Sports Fanatic or Just NC State?

General NCS Basketball NCS Football On the Record46

With football season still about 6 weeks away, I thought it might be interesting to take the pulse of SFN’s readership. Do you consider yourself a “sports guy/gal” in general, or are you only really interested in NC State?

Personally, I just love sports (although I certainly follow NC State sports with several extra degrees of intensity). I love all college football (despite its stupid post-season), and faithfully order ESPN Gameplan every year, so I’m not stuck watching Georgia Tech play UNC instead of a matchup between 2 Top Ten teams. And for my money, there is no sports organization (college or pro) that comes close to matching the NFL. Whether or not NC State is seriously in the mix, I am an absolute junkie for NCAA tournament action. I listen to sports radio in the car, and especially like the national feed on XM (great football coverage, especially from ESPN Radio’s Erik Kuselias – despite his horribly off-target rosy predictions for NC State football in 2005).

I feel fortunate that my frustration with years of disappointment and the mediocre-to-terrible legacies of some of our coaches (Les and MOC, especially) didn’t kill my enthusiasm for sports in general. It will only make it sweeter if and when NC State ascends to national relevance again. After all, I’m only 33 years old. It will happen again in my lifetime. Right?

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

General NCS Basketball NCS Football On the Record

46 Responses to Sports Fanatic or Just NC State?

  1. Jeff 07/20/2006 at 3:31 PM #

    (1) LOVE anything NC State.

    (2) Follow College Football and College Basketball very closely. Not a total fanatic, but close.

    (3) NFL is next.

    (4) MLB has made some great strides in recent years (since living in a MLB city)

    (5) Many of my friends won’t believe this — but, I have recently really developed an in interest in NASCAR. Weird!

    (6) Cursory follow NBA

    Used to love Tennis.
    Used to follow NHL and love NHL playoffs.

  2. wolfpack80 07/20/2006 at 3:38 PM #

    State athletics are #1 by far. I prefer college sports to pro, especially basketball. I’m suprised by the number of people that are anti-baseball; has the sport fallen that far in your minds? I must say that I love baseball and I am a little jealous of the popularity of the NFL these days. That’s not to say that I don’t like the NFL, because I love it, but pro football will never overtake baseball as the national pastime in my heart.

  3. Trout 07/20/2006 at 3:41 PM #

    Same as Jeff except I dont have his #5 (NASCAR).

    I used to love tennis as well when it was Connors, McEnroe and Borg.

  4. BJD95 07/20/2006 at 3:47 PM #

    I would make some kind of crack about watching people drive around in a circle…but then again, I can watch people play cards on TV for hours.

  5. BladenWolf 07/20/2006 at 3:51 PM #

    Trout-
    1983-1987 was my tenture and we did indeed attend during some heady days. There was just a sense of accomplishment from all aspects of our University. We held our heads high and KNEW we could kick the smurf-colored asses in any sport. Duke was just beginning to build their national power. After Kiffen and Reed, I got to experience some of the Sheridan years and along with Valvano, they provided some really good teams to be proud of. I still believe.

  6. WolfpackSteelerfan 07/20/2006 at 3:54 PM #

    My first love in sports is NFL, particularly the Steelers. I was 6 years old, living in northwestern PA, when I saw them beat the Rams for their 4th Super Bowl. Second would have to be college football, followed by hockey. After that, college basketball – pretty much only during the tournaments (although I always pull for the Wolfpack each season: if we ever get dominant, I might actually become a college basketball fan), NBA – some in the playoffs. In the 90’s, I followed tennis some (Agassi – Sampras, Graf, Hingis, etc.). I can’t stand baseball or golf on TV.

    With all that said, after 5 1/2 years at State, I hate nothing more than losing to UNC, in any sport! Even a Steelers loss to the Browns isn’t so bad. Maybe because that doesn’t happen much.:)

  7. WolfpackSteelerfan 07/20/2006 at 4:01 PM #

    Hey, I wasn’t sure the Steelers would win another Super Bowl in my lifetime (I’m 32), but they finally did. I believe that NC State will rise to prominence again in our lifetimes.

