Bragging Rights

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I can’t let this week pass without commemorating an achievement that I’ve been striving for for years and which may possibly never happen again.

I grew up around sports. I played them, my brothers played them, and my dad and my brothers watched them. I always knew that when I got married it would be to a man who likes watching sports, not because I do (I enjoy watching a game occasionally, but not as a routine), but because that’s what I was used to from the men in my life.

All that to say: the men in my family are serious about sports. They border on obsessed. My aunt is the same way with football, but my mom and I just enjoy it as part of our family culture.

Nowadays, we have certain rituals. Every year we create a pool for the college football bowl games and we make our picks. The winner gets this gorgeous, custom-made trophy:

Then we pick the NCAA basketball tournament, and whoever had the trophy last has to mail it to the new champion. Being the winner also gets you permission to gloat and serious bragging rights.

Well, friends, my time has come.

Yeah, I totally won! My brother said something along the lines of it being “shameful” that since I only watched a handful of games the entire season, but he’s just jealous. I don’t want to think about the number of hours he spent all football season researching his picks, only to lose shamefully to a girl. And anyway, I don’t think I watched ANY games. Impressive, don’t you think? :)

Comments

11 responses to “Bragging Rights”

January 13, 2011

Sarah

I play in a Fantasy Football league with all guys.
It’s so fun because I go only by statistics and have finished top 5 (out of 12) every year.
My husband has never beat me, and I almost won the whole thing, once.
Yay girls!

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January 14, 2011

Christine

Haha! Awesome! I always find it entertaining when people who aren’t super invested in something wins. To me, it goes to show that you can’t always predict what’s going to happen despite how hard you might try!

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January 14, 2011

Uncle David

I’m lingering over the trophy now, wondering when to send it along to you. You had a very high national percentage, tough to beat, but then, even a blind pig finds an acorn now and then ;^D

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1. January 14, 2011
  
  kapachino
  
  Ha! Looks like someone else is jealous too. :)
  
  I have a place cleared on my mantel, so send the trophy along ASAP! I’ve been waiting a long time to bask in its glow.
  
  Reply
January 14, 2011

David

Second place is the first loser :(

At least I beat everyone else!

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January 14, 2011

Marlena

Haaaaaaa, this is so cute! The fact that you won further proves my theory that this is definitely going to be your year.

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January 14, 2011

Barry

I’m cursed with too much knowledge. I only researched the spreads. Bowl games are a lot of coin flips. I hit a devastating patch in the middle.

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January 14, 2011

Stephany

I love this! Ha! It’s too funny! I only play with my brother but I’ve killed him in fantasy football and football picks the past 3 years. It’s pretty funny since he is the biggest football fan I have ever met, and knows so much about the game than I could ever comprehend.

Don’t you just love beating the boys?! ;)

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January 15, 2011

dadman

You did well my daughter but for the record the highest percentile in Stagg family history was reached by your Dad in 2008 with a 97.7 score. Someday maybe you can aspire to those heights.

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January 16, 2011

Tabaitha

I love it! Way to go girl! Definitely something worth bragging about for sure.

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January 17, 2011

Nora

Well congratulations my friend! I played fantasy football for the first time this year and made it to the playoffs; I didn’t watch a lot of the games but I did watch ESPN and highlights… not sure who I became :) I have to say it is a little bit fun. Enjoy the bragging rights!

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