People who dont like sport

Chazz Michael Michaels

ongarboy wrote: »

I have very little interest in sport but can understand why others love it. Even with the little interest that I have, I still vividly remember as a 15 year old, the World Cup 90 Ireland vs Romania penalty shoot out and felt the agony and ecstasy of the tension and outcome as did the whole country who were watching. I guess I envy those who can feel that sort of way anytime they watch their favourite team or sports person playing.

However, I am not choosing to deny myself the enjoyment of sport. It just doesn't interest me unless it's some major event (my county playing in the All Ireland or Ireland competing in the Olympics/World Cup etc). It would be like saying to you OP, you are choosing to deny yourself the enjoyment of ballet, chess, bingo or needlepoint if you didn't like those activities.

I'm talking about a blanket dislike of sport. I can understand a dislike of football, or whatever.

Davei141

Napper Hawkins wrote: »

I feel sorry for people who take a dislike to metal. They are really missing out on something special. I don't think there is anything that can quite match the agony or ecstacy of an epic metal gig. I have been through every range of emotion and back, watching various metal gigs over the years. Experiences that the metal haters simply miss out on.

I love literature (non sporting, don't like sports books at all), film, video games, etc. But, for me, none of these can match the *intensity* of emotion produced by an epic metal gig. Why? Because when an epic gig is occurring, part of you is thinking: "My god, this is real! This is actually happening!". Fictional tales lack this ingredient. This, I believe, is the difference in intensity. Real people are creating this story. This drama.

It may sound like I'm saying that metal is better than literature, etc. I'm not. Its all relative. I just don't know why some people choose to deny themselves the enjoyment of listening to metal.

:-)

Maybe if you said music that would be a better analogy. Like OP said does anyone blanketly dislike music or film? No they dislike genres and sub genres but sport is fair game somehow.

Dirty Dingus McGee

I watch almost every sport going if it is on TV and go to most of my county's and clubs GAA matches however sport as a form of entertainment is grossly over rated.I would say only 1 in 10 sports matches provide quality entertainment , the great thing about it is that on and off a special game will last with you for a lifetime i.e. Dublin v Kerry this year.

Going to sports matches is a ridiculously expensive form of entertainment, a book costs about €10 and keeps me entertained for weeks, a DVD is similar price and I could watch a decent film loads of times and not get bored I could only watch a truly great sports match more than once for the majority of matches if you know the result 99% of the entertainment is gone.

the_syco

Gotta love hurling. If not for the actual hurling, then the fights. Here's a tame one;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgMdRQJ29Vg

But have seen a few where I think they're applying to be a Star Wars extra, using their hurls as lightsabers

And then the tension for the remainder of the match is ice thin.

Lou.m

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

I feel sorry for people who take a dislike to sport. They are really missing out on something special. I don't think there is anything that can quite match the agony or ecstacy of an epic sporting encounter. I have been through every range of emotion and back, watching various sports over the years. Experiences that the sports haters simply miss out on.

I love literature (non sporting, don't like sports books at all), film, video games, etc. But, for me, none of these can match the *intensity* of emotion produced by an epic sporting encounter. Why? Because when an epic encounter is occurring, part of you is thinking: "My god, this is real! This is actually happening!". Fictional tales lack this ingredient. This, I believe, is the difference in intensity. Real people are creating this story. This drama.

It may sound like I'm saying that sport is better than literature, etc. I'm not. Its all relative. I just don't know why some people choose to deny themselves the enjoyment of following sport.

:-)

I like no love doing sport ...watching it a little occasionally like athletics. Big events like Katie Taylor etc.

But for me it is about doing it not watching it.

Irish Guitarist

I hate sport. There's no need to feel sorry for me. I feel plenty of emotion when listening to music, which is also created by real people.

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

Why? Because when an epic encounter is occurring, part of you is thinking: "My god, this is real! This is actually happening!". Fictional tales lack this ingredient. This, I believe, is the difference in intensity. Real people are creating this story. This drama.

Fictional tales often have a more interesting story though. I'll take the Terminator trying to kill Sarah Connor over someone trying to kick a ball into a net any day.

Paz-CCFC

You can unfairly simplify anything. I'll take Graham Cummins scoring a 94th minute goal in Tolka Park to take the league away from Shelbourne and give it to Cork City over a long reel of photographs being displayed on a screen.

