Reply to: Arsenal 0 - 3 Tottenham

[Board Game Geek]

Opium, Opera, Soma, whatever.

I have been in games with 80,000 people on the terraces completely engadged emotionally for 90 minutes in what is going on in front of you. Highs, lows, you do not get that with tiddlywinks.

A Pele goal, Maradona juggling the bottle with his feet, Van Basten scoring from an impossible angle, Celtic winning the European Cup in 67, Larssons's run from the half way line, nutmeg, goal. I enjoy it.

Fair point. I'm not trying to be anti, I'm just trying to delve deeper and understand.

Eg, I could, in theory, just accept that I like my own hobbies, and that's all there is to it. But I like to know why these things move me, rather than just accept them, if that makes any sense. We all have to defend our decisions in doing the things we do, and understanding why we do the things we do is part of that journey of defence and self-discovery and exploration.

[minestrone]

Or opium ?

I just wonder what it is that makes football, for example, the most followed sport here in the UK, over and above other hobbies and pastimes, eg : Golf,boxing, showjumping, cricket, rugby, tiddlywinks, ping pong, go carting, fishing, computer gaming, reading, etc.

Some of the others have balls in them, they have teams, they have clubs and fanbois.

Opium, Opera, Soma, whatever.

I have been in games with 80,000 people on the terraces completely engadged emotionally for 90 minutes in what is going on in front of you. Highs, lows, you do not get that with tiddlywinks.

A Pele goal, Maradona juggling the bottle with his feet, Van Basten scoring from an impossible angle, Celtic winning the European Cup in 67, Larssons's run from the half way line, nutmeg, goal. I enjoy it.

[Board Game Geek]

The opera for the masses. And it gives you an excuse to get some brews with a few mates on a Saturday.

Or opium ?

I just wonder what it is that makes football, for example, the most followed sport here in the UK, over and above other hobbies and pastimes, eg : Golf,boxing, showjumping, cricket, rugby, tiddlywinks, ping pong, go carting, fishing, computer gaming, reading, etc.

Some of the others have balls in them, they have teams, they have clubs and fanbois.

[AtW]

Is that legal?

Yes of course - they now allow non-Sky subscribers to do that, so far seems ok though site wasn't working correctly for days preventing sign up, some of the video feeds are not available online

[minestrone]

I doubt it's most.

To answer BGG it's about tribalism and precious little else.

I always find it hugely comical when people talk about the team they support as "we" when in 99.9% of cases they have no measure of ownership or belonging. The "clubs" stopped being actual clubs decades ago, most of the players are from different areas, countries or even continents and the huge majority of the fans have never even been in their "home" stadium. In many cases the fans haven't even set foot in the town/city "their" club is based.

Football is about hugely lucrative business in the top divisions, nothing to do with sport.

I own shares in my club, I was at the game Yesterday, I live in the city where my club is from so to back up your claim you will have to find 1000 people on here who cannot say the same to give any credence to your sweeping general statement.

[d000hg]

Football is about hugely lucrative business in the top divisions, nothing to do with sport.

I think it's both. In amidst the theatrical antics, there are some incredible displays of skill by the top players. I find anything which pushes what I see as the limits of human ability to be interesting, sporting or otherwise.

[TykeMerc]

This is a very important business to most of us.

I doubt it's most.

To answer BGG it's about tribalism and precious little else.

I always find it hugely comical when people talk about the team they support as "we" when in 99.9% of cases they have no measure of ownership or belonging. The "clubs" stopped being actual clubs decades ago, most of the players are from different areas, countries or even continents and the huge majority of the fans have never even been in their "home" stadium. In many cases the fans haven't even set foot in the town/city "their" club is based.

Football is about hugely lucrative business in the top divisions, nothing to do with sport.

[minestrone]

"Football is not just a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that"

[Evil Hangover]

This is a very important business to most of us.

WHS

BGG - you, sasguru and the rest of you, have one foot in the grave

[swamp]

So, let me get this straight.

A group of overpaid contractors wearing shirts, talk about some stuff to another group of overpaid contractors also wearing shirts, as they all stare at a powerpoint presentation.

And this is important how exactly ?

This is a very important business to most of us.

[minestrone]

So, let me get this straight.

A group of overpaid lads wearing shirts in one colour, stuff a ball in to the net of another group of overpaid lads in another colour shirt, and one group of lads emerges the winner.

And this is important how exactly ?

The opera for the masses. And it gives you an excuse to get some brews with a few mates on a Saturday.

[d000hg]

So, let me get this straight.

An over-important stranger on an internet forum tells people what he thinks about professional football.

And this is important how exactly ?

[Board Game Geek]

So, let me get this straight.

A group of overpaid lads wearing shirts in one colour, stuff a ball in to the net of another group of overpaid lads in another colour shirt, and one group of lads emerges the winner.

And this is important how exactly ?

[d000hg]

I just signed up for Sky Player online - no need to be Sky customer...

Is that legal?

[swamp]

ferret won't be happy ...

Sorry ferret.