Women and Sports

[Longhorned]

I know all the same, relatively few women you have on these boards. And I'm grateful that sports-loving women are representing on TV and radio and in print.

But I'd say the only fundamental point of difference and tension for my wife and I is my love of watching sports. It doesn't matter whether it's the Superbowl or women's basketball. For her, the prospect of watching a game on TV or in person is so unfathomable that it surprises her every time I want to do it. Same with my mom and sister, and really every single woman I've ever known personally other than uastacy.

Even though my wife knows that I grew up going to every Suns home game, and that I was in Greece in 1993, I just had to level with her that I need to watch the Finals. She was surprised, exasperated, and treating this situation as unreasonable. As though, somehow, I should have been exhausted by the basketball I've seen up to this point and should be eager to quit and take a break from it all by now.

And even though she doesn't want to fall into gender stereotypes, I have a feeling that if we had a son or sons, that would be my ticket for this to count as a parenting activity.

[EastCoastCat]

I have given up fighting with my wife on this subject. She will give me shit and then go upstairs and watch her own shows.

Fortunately, she is still so busy with my daughter's extra curricular activities (mostly dancing competitions) it allows me time to enjoy my addictive sports watching.

[UAEebs86]

My wife actually likes to watch sports. She is all in on the Suns, as she grew up in Phoenix. I turned her into a UofA fan. She will watch the Diamondbacks and Cardinals. She also watches tennis with me, and loves to watch volleyball and softball as she played both in high school.

She does have her limits though. Not really into golf, but she'll let me watch the last couple rounds of the majors on the main TV.
And on Sunday for NFL, she is usually getting sick of football by the time the Sunday night game rolls around.

My daughter, on the other hand, hates sports other than maybe attending a baseball or basketball game in person every now and then.
She's been going to her room when my wife, son & girlfriend, and I are screaming about the Suns.

[84Cat]

My family leaves the room as soon as any sports are on. The last game I think my wife watched was the 2001 championship game and that was only because our neighbors had a big party. She has been to a couple of super bowl parties over the years. The upside is that if I want to be left alone, just turn on sports and I got the whole room to myself

[Merkin]

My daughter used to watch UA basketball with me, and loved Jason Gardner and had a huge crush on Nick Johnson, but probably hasn't seen a single sporting event in 7 or 8 years. She's a mom now, and her husband really doesn't like sports all that much apparently.

However, my wife grew up in Tucson, and loves UA sports. A couple years ago I was really disgusted with UA football and was done with it for the season but she still made me watch the Territorial Cup. Khalil Tate cemented his legacy that game as the biggest bust in UA history for a player who had an electrifying freshman season. Ortege Jenkins must have to thank him for that.

[Longhorned]

Wow, Merk. Your daughter really hit the jackpot with a husband who doesn't like sports all that much. And like UAEebs, you hit the jackpot with your wife. I never really pictured you watching the games with the wife right there yelling at the TV alongside.

Gato's family has the usual divisions between men and women. His sisters grew up here and went to U of A. Sometimes I bring up basketball or football, and my comment just kind of falls into the earth. Eventually they told me they can't tell which team is which, or the difference between a good thing or a bad thing happening in a U of A game. There's no such thing as a "big" game for them, and no difference between a win or a loss, either. At the memory of Gato's involvement with U of A sports, one of them swatted away that image like a fly. One of them was also lucky enough to marry a guy who doesn't follow sports.

[Alieberman]

The only sport this year my wife watched with me was the women's Final 4.

I actually don't watch many sports anymore, so my wife never gives me crap about it.

[Longhorned]

The only sport this year my wife watched with me was the women's Final 4.

I actually don't watch many sports anymore, so my wife never gives me crap about it.

All I watched this year is the women's U of A playoffs, Suns playoffs, and some regular season games where I could fit them in.

Is that more than you?

[scumdevils86]

The only sport this year my wife watched with me was the women's Final 4.

I actually don't watch many sports anymore, so my wife never gives me crap about it.

This is where I'm at. I rarely watch live sports anymore. Maybe about 20 hours a year tops. So it's largely not something that ever comes up. But my wife definitely is not interested whatsoever in sports on tv. She'll tolerate it in person.

[Alieberman]

The only sport this year my wife watched with me was the women's Final 4.

I actually don't watch many sports anymore, so my wife never gives me crap about it.

All I watched this year is the women's U of A playoffs, Suns playoffs, and some regular season games where I could fit them in.

Is that more than you?

That’s almost exactly me… I generally have have NFL on but honestly it’s more in the background and I hardly ever watch a complete game anymore

[Longhorned]

My sister in law watched the U of A women's basketball tournament games with me and I was astounded because my wife almost moved into the alley at the very suggestion of watching.

[Alieberman]

Mine does not really like sports but she has a HUGE mom crush on Adia Barnes.

[wyo-cat]

I’m single so I don’t have to get no permission to watch any sports.

I’ll be watching the Finals with all three of my kids, tho. They are all interested. My girls are both 6’ tall, so they are/were serious bball players in HS. Boy just loves all sports, so he’s a given.