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Original poster

Why do many of most men like watching sport for hours?

107 replies

Successgirl2022 · 26/02/2023 12:31

I know many women like watching different kinds of sports too.

I watch it occasionally but I am definitely not addicted as I have my other more important things to do.

I make sure I keep fit and exercise regularly instead of just passively watching it like my DH.

Before we met 18 years ago (married for 17 years) and for 1 year after that, my DH went to the gym 1-2 times a week while working full time. He was 37 then, and I was 25.

Has anyone else had this happen DH stopped going to the gym (if he went previously) after you had a child/children.

We go for walks, and he does gardening, cleans & polishes his (some sports) car(s). That's his exercise:).

Fair enough:)

OP posts:
Original poster
Successgirl2022 · 26/02/2023 12:35

Sorry, a misprint in the title 'Why do so many men like watching sports for hours?'

OP posts:
daretodenim · 26/02/2023 14:51

I watch it occasionally but I am definitely not addicted as I have my other more important things to do.

None of those important things would involve anything to do with housekeeping-related or child-related tasks would they? Because the women I know don't have time to watch hours of football/rugby/cricket/snooker/darts/Tour de France/Italian Giro/golf/tennis/pick another sport because they've got those things to do.

My grandfather used to watch sport as a way to get himself time apart/away from my grandmother because she we hated them, and he'd turn his hearing aid off and the TV up so she didn't want to be in the same room. It was quite effective.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 26/02/2023 14:55

Identification. They tell themselves that if they'd had the breaks/the training/ the encouragement/pushed themselves a bit more at games that would be them up there with the fame, the adulation, the money and the women.

perfectcolourfound · 26/02/2023 14:55

I don't know many men who watch much sport on the TV other than the odd big match or their favourite team - so I don't know if this is a 'so many men' thing. Maybe it is.
Your question - why do so many men like watching sport? I assume the answer is 'because they enjoy it'. I'm being a bit facetious I think, but I'm trying to get to - what is it in particular that bothers you about your husband watching so much sport?

Does he do it instead of household chores or parenting? Does he do it instead of spending time with you?

Or are there things you do that he could reasonably say 'why does she spend so much time doing that?'

You've mentioned the gym a couple of times - is this about the fact he's stopped going and you think he should still go? It sounds as though you judge him for not working out, but that's his choice.

In short, your DH can choose his hobbies and interests and you can choose yours. Neither of you is 'right' or 'wrong'. It's only wrong if one of you is doing it at the expense of the other, eg the other partner has to do more housework and parenting or gets less downtime, or if a hobby is so consuming you aren't getting any couple or family time.

What is it in particular that's bothering you?

Wednesdaysotherchild · 26/02/2023 14:58

I have mostly avoided these men! DP likes F1, which I don’t mind on in the background. He prefers gaming but since (I enjoy it too) it’s also his job and we’ve done very well from it, I don’t mind that too much - at least I know what he’s doing.

SherlockStones · 26/02/2023 16:06

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 26/02/2023 14:55

Identification. They tell themselves that if they'd had the breaks/the training/ the encouragement/pushed themselves a bit more at games that would be them up there with the fame, the adulation, the money and the women.

Or maybe it's because they y'know just enjoy it.

AlmostaMamma · 26/02/2023 16:17

Is there something you’d like him to be doing that he’s not doing? Otherwise, I’m not sure what the issue is. It’s a hobby.

I don’t like watching sports, but I like to read. I can do that for hours. Some people paint/garden/meditate. And some people watch sports. 🤷🏽‍♀️

h78 · 26/02/2023 16:24

In my house I'm the one who watches sport, dh doesn't watch any.

SongChaser · 26/02/2023 16:31

It seems a bit passive aggressive to say you have other more important things to do. Not everything we do has to be important. And sometimes relaxing is important.

If there’s deeper issues as to why it’s a problem, address them, if there’s no other issues, just leave him to it.

thirteenfiftyeight · 26/02/2023 16:34

Suppose it's the same reason I watch nail videos for hours despite only ever wearing my nails natural with red varnish every week.

SongChaser · 26/02/2023 16:35

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 26/02/2023 14:55

Identification. They tell themselves that if they'd had the breaks/the training/ the encouragement/pushed themselves a bit more at games that would be them up there with the fame, the adulation, the money and the women.

I’ve never met a man that thought that. Other than one who did actually play a sport professionally for a while but got a career ending injury quite early on. Not the fame, adulation and women part though, he just loved his sport and was gutted when it all ended for him.

UsingChangeofName · 26/02/2023 18:11

Why do you like exercising ?
Why do you like doing your other more important things ?
Why do some people like going to the pub for a natter with their mates ?
Why do some people like cake ?
Why do some people like collecting train numbers ?
Why do some people like studying, just for pleasure?
Why do some people follow a religion ?
Why do some people watch 'reality' shows with z list celebrities ?

I presume the answer to most, if not all of these things, is, 'they just do'. For them, it is something they enjoy ?

audweb · 26/02/2023 18:13

Because it’s interesting? I’ve spent over 6 hours watching rugby this weekend, i prioritise it, I’ll watch it for hours on end, read about it, watch the highlights. It’s not just men, and it’s boring to hear that repeated as fact.
It’s enjoyable, and it’s more fun than housework.housework can wait, live sport is a fun hobby to watch.

