I am not a sports fan. But based on the deep following “sports” command in general, I appreciate there must be something to them. So, when my dear friend invited me to attend a professional football game with him, I thought it would be a nice opportunity for me to broaden my horizons. Open myself up to a new perspective on an activity I care nothing about. Consequently, off I went to see the Los Angeles Rams play against a team whose name I cannot remember.
Candidly, I cannot remember a single thing about the actual football game. I cannot tell you who won or the name of a single player. I hardly watched the game. The happenings surrounding the field were so confusing and captivating I rarely looked past them. The experience left me with many questions.
Why is it called football? Only one guy on each team can even touch the ball with their foot. It really has nothing to do with feet. Unlike soccer, which is played completely with the feet...and I think the head. And soccer players had the football name first! Did the “football” players deliberately call it “football” in the hope that soccer fans would come and watch what they thought would be a soccer match only to find themselves at a game that had nothing to do with football? They must have been so confused when everyone started tackling each other and only one guy used his foot.
Wouldn’t it be better to just call it tackle ball? And why is this not obvious to everyone?
Why is it okay to hurl insults as loud as possible at the players, coaches, referees, other people watching the game or anything else that might offend? People insult their own team as much as the other team. Throwing out horrible comments for all to hear seems to be, not only acceptable, but part of the fun. I can’t think of another “friendly” environment where folks are so openly and meanly critical. I think of that as the behavior of war and politics.
How is the crowd yelling “WHO’S HOUSE?” with the deafening response “RAM’S HOUSE!” motivating to the players? What happened to “WIN THIS GAME” or “YAY TEAM”. Not cool enough?? Too direct? One enthusiastic fan never tired of repeatedly asking this question. To everyone. The entire game. I give props to everyone else. They actually patiently answered him. Every. Single. Time.
Why do so many guys in the audience wear shirts with another man’s name and number on it? I understand wearing team colors or sporting the team logo. But a wearing a specific man’s name and number, even if he is a very talented player, seems more... personal...?
Why is it okay for men to hug and pat each other’s bums on a sports field but not so much okay when they step off the field?
They seem to enjoy it so much during the game I think they should be allowed to continue to celebrate each other like that no matter where they are.
Why do the female cheerleaders get puffy pom poms, and the male cheerleaders only get little towels thingies to fling around? Why no pom poms for non- females? What do little towels versus pom poms accomplish? Please give the men some damn pom poms! What the hell? This one really confuses me, and I must admit, bothers me.
The amount of food and beer being consumed. Mind blowing. I am not even sure what my question is here. Mostly, I guess I wonder...how do their systems manage to process all that processed food and alcohol?? If I consumed a fraction of what I saw going down, I would require hospitalization.
Is anybody else as amused as I am watching people’s constant photo sessions? The posing, the butt shots, the pucker lips, the party shots...it cracks me up.
As I observe people’s commitment to and belief in sports, I cannot help seeing how much it parallels religion. Teams are denominations. Fans are parishioners. Commentators are clergy, games are services and players are Gods. People wear the colors and symbols of the sports religion they follow. Every week they attend the game services and pay homage to their player gods. They are deeply and emotionally moved by the acts of the player gods. They are devout followers to their teams. Faithful through win and loss. Are sports just another form of religion?
And if so...Then is religion just another form of sports? Watching various religions jockey for control, power and position, reminds me of sport teams doing the same thing competing on a field of play. Now many may dismiss this comparison based on the importance of religion. The deep faith in the common beliefs and achievement of the goals created by those beliefs. It is serious and profound. And I ask: have you ever been to any sporting event? T-Ball, Pop Warner, High School and College, Professional, Olympics, Kentucky Derby, Masters, World Cup and on and on and on.... the list is long. Observe the people watching these events and you will see the importance of sports. Most people who love and are involved with sports have in them, a deep faith that to them, is very serious and profoundly important.
The main difference is everyone seems to be having a lot more fun at sporting events. Maybe religion should take a chapter out of the sports playbook and make their services more fun. They could shoot some t-shirts out into the congregation. Maybe do the wave while passing the collection plate. Get some jerseys made with their profit’s name and number on it for the guys to wear. Step up the food and drinks. And definitely give everyone some pom poms!