Sports

There’s much wrong with following goyim in general. All the more so the vilda chayos in professional sports that are a terrible example for society.

Joseph’s use of the term “vilda chayos” in professional sports is so typical of his mindless trolling with all sorts of racist tropes. I don’t recall his use of that same term for the behavior of those chareidi fringe elements who attacked security forces during the Peleg demonstrations and literally dozens of incidents of violence against women reported here on YWN over the years. Within moderation, there is no reason that following pro sports is per se a problem any more so than hanging out at Thursday night chulent fest with your chevrah.

funnybone: I find it rather mildly amusing instead to keep you hanging.

Following sports is dumb. Instead, why don’t you keep a careful record of the books read by your local librarian (if he or she doesn’t mind)? The only proper way to enjoy sports is to play.

GHD: Does your senior center have a golf course?

Playing AND watching is like reading books, but also watching other people read.

Almost every culture has some kind of sport.

GHD, just a word of caution about tennis and seniors. Make sure you are not overweight and try to play doubles rather than singles. The pressure and jarring on your knees from running back and forth on the court can aggravate or even cause arthritis, and even in hips. If you feel pain in these joints, sit down, rest, put some ice, take an anti-inflammatory and see if it goes away. If it does not, then tennis may not be a good sport for you. Better to try cycling, swimming, or rowing, as these are sports that do not involve impact-loading and are kinder to your weightbearing joints.

@ctlawyer

The OP referenced “watching the games”, not listening to them on the radio.

If you google “The History of Sports, From Ancient Times to Modern Day” you will see confirmed that:
“Ancient Greece introduced formal sports, with the first Olympic Games in 776 BC, that included sports such as human and chariot races, wrestling, jumping, disk and javelin throwing, and more.”

This Greek Culture infiltrated Bnei Yisroel and many became MisYavnim. The CHashmonoyim fought this Greek Culture, but some Yidden nebech retained it. Those that continue in this Greek “mesorah” today, are following in the derech of the MisYavnim.

@DovidBT
actually, the OP posted “NOT” watching the games………………..
Thus my comment about radio. I follow baseball and listen to the games, I don’t watch them

Sports are a form if avodah zara where one worships the human body and physical form. It is the opposite of ruchniyus and kedusha where we value the soul and spiritual pursuits.

And yet, just about every yeshiva allows their kids to play some form of sports during recess. And just about every summer camp allows kids to play sports.

I guess practically every yeshiva and camp official are facilitating avoda zara, according to you.

The Wolf

Which sport are you referring to that people worship the body?

Professional sports are about the destruction of the body, not worship. Injuries are extremely common and accepted as a fact of sports.

If he is מקבלם כאלוה And עובד אותם then אה”נ
But In most cases no ”worship ” takes place
As opposed to let’s say someone who is מלעיג על דברי חכמים, let’s say by calling a gemora ”a joke ”
On such a person is said כל המלעיג על דברי חכמים נידון בצואה רותחת
Just like that other מלעיג על דברי חכמים
ישו הנוצרי
An ע”ז himself

Mr. Sarah Levine, watching sports is worse than posting all day in the chatrooms. It is maybe slightly better than watching other people on their computers.

Go learn a Blat Gemarah

I’m not sure if we are talking about adults or children. Certainly it would be better for an adult not to be involved in this shtus. But I would say, and my Rav agrees, that when it comes to children, sports is the lesser of most evils. Certainly something like woodworking would be more kosher, but not every kid will be grabbed by that. Besides sports there are so many other temptations kids can fall into from online gaming, to movies, to the apikorsus and worst things you can find on the internet. We have to think long and hard what the ramifications are before we say no to an outlet. Will saying no lead him to something better or worse? Besides kids who play ball naturally want to follow the professionals because they like the sport. So if I want my kids to be active and healthy, I would let them follow the pros and hope they grow out of it as they mature. Many of our gedolim in America grew up following sports, i doubt any of them grew up in the other schmutz kids could easily fall into nowadays

“Mr. Sarah Levine, watching sports is worse than posting all day in the chatrooms. It is maybe slightly better than watching other people on their computers.”

Why? Is it better or worse that looking at abstract art? Is it better or worse than going to a museum? (Dont say which museum — any one you want to chose)> Is it better or worse than listening to music? Is it better or worse than sitting outside doing nothing? Is it better or worse than going out to eat?

“Certainly it would be better for an adult not to be involved in this shtus.”

Again — if you feel that “leisure” is outside of Torah — i guess you are right. However, to me — if you believe that which is not “assur” is “mutar” (obviously, i read last week’s Parsha) — and assuming that if you were not watching the Jets lose — you would be finishing Shas — i think that criticizing people who do so smacks self righteousness.

RY, why not? In high school I took a course called the History and Development of Science. Several books have been written about famous scientists and mathematicians. Einstein’s letters are sold at auction for millions.