Flutterby™! : Organized Sports 2007-02-02 16:12:18.069727+00

Organized Sports

2007-02-02 16:12:18.069727+00 by Dan Lyke 3 comments

This evening we're going over to Mill Valley to see Fast Freddie Rodriguez. I have to admit that I'm not totally enthused about this, and am going partially from a "I'm one of the guiders of Marin Cyclists and I should be there" feeling of obligation.

I tried to figure out why organized sports leave me so cold, and was coming up with some notions of how organized sports encourage obsolete traits, at some point they boil simply down to genes, because at the highest levels, if you remove the drugs, you're just testing to see whose genetic make-up is faster or whatever. Somehow that ties into m's comment in the Boston bomb scare thread:

Most of us don't have much to fear on a physical basis any more. Bears, large cats, etc are not much of a problem these days. But the adrenalin response system is there, quite eager to be put into use.

Sports, regardless which, is also about the mind. To be specific, while I may or may not be genetically pre-disposed towards being a better sprinter on the bike, but what if that isn't coupled with the drive to win? Alternatively, what if I just used better training methods and hence gained an edge? Better, in a classic race, I may have the better tactics and hence win out over someone far superior genetically.

When they say "anything can happen in a horse race" it isn't because of genetics or drugs. Its because the choices of the jockey, the training methods and the energy level of the horse On That Day all factor into that race. The jockey might get them boxed at the rail and not be able to pull around to the front. The trainer might overwork the horse recently enough for it to be fatigued, or not worked the horse enough to make it run at peak. These same factors key into any sport, organized or not. So, while genetics might get you to competition level, they don't get you to the finish line.

Yeah, and by that very same token I'm much more willing to go out and cheer the two hundred lb guy pedaling up that final hill after 190 miles at 9:30 at night.

The Fast Freddie event is sold out, so we get to stay home and woodwork this evening!

Organized sports are much akin to organized religion - the politics and personalities just take all the fun out it. Look at the continued unacceptance of recumbents in competition cycling for a good example of hanging onto old traits...

As far as bears and large cats are concerned, you guys obviously aren't from Boulder:

While there doesn't seem to be muh trouble in the Southeast, here in Colorado we have warning signs on ALL trails about mountain lions and have sitings daily in Boulder.