[Dark Savante]

In the last 8months or so my activity on this site has increased quite a bit and when I'm not on here I'm usually watching a game from anyone of 4leagues or MUTV is permanently on.

My GF was cool with this site and some of my footy watching, but of late there has been some understanable mumblings of discontention. In fact, i'll be taking a heavy sabbatical from here and most games in the next few months of my own accord, which will please her no end. As I can then embrace such fun activities as wasting my weekends clothes shopping and being throughouly bored out my mind as she makes up her mind (10times) and then ends up purchasing the item she saw in the first shop 3hrs ago. Sorry Saph, but you women don't know how to shop! Be like men!! Go in, get it, get out! Mission complete within 5mins tops Easy huh?

Anywho...for those of you with wives or GF's you actually live with or are commited too...how do you balance your time between footy(sports) and her? NOTE: You have to be extremely passionate about footy/sports to answer this one!! No casual viewers who barely check the results from weekend to weekend pls!!

I'm curious because United is a way of life, but so's a GF/Wife you value...something's got to give right? Unless you're lucky enough to have someone like Saph who loves the game as much as you (My girl loathes United, although she could tell you every players name who is active for us as well as the reserves and u-18 squads lol..and quite a few of the historical ones too)my basic penance will be a huge reduction in usage here for a while to 'make up' for the past few months...that's my version of give and take, lol. So how do you do it?

[Motterman]

part time supporter

[Vermont Red]

I had to make a choice years ago with regards to all sports, not just soccer. In general, I only watch the Cowboys and United at every opportunity. Rarely watch baseball, hockey or basketball anymore. Can usually get a pass for the Olympics and the Super Bowl. I can't say that everything I do with my wife instead of watching sports is fun but every relationship is a compromise. If anyone would seriously choose sports over their spouse/girlfriend then that should be evidence that the relationship isn't working. I wish I had more time for pursuing my own interests, but the cost would be too great. In truth, I don't feel like I miss much. (Now if I can get her to soften about watching some of the recorded episodes of "24".)

With regards to Saph, how do we know that her husband isn't a sports/soccer widower and that his absence is the only reason that she had time to devote to our gang of idiots.

[Motterman]

Originally Posted by Dark Savante

So how do you do it?

Seriously though"

If she loves you, it's up to her to make it work with you, just as much as you need to sacrifice some things for her. I mean, we have maybe 3 match days a week at the most (give or take 1 or 2 with reserve/youth teams, etc.) It's not like United is 24/7 (as much as it could be if you let it) Use some common sense and judgement, try to include her in things that interest you - not just United. If she doesn't care, find out what she enjoys, encourage her to do her own stuff more often - and then use that time for yourself for United, BigSoccer, etc.

I used to go EVERY weekend to the Lucky Bar in DC to watch the United matches. It's easy when you're single. It's an hour there and 1 hour back, add in some pre and post beer and chat, and it's the whole day quite easily. I now go once or twice a month and watch more on PPV or FSC as a compromise. But I do make a point to make it to the bigger matches, cups, etc. and my wife is open to scheduling around these events. This is a HUGE benfit and one of the reasons why she's my wife and not an ex-GF, etc.

[Dark Savante]

lol indeed, let's wait for her to show up and splain herself. *Saph


Agree about the sacrifice, but how do you balance it? Did you reach an agreement or do you react to discontentment?

My time watching Utd is one thing my GF doesn't mind, but this site, and other games, she sees as an insult if I use/watch too much. Which I understand perfectly, hence my intended compromise.

[SirManchester]

I pretty much make my gf understand that football is part of my life and I wouldn't be happy without it even if I was with her only. We're both busy all the time, talk to each other maybe twice three times a week, and see each other once a month. I try to get her into the game and United as much as I can but she just won't understand, but I'm determined to get her to know it.

[Dark Savante]

Originally Posted by Motterman

Seriously though"

If she loves you, it's up to her to make it work with you, just as much as you need to sacrifice some things for her. I mean, we have maybe 3 match days a week at the most (give or take 1 or 2 with reserve/youth teams, etc.) It's not like United is 24/7 (as much as it could be if you let it) Use some common sense and judgement, try to include her in things that interest you - not just United. If she doesn't care, find out what she enjoys, encourage her to do her own stuff more often - and then use that time for yourself for United, BigSoccer, etc.

Kinda answered that in post 5. We're not on the rocks or anything, lol. Just something she's mentioned once or twice now, which she hasn't done before. It's me making 'positive' moves or taking affirmative action.

Does your other half not mind you watching sport, or outside of United do you not watch much?

[Vermont Red]

Originally Posted by Dark Savante

My time watching Utd is one thing my GF doesn't mind, but this site, and other games, she sees as an insult if I use/watch too much. Which I understand perfectly, hence my intended compromise.

You may not want to hear this, but you could use your current porn time for BigSoccer and other games. As for how to make up the porn time, I can't help you.

[Motterman]

Originally Posted by Dark Savante

Agree about the sacrifice, but how do you balance it? Did you reach an agreement or do you react to discontentment?

My time watching Utd is one thing my GF doesn't mind, but this site, and other games, she sees as an insult if I use/watch too much. Which I understand perfectly, hence my intended compromise.

You need to discuss this with her. Odds are that she's already been on your ass about it, that's why your making these sudden changes to placate her. Go with that a few days, do some special stuff with her for awhile, show her how much she means to you.... After a week or so, open a dialogue about it to see how she is feeling about it.

I'll tell you though, I don't watch nearly as mush Spanish/Italian/German footy as I used to or would like to now. I save most of my "credits" for Manchester United and for the US National Team. Yeah, I can't name more than 5 players on Juventus off the top of my head anymore, but who cares about Juventus anyways, right?

[Dark Savante]

lol, we're all posting at the same time here

It's like a magic eye.

Answering each others posts in an unorthadox sequence. lol.

Motter, lol@ soccer credits. I think i'll need some of those soon!!