I have a question for older DUers about losing interest in sports

[floridaguy]

I recently seem to be losing interest in sports. Now, I grew up playing every sport imaginable. I'm also a University of Florida grad, BA/JD, and I will always cheer for Gator teams. That's just how it is. When I'm 80, I can imagine myself dressing in orange and blue from head to toe to attend any Gator sporting event, or at least I hope so.

But I'm talking like I don't care so much for Monday Night Football anymore. When I was younger, that was like having Christmas every Monday for about 15 weeks. Part of it, is the damn truck and SUV commercials. I have a hard time stomaching them. Also, professional sports has always had a somewhat symbiotic relationship with the military and the government, which bothers me more now.

I'm 43, and I'm wondering if this maybe something that many men go through. Sorry DU women. This is in no way meant to be sexist, but since the boy's club only opened up sports a few years ago, it seems this would apply mostly to men, but I might be surprised.

:think:

[nedlogg]

1. Like everything else in life . . .

the more you do something, the less important it becomes.

[mhr]

2. Yes - I Followed Sports Avidly When Young - At 47, I Could Care Less

For me, I have come to understand how much of a diversion sports truly is. As my days on this earth dwindle, I find myself wanting to spend time on things that matter most to me. Diversions, like sports, don't fit that category anymore.

[Not_Giving_Up]

3. I was raised on football, baseball, and NASCAR....

and I'm female.

I hardly watch football anymore, watched my Astros nearly make it this year, and never miss a NASCAR race. I got severely ticked at MNF when they added Dennis Miller...he had no place in the booth. I know that he's not there anymore, but there's just a bad taste in my mouth from that.

[morningglory]

4. Since my husband quit drinking, he has lost all interest in

sports except boxing. I have started to enjoy baseball very much, and keep him up to date on some of my favorite players and when there is a good game, I get him to come watch the re-plays of the very good plays--or tape them for him, and he watches a few games with me, as I can tell him a little about each player. But during a baseball game, you can walk outside, read a book, cook supper, and have a lot of conversation, as it is all so dang slow. Also, we do not cancel any social events for a ball game, we video tape them sometimes then we can watch at our leisure without all the adv's and fast forward through some spots. Edited to add that he has become nutty about extreme fighting. (He is a bookworm who wouldn't hurt a flea, for the life of me I can't see why anyone would watch that stuff, but he calls me when Butterbean is fighting. Now that is a show!)

[XNASA]

5. You're not alone.

I like sports and was a good athlete when I was younger. I used to throw MNF parties and attend Super Bowl parties and head down to the pub and watch baseball in the Summer.

But no more. I really don't like to waste my time in that way.

I like to shoot baskets and toss a ball around. But televised sports, especially professional sports, turn me off.

[The empressof all]

6. I wonder if that happens with music and sex also (nt)

[morningglory]

7. Hay-ull no!

[catmandu57]

8. Well, ya know, you grow, you change

I still watch sports but, at 47 they just aren't as important anymore, on monday nights it's more important to go to bed than staying up to watch football.
It's normal, don't worry about it.

[gnofg]

9. boring

I like you watched every sport. I used to love basketball but it is so boring now I can't watch it. I sometimes watch some of the other games . I watch maybe one game of football a year and have skipped the superbowl lately. I still watch the second week of the playoffs in football beecause the teams are trying to win vs. not trying to lose and I watch some of the baseball playoffs but all in all I would rather be doing something than sitting and watching. Time is more valuble now.

[joeybee12]

10. Jane Wyman said--I'm too old to be happy, but I am very grateful...

...it's a very wise comment about how your perception changes as you age.

An example, a few years ago if the Red Sox had won it all, I would have been jumping up and down. Now, it took a while for it to sink in. I'm happy, but the enthusiasm just isn't there any more. Yeah, it's more that I'm grateful that they won.

[mseang]

11. I am 38 and I feel the same way...

I believe it is more than just out growing sports. We saw a lot of turmoil in our lifetimes in the world of sports. When I was young I loved baseball. I watched every game I could and not just the teams I liked. I could tell you the starting line-up of every National League team. After the second strike, I began to lose interest and when they ruined the World Series, I gave up completely. I never watch anymore.

I began following the NBA during the Magic/Bird years, but I believe Michael Jordan and his superstar persona ruined everything that Magic/Bird built for the NBA. When Jordan came along, the individual was placed before the team and even the league. While the league grew enormously in popularity while Michael played, his success was detrimental to the future of the league. The NBA placed all of their eggs in the Jordan basket and have yet to find anyone to fill this void. The riot/fight/brawl last weekend was just the tip of the iceberg and maybe even the beginning of a dark period in the NBA.

I won't even mention the incredible ticket prices and how they have priced the true fan right out of the business.

I have lived in Germany without any American TV for four months now and I can honestly say, I have not missed sports at all.

[pmbryant]

12. I used to be addicted; now I don't pay attention any more

The transition began about the time I was 24 or 25 and was complete by the time I was 30 or so.

I grew up addicted to every sport imaginable: baseball, football, college basketball, hockey, etc etc. I lost interest one by one. Baseball was the last to go, but even that seems to have gone now. I haven't paid close attention for several years now.

I don't miss it.

Peter

[bif]

13. Just turned 50 and hardly ever watch sports anymore

If a Detroiit team manages to make the playoffs, I'll watch. But that's about it. You're not alone. Seems like a huge waste of time to me.

