I went to the Spurs/Thunder game last night. I saw the game in person. It was a darn good Basketball game. Spurs lost in the final 5 seconds on a missed 3 pointer. My analysis says that the game was actualy decided by the 2nd personal foul on duncan when duncan was trying to draw the charge (and looked like he did). But when Duncan was on the floor, the spurs kicked serious butt (+17 adj +/-). However...he was in foul trouble the whole game...which meant he didn't play enough to win it (almost solo).
That said...being as I'm missing the part of my brain that says "I'm part of xyz association group"...being at the arena just wasn't very interesting or fun. Bunch of folks standing up all the time, blocking my view...and booing great play by the Thunder. Bunch of folks wanting me to yell, cheer, etc. I may go back, take the kid(s)...but it ain't my kind of thing.
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This post has too much of an, "I'm better then these people," vibe. Guy who is above groups (and sports) is just another group to belong too, often an insufferable one.
I hadn't intended to even suggest superiority. People are 1 way...I seem to be broken. And I like the sport a lot...but hate the groupery. I appear incapable of the group-feeling that stadiums and high school pep rallies rely upon.
This aligns pretty well from Haidt's work on moral foundations. The hyper individualist libertarian should be expected to experience less group solidarity than other people...
I'm with you. Often, I can get behind rooting for the underdog, but that can get pretty painful after a while. Fantasy football is fun, keeps you interested in the details, and the lack of attachment helps you be appropriately mercenary. :)
I didn't read it that way. Aretae has talked about this aspect of his personality before.
I was just talking about this post with the wife, and she commented that Aretae is missing out on a big chunk of life. I'm not a basketball fan, but I do love baseball. Watching on tv, I can indulge the minutia-loving aspect of my personality and let the detail and strategy wash over me.
But actually going to the game is an entirely different experience, one that I love even more. For one, you can see the whole game, without the filter of the tv editing team. But there is that tribal thing. purely voluntary association, but it can be a deep feeling nevertheless. I don't see many games in person anymore, as I live too far from the Indians and Cleveland. But I miss it.
Stupid blogger. I thought it would let me choose which account before it posted the comment.
That last post was from me.
It's not "These people are tools" it's "These people are having much more fun than me."
I am with you...There are many sports I love, but I never enjoy them live. UT football games are the worst. The rituals and songs before the games make me cringe, and no way, no how am I wearing orange. That said, no one yells at the tv louder than I do. Love the competition, but dont need the group thing.
To me, sports is great way to enjoy the primal thrill and adrenaline of the tribal unity and warfare, in a completely safe way in which no one gets slaughter and no villages devastated. I agree with your anti-monkey-brain-group-antagonisms in general, but sports is nice outlet to allow this kind of emotion because it is fake (although I think international sports are more dangerous because there is too much risk of that spilling over).
I went to the Boston-Mami game the other night enjoyed every minute of the chanting and cheering, the high fives with the random people around me, and the boos and jeers at the people in the wrong color uniform.
I think to get to that level with a team of playoff insanity, you have to watch them for a while, want the team to win, start liking the players, have friends that are also into them, routinely be in bars or environments where people are cheering for the team, etc, and gradually you grow the tribal affiliation for the team.
Attending a soccer match with white people in North America desperately trying to ape the crowds they see in England and elsewhere on television (coordinated singing, instruments, banners, etc.) is a similar experience.
I've got season tickets to my city's professional team and sit on the opposite side of the field from the folks who attend in order to be a part of something/to be something (a true supporter or whatever you want to label it).
The last thing I want is to be seated next to a bunch of folks trying to get everyone around them to participate. I come to matches precisely to be nothing more than a spectator. I paid for my seat, I'll leave it to the men on the field to provide the entertainment and would rather not supply it myself.
I believe Steve Harvey had a bit about this with regards to musicians who implored their audience to scream. "I paid $40 for my ticket, you scream."
I have favorite teams (and boxers) and I want them to win and am certainly disappointed when they do not, but do look down on people who say "we" when referring to a professional sports team that is not their employer. With regards to Anon's first comment, I think "our lot" is far less annoying as "we" don't go around claiming victories "we" didn't achieve as "our" own.
Don't know if this link will come through, but here's trying:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU
I'm prepared to give a pass to people who say "we" referring to a team when they are a formal member of the club, having paid yearly fees etc. to support the team, pay for facilities etc.
Otherwise... it's just weird by my standards.
I pay HBO regular dues which helps support the network and bring new shows to air. Oddly, I wouldn't say I'm proud of the Emmy awards they've won.
People should take pride and claim group affiliation on their unremarkable ability to give a for-profit business money? That's a low standard.
Being a member of the club is a bit different from merely paying money to see the games.
More like being a shareholder in HBO, and then saying you are proud of the company. It's still pushing the boundaries, but I will give it a pass.
When I was down in Mexico we went to see the Mayan ruins. There were stadiums where they played ball games that could often end in death. They were also sometimes used as a proxy to settle disputes rather then go to war. I can see how people would see cheering for their side in a more meaningful light then modern sports.
On a total side note this comic is awesome:
http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2632#comic
When I was down in Mexico we went to see the Mayan ruins. There were stadiums where they played ball games that could often end in death. They were also sometimes used as a proxy to settle disputes rather then go to war. I can see how people would see cheering for their side in a more meaningful light then modern sports.
On a total side note this comic is awesome:
http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2632#comic
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