Sports Then and Now

Whether you are entering retirement and are on the lookout for something to do or you’re looking to build a better work-life balance for yourself, picking up a new hobby is a great way to achieve this goal. 

Photo by Courtney Cook on Unsplash

After all, hobbies can break up the monotony of your routine, improve your mental and physical health, and help you to make new friends. Despite this, they tend to be something that we leave behind as we get older, often due to the fact that our schedule becomes a little too full.

This can make the idea of trying something new feel a little daunting. However, it is worth pushing through this fear to enjoy the above benefits. With that in mind, here are some top tips for picking up a new hobby as an adult! 

Turn back the clock. There is no shortage of hobbies that you can partake in, from archery to painting. However, you don’t necessarily need to start from scratch. For example, you could turn back the clock by picking up a hobby from your past or even your childhood. While it may take a while to get back up to speed again, this is a great way to spend your time doing something you love, and it is also sure to bring back plenty of happy memories.  

Sports have been popular for centuries, and countless people love watching and playing them. While most people get into them as children, many want to get into sports as an adult. This can often be a little daunting. You could need to learn more about sports before you’re comfortable talking about it.

It’s easy to see why, as you wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself. That begs the question as to what you can actually do about it. Thankfully, this is far from complicated.

There are more than a few ways you can learn more about almost any sport. It doesn’t have to be too hard, and you can even do it faster than you’d think. You just need to focus on the right steps from the start, and you should be good to go. Five of these should get you there better than you’d think.

Accept That You’re an Amateur

It’s natural to be a bit embarrassed that you don’t know much about sports. That’s especially true if most of your friends are already interested in them. This isn’t something to be embarrassed about. Everyone starts off somewhere, after all. It’s worth accepting that you’re an amateur at the start.

Are you interested in getting into gaming? We’ve heard a lot of people say that they are interested in this, but the fact that it has such a negative reputation puts them off. The media over the years have made so many claims about gaming, a lot of them showcasing the bad side or the dangerous side more than anything else.

However, there is a slight level of risk with pretty much any hobby that you have. Anything can become addicting, and too much of anything can make you sick, so it’s just a balancing act. Gaming is no more harmful when done properly and carefully than other hobbies, and we think it’s time that more people knew that.

So, we’ve written this article to give you an idea of some of the positives surrounding gaming. Down below, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the ways that gaming can actually be helpful to people, rather than harmful. If you are interested in finding out more about this topic, then read on down below!

Working On Social Skills

The first thing that we’re going to say is that for some people, gaming can help develop their social skills. Let’s say that you are someone who is painfully shy, not very outgoing, and you don’t really do well with social interaction. Even if it’s not a reality for you personally, it is for a lot of people and it’s important to acknowledge that. But, there are games online where you can play with others that you don’t know, communicate and go from there. Now, we know that this can be dangerous for younger kids, but they should not be on open channels like this in the first place.

Does being a sports fan have to feel like a part time job? Well no of course not, but those who have followed a losing team for a while or enjoy it as their main hobby, have friendships through it and use no uncertain amount of their financial standing to the passion may think so. When you see your team get relegated or your manager making questionable decisions you may wonder why you bother. But the nail-biting tense experiences, the history, the golden moments of triumph, all of this makes us remember why we follow sports so closely.

An interesting question comes from this. What makes a better sports fan? We’re not going to list anything that would roll your eyes like stop the courtside banter against the other team (within appropriate limits of course), or that you have to buy merchandise or spend more to be of higher value in that community.

But of course, there are ways to be a healthy sports fan, and reasons for doing so, as it can help you gain more out of the sport you love. In this post, we’ll discuss what that approach might entail:

Since its inception in 1992, the Premier League has grown from a domestic football competition in England to a global phenomenon. What began as a national league with a primarily UK-based audience has transformed into the world’s most-watched football competition, with fans tuning in from every corner of the globe. This transformation is not solely due to the on-field action but also because of the league’s strategic and evolving approach to broadcasting.

Television has played a crucial role in the Premier League’s journey to international stardom. Early broadcast deals laid the foundation, but technological advancements and innovative media strategies truly cemented the league’s place in living rooms worldwide. Today, the accessibility of the Premier League on TV has become a cornerstone of its global appeal, allowing millions of fans to experience iconic moments live, regardless of their location. This article explores how the Premier League’s broadcast strategies have evolved, the challenges faced, and what the future might hold for football’s greatest show on screen.

Early Days of Premier League Broadcasting

In the early days, Premier League broadcasting was a much simpler affair. Television deals were primarily focused on the UK audience, with only limited international exposure. Sky Sports played a pivotal role in the league’s early growth by offering exclusive live matches, which revolutionized sports broadcasting in the UK and set new standards for live sports coverage. Fans could watch multiple games a week, which was unprecedented at the time.

However, international fans had fewer opportunities to watch matches live. Many relied on highlight reels, delayed broadcasts, or even radio commentaries to stay updated. Despite the limited access, a dedicated fanbase began to emerge overseas, showcasing the league’s growing global appeal. The Premier League’s early approach to broadcasting laid the groundwork for what would become a worldwide phenomenon, marking the beginning of its journey from local stadiums to global screens.

The 1965 American Football League (AFL) All-Star Game was unlike any other in professional football history. Scheduled to be played in New Orleans on January 16, 1965, the game became a defining moment in the civil rights movement within sports. Instead of being remembered for what happened on the field, the 1965 AFL All-Star Game is remembered for what didn’t happen—the players’ refusal to participate due to racial discrimination they faced upon arriving in New Orleans. This protest, led by the league’s African American players, forced the AFL to relocate the game to Houston, marking one of the earliest instances of professional athletes taking a stand against racial injustice.

The AFL and the Significance of the 1965 All-Star Game

The AFL, founded in 1960 as a rival to the NFL, was known for being more progressive in its approach to racial integration. While the NFL had long-standing unofficial policies that limited Black players in certain positions, the AFL was more open to signing Black talent, giving opportunities to players who had been overlooked by the more established league. The 1965 AFL All-Star Game was meant to be a showcase of the league’s brightest stars, including many of its top Black athletes.

The game was originally set to take place at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, a city that had never hosted a major professional football event. For the AFL, choosing New Orleans as the host city was strategic—the league was looking to expand and hoped to establish a franchise in the Deep South. However, despite assurances from local officials that Black and white players would be treated equally, the reality was far different when the players arrived.

Racial Discrimination in New Orleans

When the African American players arrived in New Orleans, they quickly found themselves subjected to blatant racism. Many were denied cab service, refused entry into restaurants, and treated with open hostility by locals. This was a stark reminder that, despite the Civil Rights Act of 1964 having been passed just months earlier, segregation and discrimination were still deeply ingrained in parts of the country.

Some players initially brushed off the treatment, hoping to focus on the game. However, as more and more instances of discrimination occurred, frustration grew. Players like Cookie Gilchrist, Ernie Warlick, and Abner Haynes, who had already experienced racism throughout their careers, began discussing taking action. The tipping point came when Black players attempted to get cabs and were ignored in favor of white players or refused service outright.