WoollyRedHat

Personally I'm flumoxed when I ask someone for a game of croquet and they say they're not particularly fond of it. What has happened to our values, our desire for the essence of life?

Here is the mighty sport in action.I dare you to not find it entertaining.

steddyeddy

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

I feel sorry for people who take a dislike to sport. They are really missing out on something special. I don't think there is anything that can quite match the agony or ecstacy of an epic sporting encounter. I have been through every range of emotion and back, watching various sports over the years. Experiences that the sports haters simply miss out on.

I love literature (non sporting, don't like sports books at all), film, video games, etc. But, for me, none of these can match the *intensity* of emotion produced by an epic sporting encounter. Why? Because when an epic encounter is occurring, part of you is thinking: "My god, this is real! This is actually happening!". Fictional tales lack this ingredient. This, I believe, is the difference in intensity. Real people are creating this story. This drama.

It may sound like I'm saying that sport is better than literature, etc. I'm not. Its all relative. I just don't know why some people choose to deny themselves the enjoyment of following sport.

:-)

I don't think people choose to like or not like sport.

wretcheddomain

Darts is not a sport, it's a game, like poker is a game. Competitive sport should involve some form of whole body exercise and measuring this against other people/teams in a fair way. Darts and Golf, on the other hand, involve no exercise and are merely games of skill, akin to that of something like poker, for which there is an equal lack of exercise. Snooker would also fit this category of being a game rather than a sport. I think it's a noteworthy distinction.

As for the original post, I thought it was shocking that he said liking something was 'relative' yet felt the need to, almost objectively, state how those not interested in sport were 'missing out'. If we were to follow his relativity then I can equally argue he's missing out by wasting his time with that emotion. It's all relative afterall...

awec

wretcheddomain wrote: »

Darts is not a sport, it's a game, like poker is a game. Competitive sport should involve some form of whole body exercise and measuring this against other people/teams in a fair way. Darts and Golf, on the other hand, involve no exercise and are merely games of skill, akin to that of something like poker, for which there is an equal lack of exercise. Snooker would also fit this category of being a game rather than a sport. I think it's a noteworthy distinction.

As for the original post, I thought it was shocking that he said liking something was 'relative' yet felt the need to, almost objectively, state how those not interested in sport were 'missing out'. If we were to follow his relativity then I can equally argue he's missing out by wasting his time with that emotion. It's all relative afterall...

I think golf can be differentiated into the amateur game and the professional game. To play professional golf you do need to be in half decent shape and while your swing is mostly about technique you do need a certain amount of muscle power behind it.

Professional golfers often will do both cardio and weight work regularly in the gym with a trainer as well as practicing playing.

And there is a time when players have to bow out because their bodies are unable to keep them competitive with the younger, fitter players. Some players last longer than others though.

Eeden

steddyeddy wrote: »

I don't think people choose to like or not like sport.

I really don't "get" sport. Sometimes I can get caught up in the moment watching a sport (only if people around me are into it, though).

However, ask me the next week and I won't even remember the result or who was playing.

It also baffles me that when some people are asked about the best moment of their lives, they might answer with a sporting result (usually not one that they were personally involved in).

steddyeddy

Eeden wrote: »

I really don't "get" sport. Sometimes I can get caught up in the moment watching a sport (only if people around me are into it, though).

However, ask me the next week and I won't even remember the result or who was playing.

It also baffles me that when some people are asked about the best moment of their lives, they might answer with a sporting result (usually not one that they were personally involved in).

I would be fairly similar in that regard. I don't understand those people either to be honest. I don't see how that's making the most out of life. To each his own though.

leggo

I think it's a case of context. Like, I genuinely feel if I sit down with someone with an open mind and show them the right moments while explaining the context, I can get them into a sport. The same applies to me: if someone can give me a good angle to get my teeth into, I can get into pretty much anything with a competitive edge.

So when people say, "I don't like sports," all I hear is, "I haven't seen the right game/had this explained to me properly." At the end of the day, sports come down to one human trying to complete a task, with obstacles thrown in their way (be it in an opponent or something else). In that respect, it's ridiculous to say you don't like sports. Because then you wouldn't enjoy movies, games, pretty much anything.

But still, if people don't enjoy something, good luck to them. There are plenty of things I have zero time for and no interest in being sold on.

e_e

Spunge wrote: »

I mean how do you even get a favourite time out of the premiership living here, just pick a random one, then suddenly youll cry if the lose a match ?

