One, Two, Three...

The more I think about it, the more reasons I discover for my love of sports.

1. Sports provide a relatively neutral topic to discuss with folks. Comparing statistics and individual or team performances, building alliances based on hometown or other similar affiliations, and following the ongoing competitive matchups provides a conversation piece that doesn't run the risk of causing the same kind of strife as, say, politics or religion. Sure, sports conversations are by nature full of competition - but I argue that it's a different kind of "disagreement" than most other debate-oriented discussions. I think it's a way to enjoy having a shared experience with someone without needing a whole lot of other common ground.

2. Sports are inherently unpredictable, in spite of the industry centered around doing just that (making sports predictions.) When I sit down to watch a game, even a heavily mismatched one, there's always *some* chance that the underdog is going to win. And the fact that it's REAL, and is an honest to goodness achievement, makes witnessing those rare events worth sitting through the blowouts. It's worth more to me that watching a TV show or movie with a surprise ending.

3. Sports are ongoing. There's almost always something going on somewhere to get into. It's not like waiting 2 or 3 weeks in between episodes of a TV show (although the wait between seasons of more favorite sports can get long, I agree.)

4. As nerve wracking as watching a really important game is, and as heartbreaking as it is to watch a favorite team face playoff elimination, to me it's a lot less emotionally trying than most TV drama. Put it this way: I'd rather experience some heartfelt disappointment over a team's loss (for example, I'm still not quite over the Pens' playoff elimination, though I'm mostly there) than sit through 42 (or whatever) minutes of overwrought scenes with murder, affairs, heated confrontations, and betrayal.

5. There are so many inspiring stories to be found in sports - real hardships that folks overcame, real physical conditioning endured, and real sacrifices made in the spirit of achievement. There are so many examples of hard work paying off - sure, it's a glamorous lifestyle, but that doesn't detract from the effort and motivation needed to succeed.

6. Even during the game - who says there's no human element? I love watching how players act in the heat of the moment, how they have to devise and execute strategies under pressure, and how (if a team) they have to make the choice to coalesce as a team or fall apart when things really matter. Again, give me that over anything scripted, any day.

In conclusion, congrats to the Cubs for finally finding a team they can beat. Sheesh.

Also, I was catching up on back episodes of Fringe today, and stopped watching. (Spoiler alert...) Ever since the beginning, I've loved watching Olivia and Peter's interactions - I'm really sad that he took off the way he did when he figured out that Peter brought him back over from the other universe. I thought about it. When I've felt betrayed, I've always, always, given the other person more chances, or at least time to explain. That's not to say that I've kept myself open to betrayal - certainly I haven't. It looks like Peter had the last straw handed to him, and it made me sad. Everyone has a threshold, but it's really hard for me to watch someone leave all that they have the way he did. I wish he'd stayed but I understand why he wouldn't. Bah.