NFL-related websites for 'grandad'?

September 10, 2007 12:10 AM

Any recommendations for NFL related websites that would be interesting for my computer-phobic 80-year-old father?

My parents have had their iMac for a few years now, and basically, it's just my mother who uses it (Skype, Mail, watching YouTube links we kids send her, that kind of stuff). Dad is kind of intimidated by the whole thing, grumbles about the cost of the broadband, and just generally doesn't 'get it'.

Now that's no problem, and we're not trying to push him into it (much); it's just not worth the stress, either to him or us. But I found out from Mom this morning that he is recently nuts about the NFL. He's going to park himself in front of the TV for the next half-year or so, and drink it all in.

So I thought this might be a route to get him over his computer phobia - if there were websites that would help him feed his interest in football, but which were not too intimidating to browse. Ideally, something that he could participate in. Googling NFL just gets ridiculous ... so over to you ... any ideas/suggestions/recommendations?

posted by woodblock100 to sports, hobbies, & recreation (6 comments total)

This site is ugly, if easily navigated, and it's guaranteed to scratch the itch for the stats buff. The NFL maintains its own stats page, which is good Sunday night reading. The best NFL opinion column, IMO, is TMQ.

Does he play fantasy football? Who's he root for?
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:33 AM on September 10, 2007

Pardon me for not being directly responsive to your question, immediately. But, really, the NFL on Web sites is nothing compared to the NFL in HD. If you love the man, and he's not already suitably equipped, get him a gorgeous plasma screen, HD cable, full ESPN & HBO channel packages, and a new BarcaLounger.

That said, HBO's Inside the NFL Web site is a simple, clean interface to the most important info about the league on the Web.
posted by paulsc at 12:52 AM on September 10, 2007

The NFL just re-launched NFL.com, with a ton of archive video, etc. It's totally busy, like most other sports sites, but if you can help him get to the video section, he would probably have a much better appreciation for broadband.
posted by LairBob at 3:41 AM on September 10, 2007

I like Pro Football Weekly, but they use some really annoying navigation.
posted by drezdn at 6:46 AM on September 10, 2007

It depends on what team he roots for. There are plenty of team-specific fan-run blogs that are good reads.
posted by apetpsychic at 10:45 AM on September 10, 2007

get him a gorgeous plasma screen ... and a new BarcaLounger

Um ... the spirit is willing, but the wallet is weak ... out of the question, sorry!

The best NFL opinion column, IMO, is TMQ

The column looks interesting, but the site is a problem. No sooner did I click that link, that two popup windows sprang up (only one of them blocked by my browser), and the window itself shifted position. This is exactly the kind of stuff that will make him reach over and yank the power cord out of the wall. He's read just too many newspaper stories of "pensioners scammed by something something internet something something virus something something ..."

The HBO site mentioned looks pretty straightforward, and I think we can teach him how to navigate it to find some interesting stuff to watch and read. We'll keep poking around ... thanks for all the suggestions so far.
posted by woodblock100 at 4:05 PM on September 10, 2007