Giants win Superbowl XLII

The "harm" is far more insidious. America has an unhealthy sports obsession.

Unhealthy? You are not one to be telling another about being unhealthy.

Sports are talked about constantly. Some people discuss nothing else. They would be better off reading a book. Sports also serve as a dangerous distraction for more pressing issues in the news.

Sports are a very healthy outlet of news, just because it's not depressing talking about all eras of the wars being waged around the world, how corrupt governments are being, gas prices being horrible, it's a nice change of thing. So WOULDN'T that be healthier than stressing yourself over a source of news that is only depressing to you? ..

Parents raise their kids from an early age to play sports, sometimes running these kids into the ground. There is a huge pressure for these kids to perform as their parents selfishly attempt to live vicariously through them.

Kids playing sports from a young age is awesome, it teaches them teamwork, how to win, how to get beat and keep coming back. Who gives a fuck if parents strive for their kin to do well, I'd do the same thing if I had a kid, now there are some fanatical nutjobs out there that do drive their kids too hard, but then again a lot of kids that are pushed to this extent turn out to be get scholar athletes, I don't see anything bad coming from that other than you sitting in math class wishing how much cooler you would've been if you had just gotten off the computer for a while and went outside and played some baseball.

Athletes (like celebrities) can unfairly get an advantage in the legal system because our country idolizes them. Here's an example of something disturbing to me: when Mark McGwire was questioned by Congress about steroid use, Congress basically treated him better than they would have treated the President 200 years ago.

I'm pretty sure Mark McGwire was issued a perscription for anabolic steroids, which makes them legal. You aren't even making a point, douchecanoe, good way of straying away from society, just keep acting more and more like a moron.

College (and high school) athletes get numerous advantages over their peers. They are recruited for elite colleges, get athletic scholarships, stipends, and more. Some professors and proctors look the other way when athletes don't go to class at all, or blatantly cheat on tests. On my campus, one day there was absolutely nothing good to eat at the dining hall. There were steaks, but we weren't allowed to have any. "Those are for the football team."

Another cry for attention? If you'd "read some more books" you'd realize how much money schools make off of sports. When our high school went to state, we got extra fundage for a new computer lab and many, many new books.

Local and state governments pay for the construction of giant sports arenas.

Some stadiums do. You can't blatently just make shit up, even the cities that do pay for them all signed off and agreed to have it built, moron. I don't mind paying an extra 3 dollars a year for the stadium here in Jacksonville as being filtered through my taxes, it's worth it to have the Jaguars here. Who honestly gives a fuck? That money is even made back through the state through commercials as they are broadcast etc etc, vendors get a stake in, businesses boom around the stadium. You're just being an ignorant moron just spouting shit off that is IRRELEVANT.

There is a HUGE consumer culture behind sports, as if we weren't suckered into capitalism enough as it is. Jerseys, books, video games, toys, applicances, food, autographs, and anything else you can think of.

suckered into capitalism? Isn't that the basis of our country? Coming from the guy that spouts the glory of Communism, I doubt anybody even takes you seriously. Who gives a fuck if they make money off of sports? that's an entirely different argument, if you don't like it. DON'T BUY IT. Just because you have SUCH a shitty life that you can't enjoy anything or even have a like for anything, to the point where you have to find something negative, about everything, you need to realize that you sound like a complete jackass, your ignorance is amazing.

Athletes are generally looked up to by children, and they are not proving to be good role models. Of course there are a few good hearted athletes, but the good apples do not outweigh the bad. It also happens to be the bad ones that are shown the most in the media. So, to summarize, being a sports apologist is a cowardly cop-out.

There are all sorts of things wrong with society. It's our nature to have differences within our communities, people etc. Why do you care so much about media being a non-conformist you should just be in your basement playing D&D not giving a shit about society, not being a communist posterchild.

You just need to realize that Sports are a good thing for this country. It's a huge revenue for the country, learn some economics, we get an ample amount of money for hosting events here, the NFL makes a giant amount of money off of events that are held here, shit Baseball is america's past time, we have people coming from other countries on scholarships to live the American dream. Just get over yourself, go get a gym membership or something. Jesus Christ you're the most bitter person I could ever imagine, fucking nerd.

Sports are a very healthy outlet of news, just because it's not depressing talking about all eras of the wars being waged around the world, how corrupt governments are being, gas prices being horrible, it's a nice change of thing. So WOULDN'T that be healthier than stressing yourself over a source of news that is only depressing to you? ..

No.

Kids playing sports from a young age is awesome, it teaches them teamwork, how to win, how to get beat and keep coming back. Who gives a fuck if parents strive for their kin to do well, I'd do the same thing if I had a kid, now there are some fanatical nutjobs out there that do drive their kids too hard, but then again a lot of kids that are pushed to this extent turn out to be get scholar athletes, I don't see anything bad coming from that other than you sitting in math class wishing how much cooler you would've been if you had just gotten off the computer for a while and went outside and played some baseball.

