What sports do you play? What sports would you like to play?

the knee is fine for those sort of things, i can hike, ride a bike etc. it's just turning that's an issue. i probably need to see a physio tbh

Pickup Ultimate (Frisbee) for the last 13 years every Saturday morning, weather permitting. I was one of the youngest players when I started; now one of the oldest. It’s had such a positive impact on my life: I used to play hungover and coughing from smoking the previous night. Eventually I reached the point where I enjoyed playing more than smoking and quit cold turkey more than 6 years ago. Also, prior to playing, my wife and I had very few friends, stayed on our own, and were a little codependent. After I made a few friends through Ultimate, it opened up a whole new, healthier life for us.

It’s frustrating sometimes chasing someone half your age around, but you take little victories where you can. I’ve torn my meniscus and herniated a disc in my neck over the last 5 years, so I hear Father Time pretty loud these days, but I’ve recovered and soldiered through. On a sunny, breezeless Spring day, there is nothing better.

played ice hockey and basketball up until a few years ago, then i blew out my knee doing the latter

now i'm just going to seed

In my lifetime, I have spent many hours playing sports in a completely informal framework, without the benefit of referees, organization, or even the officially recognized number of players on a team, or on a regulation-sized field or court. Of these sports experiences, I've spent more total hours playing pickup basketball, but I got more sheer pleasure out of pickup volleyball games.

Now I'm too old, poorly conditioned and out of practice to play any sport at a level I can enjoy, but I clearly recall the pleasures of all those meaningless, informal pickup games. I sometimes dream about them at night.

bhuel lookit sure we never stopped playing informally

play crap-standard 11-a-side in goal. usually come off one of the more competent on the field despite largening waistline

play crappish-standard cricket as spin-bowling all-rounder (he said with a wink) and actually the forthcoming season is quite exciting, reckon it'll be a breakthrough year. will keep you updated

i was playing 5-a side up until a couple of months ago and then people started flaking out and we couldnt make up the numbers. Its a pity as it was enjoyable, im trying to get it started again but no-ones biting unfortunately

i think i could get into ultimate frisbee, but i dont know if it’s a thing close by, and i feel bad enough taking time to ride my bike. But i only ride alone (for safety and practical reasons) and it’s a bit socially isolating, the way i like to do it.

What’s a reasonable amount of time/wk to dedicate to your hobby sport? Vs your partner? Vs yr kids? Vs yr work?

diggin PBKR's post

Now I'm too old, poorly conditioned and out of practice to play any sport at a level I can enjoy, but I clearly recall the pleasures of all those meaningless, informal pickup games. I sometimes dream about them at night.

An 80 yr old plays basketball at my local open gym. I'm half his age, but still nearly twice as old as most of the other players. He had bilateral knee replacement at 50, hadn't played sports at all from when he was 30 til he retired. He does have to sit out full court games, and leaves after 1 hour of play. Also regularly plays in senior 3 on 3 bball tournaments, and is stoked that now he can join the 80+ teams where he is the agile, frisky superstar. He also plays tennis 2x/week. It's never too late to have fun playing sports.

i think i could get into ultimate frisbee, but i dont know if it’s a thing close by, and i feel bad enough taking time to ride my bike. But i only ride alone (for safety and practical reasons) and it’s a bit socially isolating, the way i like to do it.

Ultimate can be great and ime tends to attract chill people not into other sports (though any sport can have dicks and we’ve had one or two over the years). Check out USA Ultimate website, which may have info on a game local to you.

As for the amount of time involved, I play about 3 hours a week, but I don’t have kids. I would like to think if you find something that means a lot to you, you and your partner could work something out where you can help them find time for something meaningful as well.

An 80 yr old plays basketball at my local open gym. I'm half his age, but still nearly twice as old as most of the other players. He had bilateral knee replacement at 50, hadn't played sports at all from when he was 30 til he retired. He does have to sit out full court games, and leaves after 1 hour of play. Also regularly plays in senior 3 on 3 bball tournaments, and is stoked that now he can join the 80+ teams where he is the agile, frisky superstar. He also plays tennis 2x/week. It's never too late to have fun playing sports.

This is awesome. Gives me hope.

WE WON ONE

highlight of the year, obv

Um, this is a huge problem, not something to be cheered on? It might be possible that encouraging young, mostly Black men to ruin their bodies (and often their brains) for life to enrich a bunch of already rich white dudes because "it's the only way out of poverty" is the biggest indictment of sport as it relates to race and class in the US.

^we have a problem where we put all sports convo through the lens of the NFL. I don't think that basketball, soccer, or baseball are particularly destructive, not that injuries can't happen, but I'm not sure on balance those sports are more destructive than sitting at a desk 40 hours a week

hockey is probably closer to football esp w brain injuries (possibly worse but must ppl just don't pay attention to hockey)

also I think people who don't like sports forget that it's fun! most of the players like it and want to play, and lots of people who aren't close to pro go to the YMCA and play in their free time, I would say most players were obsessed with the sport and getting good and taking the time to practice and work on their craft and study the sports

― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 14 January 2021 19:26 (two minutes ago)

I seem to recall thrashing some of this out upthread (i think)

Heh now i look back it wasnt

Ah well

good try, good try, it’s only a game

Lol