Relationship Advice With The Sports Writer

I had the chance to ask the great Stephanie Stradley a few questions about love and relationships. Stephanie, is a writer for AOL Sports’ FanHouse as well as a Houston Texans specific blog for the Houston Chronicle. While she makes absolutely no claims of any relationship expertise other than being happily married, her answers are both thought provoken and helpful. However she would like to make it known that if you follow any of her advice, it is totally at your own risk.

Xilla: How do you determine if a guy would be good in a relationship or just worthy of a one night stand?

SS: Oooh, I don’t believe in one night stands at all because the entire concept of it to me is really disgusting. There is nobody on the planet that is so fine and fun that it would be worth getting that close with for one night. If someone is that great, well then, why not have a relationship with them? If if they aren’t that great, then why bother?

Unfortunately, guys do not come with tattoos on their forehead that say “Great Guy” or “Total Jerk.” And most guys are somewhere in the middle–to some people they are great, and to some people they are jerks and people tend to evolve over time. Ultimately,it is a matter of finding someone who is a good fit with you. I think it is best to become friends with a guy first before you decide to become more than friends.

Other than looks what should a woman look for in a guy?

Looks? I know this is going to sound strange, but generally, I don’t notice a guy’s looks much until I get talking to them and know them. That I find someone more attractive if I like their personality. (Though I will admit my husband is an objectively attractive person). I think all people, men and women, make a mistake if they have a checklist in their head of what they are looking for in their ideal person. Sometimes the best relationships are with people who have qualities you had no idea you would value. People shouldn’t just be considered a collection of attributes.

But generally speaking, early in a relationship, it’s worth seeing how the other person treats people other than you. If they are very loving to you, but are snide to their family, to waitstaff, to cashiers and the like, it may be that they are putting on an act for you because you are first going out with them, but that overall, they aren’t a kind person.

What advice would you give a woman who wants to follow sports with her man?

You shouldn’t follow a sport just to make the guy happy. You should let him have his guy time and use that time for other things you like doing. But if you honestly want to follow a sport because YOU want to follow it, then it should be like any other interest. Try to learn more about the sport by following it in the newspaper and online, and of course by watching it. The more you know about the players and the sport, the more interesting it is to follow.

Be sure to check Stephanie’s blog on AOL for all your sports information. If you would like to be featured in the next BlogXilla interview you, please send me an email @ Xilla At blogxilla dot com