If the question is referring to Super Bowl, I don’t know much about football except the very basics. For me, Super Bowl is an opportunity to watch fun ads and the half time show, and then in the coming days when everyone is talking about it, I like to be able to participte in the conversations or at least know what they’re talking about (i.e. Rihanna looking like she was pregnant when she did the half time show, and she was, etc.).

Other than that, I may watch the X Games (like an edgy Olympics) and some of the Olympics. and some snowboarding and skate boarding. I used to be into the Yankees over several different eras (when I was young, Bucky Dent, and about 16 years ago, Jeter, A-Rod, et al). That’s about it for me.

I think it may be a fandom thing. I love the sports I was involved with (sailing and dog shows) like you said, and a few that I find aesthetically pleasing (figure skating, diving, and gymnastics, for example). Football enthusiasts behave more like Star Trek fans than people who simply follow sports. I guess there’s a lot of enjoyment that goes with that, good for them.

And sometimes I like to eat a hotdog with a baseball game in front of it, my Dad took me to a few games when I was a child.
Go Mets!

I love SEC college sports. Men and women. My whole family holds degrees from SEC schools. We support our alma maters in every way, not just sports. We are part of those institutions. I’m watching LSU/Alabama play basketball as I write.

Go Dallas!

Maybe feeling like being part of the family, pride rooting for the home team.
Personally I always liked one on one sports you against all the others if you win all you if you lose again all you.

I think humans find meaning in things that resonate with them. These things are different for everyone and can change over time. I used to love playing and watching sports as a social activity with a sense of shared camaraderie with the ecstasy of victory, agony of defeat and the anxiety that hangs in the balance as the ending draws near with a close game/match. There’s a power and a kind of weird fellowship that comes from it. For some it’s art or animals, or cross stitching, or knitting, or furniture-making or nature (hiking/gardening etc.). As dystopian as the world feels sometimes, it has made it possible to learn incredible niche things and find communities of other humans who encourage and support you.

That said, as I’ve gotten older, I care a lot less about sports. There are other things I care more about today, and that’s cool too. I’m still pissed that I have to work tomorrow with the 49ers in the Superbowl. I feel like I’m being robbed of the opportunity for making a great memory with my parents.

I don’t care for any sport!!!If it’s on, I do enjoy figure skating because they look so talented & beautiful. Still, I NEVER turn to a TV channel for the express purpose of watching figure skating. During the Olympics, I have caught myself enthralled with the show.

Synchronized swimming is another that I enjoy but wouldn’t go out of my way to watch.

Golf & baseball bore me to tears. If I’m at someone’s home & they are watching football, I can watch it with them without my eyes rolling out of my head. Yet when I go home, I don’t turn the game back on just to watch it!!!

Guess you could say that I DON’T care for sports although I can tolerate some under the right circumstances.

I don’t usually care.

When I have gotten somewhat into some sports, it’s never been peer pressure. It’s been a choice to immerse in the situation, for fun, and because some sports I can get fascinated with seeing highly talented people and what they do to try to win certain sports.

It’s similar to being interested in various complex games I like, except those usually involve more participation on my part. It’s also similar to how/why I enjoy some well-done action films or dramas.

I kind of like the tactics in football, and I can relate to the somewhat violent physical conflict, and the drama of trying to throw a ball a great distance and catch it while huge armored athletes charge and try to crush the thrower and catcher (or deflect/catch the ball).

I like high-level tennis when played by excellent graceful clever players.

I also kind of like it when some players seem more likeable than others, and hoping the more likeable players frustrate the less likeable players. ;-)

I appreciate spectacular athleticism.

I would watch hockey games with my dad and grandpa. Most of the times were on television.

In my teen years it was my responsibility to help my dad get past the two beer limit. As I looked like an adult at 15, and was never carded.

The hot dogs and hamburgers were delicious and if I had the money I would gorge myself.

Now I watch with my mom in different cities. Mostly the half time show and the final quarter of NFL superbowl. Also NHL playoff games where Edmonton Oilers are still in the playoffs.

I have no interest in spectator sports, except when with friends who want to watch, I will enjoy the moment and learning about the sport and current teams/personalities/etc.

