Much of the fun of watching NFL games involves more than just viewing terrific action. Venues and fan interactions are parts of the total gridiron experience—whether one watches the Patriots play at Gillette Stadium or on a big screen at the Frog Rock Tavern in Meredith.
I’ve been to Gillette, and it can be exhilaratingly elemental to be one of 65,000 cheering Patriot fans. But it can also be exhausting, expensive, and cold. I’ve also watched the Pats at the Frog Rock Tavern in Meredith—where it is warm, affordable, and fun.
And so it was that I accompanied rising star State Senator Tim Lang to the Frog Rock to watch the Patriot opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 8.
A “Man of the People,” Lang loves to mingle with constituents and the Frog Rock was a great place to mingle. And it was also great to run into Meredith State Representative Matt Coker at the Frog Rock. He was there with his wife Chelsea along with his daughters and even his mom. Family football fun indeed!
Another part of football fun involves placing legal bets on the outcomes—for which we can all thank Senator Lang, the prime mover behind legalized sports betting in N.H.
We learned that Matt and Chelsea are “invested” football fans—emotionally and otherwise. Having a financial stake in a game’s outcome makes the action even more compelling to watch.
An airline pilot, Matt is also a high-flying football fan who studies grid stats before investing in outcomes. He has his strategies. Chelsea works in community mental health and also invests in gridiron outcomes. Her primary strategy involves seeing who Matt picks—and then making opposite picks.
“It’s been a successful strategy for me,” explained Chelsea. “Matt loses most of the time. So, by betting against him at least we break even.”
Chelsea augments the above strategy with a bit of extra due diligence.
“I also listen to the Kelce Brothers Podcasts.”
Sometimes Matt and Chelsea bet against each other directly. She explained that the loser does the dishes.
“And when Matt loses, I make sure he does the dishes and doesn’t delegate that chore to the kids!”
Intrigued, I asked the couple if they’d share their Week One Fantasy Football team lineups.
Chelsea started Mahomes (QB), Kelce (TE), Cook and Dobbins (RBs), along with Jefferson, Watson and Brown (WRs). Matt went with Love (QB), Hudson (TE), Williams and White (RBs), and Hill, St. Brown and Meyers (WRs).
(Note: I texted Rep. Coker on the following Tuesday to see who prevailed. Matt replied that “Chelsea whipped my butt by 13 points.”)
For educational/research purposes only, I asked the couple whom they liked in this weekend’s big Sunday Night Game (Sept. 22) between the K.C. Chiefs and the Falcons in Atlanta.
“Definitely the Falcons at home,” said Matt.
“Definitely the Chiefs, with Travis and Mahomes,” said Chelsea.
They both agreed to let their picks be made public in this widely read sports column.
“Although I’d rather be quoted on the Kelce Brothers Podcast,” said Chelsea.
Senator Lang was also interested in a pick Chelsea (a Democrat) will be making on Tuesday, November 5, when Matt (a Republican) is up for re-election.
“I may or may not vote for Matt,” said Chelsea. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Time will tell.
My prediction: Matt wins on November 5.
(And depending upon how Chelsea votes, he also does the dishes that night!)