[sandnsea]

14. My husband seems to have

His is boxing and football. He still watches, but it's no big deal if he misses something. He's alot quicker to turn off a boring game or fight and turn on an interesting lecture series or something. I think it's something about becoming comfortable with your manhood... :shrug:

[Richardo]

15. 48 here. and you're not alone.

All sports seem so staged and artificial now, especially on the pro level. They're playing for money, not sport, and that taints everything. Some comedian said we're all just cheering for uniforms now, and that's sadly true. I miss the years where a pro team had an identity based on its long-time veterans.

Today's pro championships are like fake boobs: If all it takes is money, why should I be impressed?

[blindpig]

16. its called maturity

something discouraged in our culture(bad for sales). Spectator sports are what they've always been, bread & circuses.

[Rambis]

17. I could give a rats ass now

This election and the * years have made me realize sports are really not important at all. My college team has a ton of ultra conservative idiot fans. Mike fuckin Tice gave a jersey to that POS so the Vikes are tainted now which really pisses me off. I used to watch Viking games with two repugs and I have made up excuses for 8 weeks now why I won't come over. This week I am telling them the Vikes are dead to me now. The Cubs well....No sport holds the same allure as it did before this nightmare started.

[frylock]

18. wow - - i'm glad to see i'm not the only one..

I just turned 39, and I find myself less interested in sports every year. I still watch the Padres, and the Chargers when they are on TV, but I haven't watched one Laker game all season, and they are the most favored of all my favorite teams.

I couldn't give a gnat's ass about MNF or Sunday night football on ESPN anymore. Conversely, I watch my roomate engrossed in ANY game that's being televised. He'll probably watch that Miami-San Fran matchup, jumping around and getting worked up over some receiver getting clocked. I had to ask him to STFU a few weeks ago when the Bears were playing the Niners. Every two minutes he's asking me "did you see that?" Dude.. I DON'T FUGGIN CARE!!!!

[flvegan]

19. I'm 33 and hate televised sports

Nothing against those that love it. I can understand it. I used to. I played baseball and basketball as a kid. I come from the Boston area. I grew up on Yaz and Pudge, and Zimmer was the coach. Terry O'Reilly was my fave Bruin. Bird was untouchable. Now, even with a Cup winning hockey team and a Super Bowl winning football team, I could care less. I might watch the X Games, but that's about it.

Part of it for me, is that I see a lot of greed. Being a pro isn't easy, and only a select few make it. It turns my stomach to see folks fighting over wanting $8 million MORE than they were making.

I'd also rather BE active than watch others be active. I understand the draw, but I'd rather be on my Gary Fisher out in the woods than watching the tv.

[Pegleg Thd]

21. I lost all interest in sports

when I quit playing 48 years ago...

[leftofthedial]

20. I was a multi-sport jock through my twenties

I still play softball, but with much less passion

I have always been a huge baseball fan and rabidly followed my local team. My decision to stop doing that was based on two main factors: I refuse to put money in the pockets of arrogant repuke assholes, and the team (owners and management) aggressively sucks.

I used to love basketball, both as a player and as a fan. About ten years ago, I lost all interest in the NBA. It has become a stupid, ultimately brutal game, played primarily by unbelievably egocentric thugs.

Perhaps these are rationalizations for some natural aging process.

??

[floridaguy]

22. Thank you, thank you, & thank you, etc.

I'm glad others have had some of the same experiences and thoughts.
Now except for the NASCAR fan, I pretty much agree with the comments. I'm not judging the commenter, I just have strong feelings about auto racing.

Personally, I think auto racing is a huge waste of fossil fuels, and worse than that it perpetuates the American idolatry of cars and TRUCKS! My brother called me this Sunday from Homestead Motor Speedway, so I could hear the roar of the cars going down the straightaway. I love my brother, and I'm glad he has something he enjoys, but I'd much prefer he took up something healthy like cycling.

I guess like someone said about how this country has lost it's f*cking mind is a little more important than sports, and perhaps that has a lot to do with my lack of interest.

Thanks again for the interesting comments.

[Hand]

23. Don't believe a word of it...

The fact is that you're doomed. Doomed.
:evilgrin:

[floridaguy]

24. Doomed?

Oh no, did you say doomed?
Am I really doomed? :silly:

[Hand]

25. Yep...

Doomed.
:evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[Laelth]

26. I was a geek in HS.

Still am a geek, really, but that's another story. ;)

Still, I remember being very enthusiastic about sports in both HS and college. Supporting the HS football team was cathartic. It was a bonding ritual for me and my peers, a way of finding our "place" in the world through the development of a very typical "us vs. them" mentality. Young men are often taught to find identity through opposition and conflict. I knew "who I was" because I could define "who I was not." I re-utilized this identity-creating mechanism when I went to college. Plus, it became important to know something about sports for purely social reasons. Being stuck in a dorm with a bunch of people you don't know and who come from a variety of different backgrounds, there's just not a whole lot to talk about. I learned very quickly that if I wanted to be able to live and communicate with these people, I would have to become involved in and follow the workings of the sports world. So I did.

Nothing has changed, really. Now I come to DU and talk about politics with other Democrats. We know we're Democrats because we're not Republicans, or Libertarians, or Communists, or whatever. It's all about identity, and we still use the same, basic mechanism for creating identity. The only real difference is that now we use something other than sports to define ourselves. No wonder, then, that sports aren't that important to us anymore.

just my 2 cents ...

-Laelth