Sports and partners

I read about a sport freak couple once..

The husband's team won the big championship against the wife's team. He wouldn't stop gloating about it. He told her to go in the kitchen and get her a beer. She said "fine", she then came out with a loaded gun and blasted him off from the face of the earth.

scraparcs said:

Say both of you have some interest in sports. Does it have any effect on your relationship if you support teams that are rivals? To use an American baseball example, say one partner is a Yankees fan and the other partner is a Red Sox fan. Is there a problem caused by that?

Just nosy, I wonder if anyone actually has had issues from this.

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I grew up watching a certain football team, but outside of that I don't really follow sports that closely, so I can't imagine it would have much of an impact on a relationship. I just watch sports for fun and don't take it seriously enough for it to be something that could drive a wedge between me and another person. The only way I could see it being a problem is if I were dating a guy who was a total fanatic about a certain rival team, and was just like... in my face whenever his team beat mine. That might get old. Otherwise, if it were more of a good-natured rivalry, it might be fun.

Darth Bagel said:

If it got mean spirited I think it would cause problems. Such as, if the Dodgers beat the Giants or they were higher up in the division than the Giants and she wouldn't stop giving me crap about it, then it might be an issue. People have to know when to stop.

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Excellent point. There's a fine line between fun gloating and just rubbing in their faces.

I love Sports, watching mostly and doing some.

TX_Matt said:

Excellent point. There's a fine line between fun gloating and just rubbing in their faces.

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I agree. I think a person who doesn't know when to stop cracking jokes or gloating probably has other issues too. I have known some people who are so competitive that they turn even supposedly friendly board games into strife. Some people are not gracious winners or losers.

I'd also add that not everyone handles teasing the same way. Some people are naturally more sensitive and may take offense more easily. I think the dynamics in every friendship/relationship will be different. I would be much more careful to crack jokes or make fun of a person's team if I perceived he/she might take offense or that he/she was really bothered by a disappointing loss. . You need to be sensitive in some situations.

YankeeGirl said:

I agree. I think a person who doesn't know when to stop cracking jokes or gloating probably has other issues too. I have known some people who are so competitive that they turn even supposedly friendly board games into strife. Some people are not gracious winners or losers.

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Yeah. I was totally that person. A know-it-all 18-year-old beating people almost twice my age at poker at a New Year's Eve party to the point where someone threw his chips at me, stormed off upstairs and locked himself in the bathroom(Which is still hilarious since he was like, 30.)

I have never really understood the intensity some people have towards sports really, but still, if it's important to that person then it seems a bit odd to mock it or rub it in their face excessively. A bit of friendly jabbing is natural, but yes, people need to identify and respect the line between fun and annoying!

Patrick Bateman said:

Yeah. I was totally that person. A know-it-all 18-year-old beating people almost twice my age at poker at a New Year's Eve party to the point where someone threw his chips at me, stormed off upstairs and locked himself in the bathroom(Which is still hilarious since he was like, 30.)

I have never really understood the intensity some people have towards sports really, but still, if it's important to that person then it seems a bit odd to mock it or rub it in their face excessively. A bit of friendly jabbing is natural, but yes, people need to identify and respect the line between fun and annoying!

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Lol. I can totally picture that happening. I think poker is one of those games that gets intense. In fairness to you, I think the guy sounds fairly immature. I used to experience that with chess. I could handle losing (although I didn't prefer it obviously) but most guys I beat couldn't handle it I've learned it's best to just avoid playing certain people. I think some people feel that losing in a game such as poker or chess reflects poorly on their intelligence. In reality, it's just a game.

YankeeGirl said:

Lol. I can totally picture that happening. I think poker is one of those games that gets intense. In fairness to you, I think the guy sounds fairly immature. I used to be like that with chess. I could handle losing (although I didn't prefer it obviously) but most guys I beat couldn't handle it I've learned it's best to just avoid playing certain people.

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Ha, yes he was! He was 6-foot-something and his 5-foot-nothing girlfriend forced him to apologise. It was hard not to laugh, but I figured that'd get us back to square one!

And yeah, losing sucks, but I think with the right attitude it can be just as rewarding as winning; especially with games like chess because you can ask them to explain their process and whether they followed a set strategy and why etc.

But yup, graciousness in general is a good thing to have and I think especially so in differences where fortune may favour one or the other, such as sports.

Just a few thoughts...

I wonder if Jesus would have felt at home at a modern sport event? Would he have been a supporter of a certain team over another if he had come to earth today instead of two thousand years ago?

