Many people believe in the cliché that opposites attract when it comes to romantic relationships. Some people, however, are afraid that differences may become deal-breakers for people who are in a dating stage.
Dates and NBA games
The National Basketball Association, or basketball in general, is not male. However, statistics show that majority of basketball fans are men.
So you’ve made an instant connection with someone really interesting on a dating site you’ve find out about via review services such as those listed by Beyond the Charter and as you’ve been chatting online, you’ve divulged you’re a total NBA fan. If they’ve previously shown no interest in basketball, inviting them to join you as a spectator could backfire. You don’t want to risk putting them off you if they don’t enjoy the experience.
On the other hand, if they do find themselves getting into the spectacle, this will bring you closer together. The best way forward would be taking on board these five tips.
1. Use her interests and make comparisons.
If NBA is your number one interest, you have to know what her number one interest is. Say she spends a lot of time with Miss Universe things the way you spend time with anything NBA. Know who are the important persons in Miss Universe and make comparison. You can say if Miss Universe has Pia Wurtzbach, NBA has Stephen Curry.
2. Explain the background.
If your partner is a novice, one of the aspects of NBA that will quickly dampen their enthusiasm is not knowing what’s going on. So before you even set foot in the arena, ensure you go over the basics. What are the basic rules? Go over why the players aren’t allowed to carry the ball like in American football, and briefly go over the reasons why the officials might blow for fouls, violations, or free throws. There’s no need to go into great detail otherwise you’ll soon see their eyes glazing over. But they’ll engage with the sport much more if they understand why the players are doing what they’re doing. Also, introduce them to the members of the team you root for. It’ll give them an incentive to join in.
3. Be patient.
You don’t expect your date to easily absorb the new information you are giving her, especially if she has never seen an NBA game before. Basic basketball rules for you could be a foreign matter to her. Avoid jargons. Keep things simple. The goal is to help her have fun not to make her an NBA expert.
4. Do something apart from the game.
There is always so much more to an NBA encounter than the on-court events. These are so much more than sporting contests – this is entertainment. So another way to boost your date’s interest is to outline what to expect during those lulls in play, such as time outs or commercial breaks. There’s never going to be a dull moment, with things like races or shooting competitions organized to maintain everyone’s levels of excitement.
5. Encourage participation.
NBA fans come in various levels of enthusiasm and passion. This will vary from spectators who will sit and applaud a spectacular slam-dunk, to those who stand up and holler like crazy. You can encourage your other half to get caught up by the infectious mood of the game by whooping now and again yourself, or by taking things to the next level and suggesting they embrace the joys of basketball noisemakers (plastic mini-balls crammed full of beads – think of a glorified maraca!) Printing your team’s mascot on the side of this noisemaker would be an even better way of getting them hooked on supporting the team.
CONAN Daily 