressure after ND, UMass, and IU.
EDIT: anyone else find yourself pulling for the team to win even when you already know the outcome? I watched a few of the 2009 games from BTN before this season started and felt like we were going to win games that I knew we lost.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:47 AM ^
I absolutely HATE michigan football, and all it stands for, but I think Ozzy's "Blizzard Of Oz" is one of the GREATEST rock albums OF ALL TIME. Enjoy your day! GO BUCKEYES!
October 7th, 2010 at 9:23 AM ^
...I save hate for Nazis.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
in tulsa, ok. NSA C super worlds! committment to my softball team! so i have the game dvr'd and i was wondering what or how do i watch the dvr'd version on my droid x? GO BLUE BEAT green!
October 7th, 2010 at 8:28 AM ^
That's rough. How likely is it that you can "go off the grid"? Being in upstate NY you have a better chance than being at a wedding in Michigan. If you think you really can avoid it, than go in blackout mode. Otherwise, you've got to keep up as best you can.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:31 AM ^
because it will be death by a thousand cuts, win or lose. You will sweat up or befoul that rented tux something miserable and they may keep their deposit. Make your way home afterward, looking neither to left nor to right, in case there are any celebrating M or MSU grads in the upstate NY streets, and don't become gloomy if you see any burning couches. They could be the diversions of an angry Michigan-hating God designed to lead you astray.
Once home settle in with your TIVO (buy one if nec.), and endure all of the pain and glory in one swell foop.
P.S. I have taken to popping one baby aspirin at game time and one at the beginning of the fourth quarter if the games are tight. If you are over 35, or have a history of heart problems, I urge you to do the same.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
I went Ostrich for the Uconn game when I was camping that weekend. There were people watching the game at another site and the first thing I had to tell everyone I came across was to NOT TELL ME ABOUT THE GAME. I don't have tivo or DVR so I had to remember how to record with a VHS and watch it when I got home. I didn't listen to the radio or talk to anyone on the way home.
It worked out fine and it was an awesome game to watch!
DO THAT!
October 7th, 2010 at 8:33 AM ^
I'm going to a wedding this Saturday where the service is at 2 and the reception is at 5. That means that I get the first half before the reception starts. I'm also planning on taking a leave of absence from the reception if it's close in the 4th quarter (which I am expecting to do). Either way, I too object to fall weddings. To make matters worse, the two people getting married are both U of M alums, but I'm quite certain that they don't even know that it's football season.
October 7th, 2010 at 3:54 PM ^
Ceremony is at 3pm. reception is at, well i dont know. I just know I am missing most of it. Arrrrgh.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:33 AM ^
I would stay up-to-date, but you might run the risk of "getting in trouble."
Fortunately, I am getting married in A2 tomorrow and then tailgating and going to the game with my wife on Saturday!
Best part: it was her idea.
Worse part: she's a Spartan.
Worst part: a lot of my friends are trash-talking Spartans, including my best man.
I told her if Michigan doesn't win, we're getting an annulment on Monday and she'll have to wait until next year. I was only kidding, though. Mostly.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:42 AM ^
mostly
October 7th, 2010 at 8:33 AM ^
No way in hell I could not at least get real time updates. Go into stealth phone mode and try not to yell too loud.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:33 AM ^
I find that ostrich technique never works. I could be in the remotest of deserts and the score will find me. The story will find me.
Good luck.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:37 AM ^
I was in Cancun for the Michigan v Purdue game last year. International...no cell phone...no tv access thought I'd be good. Got in late Sunday plan was to watch the game once I got back. Some a**hole at the airport saw something Michigan on my stuff and would not STFU about details of the game even though I repeatedly said I don't want to know.
I would try to keep up via Droid and then if M wins re-watch it.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
I don't know about that...I watched UM-PSU at Hooters in Cancun in '08. Waste of a day, but definitely plenty of TVs in Cancun.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:34 AM ^
Everyone on this board is about to neg me to death. I am getting married Saturday. However, I did not have much of a choice as to when I could get married. I am living in Belgium, and they picked which Saturday, I tried my hardest for October 2nd but the 9th was the only date they could give us. We have to get married in the fall otherwise my visa will not be valid. It sucks because the reception will be right while the game is going on. My parents will be texting me up dates.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:37 AM ^
You could probably go the whole day without anyone mentioning the game or it's outcome. Hopefully you have DVR or recroding capabilities and can enjoy the game in it's virgin state after ...............
Wait a minute......it's YOUR wedding? Sorry man, you're screwed.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:40 AM ^
Nothing I could do about it. Oh well. I will be getting text updates then hopefully on Sunday there will be videos up with excellent highlights.
October 7th, 2010 at 10:00 AM ^
And it was awesome. My wife and I both went to UofM and wanted to get married in AA, and since our favorite time of the year was always the fall, we chose the fall. We had the reception at the Union and it was a Michigan themed wedding, with the girls wearing dark blue dresses (take that her Sparty friends) with yellow flowers. We made sure to plan the wedding at 4:30 (game was at 12) so that we (the guys) could watch the game. Only problem was it was 2005 and it went to overtime, but it was great cause we won and it took my mind off of the wedding.
So I watched us win, and after Michigan celebrated, we celebrated, and my wife and I walked down the aisle to the Victors. The game even got a call out in my brother's speach and got a huge cheer. Hard to beat that, but a never would have agreed if the timing didn't allow us to watch the game. Go Blue!
