Sports viewing habits/motivations

[W2R]

I do watch some sports, sometimes. But I don't follow team sports at all. I am female and these are my views on watching sports:

REASONS TO WATCH SPORTS:

1) I can relate to wanting to see sports if one participates in the same sport on a regular basis. For example, golfers wanting to watch golf, because they can appreciate good form and maybe even learn from watching it. The same goes for those in a softball league or skaters who watch ice skating.

2) Another reason for wanting to see sports, is to admire muscular, fit bodies and what the ultra-fit human body can do. Individual sports are best for this, IMO. I like watching boxing and gymnastics and track for that reason, for example. Those rippling muscles inspire me to get back to the gym and work out! Not that I would ever be that fit but it's an inspiration. When I watch sports, this is usually the reason why.

3) Horse racing is fun to watch because the horses seem so healthy and I like to guess which one will win based on what they look like and how they walk before the race. No way would I bet on a horse, though.

4) Watching sports is fun if you know a participant personally. When I was in university, the biggest football star at that school that year was in my 20 person American History class (with his "handler" who guided him from class to class, took notes for him, and so on). He seemed nice and I loved watching college football games that he was in, on TV that year. I don't know anybody who I would see on TV any more, though. So, this reason does not apply to me right now.


REASONS NOT TO WATCH SPORTS:

1) To me, betting belongs in a casino and I go there if I want to gamble. I can't see betting on sports because of all the corruption we hear about. I'd rather sit at the quarter slot machines where the odds are better known. I don't even do that much any more.

2) Also, here, there is a whole social scene revolving around Saints games, that I guess is rather repugnant to those who aren't staggering drunk. I just have no desire to be part of that. I do like it when the Saints win, because to me they are a symbol of New Orleans' recovery from the hurricane. But I don't usually watch the games or go to tailgate parties.

3) Speaking of which, many team sports like football games involve a huge amount of time during which nothing is going on. Why would I want to watch a bunch of people standing around on a football field. Not my cup of tea.

 

[jjquantz]

...
1) I can relate to wanting to see sports if one participates in the same sport on a regular basis. For example, golfers wanting to watch golf, because they can appreciate good form and maybe even learn from watching it. The same goes for those in a softball league or skaters who watch ice skating.

...

Quick variant of this one. Since I've played several courses where golf tournaments are played, it can be fun to watch the pros play those same courses. The TV often doesn't do the courses justice in terms of showing slopes and difficulty. Having been there, I have a greater appreciation for what the golfers are facing.

 

[W2R]

Quick variant of this one. Since I've played several courses where golf tournaments are played, it can be fun to watch the pros play those same courses. The TV often doesn't do the courses justice in terms of showing slopes and difficulty. Having been there, I have a greater appreciation for what the golfers are facing.

Even better! That's a great reason to watch golf.

 

[HFWR]

I participated in basketball, track, and baseball in HS, and over the years have watched, and attended, games. Still enjoy going occasionally, particularly baseball and hockey, but prefer the comfort of, and the view from, my couch.

Mostly watch NFL games these days, unless the weather is nice or something else beckons. Pro football consists of a Thursday game, then three on Sunday, then another on Monday, which is roughly fifteen hours of sitting on the sofa...

I do prefer pro sports, pampered millionaires notwithstanding, because generally they are the best. Having played various sports badly, I can appreciate the talent required to play at the pro level.

 

[W2R]

I participated in basketball, track, and baseball in HS, and over the years have watched, and attended, games. Still enjoy going occasionally, particularly baseball and hockey, but prefer the comfort of, and the view from, my couch.

Why not participate in basketball or softball now, with other men the same age and condition where the competition isn't too crazy? It could be fun and so healthy. Or, you could do track on your own at the gym, without even having to find a good team to join.

Maybe I am wrong, but sometimes I think that watching pro sports on TV keeps us from being active ourselves. So many of our local Saints fans are complete couch potatoes.

I forgot to mention in my post above, about how much more fun it is for me to watch the Tour de France on TV while riding on my stationary bike, then just from the couch. Granted, a stationary bike is not quite the same but when I am watching them I ride longer and put more effort into it, and feel almost like part of what I am watching. When I'm not riding my bike, it is pretty boring.

 

[HFWR]

Why not participate in basketball or softball now, with other men the same age and condition where the competition isn't too crazy? It could be fun and so healthy. Or, you could do track on your own at the gym, without even having to find a good team to join.

Maybe I am wrong, but sometimes I think that watching pro sports on TV keeps us from being active ourselves. So many of our local Saints fans are complete couch potatoes.

I forgot to mention in my post above, about how much more fun it is for me to watch the Tour de France on TV while riding on my stationary bike, then just from the couch. Granted, a stationary bike is not quite the same but when I am watching them I ride longer and put more effort into it, and feel almost like part of what I am watching.

Played league softball for several years, but have zero competitive spirit these days. I do bike, walk, and lift to stay active, as well as regular twelve-ounce curls!

 

[Idnar7]

I like college football and basketball but can't watch the pro versions. They just seem like different games. College games are more unpredictable I think. In high school I used to live and die by the Vikings. Now I don't follow them at all. And yes Dawg it is often hard to be a Gopher fan.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I'm not big into watching any specific major sports, but I do admire sports organizations that are worthy. The University of Wisconsin Badger basketball team plays in a style some people used to call "blue collar." This is a down year for the Badgers, but it was good to see them rise to knock off Syracuse last week.

My alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, won the NCAA Division III national championships in men's football, basketball and baseball in the 2013-2014 academic year -- an unprecedented achievement in NCAA history. I keep track of how they're doing online and try to catch a game now and then.

