Welcome all my fellow football fanatics to the inaugural post for Girls Talk Football Too!
I am so excited that on Thursday, September 7, the 2023 NFL season will officially kickoff at 8:20pm ET on NBC, with a match up between the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs. I have been waiting since February for this season to start, so I can eat, sleep, watch, and yell at all things football. And now I get to share all of my incessant football talk here with you!
So you think you know football?
I gave you a little blurb in my Origin Story, but I’m sure you’re still wondering:
Mana, can you really talk that much about football?
Oh, yes. I can.
Or maybe you’re wondering:
Why do you talk about football so much?
Oh I am so glad you asked!
For the Love of the Game
I truly came into my own love for the game when I got to watch my sister play professional tackle football for the Women’s American Football League. I would serve as her carpool for practices to avoid LA traffic. And it was during those practices I became so enthralled with learning the strategy of offense versus defense.
Plus, I loved that you could tackle people and not get in trouble with mom and dad for it. My sister even let me try on her shoulder pads once, and let me practice hitting her like an offensive lineman. I was young and small, so it was like she was getting hit by a stuffed animal, but I still thought I was Ronnie Lott laying a hit on her.
Throw Like a Girl
Sadly I never got to play professionally like my sister. But I played quarterback for my high school flag football team and continued to play in competitive community leagues and tournaments with my sister and some of her former tackle teammates. If you stick around you might even get to see some vintage footage.
Okay, yes. Back in the day, flag football was considered “powder puff” or the weak sauce version of football. But, as we get closer to the 2024 Summer Olympics, we will discuss the NFL’s push for flag football to become an official Olympic sport. That being said, now I am sad I am old and probably would not be able to play for a gold medal.
But who knows… maybe I can be the female flag football version of Vince Papale.
So for now, I will stick to bringing you all my thoughts, opinions, insights and all around fan love for the game of football.
Now, are you ready for some football?