"It's a Cinderella story," my husband says, when I ask him to explain the hype over Sunday's game between the San Francisco 49ers and the NY Giants.
"In the past few years, the team struggled with coaches, players and their quarterback was booed when he stepped onto the field because he was struggling," he continues.
"I see," I reply, thanking him for another sports lesson that I still don't quite get.
What's the big deal about football?
I admit it. I'm football-illiterate. For years, my husband, who's a crazy soccer fan and a worshipper of la Copa Mundial—the World Cup of soccer—has been trying to help me understand not just fútbol, soccer in English, but American football, baseball and hockey.
"They [Niners] led their group of teams and now they've beaten the New Orleans Saints to play for the NFC Championship," he continues.
He tells me about the AFC ... "The what?" I ask.
"The American Football Conference ... you know, the teams on the other side of the country," he offers.
"But now, .... the Giants are coming to San Francisco and whoever wins there will go on to play in the Super Bowl!"
Wow, I know what the Super Bowl is. I used to write about domestic violence incidents increasing during this national matchup back in my days at The Daily Herald, only to be told by football fans that it was all a lie.
My fubolero adds: "For San Francisco, it's the prestige. There was the era of Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice ... It was a team to reckon with, but in the past 10 years, they've been out and haven't performed well at all."
This year, however, Niners coach Jim Harbaugh has totally changed and revitalized the team, he finishes. "It's a total turnaround. The quarterback has been playing his best game ever."
I see, I get a little bit of why the game at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at Candlestick Park is so important to football fans.
My husband also tells me that the cheapest ticket you could find for a "nose-bleed" section at the stadium is going for between $300 and $400.
"It's going to be historic. It's a home game. It's a very positive story."
And then he looks at me and says: "For people who don't know football, it's an opportunity to learn what's going on."
But I tell him that the last time I tried to watch a game, it turned into a four-hour affair. Who has time for that? I can barely sit through a soccer match on Telemundo that ends up being a two-hour 0-0 tie!
Also, aren't the Giants from San Francisco?
Then to end our conversation, I ask, "What is a fumble?"
He responds: "A fumble is if you miss watching the game this Sunday. That's a fumble."