  8. Mr O 07/20/2006 at 4:08 PM #

    1. College football
    2. College basketball
    3. NFL
    4. Golf (even women’s golf now)
    5. Baseball
    6. Nascar

    I follow my favorite teams more than anything – NC State, Panthers, Braves. I follow the sport of golf very closely and may watch more golf year round than any other sport combined.

  9. packbackr04 07/20/2006 at 4:27 PM #

    a little off subject for this post but in my local paper, todays cover story on the Sports section reads “Lowe wants players to embrace team history” written by Joedy McCreary of the AP.
    The articles premise is that Sid is preparing a film session for current players and recruits in which they wont discuss any Xs or Os. They will just watch old footage of the 83 run and of DT in 74.. Lowe states in the Article “Its something thats been pushed under the rug, and i dont think its been intentionally. We hadnt really thought about it. You look at the history of your school. You dont want to live off of the past but when your looking at these kids comin’ in, you have to tell that story”

  10. graywolf 07/20/2006 at 4:39 PM #

    I’m an average sports fan, but a ravid NC State fan.

  11. beowolf 07/20/2006 at 4:41 PM #

    I am an NC State fan. But for my own health I’ve limited it to football and basketball. I actively avoid forming any other sports allegiances — since I can’t maintain a healthy level of being a fan! I’m not fond of pro baseball or basketball because there are so many games.

    But I have developed a love of NFL football. I have a few teams that I like, most of which because they have fellow NC State alums on them. So I was very happy to see Pittsburgh win the Super Bowl. Overall, however, I enjoy NFL for the love of the game.

  12. Packof82Cards 07/20/2006 at 4:56 PM #

    1. NC State basketball, football, & baseball.(In that order) I also follow basketball and football on a national level as well but certainly not passionate about it like I am NC State.

    2. St. Louis Cardinals baseball!! I follow the game as a whole fairly closely but the Redbirds are right up there with NC State with me. I’ve followed them both since I was about 7 yrs. old and have been waiting for a title from either for almost the same amount of time.

    NFL
    NHL

    I will pretty much watch any kind of sport but these are the only ones I watch with real interest.

  13. Cardiff Giant 07/20/2006 at 5:25 PM #

    I am going through a period of generalized sports apathy right now, including State. I will still read anything about State with interest, but I am not, for example, counting the days until football like I was before the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

    Whether that’s me or just general weariness with Amato is anyone’s guess, including mine.

    I can watch another ACC school play football, and can watch Notre Dame. Also ESPN Thursday night football if its not some wack team like Fresno State. Sometimes I will watch minor league baseball. But that’s pretty much it except for State basketball.

    In the Herb years I shied from watching other colleges play basketball because it merely emphasized how boring and annoying our play was.

  14. Cardiff Giant 07/20/2006 at 5:27 PM #

    I certainly respect people liking the NBA, fishing, golf, and NASCAR, but honestly can’t understand what the attraction is.

  15. tvp 07/20/2006 at 7:39 PM #

    My teams that I follow very closely are NCSU football and basketball and the Braves. Also got into the Hurricanes this past year.

    I LOVED the World Cup this summer. We’re a looong way from it, but if the US could somehow win a World Cup that would rival an NCSU national title in terms of my excitement.

    In terms of general interest:
    College Football
    MLB
    College Basketball
    NFL (don’t really care that much besides my fantasy team)

    Haven’t watched an NBA game in years.

  16. packpigskinfan23 07/20/2006 at 8:50 PM #

    I am TOO much of a sports fan!! I can watch any… I have too many favorite NFL teams… ALL time fav is the 49ers… Montana/Rice and Young/Rice were the 2 best qb/wr combos EVER! and now Manny is there… and being from Goldsboro I have met many a bunch of times. Awesome guy. absolutley funny as hell.
    Of course I love the Panthers as well… and I have been pulling for SD for the past 2 years…

    I have gotten into PrideFighting a lot as well. its not weak like UFC… boxing is awesome to watch if they arent locking up all the time.

    I also am JUST getting into Nascar…. I guess the all I can say, is that its intresting when there is no better sport on….