The reason it's disturbing is because it's part of a larger trend of zealotry in America. Saying that it's okay to do just facilitates the problem.

I'm pretty sure Mark McGwire was issued a perscription for anabolic steroids, which makes them legal. You aren't even making a point, douchecanoe, good way of straying away from society, just keep acting more and more like a moron.

How did you miss my point? Athletes and celebrities are treated as first class citizens, while we are second and the average black male is probably third.

Another cry for attention? If you'd "read some more books" you'd realize how much money schools make off of sports. When our high school went to state, we got extra fundage for a new computer lab and many, many new books.

You're obviously the one that needs to read more. "Fundage" is not a word. Regardless, the fact that the school receives funding for sports in the first place (taxpayer money) is despicable. That tax money should automatically be distributed to schools, not the schools with athletes. Again, a disturbing trend.

Some stadiums do. You can't blatently just make shit up, even the cities that do pay for them all signed off and agreed to have it built, moron. I don't mind paying an extra 3 dollars a year for the stadium here in Jacksonville as being filtered through my taxes, it's worth it to have the Jaguars here. Who honestly gives a fuck? That money is even made back through the state through commercials as they are broadcast etc etc, vendors get a stake in, businesses boom around the stadium. You're just being an ignorant moron just spouting shit off that is IRRELEVANT.

How is it irrelevant? Some stadiums do what? "You can't blatently just make shit up," D3v. Try this paragraph over.

suckered into capitalism? Isn't that the basis of our country? Coming from the guy that spouts the glory of Communism, I doubt anybody even takes you seriously. Who gives a fuck if they make money off of sports? that's an entirely different argument, if you don't like it. DON'T BUY IT. Just because you have SUCH a shitty life that you can't enjoy anything or even have a like for anything, to the point where you have to find something negative, about everything, you need to realize that you sound like a complete jackass, your ignorance is amazing.

Capitalism is not a basis for a country. It's an economic system. I never even discuss communism, so how can I be glorifying it, D3v? You should realize after several years here that your methods of argumentation (namely lying) are ineffective. And yes, Americans are suckered into a consumer culture. It's why everyone goes crazy shopping during Christmas season. Remember the Tickle Me Elmo nonsense? It's embedded in America, and it's unhealthy, as is the obsession with sports.

There are all sorts of things wrong with society. It's our nature to have differences within our communities, people etc. Why do you care so much about media being a non-conformist you should just be in your basement playing D&D not giving a shit about society, not being a communist posterchild. You just need to realize that Sports are a good thing for this country. It's a huge revenue for the country, learn some economics, we get an ample amount of money for hosting events here, the NFL makes a giant amount of money off of events that are held here, shit Baseball is america's past time, we have people coming from other countries on scholarships to live the American dream. Just get over yourself, go get a gym membership or something. Jesus Christ you're the most bitter person I could ever imagine, fucking nerd.

To quote mj, "I'm not bitter." Your non-conformist thing doesn't even make sense (same with most of your reply).

Why do I care? Because at some point, it stops being just fun and games and starts being obsessive and disturbing, as I've said. Many people pass this point. I can think of two people off the top of my head that live in squalor but still put 45"+ TVs on layaway to watch football.

In short, D3v, if you're going to argue with me, at least bring up some valid points. All you did was call me a non-conformist communist.


Anyway, here's a link to an article that argues sports fans are socially dysfunctional, using pride vicariously as a method of gaining self-esteem. http://media.www.louisvillecardinal....-2224429.shtml

Maybe you guys should be playing D&D in your basements. That's basically what watching football together is.

Well put, Grav.

Maybe you guys should be playing D&D in your basements. That's basically what watching football together is.

Actually, playing D&D would be a better use of time. D&D actually requires a little thought and strategy.

I am not going to even bother with either side because both have there advantages and disadvantages.

On the topic of this thread, i have been speaking to Pats fans since last Sunday (maybe to rub it in) and they believe the game was given to the Giants by the Refs. On the Giants board at ESPN, they have a threads going stating this. I think its idiotic, one because its against my team, and secondly because i thought it was a well officiated game. What do you all think???

Dude, defending D&D in the sports forum is a bad idea.


And Grav, it's people like you that overanalyze the game, any game, sports in general. I mean there are good and bad sides of both of it, but if you don't like it, then don't respond to it. You are NOT going to change the minds of anybody that is a sports fanatic. Like i'm sure there are things you are a fanatic about that people disagree with or hate, like communism, and anything that any of us say will never change your mind, so why even bother?..

Dude, defending D&D in the sports forum is a bad idea.

I am not defending D&D at all. I actually think that Sports is one of the best things in life, espeically when you think about the heatlhy aspects and abilities that comes with it. But Grav has proven once again that he can take any argument and provide some valid points. But his points are of an extreme level, so it is hard to believe everything that he has to say.

