The trouble with sports

[SmarterthanU]

... is that people take them WAY too seriously. Sometimes I have a hard time with the fact that people can tell you almost any statistic about their sport of choice, but can't tell you who their US Senators are. I definitely have a hard time with people who would let their favorite sports star get away with just about anything if it meant he could keep playing.

Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoy playing and watching sports. But I think it's ridiculous that anytime two men enter into a discussion in a social setting, the topic is invariably -- sports. Can we just give it a rest? Like, for just a minute, and talk about something else?

 

[CitY of MicA]

shouldn't this be posted in the sports forum?

... is that people take them WAY too seriously. Sometimes I have a hard time with the fact that people can tell you almost any statistic about their sport of choice, but can't tell you who their US Senators are. I definitely have a hard time with people who would let their favorite sports star get away with just about anything if it meant he could keep playing.

Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoy playing and watching sports. But I think it's ridiculous that anytime two men enter into a discussion in a social setting, the topic is invariably -- sports. Can we just give it a rest? Like, for just a minute, and talk about something else?

I'm joking, of course. I understand what you're saying. I think for those that don't follow and have no interest sports, it really must be annoying at times. Two of my best friends, one of whom I lived with for an extended period of time, almost completely ignored the sports world- they are both male. Obviously, this was not a topic of conversation I would discuss with either one of them.

Sports can be so trivial, that it does seem like a strange topic upon which to base an obsession. It is something that can bring people together, however. It's an escape from work and everyday life. It may be the same reason someone wants to read the latest best-seller or watch the Hollywood movie released last week. It is, in all likelihood, simply entertainment and nothing more, but it is something that people can discuss and allows them to connect. Even with people whom you don't know. I can recall passing a guy on the street on my way to work nearly every day (he was unloading freight, if memory serves), and we would say a few words to each other about the results of the yesterday's Yankee game. I'm not a fan of the team, and I suppose we could have very well discussed some appropriations bill in congress, but...

 

[Morpheus72]

An interest in sports is no more or less trivial than an interest in any other activity. In my job, for example, I have to search to find someone to talk sports with, as most of my colleagues (we're talking adults here) seem to be primarily interested in Anime, comic books, RPGs, and movies. Those things are taken VERY seriously by those interested in them.

As far as the political knowledge of the average American, that's another topic entirely, and something that seems to me to be rather separate. Americans, on the average, are reasonably clueless about politics as opposed to their other interests. I will keep my vitriolic opinions about politics and the two-party system to myself, as I generally do.

With respect to celebrity status conferring gracious treatment in matters of the law, I totally agree with you. But it isn't only sports figures who enjoy special treatment, as one can see from the Paris Hilton debacle.

Morph

 

[maniactickler]

... is that people take them WAY too seriously. Sometimes I have a hard time with the fact that people can tell you almost any statistic about their sport of choice, but can't tell you who their US Senators are. I definitely have a hard time with people who would let their favorite sports star get away with just about anything if it meant he could keep playing.

Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoy playing and watching sports. But I think it's ridiculous that anytime two men enter into a discussion in a social setting, the topic is invariably -- sports. Can we just give it a rest? Like, for just a minute, and talk about something else?

I can agree with you. i keep somewhat up to date on important sporting events, but i do think its going a bit far when some people know what type of underwear a player wears. stats are overrated. just enjoy the game and have a few beers!

 

[Knox The Hatter]

I'm with Maniactickler on this one. While this ordinarily would be grounds for men in white suits coming to my house and removing me from the premises in a straitjacket, it's very sensible. You punch out of work, and you go home, and you turn on the ballgame, or you meet your friends at the corner, and watch the game over a beer or two. That's fine. That's pretty much the background I come from. I have very little to do with those who are given to walking around shirtless with painted chests, more devoted to getting on television than rooting their team home, or are obsessed by misleading and even meaningless statistics, and bore you to point of cutting your throat with bullshit about their fantasy team, or do this childish "mine's better than yours" idiocy. It's gotten old.

 

[SmarterthanU]

I'm with Maniactickler on this one. While this ordinarily would be grounds for men in white suits coming to my house and removing me from the premises in a straitjacket, it's very sensible. You punch out of work, and you go home, and you turn on the ballgame, or you meet your friends at the corner, and watch the game over a beer or two. That's fine. That's pretty much the background I come from. I have very little to do with those who are given to walking around shirtless with painted chests, more devoted to getting on television than rooting their team home, or are obsessed by misleading and even meaningless statistics, and bore you to point of cutting your throat with bullshit about their fantasy team, or do this childish "mine's better than yours" idiocy. It's gotten old.

That's great, but not really what I'm talking about. I'm talking about people who couldn't possibly miss the game on Sunday. People who look forward the "the game" all week and will be damned if they aren't going to watch it. And what's really funny about most of those people is that they have never had a set of shoulder pads on in their lives.

I'm saying -- get out and DO something! Participate! Play a sport you can PLAY. But for God's sake, give me a break with the endless sports-talk drivel. The WORST are people who are foaming-at-the-mouth fans/boosters of their old college teams. This is so widespread, it's like an American form of tribalism. It's just so incredibly pathetic.

 

[SmarterthanU]

But it isn't only sports figures who enjoy special treatment, as one can see from the Paris Hilton debacle.

Morph

Agreed. And the funny thing is, I can't figure out who supports this kind of special treatment. People clearly do. But it isn't the conservatives, and it isn't the liberals. There's this kind of American who equates any sort of fame with royalty. I don't get that at all. People who read tabloids and US and People and want to know about Tom and Katie and Jennifer vs. Angolena -- I mean, who gives a crap about any of that? Those people are just people. The fact that they get to play different versions of themselves in films for millions of dollars doesn't make them any different, to my mind, than anyone who wins the lottery. Same for sports. Sport has it's place. It's entertainment. But the importance our culture places on the outcome of a game is troubling. I think we pay too much attention. I would hope that we have better things to do, even though it seems like we don't.

 

[Knox The Hatter]

That's great, but not really what I'm talking about. I'm talking about people who couldn't possibly miss the game on Sunday. People who look forward the "the game" all week and will be damned if they aren't going to watch it. And what's really funny about most of those people is that they have never had a set of shoulder pads on in their lives.

I'm saying -- get out and DO something! Participate! Play a sport you can PLAY. But for God's sake, give me a break with the endless sports-talk drivel. The WORST are people who are foaming-at-the-mouth fans/boosters of their old college teams. This is so widespread, it's like an American form of tribalism. It's just so incredibly pathetic.

You are so right!