Since around the time I was a youngen, and could remember basic things, I have been a sports fan and fanatic. I started playing organized sports at the age of 10, all the way to my senior year. As a fan, I grew up on the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Oakland Raiders, and the Detroit Tigers. Any time I was able to watch these teams on tv I was almost overjoyed to have that viewing pleasure. In high school my emotional interest was at an all-time high by being able to watch my teams in their respective title games while consummating "uber" amounts of knowledge in NFL Football, where I knew just about anything you wanted to know about fantasy football. (NFL Sunday Ticket didn't help depress this interest any either.) But since my time after high school, after the last Buckeye title, and the dreadful performance of my beloved Oakland Raiders in the Super Bowl, I have found myself not nearly as immensed in sports.
I would assume you would wonder why this is so, and basically, there are a combination of factors at work here.
In no particular order:
1) I never play organized sports anymore, which is something I did in high school where I was a 3-sport athlete for Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Not being directly involved in the sports has somewhat lessened my interest for what I once knew so well.
2) Sports are covered by the media 24/7, and to me the amount of coverage sports topics get is insane. Granted it's ESPN's job to cover sports and all, but do they need 5 different shows to have everyone state their differing opinions? Seriously if my professional job was to gather information about sports all the time I could give some damn good opinions. In fact, I can give damn good opinions now, and I would probaly have more credibility than Skip "Clue"less. It seems as if 99% of time is spent talking about games, and 1% is actually the game itself. Essentially this has led me to watch much less ESPN and any other sports coverage to avoid burnout... but I digress.
3) I no longer live and die with my sports, because I have come to realize I use sports as a form of entertainment and simple recreation. It is now not usually a complete personal connection like it once was for me. I believe this realization came to fruition when I started officiating. Seeing some of the antics I have seen, and still see in sports, it makes me really wonder about the possibilities that could be created. If people were as passionate as they are in sports, maybe they would have better relationships, do more for humanity, or at least make more positive contributions to society. These feelings have increasingly developed as I "grow up" and realize what is really important. Proof that sports are just a game can be found in the sad story of Sean Taylor. It really puts things in perspective.
4) Fans sometimes become overly obsessed with sports and will sometimes resort to violence or dumb, illegal activities, and to me this is just stupid. However, this is not one of the bigger reasons for my "desensitization," rather just some seasoning to the dish.
Although I am sure I can come up with more reasons, I will stop with four for now. I'm sure there are others who have similar feelings as I, however, I'm also sure many feel a lot differently. Just thought I'd let you all know how I feel.
So, am I saying I no longer like sports and they have o interest to me? No, not at all. I still watch all my favorite sports teams very faithfully and enjoy the moments I am able to view my teams. Hell, I was almost crying when the Tigers made it to the World Series last year, and that was passion I never knew I had. I'm guessing that's what the Browns fans will feel when their team (if ever) gets to the Super Bowl. Yeah, I was a little disappointed in Ohio State's performance last year in both football and basketball, and of course saddened by the Tigers series loss in the World Series, but at the end of the day it was all "just a game."
I would assume you would wonder why this is so, and basically, there are a combination of factors at work here.
In no particular order:
1) I never play organized sports anymore, which is something I did in high school where I was a 3-sport athlete for Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Not being directly involved in the sports has somewhat lessened my interest for what I once knew so well.
2) Sports are covered by the media 24/7, and to me the amount of coverage sports topics get is insane. Granted it's ESPN's job to cover sports and all, but do they need 5 different shows to have everyone state their differing opinions? Seriously if my professional job was to gather information about sports all the time I could give some damn good opinions. In fact, I can give damn good opinions now, and I would probaly have more credibility than Skip "Clue"less. It seems as if 99% of time is spent talking about games, and 1% is actually the game itself. Essentially this has led me to watch much less ESPN and any other sports coverage to avoid burnout... but I digress.
3) I no longer live and die with my sports, because I have come to realize I use sports as a form of entertainment and simple recreation. It is now not usually a complete personal connection like it once was for me. I believe this realization came to fruition when I started officiating. Seeing some of the antics I have seen, and still see in sports, it makes me really wonder about the possibilities that could be created. If people were as passionate as they are in sports, maybe they would have better relationships, do more for humanity, or at least make more positive contributions to society. These feelings have increasingly developed as I "grow up" and realize what is really important. Proof that sports are just a game can be found in the sad story of Sean Taylor. It really puts things in perspective.
4) Fans sometimes become overly obsessed with sports and will sometimes resort to violence or dumb, illegal activities, and to me this is just stupid. However, this is not one of the bigger reasons for my "desensitization," rather just some seasoning to the dish.
Although I am sure I can come up with more reasons, I will stop with four for now. I'm sure there are others who have similar feelings as I, however, I'm also sure many feel a lot differently. Just thought I'd let you all know how I feel.
So, am I saying I no longer like sports and they have o interest to me? No, not at all. I still watch all my favorite sports teams very faithfully and enjoy the moments I am able to view my teams. Hell, I was almost crying when the Tigers made it to the World Series last year, and that was passion I never knew I had. I'm guessing that's what the Browns fans will feel when their team (if ever) gets to the Super Bowl. Yeah, I was a little disappointed in Ohio State's performance last year in both football and basketball, and of course saddened by the Tigers series loss in the World Series, but at the end of the day it was all "just a game."
On the flip side, sports can be an incredible tool. Look at the two men from Ireland (their names escape me) who bring together the Protestant and Catholics (a rivalry that would put OSU-UM to shame) in the form of youth basketball. Sports can save a kids life when it is in a downward spiral, and offer the opportunity of education to a student how is in a financially poor family. It can be a release from the everyday life, see: First game in the Super Dome since Katrina. And sports can be so much more...
So sports fans, know the importance, but keep it all in perspective. Keep taking pride in your teams, be respectful, and never forget the games are played with "child-like" simplicity. I strive to make sports a more positive experience every day, and I hope that never changes.
