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How easy is it to get into a new sport?
I'm always a bit envious of people who are into multiple sports. Literally all I watch is football, but it would be nice to get into another sport just as much or even marginally as much.
Loads of people were going on about Cricket recently, so let's use that as an example. Has anyone on here just taken up watching a new sport? How did that go for you, and was it easy?
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
The Bob Banker Spanker
Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey is how easy it is to get into a new sport?
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Baker
I'm always a bit envious of people who are into multiple sports. Literally all I watch is football, but it would be nice to get into another sport just as much or even marginally as much.
Loads of people were going on about Cricket recently, so let's use that as an example. Has anyone on here just taken up watching a new sport? How did that go for you, and was it easy?
Its pretty easy. My daughter has been playing netball for a while and we attended a couple of Celtic Dragons games last season. I only know the basic rules from watching my daughter play but i appreciated the skill on show and the event. Obviously the more you see the more you enjoy.
I have played and followed Cricket all my life and the T20 games are practically nights out and we always take down a good group some are not interested in the game at all.
There needs to a base interest there, otherwise you will go and just be looking at your phone all day, but there are no rules that people need to have a base knowledge to enjoy something, even in football.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Surely you will have played rugby, cricket, tennis as a kid? I doubt they are new sports to many people really. You will know the rules and be able to recognise good play. The only sports that I can say that are truly new to me as an adult are the US sports, and NFL in particular. I’m sure lots of people played madden so the basics would be known, but it does help to watch with someone who knows the sport very well.
Sport is the best theatre that there is. I can’t think of many sports that aren’t capable of serving excellent drama. I could never watch just football and I think there are far better spectator sports, although it is far and away the best sport to play and is so accessible.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Tailor made for Sludge this thread, can’t wait until he catches up with it and absolutely smashes it🤪🤪🤪
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
I like watching a lot of sport and will watch from one week to another football, rugby league, rugby union, ice hockey, boxing, MMA, cricket and occasionally darts.
The missus isn't overly happy with the amount I watch but then I don't take the pi$$ (much) about her watching hour upon hour of soaps about made up families doing made up things in made up locations so each to their own.
I've watched all live apart from darts but been meaning to get to a Premier League at the CIA at some point as it looks a decent night out but it is more for the night out than a great interest in who wins etc other than Gerwyn Price.
Anyway, if you're branching out then I would look to get a loose grasp of the rules before watching many of the sports mentioned as if it were anything like me you'd come away thinking 'what the hell was that' much in the same way I do when trying to watch NFL, Kabbadi or most of all Aussie Rules.
I'd recommend boxing/MMA and ice hockey as primarily football fan to choose if you're starting off into new sports. Boxing ad MMA as it is two fellas having a tear up and can be as simple or technical as you want it to be. It is also a quality night out live but has an atmosphere that you would expect from an event attended by coach loads of fans, mainly men and many from gyms up and down the country would do.
Ice Hockey would be of interest to you I'm sure in the simple sense that there is two goals, a puck replacing the ball and is very fast and entertaining.
For me, sadly football has lost a lot of what made it appeal to many over the years and a lot of lads have dropped off (Too pricey/Not what is once was/I've not been down since we sold Toshack) for many reasons. Many of them are now playing/watching other sports to fill the void. One thing is for sure, I would fill that Saturday void with anything before it is replaced with the war of attrition that is the marathon shopping trip with the missus where she seems to try everything on from every shop only to return to the first one as it was the best item she had found. Balls to that.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Baker
Has anyone on here just taken up watching a new sport? How did that go for you, and was it easy?
Yep, just turn the telly on :thumbup:
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Baker
I'm always a bit envious of people who are into multiple sports. Literally all I watch is football, but it would be nice to get into another sport just as much or even marginally as much.
Loads of people were going on about Cricket recently, so let's use that as an example. Has anyone on here just taken up watching a new sport? How did that go for you, and was it easy?
