Adam Mohrbacher
Reviewing the Arts
Spring 2009
Professional Sports: What’s the Deal?
When I was young baseball was my life. I lived for the weekly games on television, I wore baseball themed shirts and hats, even the pictures that I drew in my notebook were primarily centered on baseball players making plays in the field or blasting home runs over the fence. Many of my waking hours were devoted to this one single sport and I was an active participant of school and city baseball leagues for nearly a decade of my life. I remained enthralled with the sport until I entered high school and everything regarding my perception of this activity experienced a sharp and definitive transformation.
As I grew older my infatuation with the activity of watching and playing professional baseball began to dwindle. I developed the viewpoint that all professional sports were a simple fruitless distraction. I began to feel that individuals who were passionate about consistently watching and following the progress of their chosen team throughout each respective season were silly and stupid for being interested in such a worthless activity. This perspective is something that has been maintained and even strengthened to the present day. I believe that professional sports, and the money, time and sensationalism involved, is one of the most brainless, ego-centric, and overall greed-infested aspects of our society. This institution and the people who commit their own time, money, and efforts to it, are devoid of any real benefits to the human spirit.
However, upon closer inspection of the culture and practice of watching and following professional sports teams I begin to understand the how and why behind the unbridled joy and enthusiasm that many people possess. Watching sports plays into one of the most basic and primal human emotions which is the need to see conflict and the emotionally satisfying experience that can be attached to having “your side” win the “battle”. To some there is a certain dramatic quality to be found in sports. There is a quality which to some would be the equivalent of the drama found in a good book, play, or film. Sports also seems to be another arena were human beings can come together and share a common interest. There is a tradition of camaraderie and friendly rivalry that exists in these types of environments which is an extremely attractive quality for most people.
Essentially, sports serves as just another form of leisure and entertainment. Many of the reasons for why I find films, television, and novels so enjoyable are reasons that you could also apply for someone who is an passionate fan of professional sports. It is another form of entertainment which helps to being individuals together and promotes relaxation and lively discussion. I am simply a individual who fails to see the drama, the excitement, the passion, and the appeal of a tradition that has consumed so many.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_people_watch_sports
www.funadvice.com/q/sports_60538
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports
Although, we have opposite opinions on Professional Sports, you did a great job of possing both sides. Infact I think you held back a little and gave more information on how/why someone may like professional sports. Also I like how you stated in the beginning your life as a child was greatly involved in Baseball, and you had a change. Great review, even though I have passion for Professional sports I surprisingly enjoyed reading your post.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting read, but it could be better if you found significant or even humorous quotes in the links that you provide and integrate them into your review.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that you came full circle. This is an appealing review to both sports fans and those who find them a waste of time.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading the first couple paragraphs, I began forming arguements to counteract your opinion, and suddenly they were laid out in front of me in your words immediatly thereafter.
Posing both sides equally allows the reader to see them just as that - without feeling much loyalty to one side or the other. Very respectable, good work.
I'm going to agree with everybody here--I'm in a giving mood. Seriously, you do a good job working your way around the subject, and finding some common ground with the superfans, as Jessica, Nick, and Phil all noted.
ReplyDeleteBut I also think DeAndre is right in wishing for something a little more here. If note quotes, then, I don't know, something more detailed? Something that can be linked to? Or something more personal? For example, it's really not clear why your perspective began to change--was that triggered by anything? Or to take another angle, your alienation from sports is something that should resonate with a lot of folks here at Columbia--maybe you could say a little more about what being part of a kinda sports-hostile subculture is like? This review just needs a little more anchoring in actual experience, both yours and others'.