# Who cares if you hate sports? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 9, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841 "2004-12-09T00:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/81 "2004-12-10T03:13:05Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Modern American sports were created by the media. They could have picked something else to populate your mind and you would have fallen for it. Britney Spears and other pop acts are a very apt analogy. Television starts off with idea that they think might work and they run with it. The shear exposure seduces those who are especially vulnerable. I, for one, am happy that you rose above it and became a better person than the rest of us pedestrian scum. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/82 "2004-12-10T03:16:47Z")
**SNec** may have missed the whole point of my post, but he’s sort of correct in “pro sports” having been around for a while. Reading about the _Factions of the Hippodrome_ as told by Gibbon can show how incredibly ugly organized sports was more than 1000 years ago. And how there are many disturbing parallels today - in fact, one would have hoped the battles between the Blues and the Greens would have been a warning of things to come. Yes there was no TV then, but the Hippodrome mania was extremely well-publicized by the means of the time, and was the sort of thing that absorbed the people to the point of them focusing on little else but, taking control of their cultural lives, their work, and finally even corrupting their morals so they went on to commit murder, or worse. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/83 "2004-12-10T03:21:14Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > It’s pro sports I have a problem with, because it’s pro sports that’s shoved down our throats (mine anyway–cultural differences here), it’s pro sports that hijacks my favorite shows, it’s pro sports that takes up ten minutes of news a night. **YES!!!** Exactly! I have boycotted the local news for a long while (and have no reason to lift the boycott) because I simply reached my saturation point. If the local news wants 10 (or sometimes more) minutes of sports—if that’s what everyone else enjoys—bully for them. Really. But it’s not for me, and I’m not watching it. I check the online local paper if I need to catch up on the local news. I used to really get irritated by the zealotry, but less so now. I just don’t look. Don’t look at the local news, try to ignore the other signs of obsession I see around me (I heard on the news, some years ago, that a some local fans were _seeking therapy_ because the team lost some Big Game or whatever). No, I’m not making that up. I don’t believe for a second that all sports fans are that loopy—or even remotely close to it—but I don’t need to know about the ones who are over the bend. Anyway, not knowing, not hearing about it, makes me so much happier. They can be as zealous as they want, fine with me. If it’s something they enjoy, they should enjoy it. But it’s nothing to me, so I don’t need to hear about it. ---
**Author:** ![stegon66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/84 "2004-12-10T04:27:30Z")
> [@](#): > > The truth is, they’re just Soap Operas for men. Folks get into THE PLAYERS and THE TEAMS, not so much the sport itself-- that’s just background drama. This is true and it is especially evident with “professional wrestling” and NASCAR fans. Shit, you can’t throw a rock in my town without hitting someone with a “3” on ‘em somewhere. (Hell, the husband of a co-worker actually took several days off from work because he was so upset when ol’ Dale got his ticket punched.) Sports I play: poker (pretty good record with home games), pool (meh, haven’t played in awhile - used to do okay), bowling (on a league, average of 145 - yeah, I know…) ---
**Author:** ![stegon66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/85 "2004-12-10T04:31:03Z")
> [@](#): > > (I heard on the news, some years ago, that a some local fans were seeking therapy because the team lost some Big Game or whatever) Like I said: > [@](#): > > Hell, the husband of a co-worker actually took several days off from work because he was so upset when ol’ Dale got his ticket punched. True damn story. Of course, he’s a hick :wally ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/86 "2004-12-10T05:12:33Z")
One thing I do not like about sports is when they penetrate too deeply into society at large. “Three strikes and you’re out” is perfect for baseball. As a mandatory sentencing policy? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/87 "2004-12-10T05:27:00Z")
I know you were going for home run with that point, but it’s clearly from out in left field. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/88 "2004-12-10T07:28:19Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Well, what’s the figurative meaning of " I’m so sorry those guys forced you to read their threads."? I don’t think it’s in my Encyclopedia of Tropes. buh? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/89 "2004-12-10T19:30:28Z")
Thanks **cricetus** for not wanting to jack up my thread on sports… it was considerate of you but hardly necessary. After all, this is the pit. 🙂 I’ve got to run and won’t be able to get back on until after the weekend… but I so want to get back to you on this… 😃 Have a good weekend! ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/90 "2004-12-10T19:40:23Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > buh? Bunt? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/91 "2004-12-10T20:23:49Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I think that one of the things I like the most about sports is that it’s the only thing on TV in which the ending is not scripted or predetermined Really? I have a good inside source that says the Packers _WILL_ beat the Vickings Christmas Eve. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/92 "2004-12-10T21:03:13Z")
