Every couple of years someone comes out with a game that most people can play but a few of us don't understand. It becomes a national hit and everyone's doing it, but there are a handful of us that just don't "get it."

For example, remember the Magic Eye? These abstract pictures were supposed to contain a picture of something entirely different than just a whole bunch of dots — probably a message making fun of those of us that couldn't see the image.

Now, some genius has introduced another little game called Sudoku. My beloved employer, the Butler Eagle, even carries this game daily in the paper.

For those of you that have been camped out under a rock and are still trying to figure out the Rubik's Cube, Sudoku is a game that involves mathematics and addition.

A person basically has to strategically place numbers in an order that is non-repeating while only using each number one time, and it's become a national addiction.

My wife teaches math and naturally, she loves the game.

And while she professes to enjoy the game because it teaches math and patterns, there is more to it than that.

You see, I hate the game. To me, games are physical, like football, baseball and even golf. They aren't supposed to tire your brain out, but they are meant to make you physically tired.

As a result, my desire to "play" Sudoku is rivaled only by my desire to eat cauliflower instead of nachos. It ain't gonna happen, folks.

In retrospect, this is probably why my wife loves playing the game so much. After all, she never asks me to go out and roll a few frames of bowling, throw darts or play racquetball because I always win.

The more I think about it, the more I am beginning to believe this is a conspiracy to pick away at my competitiveness.

When thinking about this, she always beats me in all those "brainiac" kind of games. "Jeopardy" isn't even a contest, Rubik's Cube leaves me in a fix, and any trivia game is off limits unless there are questions focusing on abstract Pittsburgh sport heroes or events.

Maybe this little nuance in our relationship is something more, something deeper, that exists in each marriage or relationship.

Is this a way to turn the tables on your mate? Is it really a struggle in the balance of power, or are women in general just smarter at these kind of contests?

I go to poker night; she goes to candle parties. I watch hockey, she watches figure skating. I like the Green Bay Packers, she likes packing lunches. Hmmm.

How could two people so opposite ever end up together in a successful marriage?

Like most men, I head to the fridge for insight to perplexing questions, and on the way, I notice my wife finishing off another Sudoku puzzle. My face reddens when she asks me to help out since she knows I can't do the darn things.

"But I saved an easy one for you," she says smiling. "It's your favorite player."

Without hesitating I go to the puzzle and put Green Bay Packers' quarterback Brett Favre's number 4 in the final block.

Maybe this is how two people so opposite stay together for so long.

Christian Ola, a community columnist for the Butler Eagle, resides in Mars with his wife, son and daughter and can be reached through www.christianola.com.