Though I do love attending major league baseball games – 10s of 1000s of people in one place is such a beautiful spectacle. Beer and peanuts, shout & cheer with your neighbors, feel the community hurrah at the hits and the sagging with the outs.

To the OP. I would get a rush. Like Goku from Dragon Ball when he goes Super Saiyan. Or an undead feasting on a refreshing soul like a glass of water while parched.

Especially when my team scores.

Competition.
I would throw in some tribalism.

I played sports my whole life.
I didn’t have a cellphone, until I was like 22 years old.
When we were bored, we played a sport, or competed in made up games.
I like mostly team sports, but my favorite sport is probably boxing.
I’m a big fan of the US women’s volleyball team. I usually try to watch at least a little of each event.
As far as the NFL, and NBA, I have my teams. When I was 8 years old, I first started playing recreational pee wee football. There were like 6 teams, and we all had actual NFL teams. I tried out, with like 500 kids. I made the Los Angeles Raiders. I played for several years on that team. We went undefeated two years, and got absolutely thrashed in championship games with much bigger and better teams.
It stayed with me. I’m a loyal guy. I have now been a fan for decades. I try to watch every game. Even when we suck. And we sucked for the last 22 years.

My NBA team is historically terrible right now. But. 20 years ago I watch us beat the Lakers as underdogs. The Detroit Pistons, are my basketball squad.

Honestly. I feel like the Romans had it figured out. Gove your people sports, and they won’t pay attention to politics…

Boxing is an example of ultimate competition. Both fighters are supposed to be as evenly matched as possible. And you can train, and have coaches, but in the ring it’s just you. Two athletes train themselves into top shape, for one fight. They have time to study one another, and both fighters are strictly monitored to ensure that everything is fair. No performance enhancing drugs.
The ref checks each fighter’s nails, and gloves (if applicable) before each fight.

Having participated in all sports I usually watch, I understand what it takes to do certain things. It’s amazing to see “big plays,” or “knockouts.” To me.

Why care about anything?

@canidmajor likes graceful, beautiful sailboats, cutting through exotic waters.
I would rather watch freestyle whitewater kayaking, filmed in a river bend.

Someone else may prefer powerboat racing.

“If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad.” – Cheryl Crow…

When I was 30 years old, I tore my ACL, MCL, and patellar tendon, with a lateral meniscus tear.
It was an arranged tackle football game, that I used to play with a large group of friends from work.
We played most Sundays, for my entire 20’s.

In my injury game, I recovered a fumble from our initial kickoff. That put my team on offense.
The very first offensive play, I’m lined up at tail back. I took a hand off, into the right B gap, and was pushing through 3 guys, when a guy my size jumped on top of the pile. My foot was stuck in the wet field, and all that weight just made my right knee twist awkwardly.

I heard a “pop,” in my calf. I knew it was bad. The big guy that ended up hurting me was a good friend. He gave me a knee brace that he was wearing.
I played the entire game.
I was in a lot of pain, and I could only run straight. I subbed out once each quarter, but remained our starter. I played QB some, because I was hobbled. I scored a TD, at the end of the 4th to tie us at 28 all.
Thankfully, we scored immediately, in overtime.
It had started raining and storming, so we were all muddy and bloody, with many missing sleeves or with torn clothes.

I didn’t make a penny, playing in that game.
I knew when I hurt my knee, it was probably the last time I would play football. So. I played, and tried to really soak it in.
I was correct. I never played football again.
I lost my job, because I had to have major knee reconstruction.
I lost my long-time girlfriend.
I could barely walk, for 6 months. It took a full year, to recover. I was able to limp around and clean rich people’s houses, with a woman I know. It payed the bills…

A year and some months after surgery, I went and got my job back (with a hefty raise.)
I got my girlfriend back.

The recovery was grueling. I had to learn to walk again, etc.

I was picked first, by the captain of B team. I had a responsibility, to my team and teammates.
Of course, I could have stopped immediately once hurt and the injury wouldn’t have been SO severe.

