Alright . . . I’m getting ready to say something that will make all of the Average American Males out there refuse to ever read my blog again. But, since my readers are above average, I’m sure they can handle this.
Why on earth are so many people so animated about something so stupid as sports?! This post comes as a result of the “Yankees v. Red Sox” insanity that has been going on for the last few days.
First of all . . . Please don’t stereotype me as a female who doesn’t appreciate sports at all. On the contrary! I find great satisfaction in watching a good game of sports now and then. I also enjoy playing a wide range of sports. As a teenager, I won trophies playing basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball. I love sports – to a degree. My main point is that I believe sports consumes too much of America’s time and attention! Too many guys (and a lot of women too) are so entrenched in sports, it’s their life. Whenever their favorite team is on television, they’re glued to the TV. They skip church because of sports. They skip valuable one-on-one time with their spouse and children because of sports. They skip participating in other wonderful activities that would actually make them better people and contribute to the good of humanity, because of sports.
Don’t get me wrong – sports is fun. But that’s all it is. Sports has no significant positive impact on society, culture, or eternity. So why the heck are so many people wasting their lives on it?
There. Now I feel much better.
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7 comments:
Strong words, madam! I think the only exception I would take to your tirade is to use the word 'frivolous' or 'trivial' instead of 'stupid' in your second paragraph. (Stupid to me conveys a strong negative impression, on a par with bad, wicked, and evil, only not so far down the scale.) You make an excellent point about keeping things in perspective. People who allows sports to rule their life have their priorities sadly out of balance - but then, people who work too hard, drive fancy cars that they can't afford, or spend more time golfing than with their families also have their priorities out of balance. =)
~Rose
Um, yeah, and then I check all my friends' blogs and find out that they're really into this Yankee/Red Sox thing. I guess if they're TRUE friends then they'll still love me anyway.
Basically, you hit the nail on the head, Rose. What I tried to convey was that there's a lot of IMBALANCE when it comes to sports. Imbalance, in general, leads to nothing good.
A.K.
For the record, I do not skip church to watch my Seattle Seahawks play (I go to the early service).
I could be serious here, and while agreeing with the point on the need for balance, point out that (1) sports is a great activity that shows people digging deep and performing the extremely difficult in athletically heroic ways; and (2) that it is truly one of the few pure mainstream entertainment venues available (TV, Movies, most books, etc).
But I need to take a shower from playing basketball so that I can get to the sports bar and watch the baseball game.
The Boston - NY thing is huge because of the history. To put it in perspective for this area, imagine a playoff game between the Kings and the Lakers. Boston has historically lost, especially to NY. The supersticious blame the "curse of the bambino" (when Boston snubbed Babe Ruth) and this shows up in things like Bill Buckner missing that easily caught ball (I forget which game). I'm not a huge fan of baseball so it's not that big deal except that I have become an anti-Yankee fan after having to hear from the annoying fans living a mere 1.5 hours from NYC.
-Dan
Bill Buckner - Game 6, 1986 World Series. I saw it. It still makes me sick to my stomach to remember it.
Go Red Sox!
--DJ
Background first: I spent several years as a copy editor in the Sports department of a major metro paper; I've played fantasy sports in the past; currently, probably half the stuff I watch on TV is sports.
So you might suspect where I'm coming from in reaction.
That said, I'm aware of a world beyond the sporting life (moreso now than, say, 10 years ago). And my sports fanatism always had an abnormal path: I primarily like hockey and football, don't care for baseball (even right now, with the BoSox about to do the unthinkable) nor hoops; and in a lot of ways, the business side of all sports was were I really paid attention.
Sure, lots of people go overboard with their sports. But to me, it's no more obnoxious than the reality TV (or any TV genere) junky, or the mommybloggers, or any other obsessives out there. I'm sure you have hobbies and interests that you adore, but others might roll their eyes to and think, "How can you possibly waste any time on that?"
Sports provides a recognizable social outlet. It's an icebreaker; if you see someone wearing the cap of your favorite team, it's a nice way to make a connection, even if it's brief and inconsequential. It might seem like the worst kind of vicarious living, but being on the bandwagon during a winning season does generate a civic boost, just as much as any other (yes, other) area cultural event.
So anyway. I realize yours was primarily just a rant, so I won't hold you to it.
-CT
http://www.populationstatistic.com/
I will have to disagree with you when you say sports 'has no significant positive impact on soiety'. I would know first hand how sports can be idolized and tear apart a family, but I have also seen it's positive impact on society, and youth in particular. Sports activities play a very big part in keeping troubled youth off the street and in a healthy enviroment. Playing a sport teaches you to be organized with your time, dilgent(you can't be on the team if your grades are lower than a C in most schools), and it teaches you to work with a team. That is a concept that has to be carried through every day life.
Sports can also bring a parent figure into the life of a child who doesn't have one. I've watched my dad coach boys who don't have a father, and after he sits down and spends some quality time with them, you can see their attitude change. It's the same way for girls.
Other than that, I totally agree with you. I don't really like baseball. I enjoy football every now and then but thats about it. You and Kevin should come over for the next super bowl!!! See you on Wednesday.
-Ang
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