I'm so relieved that somebody else is wondering this. A question I've been asking for well over a decade and have yet to get a coherent answer to.

Chazz Michael Michaels

e_e wrote: »

I'm so relieved that somebody else is wondering this. A question I've been asking for well over a decade and have yet to get a coherent answer to.

I couldn't quite decipher his post there, but I think it means, how do Irish people pick an English team? Well, its basically a combination of three things. One, developing a love of association football, through playing and watching. Two, wanting to watch the game played, at the highest level (usually the closest, geographically). Three, peer pressure at school, forcing you to pick and subsequently defend a team. Hence, you end up attached to an English team.

Eeden

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

I couldn't quite decipher his post there, but I think it means, how do Irish people pick an English team? Well, its basically a combination of three things. One, developing a love of association football, through playing and watching. Two, wanting to watch the game played, at the highest level (usually the closest, geographically). Three, peer pressure at school, forcing you to pick and subsequently defend a team. Hence, you end up attached to an English team.

From what I've ever seen, your dad buys you the strip of "his" football team when you're about six months old...

e_e

Yeah I kinda assumed that but thought there was something more for people to get so passionate and emotional about. I enjoy sports from time to time but I can't say I've every felt really attached to a player or team, I used to just say I supported Liverpool but grew past that. :P

Sky King

Napper Hawkins wrote: »

I feel sorry for people who take a dislike to metal. They are really missing out on something special. I don't think there is anything that can quite match the agony or ecstacy of an epic metal gig. I have been through every range of emotion and back, watching various metal gigs over the years. Experiences that the metal haters simply miss out on.

I love literature (non sporting, don't like sports books at all), film, video games, etc. But, for me, none of these can match the *intensity* of emotion produced by an epic metal gig. Why? Because when an epic gig is occurring, part of you is thinking: "My god, this is real! This is actually happening!". Fictional tales lack this ingredient. This, I believe, is the difference in intensity. Real people are creating this story. This drama.

It may sound like I'm saying that metal is better than literature, etc. I'm not. Its all relative. I just don't know why some people choose to deny themselves the enjoyment of listening to metal.

:-)

I feel *exactly* like that, but about ceramics.

Chazz Michael Michaels

Eeden wrote: »

From what I've ever seen, your dad buys you the strip of "his" football team when you're about six months old...

Oh yeah. That is a big factor. My dad doesn't follow soccer!

Dyr

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

I feel sorry for people who take a dislike to sport. They are really missing out on something special. I don't think there is anything that can quite match the agony or ecstacy of an epic sporting encounter. I have been through every range of emotion and back, watching various sports over the years. Experiences that the sports haters simply miss out on.

I love literature (non sporting, don't like sports books at all), film, video games, etc. But, for me, none of these can match the *intensity* of emotion produced by an epic sporting encounter. Why? Because when an epic encounter is occurring, part of you is thinking: "My god, this is real! This is actually happening!". Fictional tales lack this ingredient. This, I believe, is the difference in intensity. Real people are creating this story. This drama.

It may sound like I'm saying that sport is better than literature, etc. I'm not. Its all relative. I just don't know why some people choose to deny themselves the enjoyment of following sport.

:-)

i suspect that you left out "on the telly" from the end of a lot of the sentences in that post

Chazz Michael Michaels

Bambi wrote: »

i suspect that you left out "on the telly" from the end of a lot of the sentences in that post

No. I didn't.

zenno

I think the Neanderthal comment previously is correct especially when it comes to football. soccer fans always seem to say that any-one not into football is gay, or something else, "it's a mans game" lol, yeah right.

A bunch of grown men chasing after a ball for 90 minutes doesn't titillate my brain, it bores me to death, ball goes up, ball goes down. The neanderthals are the folk that do nothing else but talk about this extremely boring sport, with a serious lack of intelligence to promote their brain to much better interesting hobbies.

I'm straight as an arrow, but I cannot stand soccer, it just melts my brain. Even thinking of sitting there watching it on the TV makes me want to get sick . Not every-one likes sports, and I can understand why, especially when it comes to soccer.

Chazz Michael Michaels

zenno wrote: »

I think the Neanderthal comment previously is correct especially when it comes to football. soccer fans always seem to say that any-one not into football is gay, or something else, "it's a mans game" lol, yeah right.

A bunch of grown men chasing after a ball for 90 minutes doesn't titillate my brain, it bores me to death, ball goes up, ball goes down. The neanderthals are the folk that do nothing else but talk about this extremely boring sport, with a serious lack of intelligence to promote their brain to much better interesting hobbies.

