here's one that can't go to religion...what's your favorite sport to play/watch?

[jpianoflorida]

I think this will tell us a lot about a person's personality.

I love to watch hockey! in person, not on tv                    I like to play basketball.     

[ahinton]

I think this will tell us a lot about a person's personality.

I love to watch hockey! in person, not on tv                    I like to play basketball.     

Sermonising (not true, of course...)

Best,

Alistair

[jpianoflorida]

what's not true?

[ahinton]

what's not true?

That I like to watch it or (still less) do it; ah, well - that joke went as flat as the flat earth, didn't it?!

Best,

Alistair

[jpianoflorida]

aah! I thought you meant that I was sermonizing!

[thalbergmad]

I like to watch naked darts.

It used to be on channel 4, but not for a while.

Thal

[prometheus]

Hockey; you mean actual hockey or ice hockey?

[jpianoflorida]

ice hockey

[maul]

I hear that a lot of people pray to god before watching a sports game in hopes of their team winning. I hear these people are stupid.

[jpianoflorida]

here we go , people trying to start a debate no matter what, and then you'll blame us.

[pianowolfi]

I liked to watch Tour de France but since it has been getting more and more obvious that this sport is doping infested I don't feel like watching it anymore. Sometimes i like to watch Ski jumping. Billiard is also pretty awesome to watch, especially before going to sleep.

[thalbergmad]

I liked to watch Tour de France but since it has been getting more and more obvious that this sport is doping infested I don't feel like watching it anymore.

I know what you mean wolfi. I have adopted the opinion that they are all on drugs so it don't bother me anymore.

There is nothing more "epic" in sport than a mountain stage in the Tour de France. Some of the Armstrong/Ullrich battles were essential viewing.

Thal

[sirpazhan]

curling 

[Waldszenen]

Football, to play and watch (that's soccer for you americans). I follow Liverpool in the Premier League but they're pretty dreadful this year.

And I was a keeper for a local club for about 10 years.

[ada]

To watch - just about everything except motor sport. Love aths, Aussie Rules, swimming, gymnastics, skiing. Not so mad on American football, shooting, cricket.
I began my career as a sports reporter believe it or not.  I've covered everything from equestrian to basketball and speed skating and cycling. Covering an Olympics is one of the best gigs you can get.

 To participate in - distance running.

[jpianoflorida]

ok, silly american here.....please tell me what is "cricket"?

[thalbergmad]

ok, silly american here.....please tell me what is "cricket"?

Similar to baseball, but 1/10th of the wages and they don't wear plus 4's

[wishful thinker]

Here is Messrs Pianolist and Hinton, about to enjoy a match 

[thalbergmad]

Here is Messrs Pianolist and Hinton, about to enjoy a match 

I just wet myself with laughter.

Great post.

[thalbergmad]

Bush avoids a rocket propelled grenade at the annual USA v IRAQ cricket match.

[Waldszenen]

ok, silly american here.....please tell me what is "cricket"?

Sport reserved exclusively to the British Empire... and Australia, of course, seeing as we keep on beating them.

[thalbergmad]

Sport reserved exclusively to the British Empire

British Empire.

HMM, you must mean the Falklands and Pitcairn Island.

Did not know they played cricket there.

Thal

PS. You ain't won yet baby

[ahinton]

Similar to baseball, but 1/10th of the wages and they don't wear plus 4's

And it's all supposed to be very non-violent and civilised and for the toffs and very stiff-upper-lip "British" - as in the old moralistic cliché of "play up, play up and play the game" and non-competitive sporting and all that stuff (it's no wonder the Aussies trounce the Brits at it, really) and slow-paced - hence the old expression for things that are not like that "it's simply not cricket!"; of course it's nothing of the sort - it's a big money commercial scene now (albeit nowhere near as big as UK football or US baseball), there's plenty of fast bowling and competitiveness, the protective gear worn by players has of necessity become more protective and the only relevance of the British stiff upper lip is that fast bowlers aim for them in the hope of smashing as many of them as possible.

I am not a sportsman of any kind; watching it does little for me (sorry, "ada"!) and the prospect of playing it does less than nothing at all. My eyesight isn't really up to standard for most of that kind of thing anyway. I do recall when at school having to participate as a reserve on a cricket team on one occasion, thinking to myself how utterly stupid this was and reckoning that the only redeeming feature of this absurdity was that, as a reserve, I'd never actually have to go in and bat, so I simply took a score with me (a musical one, that is!) and planned to work at it until the match ended. The school playing field was situated next to a train line and beyond its boundary at its far end was a train station, the significance of which will later become apparent. However, I did have to go in and bat - at which point I endeavoured to calm myself with the thought that even this ridiculous situation would not be ridiculous for long - out first ball and that would be that - back to work. The first ball was a wide to my right (apparently - not that I could see it coming) and the second a wide to my left. The third apparently came straight for me, so I just batted as hard as I could at something I could barely see, expecting at least to be out third ball. The shock of actually hitting the thing was something for which I was entirely unprepared, but the gentle leather-on-willow sound of legend seemd to me far more akin to a revolver going off in my face. I was about to run and then advised not to; I said "not a four, surely?" - "no!", came the swift retort - "a clear six". Well, a six it certainly was - a fact made still clearer as the ball's trajectory had in its sights a window of a train standing at the station; it crashed right through it into a "ladies only" compartment (they used to have those on some British trains in those days) and I learnt afterwards that the ball knocked out a lady in her 80s who also received namerous cuts to her face and arms from the broken glass. Funnily enough, I was never invited to play cricket again. I cannot for the life of me imagine why...

