Do you watch sports, news, neither, or both?

[hay rick]

Thinking about the nonsense that passes for political dialog in contemporary America, I have to believe that there are a substantial number of people who watch almost no news, don't read newspapers, and don't seek out reliable online news. I worked with a lot of people who appeared to absorb no political information but had detailed understanding and familiarity with what was happening in sports. This became more pronounced with the emergence of ESPN, other cable sports outlets, and the widespread adoption of smart phones.

My question: do you think there are more people who watch 10 hours a week or more of sports or people who watch 1 hour or more of news a week?

[Meadowoak]

1. news. MSNBC mostly. Never been much of a sports fan, it always seemed to me, that in a day or two it doesn't matter

which sports team won. in politics, it really matters.

[bottomofthehill]

2. I watch both. We are a 3 tv house

The basement TV is always on some ESPN or TBS,TNT basketball or local sports teams. The kitchen is for and I will probably get blasted for this FOX Local morning bows and their news at 10. It’s the best local coverage, Occasional MSNBC and CNN when something real is going on in the world. The living-room TV is for a movies, shows like Will Trent and Netflix/prime video and the like.

[hlthe2b]

3. I watch news. I do follow college football and to a much lesser degree other sports, but until the Olympics

I tend to tune out. Even then, I've become weary of how network (US) news covers the Olympics so, that has dropped off too. (I'd like to find a way to follow without the attention constantly on the network's hosts and silly gimmicks, but more on the athletes (not JUST US) and the setting/culture, but I digress)

But, I do watch news and more so, READ about news, including following international sources.

[hay rick]

17. I read news online, but also get some on cable.

My wife keeps MSNBC on in the kitchen a lot, so I end up watching some. Left to my own devices I would watch some, but less. I find their obsessive coverage of Trump trials abusive and believe it is a bad substitute for coverage of a broader set of topics. It's like an interminable episode of X Files.

I watch pro football semi-religiously but very little sports the rest of the year.

[H2O Man]

4. Recommended.

I think that Michael Moore's 2004 book "Stupid White Men" commented on how there are guys who know a great deal of sports trivia, but are confused about political-social issues.

I watch the great sport of boxing, and actually prefer to see fights on television than being ringside these days. My younger son, a three time state Golden Gloves champion, still tries to get me to go watch them live. If my children are here at my house, they get me to watch some UFC fights, despite my thinking it is a violent sport. And I went to a few of my sister's granddaughter's basketball games this year. Other than that, I don't watch sports.

I do watch some "news" every day, and keep updated reading on the internet. But I spend more time watching "true crime" -- trials, police interrogations, etc, in order to relax.

[True Dough]

11. On that note, allow me to ask you an important political question...

What's the next fight for Sebastian Fundora? He won a tight decision over Tim Tszyu after slicing his scalp open with the errant elbow.

There's talk of a rematch, but also rumors that Fundora will face Bud Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. has called out Fundora as well.

Well, hold the phone! I'm Googling this stuff to make sure I have my story straight and now i'm seeing the Fundora has a nose injury that will keep him sidelined until November. So now it's looking like Bud Crawford vs. #1 contender Josh Kelly is likely.

Maybe Fundora and Tszyu will have a rematch later this year?

[H2O Man]

16. There's nothing more political

than the influence of "commissions" on the sport of boxing. Money dictates.

I realize that Tszyu fought Fundora on short notice -- which goes both ways. That Fundora is a tall southpaw. What surprised me was that he didn't throw many left hooks to the body, as that would be the most obvious thing in those circumstances. Likewise, a rmatch would seem the obvious choice, but it isn't going to sell PPV.

A fight with Crawford would sell, of course, though the current circumstances suggest that would be a year from now. So I lean towards Fundora fighting Spence next. It would sell, and if he beat Spence, it would make a Crawford fight a biiger draw.

[hay rick]

20. True crime relaxation.

It's curious that a police procedural should be relaxing, but my experience is similar. I read a lot of detective fiction for entertainment. My current problem is that I am "caught up" on most of my favorite authors, like Michael Connolly and Robert Crais.

I am fascinated by what I see as the emergence of widespread expertise in sports and sports trivia and believe it is paired with greater ignorance of very basic political information. Part of the downside of immersion in sports is that it over-emphasizes the importance of meritocracy and also encourages team loyalty in places it doesn't belong.

[spooky3]

30. Before I retired, some male students complained that there

Were too many details for them to remember when studying for the exam. I asked them which NFL quarterback had the best pass completion percentage and similar questions. After they answered, ended the discussion.

