Skip to main content

The Pondering 10 - Annoying Things in Sports Today

I love sports. That's pretty evident by looking and searching around this blog. However, as times change and I grow older, there are a few things that do bother me regarding or surrounding the sports world. Various aspects have changed and quite frankly, in my opinion, it's not for the better. I'll live with it, but it's still annoying. With that said, here is the Pondering 10 - Annoying Things in Sports Today.


10. "Fans" - Let's just say, I've always despised bandwagon fans. And now added to this list are those fans who attend games for their premium seats, the food in the ball park, to be on TV, to walk around in the private clubs, or to build their social media. Whatever happened to loyalty to a team, and going to a game to watch the game?



9. Overexposure of Youth - The Little League World Series is cool. But do we need various all-american games and other showcases of high school kids on national television? Do we need added pressure and incentive to "jump" the process upon these kids? Has amateur and youth sports completely lost it's integrity?



8. Unofficial Team Mascots - I don't care for Spike Lee "speaking" for Knicks fans (as it usually isn't the consensus opinion), nor camera shots of Drake doing things other normal fans would be tossed out of the arena for.



7. ESPN - Talk about an entity that has completely bastardized the coverage of sports. Just my opinion. Have you spent a few minutes watching First Take? Ugh. I find plenty of what the "Worldwide Leader" does to be annoying.



6. Over-analytics - I'm all for used advanced metrics and quantitative analysis in sports as I do believe they do tell plenty and can prepare a viable scouting report, especially in baseball. However, when we start diving into crazy scenarios and absurd things to predict an outcome, or even conclusions that make zero sense, I'm no longer a supporter.



5. Fantasy Sports - If you play fantasy sports - wonderful - more power to you. Personally, I find that over reliance on fantasy sports takes away from fans enjoying and appreciating the athletes and their performance. But whatevs.



4. Lack of Rationality - This has always and will always be a part of sports, but it seems lately, it has grown as fans simply throw out absurd trade proposals and other outrageous statements. We see this especially in the tv and radio world where it's beyond comprehensible.



3. Talking Heads - I've now completely tuned out many of the over-abundance of talking heads that fill the airwaves. They add nothing, talk in hyperbole for attention, and rarely offer any substance.



2. The Pass for the NFL - I get that the NFL is king in this country. I do. However, it does bother me the way the league gets away with various and serious issues such as PEDs, player criminal history, and oh yeah, that small issue of head injuries in the league.



1. Fickle Narratives - This is a result of a combination of ESPN, over-analytics, fantasy sports, and the lack of rationality, but the way fans and sports narratives change on the whim is mind boggling. Russell Westbrook has a good game, all of a sudden hes the MVP, not Steph Curry? That's just the latest example.  And of course, the constant questioning of someone's legacy. Relax. Everyone, just relax. 

Recently Read Posts

A Product of Us: Thoughts on Durant Trade

I said back in July when Kevin Durant rocked the NBA world with his trade request, that he "showed us who he was".  It wasn't a negative comment, but one that encompasses his entire career being a product of our current sport climate - success and focus on legacy. We emphasize the value of a career on rings, and thus, Durant has too. Why wouldn't he?!  Upon waking up and realizing that Durant will don the purple and orange for the Phoenix Suns in what is clearly now a team to watch come the NBA Playoffs, I find myself further pondering if Kevin Durant is the prime result of what we - yes, us! - have done to the modern athlete.  Today, Durant is one of the greatest basketball players I've ever seen. EVER. The dude is rare. He's a seven-foot magician which makes defending him even more difficult based on how damn efficient he is on the basketball court. It's downright poetic and beautiful to watch Durant play. And yes, I'm romanticizing his game. I belie

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/19/23

3 Up 1. India's Tap Water Access - This is a rather remarkable story. It's a story that offers humility wrapped in the extraordinary. India's Jal Jeevan Mission provided almost 79 million - 79 MILLION! - households with tap water. Just tap water!  2. Jordan Make-A-Wish Record - MJ is often loved through nostalgia, narrative, and remembrance for being politically neutral - even in giving. MJ these days has made some influential contributions, including this latest $10M donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation.  3. WWE Elimination Chamber - A tremendously entertaining pay-per-view on the road to Wrestlemania. The best storyline in pro wrestling continues to evolve between Sami Zayn and the Bloodline.  3A. City of Montreal - Give it up to the city of Montreal for what made a few nights of pro wrestling an awesome experience. Can we get this city more events?  3 Down 1. Michigan State Shooting - We're broken. Very broken. My thoughts and prayers are with those friends and fam

Impact No Surrender 2023 Review: "Interested in where the Product is Going"

I've fallen behind on my Impact Wrestling viewing, but honestly, that's okay. For viewership and enjoyment, yes. Not so well for posting a review for readership long after it's noteworthy or relevant. But whatevs, that's just where I am in life. Wrestling is much more fun removed from the restraints and influence of the criticism and impact (no pun intended) of the current time. That's just me. You can probably thank social media. Moving on, No Surrender 2023 continues Impact's progress into the new year. The product is still solid and consistent with a nice blend of characters and wrestlers moving in and out of the main event scene, along with a fresh batch of a resurgence of characters and occurrences. Nothing says that more than Rich Swann vs. Josh Alexander.  No Surrender was a solid event, but it does leave me extremely interested in where the product is going, or should I say planning, for 2023. I don't want to say that Alexander's title reign has

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 1/8/22

3 Up 1. New Year - Happy New Year to you all! I've written it in a bunch of emails, mainly to be courteous, but I really do wish you the best for you. I hope 2023 is a great one for all of you DP readers.  2. Buffalo Athletic Trainers - Let's give it up for the Athletic Trainers of the Buffalo Bills who performed with courage, steadfastness, and urgency in regard to Damar Hamlin. We should be celebrating those trainers more.  2A. Athletic Trainers - And because I'm always around them, let's give it up for Athletic Trainers in general. They do so much and very much go unnoticed in the space of sports, athletics, and performance.  2B. Damar Hamlin - Praying for Hamlin and his family... 3. Broadway Bounceback - We all like to believe we're back from COVID, but we're not. But it's news like Broadway having its biggest week of sales since the pandemic began is some nice news. Everyone in the theatre industry deserves it.  3 Down 1. Damar Hamlin Situation - Horri