Superbowl

[magid]

Superbowl Sunday always reminds me how skewed I am from an "average" American (not that I'd like to be average, thank you very much). There's no traffic outside, except the buses, and I suspect the bus drivers are all cursing their luck for having a shift then, too.

I have never understood why so many people are so devoted to the intracacies of team sports they don't even play (OK, some people likely played these sports in school. Why don't they follow their school's teams, then?). They know the most arcane rules, and statistics of all obscure sorts, and spend otherwise-useful chunks of time watching teams compete (People choosing to watch TV rather than lead their own lives, as it were.). The Superbowl is somehow the epitome of this, a sport that's not even pretty to watch (Yeah, I'm apparently supposed to like watching guys' butts. But all I see are men selected for being built like large bricks running into each other. Not appealing.). There are huge celebrations when a team wins, downcast faces (and other, more violent, things happen, too) when they lose. I feel like I'm missing some sports gene: why does anyone care that much? You already know at the beginning of the event that one or the other team will win; even with movies it's not as clear what the ending will be (well, barring romantic comedies, and some Disney flicks). Even when it is, the journey there is unusual, or thought-provoking. Team sports aren't even that pretty to watch. I suppose if I knew all the statistics, then someone making some statistically unlikely play would be more impressive, but absent all that, it's not an aesthetic experience like, say, dance, or gymnastics, or even swimming.

Last night I made popovers, answered email, refreshed my friends page far too many times. And I was satisfied with my evening.

(I am so sure I'm going to reread this tomorrow and want to edit it. Not focused enough now to write as perfect an essay-thing as I'd prefer, but if I didn't write anything, it would go wandering away...)

Comments

[missdimple.livejournal.com]

Being married to a sports lover (and being a semi-converted sports interested being) gives me a unique? perspective on things. I know that he enjoys having an understanding of the behind-the-scenes dynamics of sports. Not only can he tell you the team most likely to win, but he can tell you if there is history between the two coaches, the strengths and weaknesses of the teams, and.... So, maybe some people aren't just watching the game, but are piecing together this information like a true-life soap opera or are living vicariously or even admire the skill and focus it takes to make sports their main job. We sometimes tie up a lot of our life enjoyment in things that connect us with our childhood. Maybe for some people it's all about memories. Spending time with a parent, spending time with friends...

Possibly your post was rhetorical. *shrug* :)

[magid.livejournal.com]

a true-life soap opera
I guess this is where I use LJ... far more interesting to me to see the glimpses of the inside of people's minds, especially people I know.

living vicariously
And this is where I use fiction. Something about reading words makes things stay with me longer than images, too.

or even admire the skill and focus it takes to make sports their main job
And this is where I'm jaded, I think. I assume that to a certain extent, it's a function of genes. Yeah, a tall guy won't necessarily be good at basketball, but he has a much better chance, if he works at it, than a short guy. And there are a lot of compensations to making sports into a job, too.

Thanks for explaining, though; I really do find it hard to grok.