Well, I feel a little better. My intention was not to bash the game, I understand that these guys are supreme athletes, But I just wanted to make sure that I was not missing some gene that made me go coconuts over the sport. For what it is worth, most of the guys that I know who live for football , were never athletes and did not play, for some reason, they just become infatuated with the game. My neighbor, Jon, would set down the firehose that was putting out his house once the game came on on Sunday.
Hell, I even enjoyed the occasional pick up game in the nieghborhood when I was young

Never played sports. I thought I watched a football game once, turns out it was just a scene from Forrest Gump.

Fred,

I watch about .5 to 1.5 games a year and feel the same way about football. Too boot I used to be a football coach when younger to the kids, but just not my cup of tea these days.

Joe A

I played sports growing up, even got a chance and was able to play some collegiate lacrosse. I really have a hard time wasting my time watching others participate in life.

I played football from the time I was 7 until graduation from high school.
If you don't like it that's fine, but don't put it down. It teaches discipline, hard work, competition, and teamwork. It is not only a game for strength, it is a game for the thinking man similar to chess. It's not for the dumb or weak.
The best lesson it teaches is that if you want to be good at something you have to work for it, earn it. The harder you work the better the reward.

Obviously there are too many people in our society that never learned that lesson.

No to all sports except for F1. I have never been a fan of any of them. I am glad that I am not alone.

Ian

I wouldn't watch any game on tv unless I had money on it. The last pro football games I've gone to were because I got free tix from a friend who was playing for the Jets, and that was around '96.

Same here - I never watch sports and the sports pages go unread in the paper.

George

I don't care much for sports. I've occasionally watched some olympics, and I like motorsports. I don't even watch motorsports that much.

Pro sports really are an "opiate of the masses". Especially today in the modern era of free agency, the "rivalries" are really quite stupid.

That said, it's fun to watch. I enjoy watching a good football game (on Tivo, so I can FF through all the commercials, which are more than half of the time slot). I enjoy baseball for the strategy - it really is a game where testosterone and athleticism is only a small part of the equation. MLB has pretty much ruined the game at the "pro" level however... I much more enjoy watching a pick-up game or a good AA game.

Basketball? Bleah. Used to like it (and play it). Now it's just thug-ball. Hockey? Not really interested. Soccer? Boring.

I don't really watch much on television anyway - occasionally it's fun to take in a pro sports game as described above, but not to sit there for three hours watching a 60-minute game of little consequence.

I agree with Sammyg2 - there is a lot to learn by playing sports while growing up. However, I lived in the dorm while going to college. The football players were required to live in the dorm for the first 2 years. Their idea of a good time on Friday nights was to wander around with baseball bats, threaten anyone that moved, and rip out all the bathroom fixtures. You can have your football - I'll never watch those clowns.

Playing sports is a whole different story. Watching other people play - no thanks.

George

I am not a big fan- but I attribute that to the fact that I grew up in England. Never was a big football (soccer) or rugby fan, but at least they keep going- whereas in American Football they keep stopping. I guess the only sports that get my attention involve wheels- though having said that, I'd go out of my way to watch an F1 race, but Nascar doesn't interest me at all!

Football is the only sport i follow closely.

Yup. That's why my wife and I encourage our kids to play sports, there are excellent life lessons that can be learned from them. Contrary to modern belief there are winners and losers in life, you don't get a trophy for participation. Winning in sports has many parallels to winning in life, though sports are certainly not the only way to learn.

Personally I don't care much about the NFL, but I do follow college football closely. College is still pure enough to appeal to me. I also like baseball, college basketball, and anything involving 4 wheels and a track that doesn't look like an oval.;) Unless the track is dirt, then you'll get my attention. My son and I spend a lot of quality time watching sprint cars at the local dirt track.

playing/creating is different than watching/consuming. I am wholeheartedly for the former, but the latter, when done in exclusion of the former, is somewhat pointless and is part of what is wrong with the world today. Passive consumption doesn't rock.

I played almost every sport when I was a kid, some at fairly high levels (never pro though). I get all the positives. I also see the negatives, especially today. When I watch professional sports these days I see plenty of talent and precious little sportsmanship. Spoiled brats and criminals being coddled because they bring in TV dollars to run around isn't something I feel compelled to support.

I do however enjoy watching an occasional game, and I especially understand how kids who play sports want/need to watch their "heros." Just like if you want to make music or art you should go see it and experience it so you can be informed/inspired.

Lets not generalize, Todd. There are spoiled brats and criminals like this guy to consider. Charles Woodson Foundation -

There are still some decent people in sports - I don't deny that. I have less of a problem with the players than with the fans.

I don't give a crap about any of the pro sports. Or the Olympics. The only one that has even the vaguest interest for me is biathlon--two actually useful skills combined into one event. Even so I don't care enough about it to follow or watch.

My preference is to study traditional Japanese/Okinawan martial arts and to hone my shooting skills.

Pro sports
 

Yeah Ferd, I'm with you, don't care about any pro sports here in the USA. Love F1, workin on and drivin my 73 911 MFI Coupe & my Kids soccer.

Really hate the NBA and the stupid "KINGS" hered in Sacramento, wish they'd hurry up and move to Vagas.

Steve