I don't get sports.

[Skeletor]

I've always seen professional sports as a sad and terrible waste of money and time. We pay millions for the privilege of watching grown men play with a ball. Think of the public good that money could do, or the people with useful jobs who can't make ends meet. During this pandemic isn't a janitor worth more than a steroid pumped meathead who can bounce a ball really well?

 

[Tom]

 

[oregano]

^Yeah, but the flip side was that they became so used to bread and circuses that eventually the consumers outnumbered the providers, and finally the circuses stopped and so did the bread. Eventually the can becomes impossible to kick down the road any longer.

 

[AGXStarseed]

I've always seen professional sports as a sad and terrible waste of money and time. We pay millions for the privilege of watching grown men play with a ball. Think of the public good that money could do, or the people with useful jobs who can't make ends meet. During this pandemic isn't a janitor worth more than a steroid pumped meathead who can bounce a ball really well?

I thought the same a long time ago, but to be honest I think I was looking at it wrong. I think the reason sports tend to get such support from most people is because it speaks to our primal instinct to compete with one another, which is an instinct that is present in all life from childhood (where you see two kids fighting each other with sticks) to adulthood; just look at males of any species when it comes to getting mates or territory - they'll duke it out with everything they can as the rewards can mean everything.
In sport, we put a lot of emphasis on winning the trophies, cups, titles and breaking records, etc. because it gives us a goal to strive towards and a motivation to become better - both personally and more than anyone before. It's the competitive spirit that inspires us to be all we can be and to go beyond our limits, whether that's on our own or as a team - especially as it gives the people who live in the same county/country a 'hero/heroes' to root for.

On the other side, it's entertaining for many to watch - regardless of whether you're watching two people give it their all in a ring, drivers pushing loud and ridiculously machinery that has no earthly reason to exist to its limits or footballers working as a team to outmatch their opponents; it's cathartic and a nice release that provides a break from real life with all its stresses and hang-ups.

While there will always be people who don't like it (many of us included), you can't deny the impact of exercising our primal instinct to compete in a way that millions (if not billions) can enjoy the world over.

 

[FreeDiver]

I thought the same a long time ago, but to be honest I think I was looking at it wrong. I think the reason sports tend to get such support from most people is because it speaks to our primal instinct to compete with one another, which is an instinct that is present in all life from childhood (where you see two kids fighting each other with sticks) to adulthood; just look at males of any species when it comes to getting mates or territory - they'll duke it out with everything they can as the rewards can mean everything.
In sport, we put a lot of emphasis on winning the trophies, cups, titles and breaking records, etc. because it gives us a goal to strive towards and a motivation to become better - both personally and more than anyone before. It's the competitive spirit that inspires us to be all we can be and to go beyond our limits, whether that's on our own or as a team - especially as it gives the people who live in the same county/country a 'hero/heroes' to root for.

On the other side, it's entertaining for many to watch - regardless of whether you're watching two people give it their all in a ring, drivers pushing loud and ridiculously machinery that has no earthly reason to exist to its limits or footballers working as a team to outmatch their opponents; it's cathartic and a nice release that provides a break from real life with all its stresses and hang-ups.

While there will always be people who don't like it (many of us included), you can't deny the impact of exercising our primal instinct to compete in a way that millions (if not billions) can enjoy the world over.

You know another reason why pro-sports is so popular is the fact that it is a "Safe-subject". What to I mean by "Safe-subject"? It means that is something people can talk about that doesn't involve politics or religion.

 

[MyLifeAsAnAspie]

I think that there is a social/emotional aspect that is hard for us to embrace. I don't understand how people emotionally attach themselves to paid performers, but that's the attraction I see in spectator sports. I understand it more as the fans have more connection to the athletes. In increasing order Olympics/college/high-school/friends/family members. I can certainly understand how emotional display in a large social group is enjoyable/cathartic. I just don't feel it with pro-sports.

 

[Trophonius]

I enjoy playing in a sport. Watch other people do so, not so much.

 

[VictorR]

Some great points raised by everyone.

For some, it is a way to live vicariously. Especially for those who have troubles in their own life, but in their sporting team or athlete of choice can see hope and victories that they can cherish.

 

[Fino]

I agree!

 

[WildCat]

This isn't the first time this subject came up. I wonder what the response to this would be if "sports" was replaced with "anime". Bread and circuses indeed.

