Sports During The Holidays Is The Adult Version Of Hiding In Your Room

The holidays—a sacred time for many people and their families. But who cherishes it the most? Sports fans. Of all shapes, sizes, regions, fan bases, team successes, and traditions. From college bowl games to NBA Christmas Day matchups, it’s a must-tune-in time of year across the country—and here’s why.

For one, who doesn’t love pointless college bowl games that mean absolutely nothing to no one?  Once the holiday festivities wrap up, you can finally lay down on the couch and watch two teams, led by their second- and third-string players, battle it out in the Pop-Tarts Bowl or the Bacardi Bowl (yes that's real). College bowl season is proof that if you sponsor it, a football game will happen and when announcers become experts on players who might not exist next year. And let’s be honest—listening to D-list commentators struggle through player pronunciations is way better than hearing Aunt Tammy explain her third divorce and her new boyfriend’s drinking habits for the ninth time since Thanksgiving or your cousin Bernice from Alabama's views on politics.

Best College Football Bowl Game Names:

• Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop

• Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

• Poulan Weedeater Bowl

• Gotham Bowl

• GoDaddy.com Bowl

• Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Now let’s talk basketball. NBA on Christmas: because opening presents only takes like 20 minutes. It really is the gift that keeps on giving year in and year out. It’s the NBA’s version of NFL Thanksgiving—an absolute feast. LFG. For sports bettors, it’s a welcome return to routine during a chaotic time of year, reminding us that gambling doesn’t take holidays, even if our wallets should. Watching LeBron, Steph, and KD on Christmas feels right—like the angel on top of the tree, if you will.

It’s the present we didn’t know we needed. It’s not quite as ritualistic as Thanksgiving Day football, but every once in a while the NFL blesses us with games on Christmas, and it’s exactly what we asked Santa for. No fantasy points, no playoff hopes, still yelling at the TV. Sure, it’s never the teams we actually want to see, and fantasy football is already over—meaning there are no real stakes. Especially for me, since my team never makes the playoffs anyway. But none of that matters. It’s what the soul needs, and we’re here for it.