I'm straight as an arrow, but I cannot stand soccer, it just melts my brain. Even thinking of sitting there watching it on the TV makes me want to get sick . Not every-one likes sports, and I can understand why, especially when it comes to soccer.

What an out of context post...

zenno

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

What an out of context post...

Here we go....It seems I hit a nerve. My neanderthal comment seems to have come to fruition.

Chazz Michael Michaels

zenno wrote: »

Here we go....It seems I hit a nerve. My neanderthal comment seems to have come to fruition.

Not at all. It was just a strange post. Who was it even aimed at? Why was it even in this thread? Perhaps you meant to post this in the soccer forum?

zenno

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

Not at all. It was just a strange post. Who was it even aimed at? Why was it even in this thread? Perhaps you meant to post this in the soccer forum?

It is simply related to the topic at hand "sports" so it is perfectly in context

Chazz Michael Michaels

zenno wrote: »

It is simply related to the topic at hand "sports" so it is perfectly in context

But as I clearly pointed out at least twice now in this thread, I'm talking about people who have a blanket dislike of all sports.

Eeden

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

Not at all. It was just a strange post. Who was it even aimed at? Why was it even in this thread? Perhaps you meant to post this in the soccer forum?

Maybe Post #59 by Doctor DooM, which mentions neanderthals and mentions folks who seem to regard non-sports lovers as "gay"? I could be wrong here, but that's how I read it.

zenno

Eeden wrote: »

Maybe Post #59 by Doctor DooM, which mentions neanderthals and mentions folks who seem to regard non-sports lovers as "gay"? I could be wrong here, but that's how I read it.

You are perfectly correct. At least some-one read the whole thread.

e_e

I get the appeal of watching something like Snooker or Darts on TV (in that every move counts and there is always a victory) but I'd rather watch a 90 minute experimental film about paint drying than sit through an entire televised football match again.

No problems with people who like to watch it but growing up I used to feel so left out of conversations often with the fake assumption that it's something all lads must like. I kinda started to resent it but it's not so bad now in fairness.

csallmighty

In the OP you can replace sport with any hobby out there.

"I feel sorry for people who take a dislike to ___"

Gaming, hiking, reading, collecting, DIY, fishing..........

It's all down to peoples preference, people can get the same enjoyment from something else, doesn't have to be sport.

Dr Bob

To be honest most sports bore me senseless..unless I know someone on the team (or have money riding on the result) watching some millionaire 17 year olds booting a ball around for an hour and a half, or some one throwing themselves over a bar or whatever just doesnt interest me.
Having said that I love a lot of odd stuff that a lot of people would be bored silly with, so each to their own and if following "your" team with your frends or watching F1 or Golf or whatever makes you happy then more power to you.

Chazz Michael Michaels

csallmighty wrote: »

In the OP you can replace sport with any hobby out there.

"I feel sorry for people who take a dislike to ___"

Gaming, hiking, reading, collecting, DIY, fishing..........

It's all down to peoples preference, people can get the same enjoyment from something else, doesn't have to be sport.

I already addressed this.....

Frank Black

Anyone I've ever met who's had a blanket dislike for Sport, hasn't exactly compensated for it by having loads of other incredible interests, hobbies or conversational abilities.
In fact they tend to be the most anally retentive bores one could ever have the misfortune to meet.

mickydoomsux

I'm fairly apathetic to sport to be honest. I watch a bit of MMA and that's about it.

What annoys me is the borderline obsession with sport we have in this country (and many others) and the reverence in which we hold sportspeople.

At the weekends the main radio stations are unlistenable because they have shows on for 8+ hours of the day picking over the minutiae of whatever games in whatever codes are on that day. There simply isn't that much worthwhile to say about sport every single weekend. Sports talk radio is an exercise in redundant repetition.

:pac: "Hey, didn't/won't those guys play well/poorly"
:pac: "Yeah, here's what the should have done/should do"
:pac: "None of what we're saying actually means anything, is any way insightful or interesting or makes any difference to what has happened/what will happen.

Sports people being describe as being "brave" or "heroes" is disgusting as well.

You can kick a ball real good or run very fast. Big ****ing deal.

Save someones life or fight to defend your people or country and i'll call you a hero. Until then you're just a grown man/woman who has somehow managed to make a better living playing a made-up game than most A&E staff make stopping people from dying or soldiers make to defend our sovereignty.