Again, i want to ask, has anybody heard of these reports that Pats fans think the refs gave the game to the Giants? because i have watched the game and havent seen any moment that would warrent this at all. I just think that these Pats fans are whinny sore losers and thank god somebody put them in thier place.

On another note, i heard that the eagles are making a push for Moss and Samual. I guess since their divison rival won something, they decided to try and go for it all this year.

Actually, playing D&D would be a better use of time. D&D actually requires a little thought and strategy.

Football doesn't require thought and strategy? Only a person that has no idea what they're talking about would state this. Do you realize that to be good in the NFL you have to be one smart motherfucker? You have to fit in with your coach's game plan/schemes and run the plays correctly. If you fuck up and can't learn the system, you aren't going to play. It's as simple as that.

Sports not requiring thought and strategy... that's quite the laugh.

Football doesn't require thought and strategy? Only a person that has no idea what they're talking about would state this. Do you realize that to be good in the NFL you have to be one smart motherfucker? You have to fit in with your coach's game plan/schemes and run the plays correctly. If you fuck up and can't learn the system, you aren't going to play. It's as simple as that. Sports not requiring thought and strategy... that's quite the laugh.

I think he was saying playing D&D as opposed to watching sports, not necessarily playing sports.

Either way, I'm sure they view all athletes as idiotic meatheads that don't know how to tie their own shoe. People that are bad at sports, are clearly out of shape (fat), or just didn't grow up playing sports are naturally going to be jealous and negative to those people that do and excel at it.

Why come into an obvious sports-related thread and bash everybody and anything in it? I don't see the point.

I feel it to really be pathetic how this thread has turned out. There are a lot of intelligent athletes that do take advantage of their scholarships, and then again there are some that abuse it.

Who

Gives

A

Fuck?


There are rotten ass and wonderful people everywhere you go. There are people that need welfare, and some that abuse it. Some people that have rich parents and are babied into everything their entire life, and struggling veterans that can't even keep a home due to whatever reason... What i'm saying is there's always going to be something wrong with something good, no matter what the situation is.

.... And I really feel that Grav is jealous that he probably got beat up in school, not for any reason other than being the little fat retarded kid that was too conformist to hang out with anybody, so he just sat in the back of the bleacher and tried using his telekensis to make the kids in the Gym's head explode..

Anyway, here's a link to an article that argues sports fans are socially dysfunctional, using pride vicariously as a method of gaining self-esteem. http://media.www.louisvillecardinal....-2224429.shtml

Did anyone actually read this? Great article.

And when I made the statement about DnD, I meant those who watch the sport.

I have no problem with honest players, and they are by all means intelligent. It's the fans I just don't understand. It's like someone who plays a video game referring to the developers as "we" when they weren't on the production team.

"We really did a good job on Final Fantasy XIII." What?

Why must you DERAIL?!


And yes, I just glanced at that article, and I do understand where you guys are getting at. But these studies don't imply for EVERY SINGLE FAN. Stereotyping is usually more-so correct, but doesn't pertain to everybody. I noticed a line in that story that said when the team wins the 'person' reffers to the team as "we" and when they lose they reffer to as "they".. Which is stupid, this sounds more-so like a bandwagon fan if you ask me.

I just don't honestly see why the over-analytical process about sports is even going on. If fans want to act stupid and bandwagon and waste money on products that the team they like are plastered on, who cares? It's good for the economy, it's good for the city. Quit trying to be so negative and against anything popular

I do however, like the end of the article

Sports fans would answer these negative assessments of their lifestyle with a resounding "NUH-UH!" Sociologists, they might say, like to say big fancy words to make stuff sound bad. If fans want to center their lives on sports, that is their right. In the words of one Green Bay Packers fan, "the Packers are like your children. You don't love them because they're good. You love them because they're yours."

Basically where i'm getting at is Sociologists are just morons who over-analyze things because they have nothing better to study and analytically peice together for the purpose of their study. Basically, it just comes down to...


Who gives a fuck?..

Basically where i'm getting at is Sociologists are just morons who over-analyze things because they have nothing better to study and analytically peice together for the purpose of their study. Basically, it just comes down to... Who gives a fuck?..

Sociologists. Duh.

What you don't realize is that sociologists work in major fields of business and economics. They are not quacks. It is a social science, as economics is. You've told me to "learn economics" or some similar hypocritical nonsense. By your logic, economists "are just morons who over-analyze things because they have nothing better to study and analytically peice together for the purpose of their study." Holy crap that's a terrible "peice" of writing.

Economists are highly more important than sociologists. Finding new ways of how humans operate in their daily lives isn't going to be anything new to us, it's all old and we know already how humans function, anything new is just going to be more over-analyzed information that is in relevence will be insignificant.. While on the evolution factor the Economy is what makes us function towards the future, while our Society doesn't need to be analyzed to the extent that it is.

anything new is just going to be more over-analyzed information that is in relevence will be insignificant..

Yea...no.

These are a couple of pretty good rebuttals: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/ajs/current

http://jos.sagepub.com/

Both excellent and informative journals.