Now that I've got three kids and sports on most Saturdays in the fall, my stress levels while watching have gone way down. I still get nervous and can't wait for big games to start, but once the game starts, I'm way less volatile, and losses don't linger with me outside of an hour or two before bed.
But back in the early to mid 2010's... it was not appropriate for me to watch around other people. Too stressed and high strung, too irritable, too quickly annoyed by those around me. 2011 scUM was my lowest point. I was a raging dickhead to everyone around me for the whole week after that game.
I have ONE really good friend who I could watch games with. I was hesitant, because he's a Purdouchebag, but quickly learned that he was simply offering me a safe haven during games, and he also realized he could drink peacefully in his basement or outside at his bar-top if he told his fiance (now wife) I was coming over.
We would sit outside at his bar-top, with the fire pit behind us, and I would just stress and freak out and cuss, and he would offer funny tidbits when necessary, but otherwise I was there for his amusement while he drank, and I could do or say whatever I needed to without offending him while watching on the outdoor flatscreen.
I remember watching 2013 scUM there, and he was silent and let me rant and rave in peace.
I was there again the next year for 2014 scUM. I think he took great joy in my great joy.
Great setup, great friend.
