My country pretty much lives hockey, so people don’t even ask whether you watch, it’s assumed you do, so they’ll ask stuff like “that match yesterday was awesome, right?” or directly reference something that happened in said match and then look at you like their mind can’t comprehend someone doesn’t watch hockey.
Same reason some people are into watching video games, talent shows or even actors.
There’s loads of interest to be found in spectating a skilled display of any activity if you truly engage with it IMO.
I sometimes watch sports I’ve barely got a grasp of the rules for just out of fascination. GAA hurling is the most recent one I can recall getting sucked into for an afternoon.
i think there’s some sports that are a bit acquired tastes, like I don’t think the skill is immediately apparent the first time watching soccer, it’s “just people running around”. The strategy, technique etc is not immediately apparent. As opposed to like skateboard tricks or dry tooling/ice climbing competitions, which also have depth but are impressive without any prior knowledge, imo.
For me personally, it’s the fan aspect I don’t get. What’s the point of projecting the us vs. them mentality on some team, “we won”, and foflowing a team almost religiously, even building ones own identity around it, at least in part. In general, getting so emotionally invested in it, i don’t understand. And it seems to mostly be a team sport thing.
Team sport fandom traditionally trends with locality. You grow up with going to the local football stadium on the weekend as one of the options for how you spend your time. Your mates have the same choices, so even if you never pick it, you’re gonna hear about it at the very least
If you spend your time with a team, you get to know the players (which is kinda parasocial in most instances, ngl) and in many cases watch them grow over the years into incredible athletes.
Naturally, people end up proud of the people they support, doing well. It’s part of the human condition
It’s fun seeing someone do something with Incredible skill /or great athleticism. Doesn’t need to be sport per se performance art like acrobatics or artistry e.g. Bob Ross have similar aspects.
Some sports I like to watch I have personally partaken in, in that way I can more appreciate the skill needed by the professionals.
Some sports I don’t know at all but I like to figure out the rules by watching and discovering what makes a great play (American Football is in that category for me).
I can watch sports I don’t play. Like football(both American type and what we call soccer), MMA(although I haven’t watched anything in years), basketball(but only NCAA), hockey, the occasional baseball game. I’ll make an exception for boxing and tennis, those are watchable even when I was deep into them. But golf‽ How does anyone watch that? I get walking the greens, and hitting it every few minutes yourself, but watching someone else just seems so boring.
Watching sports. Playing them, I get. Watching? Never cared for it.
Why do we have to have massive stadiums everywhere ?
Pay for your hobby yourself.
There are dozens of us!
My country pretty much lives hockey, so people don’t even ask whether you watch, it’s assumed you do, so they’ll ask stuff like “that match yesterday was awesome, right?” or directly reference something that happened in said match and then look at you like their mind can’t comprehend someone doesn’t watch hockey.
Conan O’Brien taught me how to deal with this situation decades ago.
Just say, “yeah, it was a real nailbiter!” that should buy you enough time to run away.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=msN7HNncHik&t=130s&pp=2AGCAZACAQ%3D%3D
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
Same reason some people are into watching video games, talent shows or even actors.
There’s loads of interest to be found in spectating a skilled display of any activity if you truly engage with it IMO.
I sometimes watch sports I’ve barely got a grasp of the rules for just out of fascination. GAA hurling is the most recent one I can recall getting sucked into for an afternoon.
i think there’s some sports that are a bit acquired tastes, like I don’t think the skill is immediately apparent the first time watching soccer, it’s “just people running around”. The strategy, technique etc is not immediately apparent. As opposed to like skateboard tricks or dry tooling/ice climbing competitions, which also have depth but are impressive without any prior knowledge, imo.
For me personally, it’s the fan aspect I don’t get. What’s the point of projecting the us vs. them mentality on some team, “we won”, and foflowing a team almost religiously, even building ones own identity around it, at least in part. In general, getting so emotionally invested in it, i don’t understand. And it seems to mostly be a team sport thing.
Hopefully I can illuminate
Team sport fandom traditionally trends with locality. You grow up with going to the local football stadium on the weekend as one of the options for how you spend your time. Your mates have the same choices, so even if you never pick it, you’re gonna hear about it at the very least
If you spend your time with a team, you get to know the players (which is kinda parasocial in most instances, ngl) and in many cases watch them grow over the years into incredible athletes.
Naturally, people end up proud of the people they support, doing well. It’s part of the human condition
I feel like this except for gymnastics, rythmic gymnastics, ice skating/dancing. Those are so entertaining.
Especially beyond the local level
It’s fun seeing someone do something with Incredible skill /or great athleticism. Doesn’t need to be sport per se performance art like acrobatics or artistry e.g. Bob Ross have similar aspects.
Some sports I like to watch I have personally partaken in, in that way I can more appreciate the skill needed by the professionals.
Some sports I don’t know at all but I like to figure out the rules by watching and discovering what makes a great play (American Football is in that category for me).
I can watch sports I don’t play. Like football(both American type and what we call soccer), MMA(although I haven’t watched anything in years), basketball(but only NCAA), hockey, the occasional baseball game. I’ll make an exception for boxing and tennis, those are watchable even when I was deep into them. But golf‽ How does anyone watch that? I get walking the greens, and hitting it every few minutes yourself, but watching someone else just seems so boring.