The Astros winning a baseball game is bigger news than 30,000 dead people

[Beefy]

Thank you for all of that.

Concerning the Trek / sports fan differences, I wasn't going for anything deep at all.  I was just pointing out that sports has permeated human culture - it's everywhere.  TV, radio, live events, cards, comics, action figures.  Sports as a subject of enthusiasm is never going to ebb or die away.  It will always be prevalent in our society in one way or another.  I think the favored sports might change over the years, but not the drive to compete.

By comparison, Star Trek, which has amazingly turned into something far more huge than Gene Roddenberry could have predicted it, is still somewhat marginalized.  The film series is dead.  The TV series are dead.  It isn't always on TV, the radio, etc., though those things certainly do exist.  Just in small fewer amounts.  And you don't, at least here in Clear Lake, see too many self-professed Klingons walking around, spouting Klingon social doctrine or whatever.  For the most part, if you want to interact with that kind of person, you have to seek them out, usually by hitting some kind of fan-con.

So then, all I was trying to point out was that due to the differing level of interest in thw two subjects, and our regular/irregular exposure to them, you're more likely to run across a sports nut than a Trek nut on any given day.  At least here in the states, I think that's a solid assumption.  Germany might be different.

Oh, and bingo:

i know what you're talking about with that primal stuff beef, and it is different, i think, from the way most sports enthusiasts, including those in this thread, respond. it's not just yelling and jumping up and down and getting drunk and being either really really happy or really really sad. that primal thing is different. i've seen it, and it freaks me out. it's letting a part of yourself live or die based on something that someone else is doing that has nothing to do with you personally.

[Beefy]

At the risk of anyone getting heated again, I must share tonight's experience at the grocery store.

I pull my cart up to the cashier, a gentleman I guessed to be late 50s / early 60s in age.

Cashier: (smiling) Evening!

Me: Good evening to you.  How are you doing?

Cashier:  Just great!

He starts scanning my items, my focus drifts to the screen that tallies everything up for you.

Cashier:  So, looking forward to the game?

Me:  Game?

Cashier:  The game!  The Astros are playing tonight for the win!

Me:  I didn't realize they were playing again tonight.  I don't really follow baseball.

Cashier: (tone somewhat less benevolent)  Aw c'mon, sport!  The Strohs need all of Houston's support!  You gotta watch and cheer them on.

Me:  (still watching that screen)  Nah, baseball doesn't do anything for me, Houston or otherwise.  I usually watch the Superbowl every year, but that's mainly for the commercials.

Cashier: (even less pleasant, but still insistant)  H-town has to come together tonight!  We are NOT going back to St. Louis!  You have to watch!

Me:  St. Louis?  Is that who we're playing?  (I honestly didn't know.)  I'll probably watch South Park tonight.

Suddenly, the scrolling on the screen stops.  I wait for what feels like a several long moments, but it doesn't start back up again.  Slowly, I turn my head to look at the cashier.  The look on his face is of complete disgust, like I am some kind of child molestor or something.  I look back at the screen, and then back at him again.  Suddenly, he starts scanning again, really fast, as though he can't get me out of his line fast enough.  He never says a word to me the rest of the time.  Not a total amount, not a good night, nothing.  He thrusts the receipt into my hand with disgust and immediately starts pulling the next cart up with a big smile and a friendly "Good evening".  The bagboy snickers at me as I slowly leave the store, staring back at the guy.

The thing is, I was never a jerk or rude or nasty to the guy.  With people I don't know, I am either pleasant or just plain quiet.  The guy tried to initiate a conversation and I went along with it in an honest fashion.  Yet, again, I was the asshole for some reason.

I suppose he could have something against South Park, but somehow I doubt that was the issue.  I get really tired of that mentality around here.

I hope the Astros lose and that guy spirals into a depression for a week or two.   

[ReBurn]

Why do you hate america?

[Beefy]

Why does America hate you?

It's probably karmic.

[dc]

I'm confused about something.  Is it OK to get emotional if you're betting on the games?  Usually, I only care who wins or loses if it has a financial impact on me.  If there's no money in it, I could care less...

[Beefy]

I'm confused about something.  Is it OK to get emotional if you're betting on the games?  Usually, I only care who wins or loses if it has a financial impact on me.  If there's no money in it, I could care less...

If I had a lot of money riding on a game, I would imagine that my reaction levels would be heightened.

[dc]

I'm confused about something.  Is it OK to get emotional if you're betting on the games?  Usually, I only care who wins or loses if it has a financial impact on me.  If there's no money in it, I could care less...

If I had a lot of money riding on a game, I would imagine that my reaction levels would be heightened.

So you're saying that you want to bet on tonight's game?