[Dulcinea]

5. Both.

My husband & I are big NFL, NHL, & college football fans.

He's addicted to one local newscast (he claims he only watches it for the weather, but I know better) that's followed by ABC World News Tonight, so I watch that sometimes. I only watch cable news when there's a big event, & then it's CNN. I read & listen to more news than I watch--NPR Morning Edition, All Things Considered, the BBC & AP apps, & our local paper online.

[Diamond_Dog]

6. I prefer to read news online, not watch on TV

Unless some catastrophic thing is going on, like 9/11.

I don’t have the patience or the attention span for TV news nor can I stand all the commercials. When reading news, if something doesn’t interest me, I can easily go on to reading something else.

Mr. Diamond watches all the NFL games when in season and I watch Cleveland Guardians games whenever possible.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Same Here

For one thing, DU is a treasure trove of news & commentary.
I watch a lot of sports, documentary, & food channels. I don't feel a need to watch TV news, except for the occasional glimpse at local Chicago news.

[erronis]

34. Ditto. No T.V. in this house. Get news online.

Couldn't care less about professional sports except sometimes tennis.

[brooklynite]

7. The Biden Campaign will tell you...

...more and more people are getting their news from social media.

[stopdiggin]

8. neither. and in this case not a scrap of virtue signal or

holier than thou ... The plain truth is - just lost my appetite for either genre as time went on. Found that neither was providing either entertainment or anything of particular value. And - don't feel particularly guilty, as I find that I can keep at least as well (if not better) informed through print and digital.

(And, yes, I know there are people out there that are huge fans of Rachel - or this and that presenter or podcast - to which I say, "more power .." And please come back and share what you've learned or enjoyed! )

[kacekwl]

9. I used to watch news

but no longer due to liberal bias.

[Rebl2]

10. Both

[EastBayGuy]

12. Neither

I read the (non-corporate) news in multiple formats and I'll occasionally watch playoff games. Just so tired of being firehosed by ADs and BS.

[Celerity]

13. Both, but real football (not American style) pretty much is the only sport we watch a lot of

[WhiskeyGrinder]

14. I don't watch news and I watch a lot of sports.

[Mossfern]

15. Neither

I don't watch or care about any sports and I get my news from the NY Times and the Atlantic and links from discussion sites where I participate. If I think something is biased, I look on line for other opinions.

I used to participate in discussion on Ummah until it became too hostile.
Funny though, I still shared recipes and talks with the women on Ummah - the men were becoming more radical though.

I'm one of those people who like to look at all sides of issues - especially trying to understand the viewpoint of those with whom I disagree. Very often this can become frustrating because the person I'm communicating with doesn't have the same attitude.

[jmowreader]

18. I watch sports

I am literally in the news business. When I am on shift, five days a week, I read somewhere between two and five newspapers cover to cover. I am a very heavy consumer of online news. And I know pretty much every local TV news personality on a professional level, and they send me interesting items by email. So, I really see no reason to watch TV news except that many of my friends are responsible for making it.

So…I watch sports when I’m not watching movies.

[Ferrets are Cool]

19. I get my news from here and from Meidas Touch.

[Xavier Breath]

21. I watch a good deal of both.

For sports I watch mostly hockey and football, both pro and college, and there might be some curling on occasion. And, when they roll around, I like to watch the Winter Olympics too.

For news and opinion I watch MSNBC, frequent this place and listen intermittently to the daily lineup on Sirius Progressive.

As I said, I watch a good deal of both, but news/opinion greatly outweighs the sports. I hope I could hold my own in a conversation about either.

[Silent Type]

22. Put news on in morning and seldom change channel until evening. Seldom watch a complete sports game/match,

but might watch the final quarter of tonight's women's champonship, and maybe a bit more leading up to final quarter. If it's not close, will watch something else. I'll usually watch superbowl, world series, college championships, etc., but not a lot of regular season games.

95% of time I watch TV, I'm either working at computer, playing my guitar or bouzouki while watching, browsing DU and other sites, etc.

