Why nobody cares that you don’t watch sports
By Cazzy Lewchuk, Staff Writer
As we get back into hockey, basketball, and football season, millions of people will kick back to enjoy another game played by their favourite team. Goals will be scored, bad calls will be made, and the cheers and boos will be louder than ever. However, like many other people, I won’t be watching any sports or caring about any teams. The only entertainment I’ll see on FOX is The Simpsons and that delightful new show Gotham (reviewed elsewhere in this issue).
Sports can be hard to get into. Many people have never played them, never been to a professional game, or simply never had a chance to get familiar with the rules and teams. You may very well have seen displeasure or confusion of major sporting events on Facebook in the forms of mocking cartoons or statuses. Some people like athletics and some people don’t. It’s normal, and neither side should be called out.
It’s very easy to show disrespect to the art of teamwork and sports. It’s often forgotten how difficult, passionate, and intensive playing the game can be. Professional athletes dedicate their lives to being successful enough for the big leagues, in a competitive environment unmatched anywhere. Fans often have personal mementos or stories of athletes, teams, or games meaningful to them. Sports can be, and frequently are, the most unifying, entertaining, important, or even educational forces in someone’s life. All professional organizations have great values—promoting teamwork, honesty, fairness, professionalism, and graciousness whether they win or lose.
There’s a vast number of positive forces that drive the spirit of sports today. It can be a small-scale level of a dad bonding with his son at a game or a young athlete’s confidence being boosted after scoring a goal. There are much bigger levels of greatness that exist—a new team overcoming adversity or a special needs child getting to be on the field with his favourite athletes. No matter the number of people watching or importance of the game, everyone on board is united by a common bond. It’s something that should never be taken away from them.
That’s why I have such great respect for sports and their values, and never make a big deal out of the fact that I don’t care about the specifics. Just as I appreciate sports fans not voicing their confusion on why the Doctor is suddenly an old man, I don’t question what difference the current coach of the Canucks makes to the season. I just respect and trust the sheer passion that the players and fans have. I sometimes don’t understand the jargon of assists and power plays, and they may not know the difference between midichlorians and centaurian slugs.
Whatever bad press or lunacy the national sports leagues get, it’s important to remember the underlying principles and devotion everyone feels. People genuinely care about these games, and it’s something to believe in. That should be respected, always.