What's the best way to go about getting into sports?

[Paul DeLouisiana]

FOT sports fans I need your help. I feel like EVERYONE watches and enjoys sports except me. But I want to so bad and I know it is possible. I always get excited when I see cool sports plays so I know it is possible. I also think it would be cool to know alot about stats and characteristics. I like to nerd out and talk music and I always get jealous when others talk about sports like that. Also how much do you guys watch? Games are like 3 hours right? How do y'all log the time? I was told to start with local teams and work out from there.

[cavorting with nudists]

Paul, I can't tell you how many women have gotten a dreamy look in their eyes when I told them I neither knew anything nor gave a damn about sports.

[jbissell]

This NBA season would've been a great time to jump in, even if it was just for the playoffs. There's still time to check out the rest of the Finals.

[Paul DeLouisiana]

Paul, I can't tell you how many women have gotten a dreamy look in their eyes when I told them I neither knew anything nor gave a damn about sports.

I think you're right. I've never had this happen though. But the more I think about it I think my time is successfully full without sports. I tried to read a little about the Phillies just now and I can't EVER see myself caring about that. The admin can delete this thread, I was obviously on a flight of fancy.

[break]

C'mon, you can do it.  Maybe watch "Big Fan" and use that as a template. 

[Christina]

I save my dreamy look for guys that don't play video games.

[Paul DeLouisiana]

I save my dreamy look for guys that don't play video games.

That's the only time when I don't feel any remorse for making an asshole comment.

Guy my age: "So do you play (usually the new POV war game)?"
Me: "No, I'm an adult."

[Christina]

I save my dreamy look for guys that don't play video games.

That's the only time when I don't feel any remorse for making an asshole comment.

Guy my age: "So do you play (usually the new POV war game)?"
Me: "No, I'm an adult."

Ha - yeah, well, I don't really have a problem with guys who like/watch/follow sports, like you said, it can be super exciting even if you're not familiar with the game or the teams or whatever.

Any time I've had an issue with a sports guy it's been something like: saying "we" when talking about the team he watches, getting aggressive toward others (this'd be in public) when the game is close or it's a late season game and there's a lot riding on it. Add beer to that and there's a certain type of guy who starts to not like how that dude over there keeps standing up and then he's blocking part of the big screen TV, and he won't let it go.

I have known too many video game guys (and dated a few too) who have a guy-shaped sweat stain on their couch where they sit when they play some first person shooter game for hours and hours. Also not fun: talking about how video games are art.

[Chris L]

I like early sports. After that they got too commercial and derivative.

[Gilly]

I think the best way to go into sports is to just start paying attention to standings and stats and watch the local teams or big games when you have time. That's what the majority of sports fans do anyway, I just pay attention to the boxscores and the news on the web, the newspaper or something like that and when there is a good game on TV and I'm home I watch it.

[ChrisRawk]

Me personally I'm not into sports, yet I generally enjoy sports related movies.  What's that about? 

[Christina]

Me personally I'm not into sports, yet I generally enjoy sports related movies.  What's that about?

I like 'em too, hockey movies in particular. I've been able to go to a handful of Rangers games b/c I have a buddy who's got season tickets. It's pretty fun, and I always live tweet the games too - hockey fans are bonkers.

[ChrisRawk]

YES, Slap Shot is amazing.  Newman and the Hanson brothers are great.  I'm also a sucker for the Rocky movies.  I used to love Rudy but the whole thing is a lot less appealing when you know most of the story isn't true. 

I've been to a few ball games over the years, so I kind of understand the appeal.  But my focus was mostly on beer and food.  Other than that I was clueless.  I think I actually had to ask someone if the teams playing were college teams. 

[amiright??]

You know what's even better? Hockey BOOKS.

(That's not supposed to sound the least bit snarky. I just like to read about hockey, but can't sit still through any more than a few minutes of it on TV.)

[Greggulator]

You live in Philly! How can you not have Phils-mania already?

Go to a live event and it will change your perspective. My #1 favorite thing to do in the world is go to a baseball game. ESPECIALLY a Phillies game -- they have the best crowd in baseball (and one of the best in sports) in terms of fan support, enthusiasm and the like. And there's awesome food.  Seriously -- go to like 2 or 3 baseball games, particularly with a knowledgeable fan who can talk you through what's going on if you don't know -- and you'll probably get hooked.

Baseball might not be your speed though. Basketball, in person, will wow you -- these guys are so absurdly athletic that it's like you're watching people from another planet. The guy Dirk Nowitzki we're all talking about now in basketball is a 7'1" German guy who pretty much never misses a shot, no matter how crazy the angle he takes is. And Dwyane Wade (despite being on the despicable Miami Heat) can pretty much fly. The Sixers are kind of a snooze to watch (the team's pretty good and exciting but they don't have a huge star, they don't get big crowds, the arena's annoying). In Philly, we're also blessed with six college basketball teams. They routinely play each other at The Palestra on Penn's campus which is like a museum. A St. Joe's/Villanova or St. Joe's/LaSalle game will be packed and super enthusiastic.

I'm not a fan of football at all, but there is something to be said for hanging out with a bunch of your friends and watching a bunch of games.

I'm not a hockey guy either but I can see the attraction -- super fast paced, great crowds, huge hitting, etc.

Just give it a chance live!

One of the best part about liking sports: You feel like you're part of something bigger, in a way. I really feel like that the city of Philadelphia has improved pretty much walk-in-step with the Phillies ascent from being garbage to awesomeness. I just love being at some divey bar and going nuts over some game.

Also, if I'm out somewhere in Philly and I'm surrounded by people I normally would associate with, I can find common ground with an irrational love of the local professional baseball team. It also really helps at the workplace and at family functions, too.

There are so many baseball books out there that are pretty much great pieces of literature. There's one that just came out called Bottom of the 33rd that's about the longest minor league game ever played -- but it's more about the life of everyone who played in a game like that.

And the best sports movie is Hoosiers.