post 6: 500 words in 31 minutes re. 1 subject

I don't like sport. That probably sounds as ridiculous to some people as "I don't like music" sounds to me, but that's the way it is.

I've always thought that the main reason for my dislike of sport is my lack of competitiveness, in terms of physical prowess or dexterity, anyway. (Challenge me to a game of chess, however, and you'll see my competitive side spew forth...) I don't care whether or not I can run faster than the next man, or kick a ball more accurately, so I don't get anything out of playing sport. So to be competitive on the behalf of other people (as in supporting a team or casually watching sport) is something I just can't get my head around. If I wouldn't care If I won, I certainly don't care if someone else does!

Emotional and intellectual dedication to the arbritrary success of others seems a hugely abstract concept to me. I get that sporting ability can be a joy to behold, that it can be dramatic, inspiring, entertaining and enthralling. But, beyond respect for such acheivements, I don't get what it matters if someone or some team 'wins' or not. Surely winning is a personal achievement (or a group achievement for a team). Deciding you support Man U doesn't make you jointly victorious when they score. Unless you decide it does, I suppose. In which case it's like faith - those without faith just can't get it.

The other day I caught some of the Commonwealth Games on TV and realised another level of my disdain for sport. As I watched, within the space of 30-odd seconds, there must have been about a dozen numbers pop up on-screen. The commentator babbled forth more numbers. So much of sport is about numbers! How boring! "Mr. Swimmer is representing his country for the 3rd time in this, the 50th games. He came 2nd in leg 1 and 1st in leg 2 with a joint time of 2 minutes 30 seconds. That's twice as fast as the previous record time, making him seeded 4th in the world...." AGGGHHH! enough numbers! I suppose it's the same in many things - if you like statistics and charts and so on, there's plenty to indulge in. Music charts, for instance. (I don't care about them either, incidentally).

One last observation concerning sport - why is it, out of all the many passtimes that our society indulges in, that sport is the only one that merits mention in every single news program and publication? Is it that important, that it deserves as much attention as war and murder? Is it really so much more relevant and valid than art and music? I suppose it is in that, for many people, whether conciously or not, it represents tribal affiliation. And that's pretty deeply ingrained - its based on personal and clan survival and is unavoidably aggressive at times - so yes, it will be more prevailant than the coverage of the arts.