  17. bTHEredterror 07/20/2006 at 8:55 PM #

    First, I respect competitors in all “sports”. But a sport requires, IMHO, that the participants be able to exhibit some explosive athletic ability(run, jump, body control, strength) although I appreciate that some other “sportsâ€? require physical skill and endurance. I will watch and pull for the Pack in any competition, except cheerleading. Not to downplay that it is an athletic competition, it’s just a little too campy.
    I am a Football junkie, think of it all day long (especially in this, the worst sports month), and played for 12 years. NFL, NCAA, and High School. I will travel anywhere my wallet can support, and believe with all my heart that all human progress has culminated in its invention. I love to watch a live game, because you see the field so much better than on the telly. But that doesn’t keep me from camping out in the front of the set from the Gameday show to the PAC 10 last call on FOX. Sundays after 12:10 (I don’t stay to chat after service, because that’s what Wednesday night is for) I’m in a trance until Midnight as well.
    I love college basketball similarly and will watch the NBA, especially at playoff time. Only watch Baseball Tonight and the playoffs with MLB, same for Hockey as in the other three major sports the regular season has little meaning whatsoever. I just don’t get NASCAR or any motor sports for that matter, but have a friend who is on a pit crew, so I understand how much of a physical endeavor it is. I love Boxing (if you do too, Gotti Saturday on HBO) though it has certainly diminished in entertainment value the last few years. Will watch MISL and European pro soccer as well as the World cup.
    I’m certainly going to piss some people off by saying this, but here goes. Tennis sucks. X-Games is weird. It seems like none of the guys really want to beat each other. But I can enjoy the creativity of the competition. Track & Field is boring. Gymnastics is boring. Pro Golf is like going to the dentist 5 hours early for your appointment (it’s great to play, but on TV? Come on!)
    I laugh at all of the “sports” where the “champion” can resemble Norm from Cheers. Good only for comic relief.

  18. class of 74 07/21/2006 at 2:34 PM #

    Growing up it was any sport but as time goes by it is college football and basketball, PGA and NFL. The others really do not stir any great interest any longer. I just wish we, the wolfpack, would get our athletic adminstration in order and then I’d be really happy.

  19. vtpackfan 07/21/2006 at 3:14 PM #

    Pack football, b-ball, baseball, and swimming.
    rest of college “, “, and baseball
    MLB, IL (Go BULL’s !)
    NHL (CANE’s Rock)
    Futbol (World Cup), Olympics (fun now that there is one every two years)
    Can I say that I hate the Poker fad going on. The X games are pretty dumb, worlds strongest man has a new partner in idiocy now that Darts is a televised sport. UFC (Is the cage suppossed to stop you from running home to your mommy?)

  20. redfred2 07/21/2006 at 3:39 PM #

    I’ll watch at least some of any sport if it’s on the tube. Tennis, baseball, fishing, baseball, motorcyle racing, or whatever, but I can walk away. Can’t do that on any of it if the Pack is involved.

    I just wasn’t going to admit it earlier until ^O readily showed he’s at ease with his manlihood by crossing the gender barrier into women’s golf.

    I watch women’s golf on occasion too. I love women’s college softball, great game.

    Come on now, where’s all the sensitivity training.

  21. whitefang 07/21/2006 at 5:41 PM #

    Sports, sports and more sports. Love NC State football the most.
    Football is by far my favorite sport. Never missed a State home FB game when I was there (75-79). Even remember going to a State game (Wake I think) at Carter in the pouring rain one Sat when I was there and it was ON TV. Girlfriend did not join me that day.
    ALso like UVa (kids there) and have season tix to Scott Stadium.
    College FB to me is the best spectator sport there is in person or on TV.
    Love high school football too (although with consecutive sons playing since 2000 through the coming year, I long for a free Friday night in the fall).
    Love NFL and have Panther’s season tix and watch all away on TV.
    I lost a lot of interest in college BBall when Valvano got hosed and with Herb I just never got all the passion back. Hope Sidney brings it back for me.
    Rather watch hunting shows than NBA or MLB.
    In the off-season (now) I watch PGA, and even Tour De France and Nascar. Man I am ready for kickoff. I can smell the grass.

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