Heroes my arse.

kfallon

mickydoomsux wrote: »

Sports people being describe as being "brave" or "heroes" is disgusting as well.

You can kick a ball real good or run very fast. Big ****ing deal.

Save someones life or fight to defend your people or country and i'll call you a hero. Until then you're just a grown man/woman who has somehow managed to make a better living playing a made-up game than most A&E staff make stopping people from dying or soldiers make to defend our sovereignty.

Heroes my arse.

There are numerous instances throughout sport of people swallowing their tongue after a nasty collision and fellow sportsmen coming to their rescue by reaching in and pulling it out from their throat, would you not consider that person a hero?

Also plenty of footballers/sportspeople have set up academies in 3rd world countries to try give youngsters there a better life and to also give them a chance to showcase their talents. Unfortunately theses sort of stories don't sell tabloid newspapers so you don't see them reported.

Duggy747

Don't hate sports but have zero interest in watching something like football. When I was sharing a house with my mates a few years ago every 2nd day was like this:

mickydoomsux

kfallon wrote: »

Also plenty of footballers/sportspeople have set up academies in 3rd world countries to try give youngsters there a better life and to also give them a chance to showcase their talents. Unfortunately theses sort of stories don't sell tabloid newspapers so you don't see them reported.

Why not just use their money to build schools so that even the non-sporty kids could benefit?

Setting up your own academy stinks of poaching talent early to cream a percentage of future agent fees.

Your other point is a bit of a stretch.

killanena

I can't stand watching sports, except extreme sports or maybe a foreign sport I had never seen before. I find nothing else in the world so boring.

But I love playing sports.

Overflow

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

You've had enough of whatever youre on...

I take it that one went way over your head !

Not surprising considering you think its logical that everyone should share the same opinions and preferences.

Overflow

Frank Black wrote: »

Anyone I've ever met who's had a blanket dislike for Sport, hasn't exactly compensated for it by having loads of other incredible interests, hobbies or conversational abilities.
In fact they tend to be the most anally retentive bores one could ever have the misfortune to meet.

That would probably be because they don't share the same interests as you. As in your case its sport, which, I'm sure you talk about all the time.

fobster

The endless talk gets to me. Just let me watch the ****ing thing.

As Brian O'Driscoll has said.

“We compete. We want to be out there, want to have that pressure, that squeeze on you, because that’s what we live for, that adrenaline rush. You don’t get that in the stand. You’re cheering the lads on and wanting them to do well, but you can’t experience the emotions they had.”

Nothing beats playing.

--> irishtimes.com/sport/almighty-bod-quick-to-point-out-that-he-s-a-mere-mortal-and-not-that-big-either-1.1567595

leggo

There's an awful lot of spite from people who don't watch sports towards people that do. I wonder where that comes from...

Cantstandsya

I like sports very much and I spend quite a bit of time playing, watching and reading about sports.

What I do not like, or at least do not understand, is when people identify themselves in relation to certain sports brands.

I am often in the pub and have to listen to brands such as Liverpool and Manchester United referred to using pronouns such as "us", "we", "our" etc... This is quality bull**** in my opinion and it's what makes football (and likely other professional sports) look ridiculous to the unsporty.

National and regional sports teams are slightly more legitimate for this sort of thing I suppose but on the other hand defining yourself through nationalism/parochialism isn't all that much better than identifying yourself in terms of a sports brand so who knows.

I love to watch good football (soccer) in particular and often have to explain that I don't follow a team and simply enjoy the sport. Why is this so difficult?

Chazz Michael Michaels

Overflow wrote: »

I take it that one went way over your head !

Not surprising considering you think its logical that everyone should share the same opinions and preferences.

No, I saw the silly little point you were trying to make. Like a good few in this thread, you entirely missed the point.

Alf Veedersane

mickydoomsux wrote: »

I'm fairly apathetic to sport to be honest. I watch a bit of MMA and that's about it.

What annoys me is the borderline obsession with sport we have in this country (and many others) and the reverence in which we hold sportspeople.

At the weekends the main radio stations are unlistenable because they have shows on for 8+ hours of the day picking over the minutiae of whatever games in whatever codes are on that day. There simply isn't that much worthwhile to say about sport every single weekend. Sports talk radio is an exercise in redundant repetition.