> [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > Really? > > I have a good inside source that says the Packers _WILL_ beat the Vickings Christmas Eve. That “inside source” wouldn’t happen to come in a bottle, would it? :dubious: What’s Favre’s record in domes again? Isn’t he like 2 and 53 or something. He’s always good for at least two picks in Metrodome. 🆒 Nice job against the Eagles, by the way. Do you know why they pulled McNabb in the 3rd quarter? His arm was tired. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/93 "2004-12-10T21:35:21Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Admitting to skipping of the business pages is a very sad admission on your part. Those business decisions have a direct influence on government policy and your investment portfolio (although it doesn’t sound like you have one or even care). I have a 401(k), thank you very much. And I read my quarterly statement front to back (so far a very depressing tale). But as I have no control over the individual stocks that comprise it (merely the stock/bond ratio), it’s not very relevant or useful for me to know what each one is up to. And I don’t recall being behind the curve on any major business story of the past five years that actually affected policy or myself personally. So, I don’t think my decision to skip the inside pages of the biz section has hurt me. As for modern American sports being created by the media, I disagree, since we’re not talking about things like the steroid scandal or the Kobe trial, but rather just the fact that professional athletic competitions are shown on TV and get prominent play in newspapers and newscasts. Media started covering sports because that’s what people were into. And the sportscast is still tucked into the last 10 minutes of the newscast and makes no appearance whatesoever in national news programs. Many people like to believe that “the media” gathers in some room and decides what will be popular. I’m not saying that never happens (see the Kobe trial and, well, any trial) but most of the time, the media covers something because people want it covered. That’s just smart business and good responsiveness. Of course, I think all of local news, from the top story to the sensational investigative piece to the human interest fluff piece to the sports to the weather is all a bunch of crap. **Una** , I know there was more to your post than that. I just thought the comparison was invalid, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/94 "2004-12-10T22:24:15Z")
> [@SNenc](#): > > **Una** , I know there was more to your post than that. I just thought the comparison was invalid, that’s all. I apologize if I misunderstood you. Since you only mentioned that one point I,m afraid that I likely drew the wrong conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/95 "2004-12-10T23:08:31Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > I loathe sport (why is it sports in the US but sport in ummmmm other places yet Americans do math while the ummmm others have maths? …sorry for that random thought). Don’t strain yourself thinking too hard. You’ll end up in hospital. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/96 "2004-12-11T02:45:41Z")
Overall I don’t care too much for sports, but in the last couple years I have discovered that I really enjoy watching boxing, especially the lesser-known boxers that are not famous. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/97 "2004-12-11T02:47:49Z")
> [@](#): > > especially the lesser-known boxers that are not famous. Ok I admit that was a little bit redundant. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/98 "2004-12-14T22:37:58Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I thought it was rather obvious what she was saying. **RickJay** has some ‘splainin’ to do. No, it wasn’t. She quite specifically said that she disliked sports interefering with her favourite TV shows even though she never watched TV. That’s… nuts. The NEW version of the story isn’t, and makes more sense. But the fact that a completely different person has apparenty assumed her identity is. And this is the Pit, so get over it. **Shagnasty,** I would dispute the notion that modern American sports were created by the media. Baseball predates mass media and was a well established recreational activity long before it was played professionally, and hockey was much the same in Canada. Football was a college sport; basketball, of course, was invented so men would have a non-violent sport to play at the Y. (Someone should remind Ron Artest.) Pro sports as an organization was made to make money, but actually, many of the sports have RESISTED media exposure, stuck in the paradigm that the only way to make money was to play to a live audience. For years, Major League Baseball did not wants its game broadcast on the radio or TV, and resisted every possible change that would make it easier for people to see games on the tube. Only pro football has always embraced the media, which is why it’s now the #1 sport. I certainly am not going to tell you that the media doesn’t hype sports up beyond any sort of reasonable level. But the media didn’t create them; most of the big sports came along before the media picked them up. The major sports have a real basis in common recreational practice and in our culture. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/99 "2004-12-15T03:53:59Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > What does race have to do with your opening chess move? Because one night in Bangkok makes the tough guys tumble. There’s not much between despair and ecstasy. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/100 "2004-12-15T08:54:45Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > None of these were firends. They were all strangers or casual aquaintences. That is my point. One was during a job interview and I felt I had to fake interest and knowledge to have a chance at the job. I didn’t get it so I guess I didn’t do well enough. I guess I should have run around the room with my arms spread out talking about the flight characteristics of the Enola Gay. You should have gone with the aviation angle, more than one boss has surprised me , either by showing up at an airshow , or nit picking something I mentioned regarding Tac/Air. Declan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841.md?page=4)