Most of the time, I'm not sure where my remote control is hiding. Sometimes it's between the couch cushions. Sometimes it's under the couch. Then there are the times when it somehow found its way to where it belongs: on the TV stand.
I'm not overly concerned about my remote's whereabouts until early Sunday afternoon most weeks. Then, at about 1 p.m. or so I find the plastic rectangle and get ready to mash some buttons for the rest of the day.
Typically, the Buffalo Bills' game will start with the day's first wave of NFL action. Much of the time, the Bills' opponent will soon drive down the field and score a touchdown. I'll shake my head or - in some cases - yell at the television. Then, I'll change the channel because the game has gone to commercial.
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Scott Shelters
With any luck, I'll find other games just a channel or two away from the Bills. After I watch the Cleveland Browns get run over for a few minutes, I'll change it back to the Bills.
If the Bills and whichever other teams are on TV start losing badly, then I've had NASCAR to change the channel to thus far this fall. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case as the racing season came to an end last weekend.
Now, I'll have to trust the Bills and the rest of the NFL to provide me with all of my Sunday entertainment.
My girlfriend doesn't understand why I spend several hours watching sports each Sunday, and she isn't afraid to say so, pretty much every week. As I pondered how I would live without watching NASCAR for the next three months, she said, "Oh no. You mean the off-season only lasts three months? That's not very long."
This week, I've been wondering why I spend so much time watching sports. On the surface, at least, they do not directly affect my life other than by influencing my remote-control habits.
After giving it some thought, I'll sit on my couch again this Sunday with my remote in hand. Sports, I believe, are supposed to be an escape from life's worries. Most people have welcome distractions in their lives.
When I started working at The Post-Journal, a co-worker asked me if I was a "comic book guy" or a "sports guy." I guess those are the two types here. I've never owned any comic books, but they do the trick for some people.
For a few hours Sunday, I won't have to think about holiday plans, making payments or work. I'll just be thinking about football and the Bills in particular, for better or worse.