:pac: "Hey, didn't/won't those guys play well/poorly"
:pac: "Yeah, here's what the should have done/should do"
:pac: "None of what we're saying actually means anything, is any way insightful or interesting or makes any difference to what has happened/what will happen.

Sports people being describe as being "brave" or "heroes" is disgusting as well.

You can kick a ball real good or run very fast. Big ****ing deal.

Save someones life or fight to defend your people or country and i'll call you a hero. Until then you're just a grown man/woman who has somehow managed to make a better living playing a made-up game than most A&E staff make stopping people from dying or soldiers make to defend our sovereignty.

Heroes my arse.

leggo

Cantstandsya wrote: »

I like sports very much and I spend quite a bit of time playing, watching and reading about sports.

What I do not like, or at least do not understand, is when people identify themselves in relation to certain sports brands.

I am often in the pub and have to listen to brands such as Liverpool and Manchester United referred to using pronouns such as "us", "we", "our" etc... This is quality bull**** in my opinion and it's what makes football (and likely other professional sports) look ridiculous to the unsporty.

National and regional sports teams are slightly more legitimate for this sort of thing I suppose but on the other hand defining yourself through nationalism/parochialism isn't all that much better than identifying yourself in terms of a sports brand so who knows.

I love to watch good football (soccer) in particular and often have to explain that I don't follow a team and simply enjoy the sport. Why is this so difficult?

This comes up a lot and I never understand people's problem with it. It just seems like a stick to beat people who relate to something in a way people don't understand.

When people use the term 'we', it's a way of identifying a closeness they feel with the team and fans of that team. When you look at a particular 'brand', as you call it, over time the players, coaches and personnel change constantly. The only consistent thing about said brand is the fanbase. They are the thing that keeps a brand/team/organisation going, a consistent collective 'being' when even the home base can potentially move these days. So, if anything, fans have more justification to use the term 'we' than anyone else.

It's not because they think they're a member of the team on the pitch.

Arrow.

Princess Peach wrote: »

I feel sorry for all the people who don't have the exact same interests as me. I get great enjoyment from my hobbies and everyone who does different things is really missing out. What boring lives they must have.

I think the point made was obvious:

Sports covers and garners a huge range of interest. There are hundreds of sports.

To say you don't like any sports is like saying you don't like any types of films at all.

And that is bit odd in my opinion, regardless of what other interests you may have.

LexieOnRale wrote: »

What a condescending OP. I feel bad for people who don't like shopping, it's therapeutic and really enjoyable and a good way to spend a day, how could someone hate that?

Meh - we all love different things. Watching 12+ sweaty men running after a ball does nothing for me, personally, but hey! Each to their own

Terrible example. :P

You've picked shopping as a past time and then compared it to one game you don't seem to like.

How many forms of shopping is there compared to the number of sports there are?

As I've said, there are tons of sports out there. Maybe some people just haven't found the right one.

If you're not willing to try something, you won't know if you like it.

I abhor watching golf. Always have. I like to play it though.

Napper Hawkins wrote: »

I feel sorry for people who take a dislike to metal. They are really missing out on something special. I don't think there is anything that can quite match the agony or ecstacy of an epic metal gig. I have been through every range of emotion and back, watching various metal gigs over the years. Experiences that the metal haters simply miss out on.

Metal in this example = rugby say, not music. So another bad example.

mickydoomsux wrote: »

Why not just use their money to build schools so that even the non-sporty kids could benefit?

Setting up your own academy stinks of poaching talent early to cream a percentage of future agent fees.

Your other point is a bit of a stretch.

We're onto conspiracy theories now...

They set up academies to give kids the chance that they had to make it to the very top because they may not otherwise have the opportunity in today's game.

Why would a player want to 'poach' talent? Poaching is the wrong word here also because it's not really poaching if they've no facilities or clubs in which they're affiliated.

You can use Google there to see the good a lot of footballers have done for various charities, but it appears you've more interest in belittling a sport you don't like as opposed to providing any actual facts or evidence to support your argument.

I Heart Internet

I doubt there's more than a handful of people, when push comes to shove, who don't enjoy say a World Cup penalty shootout or an Irish gold medal at the olympics.

It's just, as people have said already, many people don't like the endless talk about sports.

I like watching sport now and again - most sports...was watching the skiiing yesterday and it was great. I also like some of the sports news chat on radio (newstalk especially). But I can't stand the radio shows on Sat/Sun afternoons that follow live sport as-it-happens. I find it pretty useless tbh.