The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

[jmood88]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

The argument for and against baseball is just like the argument about checkers and chess. Checkers is more accessible to most people, therefore is more popular. Chess takes time to learn, understand the nuances, and is more of an acquired taste.

I would be willing to bet that the majority of people who dislike baseball also prefer checkers (or something similar) to chess.

See there's no need for that attitude. You assume that just because people don't like it that they don't understand it which is not the case.

[Vince]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

I love chess. I don't even understand how to play checkers.

[Husker_OS]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

Duke fans that only root for Duke in basketball aren't real Duke fans period. STOP CLAIMING YOU ARE!!!!!!!!! Show up at Wallace Wade on Saturday's and root for the Devils. Not Florida State, Maryland, or whoever the hell you want to root for.

Thank You! I see people on OS with Florida State listed as their favorite CFB team and then some other team in CBB. I root for Alabama and Nebraska in ALL sports. I don't pick and choose like rooting for Nebraska in baseball and Alabama in football or something.

[Hootiefish]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

See there's no need for that attitude. You assume that just because people don't like it that they don't understand it which is not the case.

No attitude at all. I firmly believe that the majority of people that don't like baseball don't like it because they don't understand the nuances. I can only go by what I have seen and experienced personally, and that has been the case. Every non-fan that I have ever taken to a baseball game and explained every little nuance to has walked away a fan. Simple as that.

So yes, I firmly believe that the people that don't like baseball have never taken the time to understand it. Just like chess.

Checkers or chess, which do you prefer? I am willing to bet checkers.

[Pujols91]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

yuck.... the half is over at 45:00 and 90:00... I like sports that count down... and have clear end times... not referee decided ones.

It's not like the refs just decide a time to end, they add up all the stoppages from the half and add it on. Usually it's no more than 2 or 3 mins. Sure buzzer beaters are nice, but a late goal in soccer is equally exciting, for me anyway.

No sport where the US's best players are 5'8 140 pounds athletes is the greatest sport ever invented.

Maybe not for us in the US, but there's a reason soccer is BY FAR the most popular sport in the world. We just happen to suck at it.

And the very fluid play is debatable

I dunno man, I guess it depends who's playing, but compared to football, where there are stoppages after most plays it's very fluid.

[Hootiefish]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

No attitude at all. I firmly believe that the majority of people that don't like baseball don't like it because they don't understand the nuances. I can only go by what I have seen and experienced personally, and that has been the case. Every non-fan that I have ever taken to a baseball game and explained every little nuance to has walked away a fan. Simple as that.

So yes, I firmly believe that the people that don't like baseball have never taken the time to understand it. Just like chess.

Checkers or chess, which do you prefer? I am willing to bet checkers.

Also, let me add that when I state that you don't understand something, it does not have anything to do with intelligence. I don't understand math at all, yet I believe that I am very intelligent. Sometimes people's minds just can't/won't wrap themselves around certain things for whatever reason.

As for some more blasphemy, I've got one. No matter what ESPN, NCAA, WNBA, US Olympic Committee, etc. wants us to believe, women's sports are unbearable to watch. Unbearable, and sometimes ridiculous. And this is coming from the step-son of a Varsity Girl's Basketball and Softball coach.

[born_bad]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

Also, let me add that when I state that you don't understand something, it does not have anything to do with intelligence. I don't understand math at all, yet I believe that I am very intelligent. Sometimes people's minds just can't/won't wrap themselves around certain things for whatever reason.

As for some more blasphemy, I've got one. No matter what ESPN, NCAA, WNBA, US Olympic Committee, etc. wants us to believe, women's sports are unbearable to watch. Unbearable, and sometimes ridiculous. And this is coming from the step-son of a Varsity Girl's Basketball and Softball coach.

I dunno... I find I can bear to watch women's beach volleyball in high-def pretty easily. Misty May... :drool:

I also find women's tennis more exciting to watch than men's. I have no interest at all in the WNBA and hate that they keep pushing the issue. No one cares!

As far as the chess/baseball thing goes, it's pretty silly. I've been playing chess since I was young and I love it. I do understand a lot of the nuances of baseball. I live in Boston and have been to Red Sox games and I watch a lot of the games on TV. In general, it's about my 3rd favorite sport and I do find it boring at times, especially on TV. I didn't watch a whole game in its entirity on TV this season because the game is too long and boring most of the time. Anytime I can sit there for 10 minutes, wathcing a sport, and just see a guy throw 4 unhittable balls, stand around, take 30 seconds between each pitch, cut to scenes of guys spitting in the dug-out or picking their nose, cut to scenes of guys standing around in the outfield waiting for something to happen, I tend to lose interest.

I have a good attention span, but it gets ridiculous at times. Granted, not 100% of the games are like that. There can be really exciting games, but, in general, it can be a very boring sport to watch on TV, regardless of your chess or baseball knowledge.

