Sunday Scribblings - 2/15/09

Sports

I have had an up-down relationship with sports. Until I was ten, I didn't care for them at all and didn't pay them the least bit of attention. But one day in gym class, we played floor hockey. For some reason, that interested me, so I started getting into hockey. Not playing hockey, but watching it. In middle school, I was known as the kid who liked hockey. It was practically my life.

By the time I got to high school, I started liking other sports too. I was the sports editor for our school paper, so I attended all sorts of games. I was practically the only student at the water polo games and swim meets who wasn't related to or friends with one of the swimmers. I think I saw a little of everything except for golf and cross country.

Sometime in college, I fell out of love with most sports. I attended some football and basketball games, and track meets, but not as much in my last two years at the University of Oregon. Sports were not a priority for me anymore.

Today, that is still the case. I watch the occasional Oregon Duck football game on TV, but if I miss one, it's not a big deal. I don't even watch hockey as much as I used to. Occasionally, my dad and I will go to UO basketball games or to the local junior hockey games. We don't go to the football games, and even if we did I'd rather watch them at home because it's difficult for me to see what's going on when everyone else is standing. The hockey and basketball games are fun, though. You get the whole experience.

I do sometimes feel uncomfortable being a non-sports fan in a society that worships sports, but mostly I don't worry. I believe that sports are fun to watch, but not the most important thing in life. It's just a game, you know? If there's something I'd rather be doing, I can let the games be.

Now, having said all that, here are my thoughts on some sports:

Hockey - My favorite sport. I'm a huge Detroit Redwings fan, but I really don't care much about most of the other teams. I was more connected to hockey in my younger days. I think I was destined to be a hockey fan because I have two distant relatives who played in the NHL.

Basketball - It can be entertaining at times, but too many dunks make for a boring time. I do like the element of drama you get in basketball. There's nothing more thrilling than that last-second three-pointer to win the game.

Football - not really a fan. Too little action for me. Plays usually don't last too long. It just bores me to death.

Baseball - Another boring sport. There are too many home runs now. I do, however, appreciate the romance and history of the game. You don't get that with today's MLB cheaters, but players and teams of the past are fascinating. I like all the rituals of the game. I just don't like watching it.

Track and field - I like nearly everything except for the long distances. Track meets are fun. You get to see a variety of events happening at the same time. If you don't like what you're seeing, look at one of the other events.

I'm also fascinated by some of the winter sports. Skiing is kind of cool, especially ski jumping. Luge is crazy. Figure skating, though, isn't much of a sport.

Another fun sport is lacrosse. It's like a weird mix between soccer and hockey.

Those are my thoughts on sports. I may not be a huge fan, but I do have some appreciation.