Sports and Life:
Sports are beloved worldwide. From the poorest country to the richest.
In each nation-you have super fans from all social levels. The guys and gals whose only splurge in life is their tailgate party.
The rich super-fans in their skybox seemingly above the fray, but high-fiving, and fist-bumping just like the hoi polloi-during a big play.
The homeless staring at the same big game on the TV screen in the store window-forgetting their problems. The game crowding out the weird voices in their head- for just a few moments sanity returns.
The Science of Sport:
We could review the social science literature and try to understand people’s fascination with sport.
- Is it an inner drive to be a tribe member?
- Is it a way to participate in violence that is socially acceptable?
- Is it an outlet for our competitive spirits re-imagined from our efforts in primitive times when we competed for food?
Who really cares why we enjoy games?
It’s a sign of our advanced economy that we spend millions studying ourselves.
Many of those living in Africa and Central America spend every waking hour trying to feed their family. They aren’t worried about why they enjoy spending a few minutes every week cheering for their favorite footballers….
Sports and stress:
Why not just enjoy a few moments of relief from everyday stress. A relief from the drip, drip, drip of bad financial news. The chirp, chirp, chirp of the politicians constant yammering.
Can we take our sports release and relaxation a bit too far?
- Is wanting to be buried in your team colors too much?
- Is buying stock ownership shares in your favorite team too much?
- Is buying cheap bobble-head of your favorite player and then putting it on your desk at work too much?
- Is naming your child after your favorite player, or decorating the babies room in team colors too much?
Sports and competition is a safe way to escape from the drudgery of everyday life- letting off a little steam. Escaping for a few hours each weekend can be a small price to pay to keep our sanity.
On the other hand, sometimes your favorite sports team can drive you completely nutso-Cub fans come quickly to mind…..(The Braves current crashing and burning has me a little edgy…..)
Good luck to you and your favorite team.
Reader Question:
What say you? Are sports out of control in your life or the life of the one you love?
{photo credit: Muhammad c.c.}
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Tags: does sports play too big a part in American culture, sports and stress, sports and your life, sports money and life
Sports are a great stress reliever and, as you say, we can forget our problems for a little whle. I think sports for kids are a good way for them to learn to keep trying even when it’s difficult. That’s a good life lesson. Teamwork is a good lesson also. Hopefull some good sportsmanship is learned also, though parents can subvert that. I don’t think we’ll be seeing sports disappear no matter what.
I agree sports won’t disappear. Parents can indeed make a fun thing miserable-great point.
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