Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Sports fans are less prone to depression than non-fans, according to new research. In order to read about it at the New York Times, though, you have to make it through this opening paragraph:
You probably think rabid sports fans are a bunch of lonely, disoriented souls who try to fill the holes in their lives by attaching themselves to a team. And you’re probably wrong.
Sometimes I wonder why the New York Times -- covering one of the most vibrant sports markets in the world -- is so bad at sports writing. Perhaps the disdain for us "rabid" sports fans is part of the reason. More than that, actually, it's that these writers apparently are surrounded by so many like-minded folks that this allegation -- and its bold claim regarding probability -- went straight from the keyboard to the printing press without giving anyone pause. So, so weird.
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May '10
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
"You probably think Obama is God. But you'd be wrong. Technically he isn't God...."
Aug '10
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Wow! It's strange to see sports fans described in a manner I'm only used to seeing the press use when referring to my regular gaming group.You'd probably think that journalists at the New York Times don't get out much. That they don't understand mainstream sports culture, or the benefits of regular social events like table top gaming groups. You'd be right.
Dec '11
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Cultural elitism has made it seemingly impossible for people in certain geographies to understand the diversity that is inherent in our country. The poor (and I mean really, really poor) families in Appalachia may not like us city-folk. But they have been fairly consistent in treating city-folk with the same respect that they get from the city-folk.
Dec '12
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Most people, I've found, are at least somewhat involved in sports. I'm not at all surprised that those interested are less likely to be lonely than those who aren't. The New York Times article is definitely targeted toward a certain minority demographic.
Personally, I couldn't care less about sports, and I despise any activity that involves mass vocal participation. At least I know I'm in the minority.
Edited on March 10, 2013 at 12:36amJul '12
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
The writing in the Times, near as I can see (which is not very, as I keep my distance), is unimpressive nowadays. Dull news stories and features designed to make the writer look cool, both iced with a deep butterfat coating of PC. Bleah.
Anyway, other sports fans may be cheerful, but not us Mets fans.
Dec '11
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
For once in my life, I agree with the NYT. Sports fans are a gregarious group, indeed, and have a real need to interact and analyze the stats with their peers.
I also have complained for years that the NYT has basically abdicated covering the greatest sports market in the world. The true irony is that the 2-4 pages it deigns to devote to sports highlight some of the most intuitive and gifted writing you'll find in journalism today.
After all, even Arthur Sulzberger finds it difficult to politicize Derek Jeter!
Oct '10
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
"You probably think NY Times readers are a bunch of lonely, disoriented souls who try to fill the holes in their lives by attaching themselves to a failed philosophy. And you’re right. Hell, we should know."
Sep '10
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.:
...
Sometimes I wonder why theNew York Times... is so bad at sports writing.
...
More than that, actually, it's that these writers apparently are surrounded by so many like-minded folks that this allegation -- and its bold claim regarding probability -- went straight from the keyboard to the printing press without giving anyone pause.
You could replace the word sports with almost any other topic and the statements would still be true. For example,
It works equal well with economics, business, foreign affairs. Can anyone think of a topic that doesn't work there? Cooking, maybe?
Edited on March 10, 2013 at 12:28amDec '11
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Mar '11
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Reading that I cannot help but laugh. Some people wear their heart on their sleeve, for others it is apparently their disdain.
There is nothing so pitiable as those who are only able to elevate themselves by dragging down others.
Dec '11
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Roberto
Some people wear their heart on their sleeve...
Yep!
Jul '10
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Some people root for a team because a player they follow plays for them. Others support whatever team is easiest to get behind (what happened to all those people I knew in high school with Miami Hurricanes sportswear?!).
Still others do it out of civic, state, or regional pride. This is rarer now than it once was, because sports teams don't always reflect the culture of the cities they call home.
Here in Indy, our football team and (after a long layoff) basketball team reflect the city. This is, frankly, more important to us than winning, though our teams resumed that practice this past year.
At their best, sports are a conduit for channeling how you feel about your community. At their worst, they are a vehicle for expression of condescension or even hate.
Sports fans cannot be judged as a group anymore than any two people that love their country (or community). One may be a nationalist, the other patriotic. The difference? One loves his/her country because it's better than others, the other loves it because it is worthy of loving.
The same is true in sports and it is easy to spot the difference.
Edited on March 10, 2013 at 3:48amMay '10
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
(1) Go Cards! The Cubs suck. And run, Don Denkinger - run, you cur ... run!
(2) CHIEFS! CHIEFS! Chiefs-Chiefs-Chiefs! May John Elway rot for eternity. And as for the Raiders, their games are proof positive that you can buy football tickets with food stamps.
Well, it's back to the basement with me. Now, where did I put all my Phish bootlegs? "MOM!! I'LL BE DOWNSTAIRS! PAY THE GUY EIGHT BUCKS WHEN HE BRINGS MY BEEF CHOW MEIN!"
Jun '10
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Matthew Gilley: (1) Go Cards! The Cubs suck. And run, Don Denkinger - run, you cur ... run!
(2) CHIEFS! CHIEFS! Chiefs-Chiefs-Chiefs! May John Elway rot for eternity. And as for the Raiders, their games are proof positive that you can buy football tickets with food stamps.
Well, it's back to the basement with me. Now, where did I put all my Phish bootlegs? "MOM!! I'LL BE DOWNSTAIRS! PAY THE GUY EIGHT BUCKS WHEN HE BRINGS MY BEEF CHOW MEIN!" · 6 minutes ago
Matthew has it right, only the wrong NFL team: the correct team would be the Broncos.
Can a sports fan take it too far? Sure, but then you can take stamp collecting too far.
However, I'll take the average sports fan's position on any issue over the rarefied opinion held by that tiny piece of the culture that gets all its news and opinions from the NYT. Talk about a bunch of "lonely, disoriented souls."
Oct '12
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
I'm deep in the nerdy worlds of science and technology and dabble in the arts, while the wife is fully engaged in the arts and has never even played or watched a sport or even had a gym class.
I think sports were an important part of my development. It's important for a young man to give it his all out on a field and sometimes fail. It's important to know that if he makes a block or misses a block, there is another young man on the other side of the field under the same pressure to do the same against him. This is a metaphor for life and why "fairness" and "equality" is not how the world ultimately works.
I said young men and meant that. Women benefit from this, too, but I think men are much more damaged in life when they do not learn these lessons.
But I couldn't care less about fan-dom. This is the time of the year I dread most: when people get obsessed with some sort of deathly boring collegiate ball-bouncing competition.
Apr '12
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
Yes, because if you are reading a story about sports, you probably think that sports fans are lonely, disoriented and pitiful. That makes all kinds of sense.
Dec '11
Re: Like Sports? How Pathetic Are You?
tabula rasa
Can a sports fan take it too far? Sure, but then you can take stamp collecting too far.
Priceless observation. :))