IntentionalError · 26/02/2023 18:33

I watch a lot of sport. I have a football season ticket, in addition to which I watch cricket, rugby, F1 and the major championships in golf, tennis & athletics.
Why do I watch sport? I love watching the extraordinary skills of people doing things I could never hope to do. Messi scoring a magic goal. Jimmy Anderson hitting the edge with a perfect outswinger. Federer’s forehand down the line. Lewis Hamilton producing a millimetre perfect qualifying lap. I also love the unscripted drama. No Hollywood movie or big budget Netflix drama could ever compete with the 2019 cricket World Cup final.
This does take up a fair amount of my time, but there are lots of things that most people spend hours watching which I never watch. Soaps. Reality shows. Game shows. Costume dramas. Anything with the word ‘celebrity’ in the title.

jizzlord · 26/02/2023 18:51

I watch a lot of sport, today it's been darts snooker and the efl cup final. Currently watching darts and will double screen with snooker in a bit. I enjoy it. I also don't watch soaps, anything on itv except sport or any reality or celebrity shows.
Yesterday I went to football as I do for all home games, I've taken the children since tiny and it's an awesome afternoon out.

RoseslnTheHospital · 26/02/2023 18:59

Because for a lot of men that's how they will have been brought up, their fathers and male relatives would have done so too. That's what they're used to, and they are interested in the sport itself.

I also like watching sport, it's interesting and sometimes exciting. I appreciate watching the skill levels of professional athletes/sports people. I particularly like watching the sports that I was involved with myself as a child/young adult and the sports that my parents watched with me.

bobbytorq · 26/02/2023 19:11

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 26/02/2023 14:55

Identification. They tell themselves that if they'd had the breaks/the training/ the encouragement/pushed themselves a bit more at games that would be them up there with the fame, the adulation, the money and the women.

Yeah of course they do😂

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 26/02/2023 19:16

it’s for the same reason why many of most women like watching soap operas for hours

Kranke · 26/02/2023 19:21

Depends on the sport. My husband will watch football, but it’s a pretty short game compared to my love of cricket! I’ll happily watch the full test (5 days!), both live or on tv. Depends on how much you like the sport. I know a lot of men and women who watch no sport at all, but they’ll happily watch a long film or box set.

junebirthdaygirl · 26/02/2023 19:25

I love watching sport especially when it's one of my favourite teams. It's been a good bonding activity with my teens growing up. There has regularly been mad cheering in our house which is great fun. My two ds and dh do watch a good bit but are pretty active in their own lives too. When players can no longer play due to age/ injury it's very easy to see why they want to watch others. Very relaxing too and a great source of chat between people next day in work etc.

electricmoccasins · 26/02/2023 19:33

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 26/02/2023 14:55

Identification. They tell themselves that if they'd had the breaks/the training/ the encouragement/pushed themselves a bit more at games that would be them up there with the fame, the adulation, the money and the women.

I think football supporting is definitely about identification - although not so much that a man feels he has missed his calling and 'could've been a contender'.

There is certainly a vicarious element to it though. It's about belonging. It's tribal. I think it's replaced soldiering and war.

Oblomov23 · 26/02/2023 19:59

Surprised as such negative comments. Dh watches most football matches. Not a problem, he works really hard, has always looked after ds's, does loads of washing,ironing,cooking,food shopping, all jobs round the house already done. Why would I mind? I sit and mn. And I like watching football too. All happy. Can't see the issue.

LizzieSiddal · 26/02/2023 20:08

It always amazes me how many men get away with watching or competing in various sports every weekend, which seem to take up most of the day-Golf, football, fishing F1 etc. the wife/partner usually gets left with the kids/housework/etc I certainly wouldn’t put up with that shit every weekend.

Thankfully my dh dislikes sports, both watching or taking part.

Original poster
Successgirl2022 · 26/02/2023 20:31

perfectcolourfound · 26/02/2023 14:55

I don't know many men who watch much sport on the TV other than the odd big match or their favourite team - so I don't know if this is a 'so many men' thing. Maybe it is.
Your question - why do so many men like watching sport? I assume the answer is 'because they enjoy it'. I'm being a bit facetious I think, but I'm trying to get to - what is it in particular that bothers you about your husband watching so much sport?

Does he do it instead of household chores or parenting? Does he do it instead of spending time with you?

Or are there things you do that he could reasonably say 'why does she spend so much time doing that?'

You've mentioned the gym a couple of times - is this about the fact he's stopped going and you think he should still go? It sounds as though you judge him for not working out, but that's his choice.

In short, your DH can choose his hobbies and interests and you can choose yours. Neither of you is 'right' or 'wrong'. It's only wrong if one of you is doing it at the expense of the other, eg the other partner has to do more housework and parenting or gets less downtime, or if a hobby is so consuming you aren't getting any couple or family time.

What is it in particular that's bothering you?

Yes, I resent it he stopped going to the gym because when we met he was going and he was pretending he was looking after himself keeping fit body as I am attracted to fit, (clever & well off) men with good careers.

He is clever and charming, and has done well in his career but gave up staying fit. I never gave up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Successgirl2022 · 26/02/2023 20:33

So he was presenting ('selling') himself as a lie to me fitness-wise.

Looks are as important to me as other things.

OP posts: