"A huge part of our investment is grounded in the result and its consequences for whichever athlete or team we prefer. Ask a football fan if they enjoyed themselves at the match they just paid a decent whack to see, and there's a better-than-even chance they will tell you no. If it was a close match, they will have"
"This is why the current Women's Rugby World Cup is such a curious phenomenon. The tournament has been one of largely lopsided scorelines, from the group stages to the quarter-finals. Only five of the 28 fixtures have been decided by fewer than 14 points, and more than half were won by more than 40 at least six scores. And yet there remains a profound and unanimous pleasure to be had"
A friend rejects the notion of guilty pleasures, arguing that real, justified guilt should not be co-opted to trivial entertainments. Sometimes it is acceptable simply to enjoy things. Sport uniquely ties enjoyment to results, producing anxiety, mourning, or complaints among fans when outcomes disappoint or lack challenge. Fans are particularly averse to one-sided games, which can feel deflationary or wasteful. The current Women's Rugby World Cup has produced largely lopsided scorelines across group stages and quarter-finals, yet a profound, unanimous pleasure persists. A festival atmosphere has been successfully transmitted through television screens.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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