I'm a glory sports fan. I'll watch the big ones for a bunch of sports. I love a big boxing match and I got well into the cricket. Just jump on the hype train for Joshua vs Ruiz for example, read about it and by the time it comes around you'll be talking like you invented the sport
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
delmbox
I'm a glory sports fan. I'll watch the big ones for a bunch of sports. I love a big boxing match and I got well into the cricket. Just jump on the hype train for Joshua vs Ruiz for example, read about it and by the time it comes around you'll be talking like you invented the sport
Rugby World Cup coming up, this might, just might, bring a few tactical masterminds out. Blokes who’ve never been able to run for a bus will be screaming advice to the telly, always amuses me.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
splott parker
Rugby World Cup coming up, this might, just might, bring a few tactical masterminds out. Blokes who’ve never been able to run for a bus will be screaming advice to the telly, always amuses me.
So very different to the football, of course
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
Optimistic Nick
So very different to the football, of course
Quite correct, the football ‘experts’ scream the advice for the whole nine month season while the rugby experts will wait until February next year before picking up the baton again.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
I rarely ever watched other sports when I lived in the UK. I watch American football now and baseball. I really like them both, but I don't know whether I would have got into them as much if there had been more football on TV when I first moved here. I suspect I would though. I can just about tolerate ice hockey and I can't stand basketball.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
NYCBlue
I rarely ever watched other sports when I lived in the UK. I watch American football now and baseball. I really like them both, but I don't know whether I would have got into them as much if there had been more football on TV when I first moved here. I suspect I would though. I can just about tolerate ice hockey and I can't stand basketball.
What was your knowledge of football and baseball like before you started watching?
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
Optimistic Nick
Surely you will have played rugby, cricket, tennis as a kid? I doubt they are new sports to many people really. You will know the rules and be able to recognise good play.
A good point, yes. But I think the reason I enjoy football so much is because I lived and breathed it as a kid and growing up. The decent knowledge I have of football is why I love it so much. I just find it hard to be into a sport like Cricket (even if I have a small grasp of the rules) and feel like I've missed out on 15-20 years of it that I can't relate to.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NYCBlue
I rarely ever watched other sports when I lived in the UK. I watch American football now and baseball. I really like them both, but I don't know whether I would have got into them as much if there had been more football on TV when I first moved here. I suspect I would though. I can just about tolerate ice hockey and I can't stand basketball.
When I lived out in the States I watched the Red Sox play a few times, the Yankess a couple and went to watch the Royals once. I really enjoyed watching it live. But when it came to talking about it to people, that was another kettle of fish. I find it hard to like a sport if I can't discuss it properly afterwards, you know?
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
delmbox
I'm a glory sports fan. I'll watch the big ones for a bunch of sports. I love a big boxing match and I got well into the cricket. Just jump on the hype train for Joshua vs Ruiz for example, read about it and by the time it comes around you'll be talking like you invented the sport
I don't know if you're being serious but this is me with boxing. A big fight comes round and all of a sudden I'm Mickey Goldmill.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
Baker
A good point, yes. But I think the reason I enjoy football so much is because I lived and breathed it as a kid and growing up. The decent knowledge I have of football is why I love it so much. I just find it hard to be into a sport like Cricket (even if I have a small grasp of the rules) and feel like I've missed out on 15-20 years of it that I can't relate to.
Don't be daft. If you don't like cricket then you don't like it. If you want to start to like it then watch it. Or, even better, play it. Don't worry that you missed the 2005 Ashes or whatever. This summer has had two "I remember where I was when..." moments alone and there will be more to come, so get involved before they happen. I watch test matches and the occasional 20:20 so I don't pretend to know very much but it doesn't matter. You don't need to be an expert. Frankly it's impossible with some sports. Cricket is like a day job, as is baseball.
Got any friends who like cricket? You can't really go wrong, it's cheap to go to (county cricket in particular) and at worst you end up having a few beers in the late summer sun with your mates. You don't need to score the match or even watch all of it. It's a great day out, especially a close one day match.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
Baker
Ice Hockey is how easy it is to get into a new sport?
Yes.
Go see the Devils once. You’ll see what I mean.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Cardiff City are alright, but we don't watch them because of the football. It's about something else.
I suppose it's the same with all other sports fans.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
I can watch darts all night long...and snooker.
I can't watch cricket or Formula 1.
You'll find something.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
qccfc
Its pretty easy. My daughter has been playing netball for a while and we attended a couple of Celtic Dragons games last season. I only know the basic rules from watching my daughter play but i appreciated the skill on show and the event. Obviously the more you see the more you enjoy.