I guess I can’t explain, that feeling of overcoming so much adversity. The brotherhood that forms, with your teammates, is priceless. The feeling I used to get, from running some guy over, or around him. The feeling of a nice clean tackle. Getting to the quarter back. Making the catch of the day. The feeling of breaking another group of men, because you want it more.
The respect you develop for others. Learning to work as a team, regardless of your random teammates.

It’s humbling to be on the other end. Getting straight beat, by another man or team.
It gives me fire to do an extra leg set, or push ups when idle.
Winning NEVER, gets old. And losing always sucks.
The desire to constantly improve, and hone my abilities, is motivational.

Playing sports, means you want to ALWAYS be in top shape. In case you get called out, and need to go settle things. Basketball. Football. Boxing/sparring. Field/street hockey. Ping pong. Badminton. Corn hole. Fucking monopoly!

I will play, as if death is on the line.

Likely. The OP does not relate. But. I tried.

And it’s absolutely fine, if someone doesn’t like anything, for any reason. It just makes more sense to dislike something, because I understand it and it’s not for me.
Rather than just hating it, without knowing what I hate.
Or liking something that I don’t understand.
Even if the reason I like something is trivial, or simple, I can usually find something to appreciate in most things.

Sports is about seeing people that you’ll never be perform I guess.

There’s a certain mindset and determination and natural talent associated with it, whereas I have no problem accepting that I’d rather be a “normal” person.

I remember being alone in my apartment years ago when I was young and trying to legitimately box for a few mins. Throwing real punches with power is incredibly draining, so it makes you realize how hard it is to be an athlete lol.

Also….another reason people care is betting….money obviously runs the world etc.

I just asked a question about sports being the human equivalent to animal rutting.

It is @RedDeerGuy1.

I prefer watching volleyball because I played it for years. I know what it takes.

@Dutchess_III I love volleyball, but it hurts my forearms. Do they have padding for the forearms?

I don’t really care. I can muster up some care so if I’m watching I’m not completely bored or annoyed, but if I never watched another game it would be fine with me.

@RedDeerGuy1…padding would absorb too much of the energy of the ball which would create a loss of control.

We used to have a term, for a good spiking of another player with the volleyball.
A “Spalding Tattoo.”
Sometimes, you could read the brand name on someone’s red mark from the ball.

_We used to have a term, for a good spiking of another player with the volleyball.
A “Spalding Tattoo.“__

Oh my, I cringe reading that. I was invited to a friendly light-hearted soccer game, and I full-force kicked a ball into a girl’s stomach. The ball pattern was etched into her stomach and she had to leave the field. I will never lose the guilt.

I had something similar, only it said “FORD”

One of my favorit memories: The pastor of my church invited everyone to a cookout at his house.
I went and saw a volleyball net set up. YAY! At that point I was playing competitive coed 2 or 3 times a week. I was primed and ready for battle. However it was just a bunch of church folks goofing around so I dialed it way down and rules went out the window. This one play actually set me up perfectly for a spike. I went up and caught the ball and faked a pump. Two men on the front row both dove toward each other at the same time to intercept where it would have landed had I not been faking. At that point I did a Michael Jorden 3 second hang time thang and watched them land beside each other on their stomaches right in front of me…then I just gently dropped the ball on them. HAHAHA!

@Call_Me_Jay Don’t feel so bad. For some reason, every girl I know has been hit by an accidental ball.
Classic.

Dutch gets it.

Honestly. 15 years ago if I saw a group of girls at a sports bar, they were waiting for a group of guys. Now. It’s very common to see a table full of girls with their own team gear, and they’re actively following the games and shit talking. And they know their stuff.

When my nephew was playing basketball as he grew up, we got to see girls his age play too. They were VERY competitive. Those girls played prison ball. The games were usually just like 12–6, but the defense was hard core.

I got hit in the face with a spiked ball once. But it was during a spiking practice in HS and I wasn’t paying any attention. I wasn’t even looking at the hitter. Suddenly BAM!!! That hurt.

I didn’t go to a bar if it didn’t have a pool table and a foosball table. I wasn’t trying to attract men. I was trying to kick their ass!

