Sport chat - really boring?

[Reynard]

I work with people who were almost all born and bred within five miles of the office; there are very few who moved to the area as I did for the job. My sales Director, who is a well-travelled but loud, clumsy, boorish, big swinging-dick Alpha male type also born and bred in the area, talks about little other than footy and cricket. When I announced that this summer I will be retiring and moving to Scotland he looked at me in genuine puzzlement and asked: "But what are you going to do?" As if walking, climbing, wild swimming, cycling, rowing, canoeing, skiing, making stuff in our workshop, exploring Scotland and camping on Hebridean islands aren't enough. Then in a later conversation he asked me, puzzled again: "But... do you actually know anybody there?" As if you've got to know people when you move! I've got to go on an overseas trip with him next April, which I'm dreading because I've no idea what we are going to talk about.

Mmmm, there are some of us who are happy doing things that generally don't involve other people much. I know exactly where you're coming from, as I enjoy to draw and paint, do photography, cycle, cook, sew, read, write fiction and poetry and work on a motor racing archive that I maintain. I'm never bored as there's always something I can be doing.

Fortunately, most of my socialising is done at cat shows (I'm usually either judging or stewarding) so at least there is a common topic i.e. cats, regardless of how diverse other people's interests are.

 

[Reynard]

And one thing that really gets my goat... Silly, but ever so more than slightly irritating.

Why, oh why, when people find out that I've been following motor racing since the early 80s, immediately assume that I was a fan of "Our Nige"

Not everyone interested in motor racing back then was swept up by mansellmania...

 

[Jimidh]

Anyway - what’s everyone’s thoughts on the Six Nations??

 

[MontyVeda]

I have little knowledge of or interest in sport. When a friend was talking about Alistair Cooke, I first thought that I hadn't taken him for a long term Radio 4 fan then I found he was talking about a cricketer. Conversely, my friend had never listened to Letters From America.

I've been a bit bemused by the headline coverage of the death of the US basketball player. All very sad for his family, of course, but I've never heard of him.

Is that a bit like netball?

 

[MontyVeda]

... You can add reality TV, soaps, ...

Not having a telly makes one realise just how much workplace banter revolves around the telly... and I love the way people instantly glaze over when I say"I was listening to a show on radio four..."

 

[MontyVeda]

... I've got to go on an overseas trip with him next April, which I'm dreading because I've no idea what we are going to talk about.

bluffball.co.uk

 

[MontyVeda]

Anyway - what’s everyone’s thoughts on the Six Nations??

It seems most widely accepted that there's seven these days. When i was knee high to pylon there were only five... but I'd agree that there's six due to the lack of geo-thingy activity between the European and Asian plates, and the fact it's commonly referred to as the Eurasian plate only adds more weight the concept of six. but then again, I'm disregarding the Indian sub-continent.. which really should be a continent in its own right... so maybe there are seven after all.

 

[Jimidh]

It seems most widely accepted that there's seven these days. When i was knee high to pylon there were only five... but I'd agree that there's six due to the lack of geo-thingy activity between the European and Asian plates, and the fact it's commonly referred to as the Eurasian plate only adds more weight the concept of six. but then again, I'm disregarding the Indian sub-continent.. which really should be a continent in its own right... so maybe there are seven after all.

See even us sporty types know the difference between a continent and a nation .

 

[Reynard]

Is that a bit like netball?

Yes. And no. I've played both at various times. Basketball is a little less... ladylike.

 

[Pale Rider]

Not everyone interested in motor racing back then was swept up by mansellmania...

My recollection is Nige divided opinion.

I recall a GP at Brands in which he was duelling with Alain Prost.

Support at the track was not even, but there was plenty of people cheering the Prof.

 

[Reynard]

Not having a telly makes one realise just how much workplace banter revolves around the telly... and I love the way people instantly glaze over when I say"I was listening to a show on radio four..."

Hmm, I'm mostly a Radio 5 Live / 5 Live Sports Extra kind of gal...

 

[Reynard]

My recollection is Nige divided opinion.

I recall a GP at Brands in which he was duelling with Alain Prost.

Support at the track was not even, but there was plenty of people cheering the Prof.

Well, I was very firmly on the Prost side of the Prost v Senna debate

As for "Our Nige", he wasn't "My Nige"...

It was always the Warwick brothers for me. Both far better drivers IMHO, and a damn sight easier on the eye to boot.

 

[Pale Rider]

Well, I was very firmly on the Prost side of the Prost v Senna debate

As for "Our Nige", he wasn't "My Nige"...

It was always the Warwick brothers for me. Both far better drivers IMHO, and a damn sight easier on the eye to boot.

Support of F1 is different to most sports in that people may follow a driver or a team, particularly Ferrari.

When Teddy Sheringham left for Man Utd there was no possibility of me becoming a Red Devil.

And when Sol Campbell went to the trespassers from Woolwich, well, I never liked him anyway.

 

[Reynard]

Support of F1 is different to most sports in that people may follow a driver or a team, particularly Ferrari.

When Teddy Sheringham left for Man Utd there was no possibility of me becoming a Red Devil.

And when Sol Campbell went to the trespassers from Woolwich, well, I never liked him anyway.

Mmmm yeah, partisanship does vary somewhat from sport to sport.

When it comes to F1, I love it when Ferrari fall flat on their face... I'm a McLaren gal these days (well, they did very kindly sponsor my PhD) but back in the mid to late 80s, it was Arrows for the most part.

 

[Pale Rider]

I'm a McLaren gal these days (well, they did very kindly sponsor my PhD)

You will be able to transfer that allegiance to pro cycling with the new Bahrain McLaren Merida team.

Not sure how much involvement McLaren will have, maybe use their wind tunnel or produce some trick carbon components.