 

[Progster]

It's certainly true that sport appeals to people's competitive nature, but with spectator sports, there is another aspect: it's social grouping, belonging to a tribe that appeals to people. People have a natural tendency or instinct to want to band together and supporting a football (soccer) team is a mechanism which facilitates this - it gives people a sense of identity and belonging. Due to people's competitive nature, this naturally leads to a 'them v us' spirit. If sports didn't exist, they'd soon find something else by which to group together, and there are plenty of other ways in which people can unite or divide.

And wherever you get a mass audience, you get mass commercialisation. Football clubs are businesses and it's all about advertising and profit. Sports are a product to be consumed and top players are a an investment, and clubs are willing to pay so much for a player because they calculate that they will get so much return from that investment.

 

[Giraffes]

I have a dislike not so much for sport but the vast amount of money they earn, i know not all sports but some, i'm in the 'they kick a ball' camp, and my perspective is some industries eg. hospitality and the care sector are underpaid and undevalued by society unless there's a pandamic and as a society we give praise and thanks for individuals in those jobs!!!!!!!, partly prehaps as releif that they are not putting their physical and mental health at risk, i enjoy sport but as a 'doing' not 'viewing activity.
Might i add 'reality shows' eg. 'Love island' to this catagory.

 

[SusanLR]

Sports is an odd thing to me.
I don't care about spectator sports except for two: Tennis and Horse races.
There is something about the horses that are just exciting.
I live close to Tampa Bay Downs and the sensation of standing at the rail with the gate right in front
of me just gives me goosebumps when "...and they're off!"
It's not the betting. I bet very little when I go.

Tennis was introduced to me as a sport that I learned and participated in.
It definitely brings out the competative spirit.
It's the only one that does.
I played with a group of seniors that got angry at me and told me they just played for the fun.
No competition. I said I was there to win.
Why would you want to play any game if you don't want to win?

So I guess there are different reasons people are attracted to certain sports.
The social group thing is part of it for most people.

This horse was called Summer with Susan. Had to bet on it and it won!

 

[unperson]

If they didn't have their sport, they'd be more violent. Gives them an outlet for their aggression and competitiveness.

 

[Gracey]

I wouldn't fancy the angry young people with a belly full of hate out on the streets causing myther.

It would cost less to train them into a boxing ring, track events, rappers, mma fighters and so on; whereby they could earn their own income,
than it would to put them through the legal system and incarcerate them.

Gotta sublimate all of that fire and energy somewhere right?

I don't think we as a species are programmed to exists in neat, square boxes in isolation and subject to suffocating social expectations.

If we roamed the streets in tribes, fighting over resources we'd be labelled a gang and likely arrested many times over by those in authority.
Unless there's a zombie apocalypse and we could get all Walking Dead on their asses

Let the tribes compete on the pitches, courts, tracks and in arenas. Keeps it off the streets and provides some sort of rules to live by and purpose to aspire to.

 

[Skeletor]

Wow this generated more attention than I anticipated and I don't have time to read all the replies now. On the bread and circuses though I will say I'm American, and what we call football is about as close to gladatorial combat as is legally allowed.

 

[Skeletor]

^Yeah, but the flip side was that they became so used to bread and circuses that eventually the consumers outnumbered the providers, and finally the circuses stopped and so did the bread. Eventually the can becomes impossible to kick down the road any longer.

This thread isn't about socalism. However my ideal society is one that is non competative, non violent, and where the people are mutually supportive of each other. Some have observed that sports is the opposite of this. Interesting.

 

[AGXStarseed]

This thread isn't about socalism. However my ideal society is one that is non competative, non violent, and where the people are mutually supportive of each other. Some have observed that sports is the opposite of this. Interesting.

Makes me think a bit of the future in Demolition Man.

 

[clg114]

I think that there is a social/emotional aspect that is hard for us to embrace. I don't understand how people emotionally attach themselves to paid performers, but that's the attraction I see in spectator sports. I understand it more as the fans have more connection to the athletes. In increasing order Olympics/college/high-school/friends/family members. I can certainly understand how emotional display in a large social group is enjoyable/cathartic. I just don't feel it with pro-sports.

I agree 100%, except for football of course.

 

[Skeletor]

Some great points raised by everyone.

For some, it is a way to live vicariously. Especially for those who have troubles in their own life, but in their sporting team or athlete of choice can see hope and victories that they can cherish.

To this I have always said that it's meaningless because you yourself achieved nothing. You didn't win that trophy, in fact ten guys who wouldn't want anything to do with me if they knew me did.