TIMEOUT: It's a lifestyle, man

My tenure as sports editor has thus far been filled with unexpected discoveries. While I came into the position with a fairly good understanding of the sports themselves, I'm finding that I'm continually learning about (and being amazed by) the attitudes, the customs and the almost religion-like dedication athletics fans carry with them on game day.

As my Family and I made our traditional visits with friends over Thanksgiving, I had a chance to discuss a lot of sports with fans of every professional league out there.

Thursday afternoon I was talking with a season-ticket holding Redskins fan, and the conversation really left me thinking that I have been missing out on perhaps the best part of being a fan.

It began when this fellow revealed that he and his wife start getting ready for a 4 p.m. game at about 7:30 a.m.

With that, I asked if he and his wife had season tickets for away games, too.

"Well, no," he replied. "You've got to get your tailgating place in the parking lot."

Now I have read about tailgating and I've eavesdropped on a few discussions about them, but I've never participated in one myself.

But after hearing a direct, firsthand rundown of all the wonderful activities these blacktop gatherings involve, I've decided that I simply have to get out and attend one.

Simply, and perhaps most importantly, tailgating turns a three-hour football game into an all day ice-chest, folding-chair, charcoal-grill, barbecue-sauce and aluminum-foil paradise.

As I heard the details of this undiscovered country, I found myself being drawn into the whole image - an early arrival to the stadium grounds, the rising sun bathing the surrounding foliage in a warming, coppery glow. I could smell coffee in the air, and the sounds of rustling potato chip bags, unfurling tablecloths and squeaky hibachi lids added an almost mystical quality to the chilly morning air.

It felt a little like it did when we were setting up the campsite on the first morning of vacation when I was a kid - no worries for a whole week, just a lot of hanging around outdoors and a bunch of grilled food to eat up.

Newly enlightened, I decided to go a bit farther afield and asked a bunch of my other acquaintances about their takes on these gatherings. And the sentiment was exactly the same.

"It's a lifestyle, man," one responder said. "You get out there and set up a little place, start frying up stuff, then start eating up stuff. It's just about hanging with friends and getting your head all ready for the game. Even if you're just eating chips and looking around at things, it's still better than any living room."

I can get behind that, and he's right: it would be better than sitting in a living room watching the game - especially if it's somebody else's house where you have to keep your shoes on and can't wipe your hands on your pants.

So attending a tailgating gathering is next on my agenda. Unfortunately, I don't have Skins tickets on me at the moment (or any other tickets for that matter).

I wonder if anybody would squawk if I just set one up in front of my house one Sunday?