Going to Agree with Netball, Its end to end stuff and a team can be down by 6 and it turn around so quickly
We saw a fair few Team Bath games last year, as my daughter plays for them and we have got to know a few of the players, infact last weekend we purchased Season tickets for the this season on the weekend, 2 adult and 2 U16 for £350 , not too bad imho
Rules are fairly easy to pick up, though i watch 3 or 4 games / training sessions a week, so i should have picked it up by now
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Bob Banker Spanker
Yes.
Go see the Devils once. You’ll see what I mean.
I have to be fair mate - its wicked!
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Optimistic Nick
What was your knowledge of football and baseball like before you started watching?
Zero.
But my interest in baseball was piqued by seeing a documentary about the Brooklyn Dodgers. And American football is very hard to ignore in this country.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
Baker
When I lived out in the States I watched the Red Sox play a few times, the Yankess a couple and went to watch the Royals once. I really enjoyed watching it live. But when it came to talking about it to people, that was another kettle of fish. I find it hard to like a sport if I can't discuss it properly afterwards, you know?
Like most sports, with the aid of running commentary, it's much easier to learn about it on TV. This is especially so in Baseball where every part of play is previewed and reviewed. It won't take you long to understand what "here comes the oh-two pitch" means.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
I took up playing American football, I think it was about 1988. At that time, Channel 4 had started to screen NFL games, hosted by Mick Luckhurst. Understanding the rules to watch the game on TV is one thing, but knowing them to the extent that you can play the game without being flagged for everything you did, is another!
There was also the problem of getting the kit - you couldn't just walk into Giles Sports and pick it up. On that front, we had to go to, perhaps surprisingly, Talbot Green. The owner of the rather small sports shop had obviously foreseen a niche market and stocked a rather good selection of American football gear.
The cost was another factor why it made it difficult to get into, for example: a Riddell helmet back then would set you back £120, my shoulder pads alone were £145 and a pair of white Roos boots (not really necessary: hehe:) were £70... a lot of money back then!
There were many factors why this WASN'T an easy sport to get into.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NYCBlue
Zero.
But my interest in baseball was piqued by seeing a documentary about the Brooklyn Dodgers. And American football is very hard to ignore in this country.
The challenge with North American sports for the UK fan is obviously the time difference but the NFL I think offers the best chance of immersing. I’d recommend you joined an NFL fantasy draft league somehow. You’ll get hooked pretty quickly although I must agree that half the fun is the day to day banter around it. It’s only a 20 week season as well but for 16 weeks it kills any family time on a Sunday🤣.
In the US NFL is the same social currency as football is in the UK but in Canada it’s all about Hockey - my sports news programmes are wall to wall hockey and 70% of that is the Leafs. You have to understand it to survive with like minded people.
Fortunately I’ve got to love all of the sports over the last 10 years - basketball was maybe toughest but The Raptors won the NBA title this year so was difficult to avoid 2 million people on the streets of Toronto.... you sort of got carried on the emotional tide
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
Baker
I don't know if you're being serious but this is me with boxing. A big fight comes round and all of a sudden I'm Mickey Goldmill.
I am being serious. I love a big fight, and watching one with a bunch of mates is almost as enjoyable as watching a big footie match for me
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NYCBlue
Zero.
But my interest in baseball was piqued by seeing a documentary about the Brooklyn Dodgers. And American football is very hard to ignore in this country.
I never watch American football but I LOVE an American Football documentary - Last Chance U, QB Beyond the lights, I lap them up. The drama of it just fascinates me but the slowness of watching a whole game means the actual sport has never grasped me (so far)
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
I got hooked on American football from watching it on TV when I was young. I'm still hooked on it. My team has always been The Dolphins.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Optimistic Nick
Don't be daft. If you don't like cricket then you don't like it. If you want to start to like it then watch it. Or, even better, play it. Don't worry that you missed the 2005 Ashes or whatever. This summer has had two "I remember where I was when..." moments alone and there will be more to come, so get involved before they happen. I watch test matches and the occasional 20:20 so I don't pretend to know very much but it doesn't matter. You don't need to be an expert. Frankly it's impossible with some sports. Cricket is like a day job, as is baseball.
