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Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: dailyprompt-1832


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Sports likes

The daily prompt asks – What are your favorite sports to watch and play?

Basketball and Baseball are still my favorite sports. College Basketball is my favorite sport. I loved playing basketball and the excitement of watching college games live.

Major league baseball has made some significant changes and is much easier to watch and enjoy now the game has quickened. I also enjoyed playing as a youth. Even made a few all-star teams. Still have my favorite bat.

Sports are a great teaching tool. Lots of things about sportsmanship are important in life also. Working as a team. Having dedicated your mind and body to something. It tests your mental and physical toughness. It can teach respect, admiration, compassion, leadership, and honesty. Sports are GREAT.

I’m depressed to see what they have become at times though. Even down to little league ball. Parents and coaches treating it like life and death. Poor behavior by parents. Kids with attitudes that obviously came from home.

But despite that, the true nature of sports and its benefits are still present in our society despite commercialization and gambling and making it a business that goes down to kids way too young, which is disgusting.

Now there is a creative way to get a child to use a toothbrush. Photo by Mike Hartley

Kids are still learning important values from competition. People are still enjoying the games.

The most recent issue with sports I can think of is sports becoming a class thing. In the last few years, I’ve missed games I could always see because they are moving some to streaming services. Ticket prices for professional sports and some college sports are out of range now for a lot of people. Even middle class. Salaries of players and greed of owners are making the distance between the ones who watch and buy the merchandise to a point where it will break.

Even the cost for the kids to join leagues now is tough for a lot of people to afford.

Photo by DAD.

That’s my little girl about to drive that softball DEEP. I enjoyed participating in both my children’s various sports for some years. Coaching kids is a lot of fun.


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Hoops

What are your favorite sports to watch and play? Asks the Bloganuary writing prompt today.

I played a lot of baseball when I was really young. In my teens though I migrated to basketball and that has been my favorite for decades and is for both watching and playing. A hoop in my driveway, the ball in the closet by the front door ready for a nice day. March Madness is like hoop heaven. The University of Maryland are the team I support.

Basketball with its constant motion, running in so many directions, jumping constantly, diving on the floor and the physical aspects. Mentally it also takes a special discipline. Soccer is the only other sport that has the motion and that doesn’t have enough scoring for me.

Major League baseball made some significant rule changes that really sped up the game which it needed and made viewing much more enjoyable. I find myself watching less and less football. I used to enjoy some of the sports talk shows but no more. Too much emphasis on the gambling/point spreads/over under and whatever else they can think of to bet on.

I enjoy watching a lot of different sports BUT, gambling is on its way to ruining sports. Not that the NCAA didn’t get a jump on the pros by screwing up college athletics first. As usual greed and power will kill a good thing.

I think I’ll check out some local little leagues or local courts where the players play for the love of the game.

Photo by Mike Hartley