it's neither a personal 'fall from grace' nor an age thing. cf, nba tv ratings, empty playground courts, fortnite, and speechifying in the past few years. feels to me that culture change ramped up aboot a decade ago when folks started talking more 'fashion' and 'collectability' for hoop kix than the quality and utility of them. i know a 30ish guy with a closet full of nikes but won't cut his grass when it's 'too hot,' and just hires someone. and, i have a bud from mexico who had a tradition at the courts to pound the phones and get the gang out in peak heat ('no one will be there!'). in his honor, we called it 'the salsa bowl' if it was hottest day. big fun -tongues wagging from exhaustion, buckets of gator juice, guys yellin' 'what u got? can't take the heat? here's a phone, call ur momma cuz u done!'
hey shoreliners! when is the last time that u saw the guilford courts off i95 jammed almost every nite in the summer? or bridebrook? only yesterday, you just showed up at a place. now, it's often more like calling around to schedule a 'play date.'
i help with a new haven city kids program, as well as some local sports stuff -they're all the same phenotypes. 'no, u don't need a gallon of water to go onna mile hike!'
and forget aboot kids making major cash by shoveling walks. obesity.
a few years back, when poker on tv was a thing, i would say 'people sitting around at home, watching other people sitting around and playing cards, and they call it sports.'
why do think that pro sports have seemingly become more aboot betting stuff and fantasy leagues? all painfully obvious.