 

[HFWR]

Mostly watch NFL games these days, unless the weather is nice or something else beckons. Pro football consists of a Thursday game, then three on Sunday, then another on Monday, which is roughly fifteen hours of sitting on the sofa...

I would add that I was illustrating how many hours one could spend watching NFL games each week, not to mention if one watches college football, and/or other sports.

About the only time I'll catch all five televised games in a week is if there's ice or snow, or sub-freezing temps.

 

[golfnut]

I'm not big into watching any specific major sports, but I do admire sports organizations that are worthy. The University of Wisconsin Badger basketball team plays in a style some people used to call "blue collar." This is a down year for the Badgers, but it was good to see them rise to knock off Syracuse last week.

My alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, won the NCAA Division III national championships in men's football, basketball and baseball in the 2013-2014 academic year -- an unprecedented achievement in NCAA history. I keep track of how they're doing online and try to catch a game now and then.

Could not believe the Badgers lost to my alma mater - WIU ! I like watching the Badgers as well (like their their style of play). ND is my favorite though.

 

[Corporateburnout]

Why not participate in basketball or softball now, with other men the same age and condition where the competition isn't too crazy?

I played basketball and soccer in high school and college but it was difficult to find leagues for people around my age so a couple of years ago I joined a younger group of over 40 basketball league at the YMCA but had to quickly end it after one appearance out of fear of getting severely injured because the competition was too crazy.

Instead I play doubles tennis twice a week where I can still compete without getting badly injured.

 

[Music Lover]

I don't watch any major league sports other than 6 or 8 golf tournaments a year, and have no interest in college sports.

I do love "World's Strongest Man", but that's only about 8 episodes once a year, and I'll also watch the Crossfit Games...again, they're only on once a year for a few episodes.

 

[jjquantz]

I played basketball and soccer in high school and college but it was difficult to find leagues for people around my age so a couple of years ago I joined a younger group of over 40 basketball league at the YMCA but had to quickly end it after one appearance out of fear of getting severely injured because the competition was too crazy.

Instead I play doubles tennis twice a week where I can still compete without getting badly injured.

I sympathize, As I mentioned, I quit playing pickup BB with college kids when I was about 40. Not that I couldn't keep up (though I scouted the players more closely before jumping in ) but after a few sprained ankles I just realized that a serious injury was waiting to happen. I also tried playing church league softball but it wasn't any fun to play with people who had NO CLUE what they were doing. I broke a bone in my wrist due to some idiot.

The problem with "adult" sports leagues, in my experience, is that you either have clueless people - i.e. church league softball, or you have the hyper-competitive ones - usually folks in their 20's and 30's. after several tries, I just figured I would never be lucky enough to find the right team where I could have fun with it.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

The Badgers have a real hall-of-fame quality coach in Bo Ryan. Dick Bennett was a tough act to follow, but Ryan has filled his shoes and then some. Both men had long apprenticeships in small Wisconsin colleges before moving up to Division I at UW.

My mom used to tell a funny story about Notre Dame. She grew up in a big family on a hardscrabble farm in North Dakota. It was hard keeping all the mouths fed, so when she turned 16 in the early '30s she went to Chicago to work as a domestic. She spent her free time going to movies, and during one newsreel she saw the storied Fighting Irish with ND emblazoned on their uniforms.

"Gee," she said. "Isn't it nice to see the team from North Dakota in the news!"

I went to the same grade school that Knute Rockne attended, BTW. It's still a functioning school in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. Which tells you something about the state of the Chicago school system.

 

[48Fire]

The problem with "adult" sports leagues, in my experience, is that you either have clueless people - i.e. church league softball, or you have the hyper-competitive ones - usually folks in their 20's and 30's. after several tries, I just figured I would never be lucky enough to find the right team where I could have fun with it.

I agree. However, the first adult softball league I was in was great. We actually had our own league at Megacorp and our own fields, so it was well run. I actually was invited onto the team as a backup pitcher, then worked into the lineup at third base. Our cleanup hitter was the Director of Engineering. A great team, great teammates, and it was a great social night for my young girlfriend (future DW)

Then my next Megacorp was more like you described. A couple guys would actually talk serious trash to the opposing players, completely unprovoked. Completely unprofessional, and I quit the team. They eventually lost the sponsor of HR. And the funny thing is, they really sucked too.

 

[mystang52]

One sport I never get tired of watching: [women's] Beach Volleyball. For some inexplicable reason, I don't really care who wins or loses. And, more often than not at any given point I have no idea of the score.

 

[Mulligan]

I sympathize, As I mentioned, I quit playing pickup BB with college kids when I was about 40. Not that I couldn't keep up (though I scouted the players more closely before jumping in ) but after a few sprained ankles I just realized that a serious injury was waiting to happen. I also tried playing church league softball but it wasn't any fun to play with people who had NO CLUE what they were doing. I broke a bone in my wrist due to some idiot.



The problem with "adult" sports leagues, in my experience, is that you either have clueless people - i.e. church league softball, or you have the hyper-competitive ones - usually folks in their 20's and 30's. after several tries, I just figured I would never be lucky enough to find the right team where I could have fun with it.

"Hyper competitive".... Yes, the last year I played in a softball league we were getting stomped by a local D-1 college mens basketball team. One of them made a rude comment about our team, and of course one of our smart mouthed teammates fired back about us sucking as bad as the team that upset them in the first round of NCAA tourney. Hit a sore spot....We barely avoided getting the crap beat out of us..My last year of league softball......


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