During this time of the year it’s time to enjoy the outdoors because you won’t find good sport on your television.
I normally refer to this stretch of summer as the “sports drought.” Once the NBA Finals are over, my cycle of “sports watching” is finished for the year. (I was spoiled with the World Cup, which happily extended my cycle another four weeks.) The cycle begins with football in the fall, college basketball throughout the winter and spring, hockey and professional basketball in the spring and earlier summer, and then a short break during July and August.
I don’t watch many sporting events during this time of the year for a couple of reasons. First, it’s so nice and warm out that I’d rather be outside doing something athletic instead of watching other people being active. Second, there aren’t any sports that grab my attention during this time of year.
“What about the WNBA?”
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t really watch the WNBA. It’s not that I dislike women’s basketball, either. I play basketball on a regular basis, so I can appreciate aspects of both the women’s and the men’s game.
One of the reasons that I don’t watch the WNBA is because the bulk of the season is on during the summer when I’d rather be outside playing ball instead of watching it. The other reason is that it’s hard to follow what’s going on because the airing of the regular season games is so inconsistent.
I’ll catch a playoff game here or there, but at that point the season is all but over and it’s hard for me to get invested. I think a lot of sports fans feel the same way that I do. It’s not so much about watching women’s basketball, as it is the timing of the season itself.
“What about tennis, baseball or golf?”
There is one thing that these three sports have in common (for me), and that’s the simple fact that they are boring to watch on television. Baseball and tennis are both sports that are better live. And golf, well, golf is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Don’t get me wrong … I play golf.
I love the sport, and I appreciate the mental and physical stamina it takes to play the game. But I wouldn’t spend a full Saturday afternoon watching a tournament on television. I prefer catching the highlights on ESPN.
I’m not trying to bag on any of the sports that thrive during the months of July and August. I know people (including my wife) who can sit happily in front of the television watching hours of footage from the Tour De France, and many more who love watching baseball, golf and tennis.
The “sports drought” is mine and mine alone. And once I’m gathered among friends at the fantasy football draft, I know that the “drought” is just about over.