This Thursday (July 14th, 2016) marks a rare occurrence on the sports calendar.
As the title of this post reads, the 14th will be “A Day Without Sports” (at least for fans of U.S. professional sports teams).
Feel free to check your mobile sports app’s or online, but you won’t find a single game scheduled for the MLB (all-star break),MLS (off-day), NBA (including Summer League play), NFL (off-season), NHL (off-season), or the WNBA(off-day).The same can be said for nearly every form of Futbol league, as well as MMA, Boxing, NASCAR, Indy Car, and Formula 1 racing.
Only the PGA, LPGA (golf), and ATP (tennis) have tournaments that run through the 14th.
To most die-hard sports fans this all sounds like a plot from and Orson Wells film. Admittedly if I woke tomorrow and lived the 14th over and over again like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, it would be slightly terrifying.
To most everyone else, however, the 14th will pass by unnoticed (unless it’s your birthday or anniversary, in which case happy annibirthary to you and yours).
Nevertheless, I offer a top 10 list of things you, the sports fan, can do on a day without sports.
(If you need more suggestions, I trust you know how to Google by now, and I’m sure some of you will probably Google to see who Orson Wells is.)
1. Binge watch your favorite show or movies on Netflix, Hulu, or HBONow:
With no sports to watch why not spend the day catching up on Orange Is The New Black, House of Cards, The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad (or whatever it is you’re into)?
Or you can marathon movies like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. Via your home movie collection.
2. Mock Draft to practice for your upcoming Fantasy Football league:
Just because there’s no football on television doesn’t mean you can’t have the players at your fingertips.
It’s never too early to mock draft (most mock’s have been available since May) and what better way to satisfy your sports appetite than with a Fantasy Feast.
3. Catch a Minor League ballgame:
Do you live within two hours or less of a Minor League ballpark? Do you enjoy $2.00 beer deals and cheap ticket prices?
If you answered yes to either of those questions, go to a day or night game and take the kids with you.
Unless you’re there for the beer deals, then I strongly recommend a designated driver.
4. Try to make a trade in your Fantasy Baseball league:
The standard Fantasy Baseball trade deadline may still be a month away, but there’s no better time than the All-Star break to make a deal.
Think you can sell high on a player who had a great first half, but is destined to decline in the second half?
Then dangle that trade bait out there and see if anyone bites.
5. Spend some quality time with family or a significant other:
This suggestion should probably be higher on the list.
Whether it’s a movie night, family game night, date night, etc., enjoy their company.
Because at the end of the day they’re what matters most.
6. Go to a concert:
If you want spur of the moment fun to take your mind off not having sports, search the web for a nearby concert.
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, there’s always Pandora or Spotify.
7. Throw a party:
Speaking of streaming music, why not host a small get together among friends.
Depending on the type of company you keep, you all can party and discuss sports, even though you won’t be able to watch them.
8. Take a random one-day road trip:
Hit the open road and go somewhere you wouldn’t normally visit.
You know, like when “the game” is on.
9. Read a good book:
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Curl up with a good one, a cup of coffee, and let your imagination do the rest.
10. Watch Europa League Futbol action:
If you can actually find a way or place to watch, without physically being present at one of these games on the 14th, then kudos to you good sir or ma’am.
Final Thoughts:
There’s no need to worry sports fans. You can go back to watching MLB, MLS, and WNBA action on July 15th.
But as for July 14th, even sports needs a day off.