History of the Superbowl
as told by @Strauss

Watching Superbowl LVIII right now with my grandson. Quality time is the only reason I watch TV sports anymore. I watched Superbowl I in 1967 with my dad and brothers and I think there were a few cousins there as well. For Superbowl II I was home on leave. III and IV occurred while I was in Vietnam. In the 1970’s I may or may not have watched any particular edition, depending on who was playing and my circle of friends at the time. During the Eighties I was more likely not to watch, to the point where I once threw a “Non-Super-Bowl” party and jam session.
In 1987, I embarrassed mortified my then fiancée by insisting that we watch the Howdy Doody 40th Anniversary Special!

Shortly after I moved to the Denver area in 1996 the Broncos won Superbowl XXXII and XXXIII.

Over the years I’d have to say my interest has been more social than any real interest in the game.

Entertainment like any other show. Surely better than trash tv. My husband hates basketball, golfor college football so I watch without him sometimes.

I am happy I watched the Super Bowl last night, partly because I’m able to discuss it with people today. It was really an incredible game.

I wonder how much the players are hurting the day after, from over an hour of crashing into each other and diving onto the ground.

I’m so happy the Chiefs won. They fought so hard.

I spent the 60s and early 70s watching Monday Night Football with my dad. He was a QB in HS. He taught me everything.
I know I surprise Rick with how much I know because I am so disinterested in the game.
We had our own Superbowl.
Flag was thrown.
“Horse collar!” I yelled.
“That was not a horse collar!” Rick retorted.
Seconds later the refs announced a penalty for a horse collar.
Humph.
Val 6 Rick 0.
Humph.

@jca2 Especially the 49er that Kelce ran into his shoulder. Looked painful afterwards yikes.

@KNOWITALL I don’t know how they do it. I knwo they’re professionals and also have probably been playing it their whole lives, but if I fall once, I’m broken for about a month lol.

@jca2 Professional athletes are pretty awe-inspiring in that way. And still get hurt.

Did you see that one player who was on the sidelines and when he went to jog out onto the field he pulled his hamstring and got carted off? How embarrassing!

@Dutchess_III I didn’t see it, or if I did, I don’t remember it. There were a few times I was in the kitchen during the game.

In addition to the comments above I have another take.
If you’ve ever played the game you know it feels great to run and successfully catch the ball – even if you’ve done it only once in your life. (I’m not a “sports guy” and only played occasionally in school when we had Gym class.) You know how difficult it is. and watching it somehow wakes up your own brain connections.
When I watch a skillful person do a shuffle dance I can feel the music and want to move myself. I practiced doing it and can do it poorly but I can enjoy watching someone else do it because I can feel the connection.

GA @LuckyGuy. Exactly. Understanding what it takes is half of it.
The guy I dated after my divorce was a PE teacher. He knew basketball and football but was clueless about volleyball.
He said “You just hit a ball across a net! How hard is that?”
I actually Shanghaied him into joining a pick up game with me. He got called for foul after foul! He was embarrassed. Then I was able to teach him volleyball 101.

Trust me, by the time the playoffs start, EVERYONE has some injury they’re dealing with.

If you have ever seen the hands of a former wide receiver, they usually have all jacket up fingers, pointed in different directions. Catching passes from someone who can really throw, is sometimes an act of defense.

If anyone has heard of Ronnie Lott, he was a football player.
Once during a game, he injured his hand so bad the doctors told him he would lose a finger if he went back into the game. Ronnie said “well cut off.” Yes. He literally had his finger removed during a game.
That, is a competitor.

@Dutchess_III Volleyball is such an under-appreciated sport. I love watching team matches as opposed to beach volleyball. It’s a shame that more people aren’t into it. Bravo for converting the guy you dated after your divorce.

Fundamentally, the fascination with sport is a direct consequence of our human nature as social, storytelling animals. Sport is a scaffolding upon which any number of stories can be affixed. We tell tales of the times and our culture, places and peoples, and our heroes and villains through the social technology of sport.

The narratives are always entertaining because they are real stories of human striving, achievement, ambition, setbacks, heartbreaks, long shots, underdogs, retribution and redemption, and no one knows how the story will turn out. There is no scriptwriter – it’s good versus evil, right versus wrong, us versus them, man versus nature, the past versus the future – filled with real dramatic tension, because there is no certainly of who will prevail.