Would he approve of certain sports but disapprove of others? For instance, would he think that soccer or baseball was cool but show less enthusiasm towards football, boxing or MMA? What would he say about the astronomical wages that the stars receive?

Finally I wonder if we Christians somehow are exempt from practicing the golden rule when we compete in sports? If not, isn't this principle diametrically opposed to the philosophy of winning?

scraparcs said:

Say both of you have some interest in sports. Does it have any effect on your relationship if you support teams that are rivals? To use an American baseball example, say one partner is a Yankees fan and the other partner is a Red Sox fan. Is there a problem caused by that?

Just nosy, I wonder if anyone actually has had issues from this.

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Depends on the team......

If she is a Cowboys fan.... I will always question her intelligence. I'd she is a Titans fan, I'd wonder about her hygiene (Cause the Titans are probably the dirtiest of teams, hygiene and playing wise. Money don't buy class.)

No, in truth it doesn't matter.... except on game day. If she is a cowboys or titans fan. We can decorate with her team logo on the toilet paper, doormat, etc. Everything else shall be Texans all the way........ or else.

[.]

If any part of your identity is so tied up to a sports team...especially one that you are not actively a team member on...that you get so emotionally invested enough that it interferes with real life relationships, you have some severe mental & relationship problems that need professional help. These are STRANGERS and this is a GAME. Your spouse is the one who actually knows you exist and you promised to love and cherish for a lifetime.

blackribbon said:

If any part of your identity is so tied up to a sports team...especially one that you are not actively a team member on...that you get so emotionally invested enough that it interferes with real life relationships, you have some severe mental & relationship problems that need professional help. These are STRANGERS and this is a GAME. Your spouse is the one who actually knows you exist and you promised to love and cherish for a lifetime.

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Whats this nonsense...... Cowboys fan eh?

Having spent most of my life in Houston, I am definitely NOT a Cowboys fan. However, I can't say that I ever care that much about any sports event that I don't know the participants personally(so not most professional sports).

Ubuntu said:

Just a few thoughts...

I wonder if Jesus would have felt at home at a modern sport event? Would he have been a supporter of a certain team over another if he had come to earth today instead of two thousand years ago?

Would he approve of certain sports but disapprove of others? For instance, would he think that soccer or baseball was cool but show less enthusiasm towards football, boxing or MMA? What would he say about the astronomical wages that the stars receive?

Finally I wonder if we Christians somehow are exempt from practicing the golden rule when we compete in sports? If not, isn't this principle diametrically opposed to the philosophy of winning?

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I understand where you are coming from. I know there are some Christians that would disapprove of the regular watching of sports. I think that rooting for a team or watching sports is like any other pastime. It isn't a vice in itself, but some people can get carried away. I think the key is how a person conducts himself while he plays or watches sports. If a person has an addictive personality or a competitive streak, he might be wise to avoid certain situations or pastimes that would exacerbate his weakness. I would also add that watching sports becomes sinful if a person allows sports to dominate his life and distract his focus from praying/meditating and reaching others. However, almost anything in life can become a person's idol. I think it always boils down to a person's heart.

I don't personally have a problem with inflated sports' salaries. I know that professional athletes get paid far more than other professionals. I am not saying that is how it should be but it is more a product of economics and supply and demand. If Americans/Canadians are willing to spend money on tickets, jerseys, and other sports' memorabilia, we can't blame the athletes for accepting the large paychecks. Also, actors, musicians, and other entertainers make big money. They aren't of any greater value to society than athletes are. These professions are lucrative, because there is a demand and interest for entertainment. If the blame were to be applied to any, it would have to be placed on the ones supporting these industries. I would agree with you that in an ideal world, entertainers would not be placed on a pedestal and wages of various professions would reflect the value those professions have on society.

well I think sports get stupid when people start not liking someone because of the team they like. Out of all the things to not like a person for it seems really silly, like as if a team someone roots for really says ANYTHING about their character?? LOL

Faithfulandtrue said:

well I think sports get stupid when people start not liking someone because of the team they like. Out of all the things to not like a person for it seems really silly, like as if a team someone roots for really says ANYTHING about their character?? LOL

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But...... it does. It says..... "I like to be wrong". Thats just an odd character flaw.

Toro said:

But...... it does. It says..... "I like to be wrong". Thats just an odd character flaw.

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LOL

People that this would be a problem for probably need to dial down the sports fandom a few notches.

Hey I thought we weren't supposed to be unequally yoked? Obviously some teams are far superior...like the Denver Broncos. Right?