Opinion: I don’t understand the appeal of watching organized sports

The NBA Finals are just around the corner, but for some, the excitement of professional sports remains a mystery. In a candid piece titled “I Just Don’t Get It,” a writer shares their experience of being sports agnostic despite wearing a Baltimore Orioles cap.

The writer recalls a moment in a Brooklyn park where a fellow dad mistook them for an Orioles fan and tried to engage in a conversation about the team. Despite fond memories of attending games with their dad as a child, the writer admits that the real appeal was the meaningful connection rather than the sport itself.

Reflecting on their lack of interest in professional sports, the writer likens cheering for a team to “rooting for the clothes” and finds the drama of wins and losses to be lacking in real-world stakes compared to political contests.

While acknowledging the physical, mental, and social benefits of playing sports, the writer remains perplexed by the emotional investment many adults have in professional sports. They recount a friend’s tearful reaction to a Super Bowl loss and question the impact of such events on adult emotions.

Ultimately, the writer concludes that while they may not understand the appeal of sports, they find joy in other communal experiences like election nights. And if you’re looking for emotional engagement, their wife makes delicious nachos for the occasion.