“TL;DR” is social media shorthand for “too long; didn’t read.” It appears frequently in comment sections as a rejoinder to someone’s overly lengthy/rambling/incoherent post.
The same sort of label explains why I, a literally lifelong Green Bay Packers fan, didn’t watch last night’s game to the very end. The “Miracle in Motown” went down while I was asleep.
Too Late; Didn’t Watch; Too Tired; Long Night Last Night; Long Day Tomorrow.
There are many complaints about the NFL’s Thursday night games. They often feature unappealing matchups (Tennessee at Jacksonville in prime time? Really?) and ragged play, since both teams are working on VERY short weeks.
Then there’s the 8:30 pm Eastern kickoff time. Fans who have to get up early in the morning are forced to choose between watching the game or getting a decent night’s sleep.
Ordinarily, when it’s a Packer game, I’d watch to the finish and mainline coffee the next day. But that didn’t happen last night. Let me explain.
The night before involved an ETSU basketball road game, and while it was a comparatively short trip it meant not getting to bed until after midnight.
The late night became an early morning when … we just welcomed a new dog to the family, and he thought 5:30 am was the PERFECT time to start the day. How nice. I don’t function well on five hours of sleep. It left me not so much tired as worn out, and with a scratchy throat. (Bad news for someone who talks for a living.)
There wasn’t much energy all day. And, New Dog needs a lot of attention. How much? Ask me why we didn’t have enchiladas for dinner Thursday night. That’s another story.
Today, the day after the “Miracle” game, involves another ETSU road trip and an hours-long bus trip. I can’t really sleep on a bus. So a good amount of rest the night before is important.
By the time the 3rd quarter ended at around 11:00 pm Eastern, the Packers were playing like warmed-over dog food and I couldn’t fight the cobwebs any longer. Off to bed I went, knowing the DVR would record the game. It didn’t take long to fall asleep. That’s rare for me.
Upon waking up this morning I immediately turned on the radio … and heard the sports-talk hosts using phrases like “Hail Mary” and “Richard Rodgers” and “saving the season.”
Huh?
The Packers won?
The GREEN BAY Packers?
Last night?
Seriously?
Could you run that by me again?
The Packers won?
The way they’ve been playing the last six weeks?
After trailing 20-0 and looking like a bad slapstick routine?
The Packers won?
That’s not funny, guys.
But there it was, and I missed it. Do I regret it? Yes, to an extent. I needed to get some sleep. I REALLY needed it. So much so that it overrode my fandom.
Hardcore fans – especially in the Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones – can harangue me all you want. I have it coming. But I feel better – no throat problems – and I’ll have the energy for witty comebacks. Call it a win-win. I’ll take that every week.