Having just moved to the USA I am going through a sporting renaissance of sorts, a chance to view sports which are completely new to me and seemihngly the opposite of what I have enjoyed in the past.
However, I have noticed whatever the sport, there is a common thread we all enjoy.
My favourite new sport is by far is ice hockey – or just hockey as they call it here. The absoluteness of the term belies the objectivity of the game.
Just as Shakespeare gave us quotes like “to break the ice”, hockey was the genesis of “edge of your seat”.
Every play is a scoring play, every move calculated and precise, each charge done at speed and aggression that is tough but fair, the margin is so small, scoring a goal is literally done with millimetres to spare on either side, every time.
Having seen this game close up, I love it, this game is great and I was inspired by watching it.
Sitting in the bar after the game got me thinking, each sport is different but what are the common traits we flock to?
After two burgers, three bowls of hot wings and two Budweisers, I came up with these three elements:
1. Boyish enthusiasm
People love watching people enjoy themselves. It is such a natural state for some, to truly love what they are doing.
The players people love to watch are the ones out there because they love the game. Mike Hussey is the one that springs to mind immediately.
Bill Lawry’s commentating, he still sounds like a six-year-old boy commentating a backyard game and we love that he loves it.
Jason Day at the Masters last year smiling as the Green Jacket slipped away, sure he wanted to win, but he loved trying.
Michael Jordan on the buzzer, stepping up time after time, not because he wanted the prize money, but because he loved playing and he played to win.
They and many more loved playing for the sake of the game.
The money and glitz that is nowadays associated with professional sport has not corrupted their love for the game
2. Skill
People love to be entertained and wowed and it goes without saying these guys and girls are good. I would however split this into two, and this is what sport does by way of revealing our inner selves.
There is a physical element, best summarised with the Olympic motto ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ (Faster, Higher, Stronger), but there is also the mental element.
Give the average punter Adam Scott’s 15 foot to win at Augusta and I would give even odds on him sinking it five out of 10.
Give him that putt to win The Masters, the pressure of being the first Australian and after blowing the lead at The Open, the punter would be lucky to hold the putter, let alone have the composure to sink it.
When you see such a moment, the first thought is, “how good is that”, the residue is, “imagine if that was me”.
People have an existential attachment to doers of great deeds, with modern technology now even more so. We want to be part of it!
3. Sportsmanship
I know it might be traditional, but it is the heart of the contest. No one likes a sore loser and no one like a showy winner.
The best matches are ones played within an inch of the rules and always the spirit of the game.
The best sporting rivalry I have witnessed is Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal.
Their games have been epic. They love playing the game and they love playing each other, but at end of the game their graciousness and humility is tangible.
It truly amazes me how these players can switch on and off that competitive switch; it’s not something everyone can do.
That is why we love sports, we can see a little bit of ourselves in our sports stars, they are the players/people we strive to be and by following them we hope to learn from their example.
We want to be on the green sinking the putt, but the couch is where we can do it from.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Really good article Thomas, a great read. It's interesting the points that you make and I can identify with a lot that you say. I always hated basketball. I thought it was the most pointless sport of all time. Set the scores to zero and the clock to one minute to go and just play that last minute, such was the nature of the 'you score I score' sport. And then I went to watch it live. I was fortunate enough to sit court side at Madison Square Garden several years ago and watched the Nicks versus the Heat. Seeing those guys up close and the genius of a guy like Dwayne Wade, how they pace a game, the tactics and the sheer athleticism and skill, I watch it whenever it is on now. Commentary as you say plays a huge part in TV watching of sport also. Cricket is a particular bastion of this as there is so much down time during a game. Guys like David Lloyd and Richie Benaud have often had me in hysterics. There are a myriad of reasons we all love sport but you've certainly covered many of them, good read mate.
Adam Julian
Roar Guru
Andrew, I am not a hockey guru but I take some interest in the sport and your right the announcers are outstanding. Gary Thorne, when he did the games on ESPN, was amazing.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Mike "Doc" Emrick, who is the lead play-by-play voice for the NHL on NBC and NBCSN (and will call the Olympic tournament, too), reminds me of Bill Lawry, just for his enthusiasm. Welcome to the cult of hockey. It's the greatest sport on the planet! Do you have a team yet?
Adam Julian
Roar Guru
Nice Article, personalities is a big reason too. The rages to riches stories of boxers, the brash confidence of those who play and talk loud and rarely lose, the humble champions, every back story is different and that adds much to the inherent drama that is sport, or as Billie Jean King said, "sports is microcosm of society."
Shmick
Guest
This article is spot on and there should be more like it. Too often these days sports start to resemble soap operas as too much money changes hands and supporters shift from keen observers to selfish idiots (fans and officials alike) that take more out of trying to put their own mark on an event rather than let the players take the spotlight. The world needs more articles like this and more fans like the author.
Dai Nasir
Roar Rookie
Nice article mate. I find my favourite sports teams to sort of be an attachment or extension of myself. For example if Arsenal fail to beat the Spurs in the North London derby fans all around the world will be hanging their head in shame!