No - to me, "sport" is an Australian term, rather like "mate", thanks...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Here is Messrs Pianolist and Hinton, about to enjoy a match 

Which is which? (I bet pianolist doesn't know, either)...

My cricketing prowess has already been exposed in my previous post, so the authenticity of this photograph as identifed has clearly now been thrown into serious doubt.

Best,

Alistair

[pianowolfi]

Not religion but politics, heh? 

[thalbergmad]

1983 charity match

B Latham.    bowled Britchfield          0  

[jpianoflorida]

Bush avoids a rocket propelled grenade at the annual USA v IRAQ cricket match.

so do they use tennis balls? that's what is looks like.

[ahinton]

so do they use tennis balls? that's what is looks like.

It does indeed - which, if the caption is to be believed, reveals that the US army uses rocket-propelled tennis balls in Iraq ("weapons of mass destruction? - you cain't be serious!"); I'm no tennis player, but I still think that this is a gross waste of tennis balls by the American authorities and that Arnold Schönberg and George Gershwin (who used on occasion to play tennis together) would have been horrified...

Best,

Alistair

[jpianoflorida]

i love tennis..use to play all the time. I hurt my ankle last time, and now I think if I try to play again, it will aggravate it..so i go to the gym instead.

[wishful thinker]

Bush avoids a rocket propelled grenade at the annual USA v IRAQ cricket match.

No, no, you have it all wrong.  This was Mr. Bush's entry to the spot the ball competition

[thalbergmad]

Sorabji used to play tennis.

One point lasted 4 hours.

Thal

PS, awaits the usual "where is your evidence for this" post

[ahinton]

Sorabji used to play tennis.

One point lasted 4 hours.

Thal

PS, awaits the usual "where is your evidence for this" post

Waiting for another uninvited source to provide something to you that you plainly believe that you already have - i.e. "evidence" in this instance" - seems to me to be an unwarrantable waste of your time and energies which could surely so much more usefully be devoted to playing your own game of piano practice or making a racquet at the piano or something else far more Thalbergian. So - I will not ask for evidence, but I will point out that Sorabji did not play tennis and add that your erroneous statement that he did omitted any mention of whom you believe he may have played against. Ball internet, methinks. While you're thinking up an answer to this, why not challenge our susanistimo to a round of tennis? Love thirty? Perhaps you do - and pehaps she is, for all I know...

Best,

Alistair

[wishful thinker]

While you're thinking up an answer to this, why not challenge our susanistimo to a round of tennis?

No, no, please don't.  It's been lovely and quiet in here today    And she is already sufficiently challenged, I think 

[ahinton]

No, no, please don't.  It's been lovely and quiet in here today    And she is already sufficiently challenged, I think 

I didn't suggest that Thal did this ON THIS FORUM, did I?!

Best,

Alistair

[nicco]

Football, to play and watch (that's soccer for you americans). I follow Liverpool in the Premier League but they're pretty dreadful this year.

I know, I just hope the awayform soon will improve so they will get up there and fight for a place in next seasons champions league. Too bad that the 1st place is only between 2 teams so early in the season.

[thalbergmad]

Waiting for another uninvited source to provide something to you that you plainly believe that you already have - i.e. "evidence" in this instance" - seems to me to be an unwarrantable waste of your time and energies which could surely so much more usefully be devoted to playing your own game of piano practice or making a racquet at the piano or something else far more Thalbergian. So - I will not ask for evidence, but I will point out that Sorabji did not play tennis and add that your erroneous statement that he did omitted any mention of whom you believe he may have played against. Ball internet, methinks. While you're thinking up an answer to this, why not challenge our susanistimo to a round of tennis? Love thirty? Perhaps you do - and pehaps she is, for all I know...

Best,

Alistair

So what if any sport did Sorabji like?

[ahinton]

So what if any sport did Sorabji like?

Music criticism. That's about it, I think.

Best,

Alistair

[musik_man]

I watch a decent amount of college football (the American version not the sissy Euro-stuff.)  Of course that's pretty much a requirement at Texas A&M.

A&M- 12
UT- 7
Whoop!

[gruffalo]

To watch: tennis, rugby, ice hockey, baseball, american football, snooker, table tennis


to play: tennis (played since was 5), table tennis, rugby, football (like playing, hate watching), cricket and pool.

[mephisto]

I watch a decent amount of college football (the American version not the sissy Euro-stuff.) 

Soccer is pretty much insanely fun to play. I do also like typical "over-the-net" sports like tennis, badminton etc.

Judo is a favourite of mine too.