part of the narrow setqueenmomcatFebruary 7 2005, 07:02:03 UTC
I have no idea why OTHER people persist in thinking that sports mainstream in the U.S. have a scrap of interest, but I'm with you on this one; I find the Iditarod, rugby and championship dressage infinitely preferable to baseball, football and basketball. (Well, OK, rugby has quite a following in other countries; just not in the United States.)
Re: part of the narrow setmorsefanFebruary 7 2005, 07:10:42 UTC
There are just all sorts of interesting games/sports that actually involve skills that have real-life applicability, etc., and it's odd that we don't value them. World Cup skiing, especially of the nordic variety, is a good example -- though it is easy to see how you'd have to be careful about drug use in that one. Even figure skating, taking all its oddities and subjectivity into account, at least can be beautiful and bring out a full human being into performance.
Sometimes these games that are under the radar screen a bit lose some of the pressure for cheating, I think.
I used to be a huge baseball fan, and of course, I'm not super surprised to discover much of this steroid stuff is coming up in the AL, especially. BUT -- I was a Braves fan during the 1990s, and I remember the frustrations of losing so many games against big-hitting teams and the Braves' seeming inability to put together an offense to match the pitching. I'm starting to see one reason why now, and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
Re: part of the narrow setqueenmomcatFebruary 7 2005, 07:23:21 UTC
Well, I know why I prefer dressage to baseball: the former not only involves horsies but humans convincing creatures ten times their size to willingly perform graceful gymnastics...that are quite within their normal range of capabilities. The Lippizaners are the classic example of this.
If done right (women of normal, though highly athletic, proportions), I do quite like figure skating. Women's gymnastics, on the other hand, is for me as baseball for you; it would have been far more enjoyable were the players not doing such abnormal things to their bodies.
Re: part of the narrow setmorsefanFebruary 7 2005, 08:21:05 UTC
The equestrian sports are another example of at least practical skills at a high level being tested. You can respect that a lot.
I agree with you about women's gymnastics. I enjoy watching it, but I always find myself a tad creeped out by it. Now, I wouldn't want someone to think I don't enjoy a good ballgame from time to time. I'm just really unhappy about what I've heard about the breadth of this steroid scandal. When you read George Will's "Men at Work," you are struck by the skill and intellect required for the game. Steroids undermine all that is good about it.
I must admit, part of me has always wanted to take a team of dogs out into the Yukon and do the "White Fang" thing. Okay, admittedly in my present condition and with my present skills I'd last about five minutes out there and my dogs would probably eat me.
But still... I'm definitely an outdoors-in-the-wild type of girl sort of trapped in a city life.
So tell me more about dog mushing. You seem pretty knowledgeable on the topic, and I've always been interested, even if I've never actually done any research in that particular area... :)
A co-clerk of mine in Alaska had a couple of opportunities to go mushing at the club in Fairbanks when we were there. He was at least a decently committed nordic skier (not intense, but he often skied to and from work -- and that will get you in shape). He came in the weekend after the first time, and he could barely sit or stand! (LOL!) Apparently not only did he discover he could not walk, but he could not sit either! Literally, he found he had muscles that not only he did not know about, but that he could not have imagined anyone might have (heh!).
What I usually try to do this time of year is provide updates on the big races that are coming up: the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod. I'm thinking now that I may have time to do that (the last few years it has just been impossible), and that will get you up to speed in a big ole hurry (wink!).
No, but I'd enjoy trying it at some point. I love sports as a fan, and this is a great one. I've met one or two top mushers, gotten close to events. It's fun!
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Sometimes these games that are under the radar screen a bit lose some of the pressure for cheating, I think.
I used to be a huge baseball fan, and of course, I'm not super surprised to discover much of this steroid stuff is coming up in the AL, especially. BUT -- I was a Braves fan during the 1990s, and I remember the frustrations of losing so many games against big-hitting teams and the Braves' seeming inability to put together an offense to match the pitching. I'm starting to see one reason why now, and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
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If done right (women of normal, though highly athletic, proportions), I do quite like figure skating. Women's gymnastics, on the other hand, is for me as baseball for you; it would have been far more enjoyable were the players not doing such abnormal things to their bodies.
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I agree with you about women's gymnastics. I enjoy watching it, but I always find myself a tad creeped out by it. Now, I wouldn't want someone to think I don't enjoy a good ballgame from time to time. I'm just really unhappy about what I've heard about the breadth of this steroid scandal. When you read George Will's "Men at Work," you are struck by the skill and intellect required for the game. Steroids undermine all that is good about it.
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But still... I'm definitely an outdoors-in-the-wild type of girl sort of trapped in a city life.
So tell me more about dog mushing. You seem pretty knowledgeable on the topic, and I've always been interested, even if I've never actually done any research in that particular area... :)
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What I usually try to do this time of year is provide updates on the big races that are coming up: the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod. I'm thinking now that I may have time to do that (the last few years it has just been impossible), and that will get you up to speed in a big ole hurry (wink!).
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No, but I'd enjoy trying it at some point. I love sports as a fan, and this is a great one. I've met one or two top mushers, gotten close to events. It's fun!
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