Got any friends who like cricket? You can't really go wrong, it's cheap to go to (county cricket in particular) and at worst you end up having a few beers in the late summer sun with your mates. You don't need to score the match or even watch all of it. It's a great day out, especially a close one day match.
As ON says, next summer just go watch the Hundred or the t20s in Cardiff. It's pretty cheap, it's on a Thursday/Friday night and you can have a few beers watching. Worst case scenario, you have a few beers on a nice summer's evening with a sport being played in front of you! T20 is a great gateway into cricket and it's other (and in my opinion, better, forms). Test cricket isn't for everyone but in my opinion, when it's good there's nothing else that comes close.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
delmbox
I never watch American football but I LOVE an American Football documentary - Last Chance U, QB Beyond the lights, I lap them up. The drama of it just fascinates me but the slowness of watching a whole game means the actual sport has never grasped me (so far)
Watch redzone if you think football is slow. It's like the Jeff stelling 3pm show, but they actually cut to and stay with live games when a team is likely to score (you just watch the games, there are no visible presenters). It's far from slow as you are following all the games at the same time. And watching a real game is not that slow normally, first half in particular. The drama of a real game can be incredible- the Minneapolis miracle and the patriots recovery in the super bowl a few years ago are two games that were just amazing to watch.
I quite like the BBC coverage too and is set at an audience with a limited understanding which suits me fine, so give that a go too.
I personally find NFL to be the best spectator sport for the neutral, there is just so much to enjoy about it. Or watch one of the Amazon documentaries where they follow a team for a season. The cardinals one about 4 years ago was great and it will mean you will at least know something about some of the players in the league.
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
length
Cardiff City are alright, but we don't watch them because of the football. It's about something else.
IMO It’s one of the most interesting and deeply philosophical comments I have ever read on this MB
It answers a lot of long term questions and poses a hundred more
Im going for a lay down now
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Optimistic Nick
Watch redzone if you think football is slow. It's like the Jeff stelling 3pm show, but they actually cut to and stay with live games when a team is likely to score (you just watch the games, there are no visible presenters). It's far from slow as you are following all the games at the same time. And watching a real game is not that slow normally, first half in particular. The drama of a real game can be incredible- the Minneapolis miracle and the patriots recovery in the super bowl a few years ago are two games that were just amazing to watch.
I quite like the BBC coverage too and is set at an audience with a limited understanding which suits me fine, so give that a go too.
I personally find NFL to be the best spectator sport for the neutral, there is just so much to enjoy about it. Or watch one of the Amazon documentaries where they follow a team for a season. The cardinals one about 4 years ago was great and it will mean you will at least know something about some of the players in the league.
Both Redzone and that documentary sound right up my street, cheers mate
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
delmbox
Both Redzone and that documentary sound right up my street, cheers mate
There are 4 of them on Prime. All Or Nothing is what you’re looking for.
The most current is the Carolina Panthers who they followed all of last season - you’ll either love or hate Cam Newton.
Arizona Cardinals one is probably the best but it’s a bit old now
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
StraightOuttaCanton
There are 4 of them on Prime. All Or Nothing is what you’re looking for.
The most current is the Carolina Panthers who they followed all of last season - you’ll either love or hate Cam Newton.
Arizona Cardinals one is probably the best but it’s a bit old now
Yeah, the quality of the documentary follows the quality of the season which made the cardinals one. Newton is a tit and the panthers were shite which ruined that one.
There was one that followed, I think, the rams a while ago. They showed case keenum being traded. He came across as a really decent guy which made me realise(or believe) that some NFL players aren't like the stereotype loud wanker. In fact if you look at some quarterbacks (brees, luck until he retired etc) you probably wouldn't even think they are professional sportsmen. These documentaries paint the players in a favourable light but nevertheless some of them seem decent in a way that footballers don't
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
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Originally Posted by
length
Cardiff City are alright, but we don't watch them because of the football. It's about something else.
I suppose it's the same with all other sports fans.
Aliens? 👽
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Re: How easy is it to get into a new sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
delmbox
I never watch American football but I LOVE an American Football documentary - Last Chance U, QB Beyond the lights, I lap them up. The drama of it just fascinates me but the slowness of watching a whole game means the actual sport has never grasped me (so far)
If you haven't already, I can tell Friday Night Lights is so up your street. (I've watched it through twice). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758745/