Tue 23 Oct 2007 @21:09
I’ve never been a sports nut. Maybe that’s why I don’t get it.
Some people can’t stand to watch a recorded game if they know the final score before they see the game.
I don’t watch a lot of sports to begin with. But either it’s a good game or it’s not. And since I’m not a sports nut, I rarely care much which side wins. Sure, it’s more entertaining when the sides are evenly matched — or if the underdog rises above expectations to make it an even match. Sure, well-officiated games are less frustrating.
But I’ll read good books more than once. I’ll watch good movies [and some not-so-good ones sometimes] more than once. I’ll listen to favorite songs over and over and over. Repetition in those forms of entertainment can enhance the experience. We can find nuances that we miss the first time through.
Sports professionals watch opponent’s games more than once to plan strategy. But the fans rarely watch more than once for any reason. More than that, they won’t watch once if they know the outcome first.
But wait — I kinda get that. There’s a tension — anticipation — in not knowing. Tension builds energy. I can see how that adds to their enjoyment. I get that. But those same people, the ones who won’t watch the game if they know the final score, those people will watch an instant replay of a part of that game repeatedly. And I hate to break it to them, but it’s gonna turn out the same way every time. They’ll even watch the highlights, which are typically those same replayed scenes, on the nightly news. And it’s gonna turn out the same way every time.
So is it some form of attention deficit? They won’t watch a game if they know the final score. But they’ll watch 30 seconds of the game several times. From different angles. In slow motion. In reverse. Computer enhanced. Hours or days later. Even though they know….
I don’t get it.
October 23rd, 2007 at 22:49
OH Tim Tim Tim….you definitely are NOT a sports fan or you wouldn’t be asking such questions.
I love sports, football, in particular, and I watch and rewatch games and plays, etc all the time. I’ll even go to the game in person - experience it at the stadium - and then come home only to watch it on TiVo!! 
I love it. I can’t speak for others, but one of the reasons I watch it after I’ve already seen it in person is to hear what the announcers are having to say about my team. They never give us enough credit.
One of the reasons I rarely watch sports on TV is because the announcers. Are they all idiots or do they think the audience is? [or both] ~Tim
October 24th, 2007 at 17:13
Tim:
I’m not sure if this always rings true, but I think having played a game in one’s life makes watching it more enjoyable. As kid, I played a lot of softball (girls didn’t play baseball then, they do now). I grew up loving professional baseball. Still do. I don’t care for football, most likely because I have no personal knowlege of what it feels like to play it.
To this day, my husband will yell at me from the other room while he’s watching baseball, “Hey, Lisa, come watch this play.” It’s usually an infeild catch or double play or something. He knows I’ll always get a charge out of it. But I don’t get the type of obsessive stuff you’re talking about either.
You may have a point there. I played a little basketball when I was young [I sucked at it] and I still like to watch basketball occasionally. [I remember when it was a team sport....] On the other hand, I like watching tennis on TV. But I play racquetball, not tennis. ~Tim
October 26th, 2007 at 17:03
Since I’m not a fan of watching sports on TV, I can completely relate to this:) Ted won’t record any games b/c he likes the “live” aspect of it (even if he doesn’t know the score).
Watching sports live and in person is a better experience. If only I didn’t hate crowds…. ~Tim