Buzz
Dear Mytour, At work, sports is a frequent topic of conversation. While I’m not very interested in the subject, I’d love to join in and connect with my coworkers. How can I learn just enough to be sociable without investing too much time in it?
Best regards, Benched
Dear Benched, It sounds like you’d prefer not to spend too much time watching sports, so here’s how you can pick up enough information to participate in conversations with minimal effort and time investment.
Experience the Sports Culture Without Investing Hours of Watching
TV networks like ESPN and Fox Sports offer hour-long broadcasts that recap all the games and events from the previous night (ESPN's is called SportsCenter, while Fox Sports calls theirs Fox Sports Live). The most current events (like major playoff games) are usually featured at the beginning of the show. Watching the first 15-30 minutes will keep you updated on the key events you need to know. Local news stations might also highlight important moments for regional teams.
If you know the specific leagues or sports that your coworkers follow, you can zero in on that particular league (such as basketball, hockey, baseball, football, or golf, etc.) to save time.
You can also check out websites like SB Nation or our sister site Deadspin (which mixes sports with humor and lifestyle content, making it more enjoyable). Additionally, try apps like ESPN's SportsCenter and Yahoo! Sports (available for iOS and Android). Here are lists of the top sports apps for iOS and Android.
Surprisingly, sports discussions often go beyond just the games themselves. Sports are a form of entertainment, and conversations about them frequently touch on the culture surrounding them. To dive deeper, check out sites like Bleacher Report or Grantland once or twice a week to learn about the key players in each league, local team schedules, the history of your chosen sport, and more. You might even discover a new sport you enjoy.
Present Yourself as a Casual Enthusiast
Everyone starts somewhere. Sports enthusiasts get this, often remembering fondly when they first dove into the sports world. Present yourself as a beginner so your colleagues can offer their insights and knowledge. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek their opinions. Contrary to popular belief, this won’t make you look uninformed—it actually boosts their egos and encourages them to share more. You’ll also begin to understand their perspectives, root for the same teams and athletes, and bond over common interests.
A question like, "Who are your top five NBA guards of all time?" can be a fun icebreaker in a group of coworkers. It opens up discussions about their reasoning, and gives you a great opportunity to dive deeper into the athletes and their stories. Even better, it doesn’t require much effort from you, allowing you to easily assume the role of the eager learner. The more questions you ask, the more you’ll discover about each person’s point of view.
That said, it’s essential to grasp the basics. You don’t want to ask someone to explain things like what constitutes a penalty. Video games can be helpful in this regard, since they force you to understand the rules (for instance, I learned what 'offsides' meant in hockey while playing NHL with friends—yes, I’m a shameful Canadian).
Start or Join a Fantasy Sports League with Friends
Once you've gotten a feel for the culture and learned more from others, if you discover that you actually enjoy a sport (or sports in general) and want to delve deeper into it with friends or coworkers, joining a fantasy league is a great way to go.
A few of my friends are in an NBA fantasy league, and I’m sure they could talk about it for days (maybe even months!) if they had to. What might seem like just a leaderboard tracking the highest scores actually changes everything in the game.
For instance, if you know a player on your friend's fantasy team isn’t performing well, you can laugh about it together. You can also discuss unexpected events, athletes who surprise (either positively or negatively), or commiserate over injuries to their players. Plus, you can make trades with each other.
The range of topics for conversation is endless. It never ventures into tricky or controversial areas (for better or worse!). It’s a fun, low-risk way to bond with coworkers and friends, and it adds excitement to the games since you have a personal stake in the results.
Read a Biography
Biographies are captivating because a well-written one will often mention other key figures, events, and history of the sport, even if only briefly. It’s a more in-depth exploration of the culture and legacy surrounding the sport.
If you're looking for suggestions, I highly recommend Phil Jackson's biography, Eleven Rings. It's a fantastic read that goes beyond just the game itself, diving into iconic figures like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Mike Tyson's Undisputed Truth is an intriguing (to say the least) account of his rocky path to fame, the intense discipline behind his training, and the dramatic fall from grace that followed.
Sam Sheridan’s The Fighter’s Mind is a great introduction to both fighting and the psychology behind it. Sheridan talks to fighters worldwide, uncovering the lessons they’ve learned and how they handle the stress of combat. Whether or not you agree with the violent nature of the sport, the book offers valuable insights and thought-provoking ideas.
Biographies can also give you a deeper understanding of how coaches manage their teams, the decision-making process behind sports organizations, and more. These aspects of the sports world aren’t something you can learn just by watching the games.
Find a Healthy Balance
Here are just a few ways you can explore the world of sports. You can maintain a casual interest, enough to connect with your coworkers. However, if you discover a true passion for a particular sport, you can fully immerse yourself and become a dedicated fan.
Even trying out just a couple of these strategies should help you relate better to sports-obsessed colleagues. It’s best to focus on one sport and start there. But if you find yourself forcing interest in it, remember that you don’t have to bow to social pressures. There’s no need to like something just because it’s popular if it’s not your thing.
Best regards, Mytour
Title photo created using Katerina Davidenko (Shutterstock) and Laralova (Shutterstock). Images courtesy of Chad Cooper, Rob Poetsch, Play Among Friends Paf, Erik Drost, and Pedro Ribeiro Simões.