[NewHendoLib]

23. I watch sports, read news at DU, and mute all ads

[EarthAbides]

25. Our TV is on 12 hours a day! Yikes!

I watch Nicole Wallace (so glad she is back!), Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes and Joy Reid, faithfully. The rest on MSNBC, not so much although I do love Lawrence and Alex Witt, but the time their shows are on I am either sleeping or watching Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Disney+ and Apple TV. I love to watch tennis and ice skating! Peacock does an excellent job with ice skating (World Feed, don't watch the NBC version that is edited down). T2 is a tennis channel that has popped up on Prime that shows tennis during the week and I will probably resubscribe to ESPN+ to watch Wimbledon and the US Open. While these programs are on I am usually sewing, drawing, putting together jigsaw puzzles on my iPad, eating or surfing the net. I do keep busy!
I think our societal problem is too many people are watching FEUX News. All the lies and disinformation start there....

[Elessar Zappa]

26. Sports, I watch frequently.

I get my news from online sources, mainly the Washington Post, BBC, and DU Latest Breaking News. The only TV news I watch is my local ABC affiliate. I hate cable news.

[FarPoint]

27. I got involved infollowing NFL football the past 2 years...

as an effort to avoid the endless cable news chatter 24/7 on tRump.


I also watch HGTV and food network, re-runs of all Star Trek...

[totodeinhere]

28. I have TV's but very seldom turn them on.

I don't watch sports and follow print media rather than watching televised news mostly.

[Ping Tung]

29. Mostly news through Roku and Youtube.

Mostly we watch foreign movies and tv series on Amazon Prime channels like Acorn and MhZ.

Sports only rarely.

[Permanut]

31. A lot of local news..

traffic, weather, upcoming events.

I used to watch more sports, because I could identify with some of the athletes.

Not so much now, because my 100 yard dash has turned into a hundred yard mosey.

[AllaN01Bear]

32. none

[Cartoonist]

33. News from social media, like DU

I follow the Premier League and world football, but not American soccer. I can't stand the yellers who call MLS.

[IbogaProject]

35. I watch little of either

I read news voraciously but don't follow sports. Wife and kid watch some sports. I can't stand broadcast news or sports especially the ads, streamed sports with dead air during ad breaks or foreign ads is ok on occasion.

[tritsofme]

36. Outside of major event coverage, I have no need for tv news. Sports are actually entertaining.

I don’t understand the folks who park themselves in front of cable news 24/7, they are not more informed, they just consume a ton of nonsense.

[Silent3]

37. Just news, supplemented with reading a lot of news too

But you're right that a huge number of Americans are very tuned-out from what's going on in this country and around the world.

Even among non-sports watchers, you'll find people who know nothing about current events, but have detailed knowledge of celebrity gossip or movies or video games or some hobby, etc.

I can understand, to a limited extent, that some people have tough lives and might just want to relax when they get some free time. The news can be a pretty depressing subject.

But some of these people, nevertheless, have fierce opinions about things they know little or nothing about, and still vote based on their limited and almost certainly very distorted knowledge. These are the idiots most easily manipulated by malicious actors.

Further, regardless of how hard a time you might have keeping up with the news, it should be considered a civic duty to maintain some reasonable level of awareness. Too many people let themselves off the hook by convincing themselves they are actually superior by "staying above the fray", and repeating cynicism masquerading as wisdom, such as "they (politicians) are all the same", letting themselves believe it doesn't matter at all who wins elections.

[hay rick]

43. Civic duty. Ding! Ding! Ding!

A functional democracy is not a right, it requires effort to make it work. If enough people think they can spare themselves the aggravation of staying informed, the democracy is ripe for the picking.

I mentioned sports in particular but, as you point out, there are many other distractions that can be used to avoid carrying the burden of informed citizenship.

[mike_c]

38. none of the above

I haven't owned a TV in forty years.

[Chainfire]

39. None

Our local newspaper is not local any more, it is a source for yesterday's news, from somewhere else, tomorrow. For decades, I watched the CBS Evening news like it was a religion, but no more. As far as sports, I used to follow college football, but anymore, I could care less who's overgrown, over-sexed, overpaid, under-educated athletes beat up who's, on whatever the field of play. Sports has no bearing on my life except when my city or state funds the venues for the millionaires that own the teams with my freaking money.

I can gather all the news I need on the weather report.

[Iggo]

40. Sports, yes. News, no.

[jimfields33]

41. I watch zero news. Only read here.

I only watch one sports show a year the superbowl.

[Sky Jewels]

42. Neither.

I'd rather get my news from various web sites. And sportsing bores me after five minutes. Doesn't matter what kind of game it is, I find it a snooze fest of repetition. Like basketball. They run up the court, shoot and make it or miss. They run down the court, shoot and make it and miss. Over and over and over. I can't help but get existential about it all: "Why am I supposed to care if the group of people wearing one color gets more points than the group of people wearing another color?"