You may think that former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is the most intense sports fan in his home, but his wife Kylie Kelce might claim that title for herself. But she understands that not everyone in a relationship may understand why their partner carries around wooden spoons to knock on so they don’t jinx their team.
“I realize some of you actually are normal and just married into this,” said Kelce on the Jan. 23 episode of her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast.
To benefit all those normies, Kylie Kelce — mom of three with one on the way — created a list of suggestions on how to deal with your sports-obsessed partner.
Accept that your partner will be consumed by their team
Kelce said that a true sports fan doesn’t just watch the game but also participates in all the conversation around the game.
“Pre-game, they’re going to need to be getting mentally ready for anything that could possibly unfold,” she explained. “And then post-game, they’re going to be watching highlights at 6am at full volume.”
She also cautioned “sports spouses” to not be embarrassed by “camaraderie between neighbors,” like when your partner takes the dog out “and you suddenly hear them screaming, ‘Go Birds!’ at the neighbors. That’s a bonding experience.”
Don’t question superstitions
Many sports superfans have rituals or rules that they believe they need to follow to help their team win. If you are in a relationship with such an individual, Kelce urged you to “just play along” and be supportive.
Kelce said, “Superstitions may include, but are not limited to: knocking on various items made of wood, crossing your arms or legs in any specific way, moving seats, standing in a specific spot, making sure that your drink is aligned properly on the coffee table, maybe eating the exact same things every week or drinking the exact same things every week a specific volume number.”
And if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Treating yourself to an outside-the-house activity on game days would be preferable to being in a “shared space” and “calling out our sickness.”
Give your partner time to grieve a loss
If your partner’s team loses a game, give them 24 hours to grieve. Kelce said that “a lot of athletes personally live by” this “24-hour rule.”
But the grief timeline may expand during the playoffs.
“You’re gonna need days — OK, days — to dwell on it, to maybe rewatch some of the clips, figure out where they went wrong, make sure that we are ready to assess the situation, address it in the off-season, and be back and ready for anything in the next season,” Kelce said. “Very simple: we need time.”
She joked that her producer, “Queen Emma,” refers to this as “The Cry It Out Method.”
Don’t say, “It’s just a game”
“Anyone who has a serious sports spouse will know that a win or a loss can very much dictate, at the very least, how the next 24 to 48 hours goes in your house,” Kelce said. “And because of that, it’s not just a game.”
In addition to affecting the mood in your house, a win or loss “has the possibility of lifting up or tearing down our city as a whole. That’s not a game. It’s our lives.”
“Talk sh– with us”
“Talk sh– with us,” Kelce said. “If we’re yelling at the TV, join in.” She offered specifics for those who are not familiar with aggressive sports fandom.
“You are more than welcome to yell not only positive things, but negative things as well, as long as you are directing them at the people who deserve them,” she said.
When in doubt, trash talk the opposing team.
She said, “Even if the opposing team has not done a single thing to piss off your spouse in the last, let’s say, three to five minutes, you can still hit him with a, ‘F—. How ’bout them!’ It will still be well received.”
Bonus: make sure to warn guests at a watch party in advance
Kelce recommended sharing a warning with anyone who invites you and your partner over to watch a game.
“Do not take a crazy sports spouse out of the house into someone else’s home, and expect that the friends you’re going to spend the day with have seen what they are about to see,” Kelce said.
She suggested bringing gifts or “high reward foods” to thank your hosts for “putting up with something that you agreed to when you said, ‘I do.'”
A parting thought…
