[ritehook]

Is sports watching and fandom a kind of sickness?

About two decades ago a youngish (late 20s) couple I knew bought a home and to help with the mortgage rented a bedroom to a friend who also worked at the same big company as did they.

This guy, around 15 or 20 years older than they, was divorced and paying both alimony and child support.

Broke. So what he did was to watch sports, in all his leisure time.

Any kind of sports. The big American ones, to be sure, but also hockey, soccer, auto racing, tennis, golf, you name it.

My friend once said to me, "Tony would watch tiddley-winks if he could." And this friend was also a football and baseball fan himself, so he wasn't mocking all sports watching.

Are you a Tony? How many sports do you follow - avidly? By "avidly" I mean a game a week or more during that sport's season?

If it's more than 3 or 4 is it maybe time you got a (a) girlfriend, or (b) hobby, or (c) gym membership, or (d) a life?
Or (e) all of the above.

[ritehook]

For me, I'm avid about both college and NFL football. Also college hoops, tho I usually have time to watch only on weekends. And I bet colhoops pretty heavy at Tournament Time, light or not at all during season.

It's not coincidental that those are also the only things I bet on, other than an occasional horse race, like the Derby and BC.

I don't watch bases, tho I may catch the World Series, or some of it. Ditto NBA, tho I'll look in at the Championship - don't want to miss something like the one that took place two seasons ago.

Boxing a little, if it's a decent championship bout and NOT pay-per-view. So, very little fisticuffs.

Olympic type sports I'll watch on occasion - like every four years.

The others may as well be on the other side of the galaxy,.

[jjgold]

horses
nba
ncaab
nfl
ncaaf
tennis
golf
mlb

[hoopster42]

i love basketball the most, the nba in particular, but all sports are fun to follow

[forex]

Its a business to an extent. I don't think I would watch regular sports games if I didn't have a financial interest in it.

[ritehook]

If its a sickness, I dont wanna get better! - Louisville Kid

That's funny. The spirit of the dearly departed Tony lives on! And likely will forevermore.
__________________

[rugbybdyb]

I love all sports, avidley follow football college and pro, basketball, baseball, any rugby I can find and love auto racing and golf as well. I do have a wife, a gym membership, and a job so I guess the sports are my life.

[ritehook]

Its a business to an extent. I don't think I would watch regular sports games if I didn't have a financial interest in it.

I understand that, if you're doing arbitrage, spending a lot of time scanning lines at multiple books, looking to scalp a percent here and there.

I don't think most scalpers are actually watching the games. They don't have time.

And watching for handicapping purposes, OK. But even in the sparse football games it's impossible (barring one conference specialization) to see even a fraction of the games played that one may wager on.

[forex]

I understand that, if you're doing arbitrage, spending a lot of time scanning lines at multiple books, looking to scalp a percent here and there.

I don't think most scalpers are actually watching the games. They don't have time.

And watching for handicapping purposes, OK. But even in the sparse football games it's impossible (barring one conference specialization) to see even a fraction of the games played that one may wager on.

Yeah and thats why I usually only watch the game that I have the most money on. But I don't think people are constantly on the watch to scalp a half point. It's not like daytrading. But on games that are running at the same time I watch the scoreboard on the computer.

[hoopster42]

if you need to have a bet on a game to enjoy the game, then youre not really a huge sports fan, but more of an action fan. you need action, and eventually might need some help as well because it leads to problems

[forex]

I dont find much entertainment in watching a game. I'd much rather play a game than watch it. Thats why I don't feel the need to watch something that doesn't either make me laugh or make me money. I just have a business outlook on things. After all sports is one of the biggest businesses among demographics U50. I also find it pretty stupid celebrating a win as if I had actually participated in it.

"we win we win, no they win you watched"

[MBENZ]

if you need to have a bet on a game to enjoy the game, then youre not really a huge sports fan, but more of an action fan. you need action, and eventually might need some help as well because it leads to problems

Thats a very astute observation,betting on tv games has led more than one down the shithole.

[Kellen]

Baseball and Football are my most watched sports. I only watch NBA when it is on espn or tnt. I never watch college basketball unless I go to a clemson home game. I get the Extra innings package for baseball and watch every game I can. I'll watch 4 or 5 games at a time usually every night.

[Shark79]

The order is how much is my interest:

- Soccer
- NFL
- NBA

And Im now getting hooked on NCAAB

[forex]

soccer rocks it is way underrated.

[thezbar]

Horses/ for the most part the full year. I have goals involving contests that require staying on top of thing.
Football/ college more so than pros. Espn game plan is a must.
Basketball/ March Madness can create a hermit for a couple of weekends. Pros I take in small doses.
Baseball/ Play season totals, and playoffs. the regular season is too much for me to stomach on a daily basis.
Golf/ I like the majors
Tennis/Sometimes but only the women's side.

[RageWizard]

I follow the NFL and Pro cycling pretty heavily, other than that nothing