Honestly, would you find much interest anymore in watching sports if you had NO wagers involved?

[HacheMan]

Im sure there are some exceptions, but for the most part, as sad as it is, I think I am well past the point of enjoying sports in general, unless I have something on the line. For God's sake, I cant even play Madden football on my Playstation 2 anymore unless I can convince someone to play for money!

 

[TheGeneral+]

Most certainly Yes.

 

[HacheMan]

General, let me ask you this ok. When you are watching a game, any game on TV, do you usually have a wager on another game, if not the one your watching?

 

[Dante]

well hache I disagree... I enjoy watching football for the excitment of it also, especially my favorite team. yes betting makes it a bit more fun at certain times, but I am not past the fun of football season, the fall weather the cold saturdays and sundays waking up and watching big games like florida, or texas at Colorado or nebraska.. and then on sunday NFL...no my friend nothing better then watching the game IMO...

 

[TheGeneral+]

Hache man,

I lost the addiction to bet along time ago. If I like a play, I bet, if not, i watch. I do not need action any longer. I hated the feeling you have. At one time I lost all interest in sports. No longer. I am a recovered addict

 

[HacheMan]

Oh Dante, dont get me wrong, I love nothing more than watching my Bucs and not having to have a wager on it, but, "in general", or most other games, I honestly think if you did not have the opportunity to lay one single bet, some interest would be lost on games other than your fav.

 

[HacheMan]

General, me also, remember we had this conversation a couple days ago when I said I hadnt bet in approx. 2 weeks, because I do not care for baseball. Now football, thats a different story, I actually like to bet on the game, I suppose because I enjoy the sport so much......But here's my point, if you are watching Monday Night Football, and you are watching 2 teams you do not really follow, are you normally going to sit through the whole game if you dont have a wager on it?

 

[TheGeneral+]

Yes, as long as i do not need to get up early for work, then i will watch whole game. If i got money on and need to get up early, then i will go to bed.

 

[HacheMan]

Interesting General. I can say for myself, if it's 2 lousy teams, and I dont have a bet on it, you wont catch me staying up late to watch it!

Of course, Im on the East coast, so that does make a difference.

 

[Journeyman]

I kind of side with Hache here....its not the same, sports in general aren1t though either, I think age also has taken away from the mystique of being enthralled with sports....

But not having 'action' definitely makes it tough to watch a whole game...

 

[RPM]

i would still be into sports without betting, but it would be more focused on home teams i think.

 

[blueedwards]

i would never, ever watch the nba or nfl unless i was betting. i would still watch the ncaa basketball tourney and playoff baseball.

 

[HacheMan]

Nice answer blue. Does this mean your favorite sport is ncaa basketball?

 

[Moneyneversleeps]

I started wagering on sports in 08/01. Prior to this I never watched sports. I actually despised watching sports on TV unless it was the Super Bowl, World Series, or some big College football game. Now, as long as I have action, I can watch a Little League baseball game and enjoy it!!!

 

[HacheMan]

Jaybird, exact same thing happened with me in NASCAR last year. I used to criticize that "sport" over and over, saying I would never waste my time watching it and said why dont they just race around the track 3 times and be done with it! BUT........wagering on it brought a whole new perspective to it. Now I know all about the drivers, which tracks they are strong at...etc....And have actually had some success at wagering on it, which isnt that easy.

 

[blueedwards]

i played baseball in little league and high school and have always loved the game. the ncaa tourney is the best sporting event on tv. i loved it before i knew what a "pool" was.

 

[Railbird]

nba, nfl, and mlb all pretty boring, if you wager or not.

 

[HacheMan]

Same goes with me blue with football.Actually my sporting days began with baseball, and was a standout, but just lost interest in it when I discovered football and basketball and realized I could play them all. I love football, and I love to wager on it, even though I havent layed a wager in 2 weeks on anything, I cant wait for football to have the satisfaction of examining games and picking sides.

 

[HacheMan]

So Rail, which sport do you consider not boring without wagers?

 

[PatrickMcIrish]

I can watch the NCCA hoop tournament and football without wagers and enjoy it. And some hockey (Lightning). I wouldn't watch NBA hoops, baseball or anything else without betting unless it was something special like the play-offs. Just not the same.

And don't get me wrong, even with football it is more enjoyable with action but I don't have to have it to enjoy the game.....