[Beefy]

I'm confused about something.  Is it OK to get emotional if you're betting on the games?  Usually, I only care who wins or loses if it has a financial impact on me.  If there's no money in it, I could care less...

If I had a lot of money riding on a game, I would imagine that my reaction levels would be heightened.

So you're saying that you want to bet on tonight's game?

?

I wouldn't bet someone else's money on a sports game, let alone my own.

[dc]

I'm confused about something.  Is it OK to get emotional if you're betting on the games?  Usually, I only care who wins or loses if it has a financial impact on me.  If there's no money in it, I could care less...

If I had a lot of money riding on a game, I would imagine that my reaction levels would be heightened.

So you're saying that you want to bet on tonight's game?

?

I wouldn't bet someone else's money on a sports game, let alone my own.

Just looking for a way for either one of us to give a shit about tonight's game.  You know me.  Always helpful.

[Beefy]

I'm confused about something.  Is it OK to get emotional if you're betting on the games?  Usually, I only care who wins or loses if it has a financial impact on me.  If there's no money in it, I could care less...

If I had a lot of money riding on a game, I would imagine that my reaction levels would be heightened.

So you're saying that you want to bet on tonight's game?

?

I wouldn't bet someone else's money on a sports game, let alone my own.

Just looking for a way for either one of us to give a shit about tonight's game.  You know me.  Always helpful.

Well, to be honest, I know several people who care a lot about tonight's game, and for their sake I hope the Astros win so they can ride high on it tomorrow.  I may not care about the Astros, but I like to see my friends and coworkers happy at the very least.

But not that cashier guy.  He's gonna get sprayed by a skunk tonight or something equally annoying.  I hope.

[ReBurn]

I'll be glad when baseball's over so my favorite TV shows will come on again.  I care that much about baseball at least.

[dc]

I'm confused about something.  Is it OK to get emotional if you're betting on the games?  Usually, I only care who wins or loses if it has a financial impact on me.  If there's no money in it, I could care less...

If I had a lot of money riding on a game, I would imagine that my reaction levels would be heightened.

So you're saying that you want to bet on tonight's game?

?

I wouldn't bet someone else's money on a sports game, let alone my own.

Just looking for a way for either one of us to give a shit about tonight's game.  You know me.  Always helpful.

Well, to be honest, I know several people who care a lot about tonight's game, and for their sake I hope the Astros win so they can ride high on it tomorrow.  I may not care about the Astros, but I like to see my friends and coworkers happy at the very least.

But not that cashier guy.  He's gonna get sprayed by a skunk tonight or something equally annoying.  I hope.

Better yet, hope that computer problems screw up his drawer so that he gets stuck there while they figure it out and misses the game.

[Beefy]

I'm confused about something.  Is it OK to get emotional if you're betting on the games?  Usually, I only care who wins or loses if it has a financial impact on me.  If there's no money in it, I could care less...

If I had a lot of money riding on a game, I would imagine that my reaction levels would be heightened.

So you're saying that you want to bet on tonight's game?

?

I wouldn't bet someone else's money on a sports game, let alone my own.

Just looking for a way for either one of us to give a shit about tonight's game.  You know me.  Always helpful.

Well, to be honest, I know several people who care a lot about tonight's game, and for their sake I hope the Astros win so they can ride high on it tomorrow.  I may not care about the Astros, but I like to see my friends and coworkers happy at the very least.

But not that cashier guy.  He's gonna get sprayed by a skunk tonight or something equally annoying.  I hope.

Better yet, hope that computer problems screw up his drawer so that he gets stuck there while they figure it out and misses the game.

I like your brand of evil.

[Beefy]

I'll be glad when baseball's over so my favorite TV shows will come on again.  I care that much about baseball at least.

I want my Family Guy back!

[dc]

I'm confused about something.  Is it OK to get emotional if you're betting on the games?  Usually, I only care who wins or loses if it has a financial impact on me.  If there's no money in it, I could care less...

If I had a lot of money riding on a game, I would imagine that my reaction levels would be heightened.

So you're saying that you want to bet on tonight's game?

?

I wouldn't bet someone else's money on a sports game, let alone my own.

Just looking for a way for either one of us to give a shit about tonight's game.  You know me.  Always helpful.

Well, to be honest, I know several people who care a lot about tonight's game, and for their sake I hope the Astros win so they can ride high on it tomorrow.  I may not care about the Astros, but I like to see my friends and coworkers happy at the very least.

But not that cashier guy.  He's gonna get sprayed by a skunk tonight or something equally annoying.  I hope.

Better yet, hope that computer problems screw up his drawer so that he gets stuck there while they figure it out and misses the game.

I like your brand of evil.

It's all part of the training to become a retail manager.