Treating Football Like a Side Relationship (Because… It Kind of Is)
TikTok video from 2022-08-12
Okay, first things first—he broke up with his girlfriend, Francis.
Yay! I’m happy. I’ll get into why in another post, because ohhh there’s some tea. But for now, let’s talk about something even more controversial: football.
Yes. Football.
Now, I’m not saying I have anything against the sport. Honestly, I think it’s great when the people I love have passions that light them up—and if tight pants and touchdowns do that for you, live your truth. But let’s just say I’ve been there when a certain someone had access to every single game, every week. We’re talking Thursday night, Saturday college ball, the entire Sunday lineup, and of course, Monday night.
At some point, I looked around and realized: I’m not in a relationship with a person—I’m in a throuple with him and ESPN.
So when football season came back around, and he and Sapio started chatting and bonding over their mutual love of the game (cute, really), I had a little poly moment. I asked him:
“Hey… could you treat football like another relationship?”
What I meant was—give it a container. A time boundary. A reasonable commitment. Something that makes space for the rest of your life, too. Because if you're spending 12+ hours a week with your hobby bae, when do we hang out? When do we connect? When do I get to be the one you're cuddling on a Sunday?
And here’s the beautiful part: He said yes.
That was it. No fight. No sulking. No “but it’s just once a year.” Just a soft yes, because he understood exactly what I meant. I wasn’t trying to take football away—I was just asking for balance. The same way we’d talk about time management if he had a new partner, or if I did.
It’s funny how much our polyamorous lens helps in unexpected ways. We’re used to naming things—time, energy, commitment—and communicating openly about how to share them. So even when it’s football and not a lover, the framework still works.
And to be honest, this approach might just save some monogamous couples too.
So here’s your homework: If something in your life is taking up space like a relationship… treat it like one. Talk about it. Set boundaries. Make sure everyone—including you—feels seen and cared for.
Because at the end of the day, whether it’s a person, a passion, or a playoff game, the point is still the same: make space for love.
