Why Do Men Love Football?

[pokerfan]

Obviously the question assumes the standard stereotype. Of course not all men love football. My best friend barely even notices football season and I have to remind him when our school is on TV.

My mother loved football, even more than did my dad whose sport was baseball. One of my sisters loves football; the other sister despises all sport.

But in general, it seems like more men love it more than do women. So why is that?

Bob Andelman attempts to shed light on this mystery in his book, Why Men Watch Football. Revealing the Mystery of Male Behavior
http://www.theocentric.com/culture/issues/why_do_men_love_football.html

He breaks it down into two general categories with many subcategories: (1) Men watch football for entertainment. It is a pleasant diversion and distraction from their dull routines. (2) Men watch football to meet deep psychological needs and desires.

I am certainly in the entertainment camp. The greatest thing about sports is that it is trivial. But for three hours, I don't have to think about the country or the war or the economy.

One subcategory that struck a note with me was this one: Football appeals to men’s love of beauty. This might throw you for a loop, but football is not just sheer violence. It involves strategy and teamwork. Even more, in its best moments, it’s a beautiful “combination of intensity and finesse”

I was a big Bill Walsh fan and he took the game to a completely new level by inventing the elegant West Coast Offense. I'm very much a fan of strategy and out thinking one's opponent.

Anyway, I thought it was an interesting article and maybe an interesting book.

Of course maybe men love football because we are mouth breathing knuckle dragging Neanderthals.

[bluedigger]

1. Why do you hate Amurika?

Go Pats!

:patriot:

[pokerfan]

2. Ah yes, the cheaters

That reminds me of another subcategory explored by the author:

Football provides a window of meaning in an uncertain and chaotic world. Life is unfair. Not everyone plays by the rules. For a few hours on Sunday the tables are turned and life makes sense. “Many men lack other sources of positive reinforcement in their lives, according to the experts. Football provides a temporary reinforcement – a sense of security and a sense of meaningfulness”

[bluedigger]

5. "according to the experts"

I love experts!
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[caty]

3. I don't get it.

They run a few yards, then they stop and discuss it. They run a few yards, then they stop and discuss it----over and over again. Boooorrring.

[bluedigger]

4. Well , there's always golf...

Hit a ball
go find it
Hit it
go find it...

(repeat until 19th hole)

[caty]

8. There is one good thing about golf.

Put a golf game on the TV. Lie down on the couch and close your little eyes and let the golf commentator lull you to sleep with the low tone of his voice. :boring: Great for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon nap.(And your mind can relax because you know you're not missing anything.)

[Gidney N Cloyd]

9. Remember to keep the remote on your stomach and your hand on the remote.

[cobalt1999]

6. It's more than entertainment down here in the Southeastern Conference.

It's not just men down here either.

True Story: My future wife and I were sitting in a bar in Utah watching the 1992 SEC Championship game between my school (Florida Gators) and her school (Alabama Crimson Tide). My Gators quickly went down the field and scored a touchdown. I was up on my feet cheering, then turned around to gloat to her, but....she was gone! I went outside and the rental car was gone too. So, I went back inside watched the rest of the game. My Gators ended up losing, and she came prancing through the door.

I asked why she left and she said, "I couldn't be around someone who cheered against the Tide". I asked "what if Florida had won? Would you have come back to get me?" Her: "No way!".

Of course, I had to marry her.

[bluedigger]

7. Hah!

I love the "house divided" Bama/Auburn license plate frames!
:rofl:

[KG]

10. when it come to football, why ask why?

:hi:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

11. I don't watch football.

:shrug:

[bluedigger]

13. Why do you hate beauty?

According to the experts, that is.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

14. Sorry!

:P

[originalpckelly]

12. Nice asses.

Oh wait, this is straight guys we're talking about, isn't it?

[DarkTirade]

15. I have never watched a football game in my life.

It's fun to play... I don't get watching it though. Unless you're a really big fan who enjoys just about every aspect of the sport, I don't see the point.

[regularguy]

16. "Ultimately, football stops short of all-out war."

Whew! That's a relief! I like watching TV, but I don't like paying real close attention (like w/ a movie), so football is perfect. I can watch the game, play guitar, fold some laundry, chat with the wife and kids and of course drink lots of beer. Football makes daytime drinking ok!!! Ask anyone! Go "aggresive by nature" Birds of prey!!!!

[Deep13]

17. It's a safe way to express repressed homoerotic feelings.

Beefy dudes in tight pants jumping on and grabbing each other. That's sure how it looks to me.

[soleft]

18. See, it's stuff like this that has always made me feel like an outsider

Why can't it just be that some people like football. Why couldn't the guy write - Why do Human Beings love football?

[regularguy]

19. 'Cause it would have been harder to write

pseudo academic blather with that title. ;-)

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. Lack of proper brain development.

[unpossibles]

21. I hate football. Not the sport, but the subsidized fanaticism of it

my team is better than your team. Ra ra.

Meh.

I used to be fairly neutral about it, and even went to a couple of games and enjoyed playing the backyard variety, but living near the campus of OSU, where the "fans" like to burn couches, throw bottles, piss on everything, litter, and generally destroy the city and get away with it made me practically hate it. Football, and the fact that I have to pay for it on many levels, can bite me.

[WilliamPitt]

22. Out of the house, with the fellas, beers, food, insults galore, and violence on the TV.

Not a mystery.

:)

[Rob H.]

23. I must be in the minority, then

I was at work Monday morning and stepped outside to take a break with some of my female coworkers and they were all talking about the various football games that were played over the weekend. I had no idea what they were talking about! Anytime I see it while channel surfing I just think, "Ugh. Isn't there anything else on?" and change the channel.

[av8rdave]

24. I never noticed football until my college years, where home game attendance was compulsory

The more I learned about the game, the more I enjoyed it. There is nothing more fun than going to a game (particularly a college or HS game) with a bunch of friends Especially at the college level, the tradition and excitement that goes with it adds a lot to the entertainment value.

That being said...ROLL TIDE! (son goes there)

[SteppingRazor]

25. Team affiliation, the same as with any sport

The reason someone "doesn't get" a sport is that they don't have a team to root for.

Don't understand NASCAR? It's because you don't have a driver.
Don't get football? You don't have a team.
Don't get baseball? See above.

I went to college. Even leaving the pros aside, I have an affinity for the university's team. I want to see them do well. It's a source of pride.