So I'm Marrying A Denver Broncos Fan

Usually "the Broncos thing" is not an issue in our relationship. If it weren't for the Thanksgiving dinners with his family in Denver and the orange and blue Broncos jacket that I keep pushed to the back of the closet, I'd hardly even notice his one minor flaw. I mean it's not as if he is a Yankees fan or something equally unforgivable like this guy.

Today is different. The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots meet in the AFC Divisional Playoffs and for three hours tonight there will be no cuddling. In fact, we will sit on polar opposite ends of our couch -- he in his throwback John Elway jersey and me with Bruschi's number 54 on my back. I bought my own six pack of Samuel Adams because I was notified that he won't be sharing his Coors Light with a Patriots fan. For every errant Patriots pass he will emit a guttural "IN-COM-PLETE" with the rest of the Broncos faithful and I will glance across the room and wonder what I ever saw in him.

Let's just hope that it is all over quickly -- no last minute Vinatieri field goal heroics, no overtime, no controversial calls, just a nice hard fought win for the Patriots. Then in the aftermath, I'll tell him that "it will be okay...the Broncos are really good but the Patriots just don't lose in the playoffs" and I'll remind him that pitchers and catchers report for spring training in less than five weeks.

At least he is a Red Sox fan.