October 7th, 2010 at 8:34 AM ^
I don't think I've ever had luck with the "ostrich method." Everyone knows I'm a Michigan Alum and the first thing out of their mouths on Fall Saturdays is something about the game. If you're in the same boat, just get info off your phone. If we win, you'll be delighted and will enjoy the remainder of the reception. If we lose, you'll be apathetic and (as best you can) enjoy the remainder of the reception.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:41 AM ^
But it can be done. Helps if you can get some people to help you out and scan the landscape.
Worst part is some d-bag DJ announcing the score and playing a fight song.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^
My greatest fear is that the father of the bride, sister of the bride and brother of the bride are OSU grads. They know I am a huge fan b/c when I met them at the engagement party I asked them if they knew how the Michigan grad got the OSU grad off their front porch? After spoon feeding them the answer, "Pay them for the Pizza" I fear repricussions.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:37 AM ^
I happen to be with you feeling that holding a wedding on a football Saturday is about the worst thing you can do. My wife and I got married in July just to avoid a fall Saturday. But, my wife is a wedding planner and follows wedding message boards. The girls over there cannot believe that people would dare miss their special day due to football. One of their favorite arguments is that they don't know the schedule when they set their date. First, any Saturday from early September to early December is off-limits. Second, the schools publish this stuff years in advance.
I'd say skip the wedding, but I know the repercussions could be dire. Otherwise, go ostrich and hope no one talks.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^
Unless it is your wedding, then I would definitely skip it. In fact, I skip most weddings even if they are not on game days just because I don't like going to them.
And, somewhat ironically, because I live on a small French island I am usually always in ostrich mode with respect to M games now. Nobody here cares about the games so I usually spend the afternoon lounging beachside and then check on the scores later via internet. The withdrawal was difficult during the first season...but I'm getting much more comfortable with it now.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:41 AM ^
Last weekend I was at a wedding and watched the entire live blog during the reception. My wife was less than thrilled as I stared at my phone the whole time. Also, it was one of my friends from high school that was getting married, so my wife didn't know anyone else there. So, with me giving my full attention to the live blog, she didn't quite enjoy herself.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:43 AM ^
following a Michigan-Purdue game a few years back during the Church service on my phone. Still worth it.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:59 AM ^
DVR it. Trust me on this one, from a long-time Pittsburgher, where the games come few and far between, and all everyone talks about is the Steelers.
Just pretend that the whole wedding day on Saturday was a time vortex that you were sucked into. That should be easy enough. Then watch the game "live" on Sunday.
And look on the bright side: since New York really is a vortex for college football, nobody will have the power to slip you into the real time-stream by telling you the score. That really would defy the laws of nature.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:08 AM ^
Seems to be a fair compromise that your wife should understand.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
What men see as a logical compromise women rarely do.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:18 AM ^
having friends or family married on the day of a game is a curse for me
many years ago before cable was the dominate distributor of tv broadcasts my best friend from childhood planned his wedding on the day and at the time of the nd-michigan game (1987). i bought a sony watchman at the local mall and had it in the vestibule at the church and under the head table at the wedding- unfortunately that was the day brown threw 6 picks
1989- nd-mich a fraternity brother gets married during the game (to a um girl nonetheless- they are divorced now) we had a huge lead we blew. i watched at the reception bar
1998?9?- nd-mich my sister-in-law gets married during the game- my father-in-law is a double domer so i watch the game with about 15 of his nd buddies up in the family room- we kick ass in the first half only to lose in the end
my daughters WILL NOT get married during a game.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:22 AM ^
I was with family in Bangalore, India during the season opener against W. Michigan last year and tried to hold off till I could watch the game but I couldn't hold myself from checking the result. For me it's more lack of discipline than staying off the grid. Although it probably would be tough since people know I'm a Michigan fan and would talk to me about the result. Also, DO NOT go on facebook!
October 7th, 2010 at 9:40 AM ^
Just too many ways to find out accidentally, (lack of discipline or not.)
Casually noting ESPN Sports Center at a bar.
You or someone else at the wedding getting a text/call.
Sports radio accidentally left on in a car.
The fact that Denard is a national phenomenon makes any "news" about him all the more likely to filter it's way to you prematurely.
DVR it anyway, but nothing beats the energy of following a game live.
October 7th, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
Go to the Ceremony. Most don't last more than 30-45 minutes unless it's a full Catholic mass. You might miss 10 minutes of the game. Then, head to the reception after the game is over. Chances are that it isn't until 6 or 7 because they need to take pictures. You might show up at the end of the dinner and you just get left overs.
October 7th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
I had the same problem last week. Get the updates off the Droid, it's more satisfying.
October 7th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
You gotta put football first, especially if it's not your wedding. I mean, I wouldn't have a wedding on Tuesday to conflict with your shows, like Glee!
That being said, keep it on the DL, don't yell too loud, and in case of loss, make friends with the bartender/stay really close to the open bar.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
tried to find a coat room with an old TV, that always works
October 7th, 2010 at 11:18 AM ^
stay updated. if your wife is a bridesmaid she will have to be in the wedding party and not be paying attention to you while you check your updates.
October 7th, 2010 at 3:00 PM ^
I go ostrich every 330 game since i work til 5 it works out pretty well only found out the score once 7-7 during the notre dame game.
October 7th, 2010 at 3:11 PM ^