Why do people enjoy watching sports so much?

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   icykarma2122posted 12 years ago

   Why do people enjoy watching sports so much?
   
   I know the same question could be asked of those who enjoy writing or reading, but still, why? I like playing sports, but I just don't understand how you could just watch. Wouldn't you rather be doing it?

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   Kasey Reusserposted 12 years ago

   I'd rather play it than watch it for sure.  I really don't know how to describe why.  If a person doesn't get into watching sports, even my best explanation won't convince them to watch.  For me, I enjoy watching for the intrigue of certain matchups.  If both teams are good, it's fun watching what is known to be a good matchup.  Also, it's a chance to get away from the mundane as life can be sometimes.

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   plogan721posted 12 years ago

   Wishful doing, LOL.  Seriously, I really cannot answer for anyone else, but for me, I always wanted to be a gymnast.  I love the art of tumbling and being able to show the power behind balancing on a 4" inch beam 2 feet off the ground, or swinging on a flexible stick like the uneven bars, have all the fear knocked out of me as I wrap myself around that bar, letting go, and catch it at the very last second.  That is an adrenalin rush.  Unfortunately I cannot not, because I was born not to do that.  When I could not do that, I wanted to learn how to ice skate, but the fear of falling down did not thrill me when I fell down on roller skates.   I do watch college football, and the last I looked, Women are not allowed to play football.  I am not tall enough for women's basketball.  I could have taken up tennis.  I had fear of getting hit in baseball, and I did get hit in chest in an game of softball once.  So I sit to watch the sports I like, and do fitness stuff for everything else (I do ballet, tap, and jazz dance).  So long way around the answer would be for pure enjoyment, and the art of wishing.

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   CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years ago

   Is it not true that most people live their lives passively? Is it not true that television is the opiate of the masses? Is it not true that sports offer an escape from reality? Is it not true that people love to be entertained and some even live vicariously through others?

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      Kasey Reusserposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      People do live their lives passively.  The mass majority of Americans it seems are into fantasy world.  We don't want to deal with the reality of failures, so it's easy to fantasize about success rather than deal with failing.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Kasey...I think you are on to something there. :0)

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   BLACKANDGOLDJACKposted 12 years ago

   You can't play much golf in western Pennsylvania this time of year.
   
   The last time I played some serious basketball I fractured two ribs.
   
   So it's Guinness and football. Also, fantasy football is intellectually stimulating.
   
   My daughter played college soccer this fall, but that's over now. Last year in high school she played basketball too so I had plenty of games to watch in person. Of course if it's your kid, watching is a must.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The question is: will the "Steel Curtain" still make the playoffs after suffering a close loss to Dallas. Your thoughts?

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      BLACKANDGOLDJACKposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The Steelers win their next two games against the Bengals and Browns they are in the playoffs. I think they'll do it unless they turn the ball over like they did against the Cowboys at critical times.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well, the Bengals are fighting for a playoff spot as well, so it should be a tough game. Then again, the Browns are starting to play some good ball, too. Having said that, I do think the Steelers are better than both the Ohio teams. Good luck to you.

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   Old Empresarioposted 12 years ago

   I don't think they really do. Some people bet money and have fantasy pools, which makes sense to be interested. But the rest of it is a show for others. For some, it's a way of making friends. For others, it's a way of re-living their glory days of what might have been. Societies living in police states or restrictive governments and non-upwardly mobile societies are obsessed with sports far more than Americans. I guess it's all they have.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Who is more "obsessed" with sports than Americans? And, who idolizes the rich and famous more than Americans?

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      icykarma2122posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      When you ask who's more "obsessed" with sports than Americans, it's all relative. The rest of the world views soccer in the same we see football. True though in that I don't know of any other that idolizes the rich as much as we do.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Icy: Yes, the whole world loves soccer, but then again, so do Americans - along with their baseball, basketball, bowling, tennis, football, hockey, Nascar, MMA, and a host of other recreational sports.

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      icykarma2122posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It might interest you to know that baseball is bigger in Japan then it is in America. Just a side note.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      When you say, "baseball is bigger" in Japan, do you mean that it has more participants or that more people like to watch it?

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