A Conversation for Talking Point: The World of Sport
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FordsTowel Started conversation Jul 17, 2009
Any honest opinion I share here would not likely be well received, so I'll be a little less than 100% honest.
Is sport an uplifting, edifying experience that inspires and thrills the populace? Or is it a major distraction, like TV in general, an 'opiate for the masses'?
- Sport itself is great, when one participates. I don't much see the sense in sports as a spectator event unless one is related to (family, friends, co-workers, etc.), and supports, particular players.
Are you a cricket fan? (Don't you just loveTest Match Special?1) Or is cricket a completely mystifying, utterly boring sport?
- Same answer, really; playing would be fun, watching just boring.
Do you actually play cricket yourself? Do you play for a local club? Have you any tall tales to tell of your towering sporting prowess (or not, as the case may be)?
- Not suprisingly, I don't have much in the way of sports tales that I believe would be of interest.
Is golf a game for bloated, snobbish, middle-aged corporate execs played out on water-sapping, environmentally suspect courses? Or is it a game infused with a pure, egalitarian Scottish spirit played out on rugged, natural links courses, man and nature in concert with each other?
- Mind bogglingly dull and boring to watch, but I can understand it being an enjoyable passtime. I guess I do have as tale of prowess here. My first time at a practice tee, after hitting a few, I asked my more experience companion what I should be using as a target. He responded that there was no target, this was just to practice driving the ball.
- I said, 'But isn't there normally a hole or a flag you're aiming for? What's the point of practicing if you don't aim for something? He said, 'Ok, then. Aim for that sign that says 250.'
- I hit the sign on my first try, realized what an unrepeatable fluke it was and handed him the rest of my golf balls. 'Guess I don't need the practice', I said. 'I think I'll get something cold to drink.'
- He really wanted me to continue, but I knew I couldn't afford to get addicted if it turned out I was actually good at it and liked it; so I never hit another golf ball.
Do you play golf? Are you a member somewhere? If you don't play, what puts you off about the game?
- Oops, just answered these as well.
Are you looking forward to the 2012 Olympic Games in Britain? Will it be good for the soul of the nation?
- Not really. There are a couple of sports that are entertainment based, rather than power or endurance based, but I only watch them if they happen to be on the telly.
Are you one of those that come the end of the football season you're sat there marking off the days in your calendar till the new season starts? Or has football lost all interest for you?
- Erm,... no and yeah, unless I'm in the game. I'm not going to spend money to watch someone else have all the fun!
Do you think competitive sports are a good thing in schools or do they unfairly marginalise the non-sporty?
- Both, really, if they're part of a fitness program. Beats repetitive exercises for those with the coordination. They can be a way to learn teamwork and fair play; but, unfortunately, they normally teack exclusion, cheating, and create prima donnas.
What other sports float your boat? Er, canoeing for example? Rugby? Darts? table tennis?
- Are all of those really sports? Some are certainly skill oriented, but not all skills reach the level of 'sport' by current definitions.
- Of course, you could extend the definition (as in days gone by) to include things like bird watching, pranking, vandalism, bar hopping, metal detecting, astronomy, and the like.
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FordsTowel Posted Jul 18, 2009
Thanks so much for the note!
I would hate to disappoint. I only wish I'd used a spell-check!!
'passtime'? 'teack'? etc.
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