[jmood88]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

Checkers or chess, which do you prefer? I am willing to bet checkers.

Chess. How much were you betting? The only people who try to make baseball overly complicated are the one's who don't even play the game.

[jmood88]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

I dunno... I find I can bear to watch women's beach volleyball in high-def pretty easily. Misty May... :drool:

I also find women's tennis more exciting to watch than men's. I have no interest at all in the WNBA and hate that they keep pushing the issue. No one cares!

As far as the chess/baseball thing goes, it's pretty silly. I've been playing chess since I was young and I love it. I do understand a lot of the nuances of baseball. I live in Boston and have been to Red Sox games and I watch a lot of the games on TV. In general, it's about my 3rd favorite sport and I do find it boring at times, especially on TV. I didn't watch a whole game in its entirity on TV this season because the game is too long and boring most of the time. Anytime I can sit there for 10 minutes, wathcing a sport, and just see a guy throw 4 unhittable balls, stand around, take 30 seconds between each pitch, cut to scenes of guys spitting in the dug-out or picking their nose, cut to scenes of guys standing around in the outfield waiting for something to happen, I tend to lose interest.

I have a good attention span, but it gets ridiculous at times. Granted, not 100% of the games are like that. There can be really exciting games, but, in general, it can be a very boring sport to watch on TV, regardless of your chess or baseball knowledge.

Exactly

[ehh]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

I also find baseball to be as entertaining as hell, and it has nothing to do w. the "strategy" or anything like that.

I'm sure I'll get bashed for this, but I don't think there's much strategy at all. You look at statistics and match ups. Is it that hard when you're in the 8th inning and the other team brings in a lefty reliever to look at your available bench players and select the best guy to counter the other team's move? I think for most managers the most important/valuable thing you can do is keep your team motivated for the grueling 162 schedule and make sure your team clicks and has great chemistry. You're basically a shrink.

I forget who said it, I think it was Bobby Valentine, but some NL manager said managing in the AL was eqivalent to baby-sitting.

There are certain situations which are tough, such as if you're in a tie game in the 9th w. two outs and David Ortiz is on second. Do you pinch run for him and try to win the game on a single, or leave him in? Personally I'd leave him in cause there's only a 30% at best the guy at the plate is getting a hit and you don't want to lose Ortiz's bat in extra innings.

However, for the most part I don't see the checkers/chess relationship.

But as for the entertainment factor, I love clutch situations in baseball as much as any sport. I can't imagine waiting for the pitch to come in if you're in Jose Valentin's shoes last night in the 8th inning. That's got to be so nerve racking and mentally challenging - trying to stay focused through everything and hit the baseball.

[mjb2124]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

The only people who try to make baseball overly complicated are the one's who don't even play the game.

I think it's the other way around. I pitched for many years at a high level and it's not as easy as one wants to make it. It's exactly like I mentioned earlier - a game of chess between hitter/pitcher. You have to out think the hitter to have any chance when you play at a higher level.

The stat driven part of it is on a different level. Players don't care about that as much as fans do. It's something for those that think more analytically than other's to get into it.

[mjb2124]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

However, for the most part I don't see the checkers/chess relationship.

In the entire game, I agree. There aren't as many instances which require a ton of strategy. The interaction between pitcher/batter certainly is like a game of chess though. It's all about setting up hitters 3-4 pitches down the road (or possibly 1-2 AB's later in the game).

I think many think it's just see ball, hit ball, field ball, throw ball. That's not even the half of it.

[jmood88]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

I think it's the other way around. I pitched for many years at a high level and it's not as easy as one wants to make it. It's exactly like I mentioned earlier - a game of chess between hitter/pitcher. You have to out think the hitter to have any chance when you play at a higher level.

The stat driven part of it is on a different level. Players don't care about that as much as fans do. It's something for those that think more analytically than other's to get into it.

Pitching and hitting are some of the most difficult things in all sports but the rest of it isn't very hard in my opinion. Some players don't even have to be involved in a play sometimes and they can just stand around and watch what's going on.

[ehh]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

In the entire game, I agree. There aren't as many instances which require a ton of strategy. The interaction between pitcher/batter certainly is like a game of chess though. It's all about setting up hitters 3-4 pitches down the road (or possibly 1-2 AB's later in the game).

I think many think it's just see ball, hit ball, field ball, throw ball. That's not even the half of it.

Ah, I certainly agree w. you about the player-to-player interaction - I was just thinking about managers in my post. Good point though.

[Hootiefish]

Re: The Sports and Entertainment Blasphemy Thread

Chess. How much were you betting? The only people who try to make baseball overly complicated are the one's who don't even play the game.

Actually, it is the ones who have never played that believe it is a simple game.