Proper Game Watching Etiquette | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Proper Game Watching Etiquette

jibsey said:
OK, apparently I don’t have it. So last night I’m watching the game with my wife, son and his wife all rooting Huskies. It was a 1 point game in the second half so I got up and started pacing to get energy out but not in front of anyone. Yes I was loudly contesting some calls but never did I swear or curse. I was told to sit down and not talk so loud.
We were on a trip visiting and no other tv to go to but I can’t just sit on a couch and watch this biting my lip. I’m guessing many of you are more animated (Hurley like) than I am during these games, right? Do I disown these people?
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They may already have disowned you. Don't stress about their fait accompli. 😊
 
Fishy said:
I can't watch with people, especially my family. I don't yell or throw things, but I cannot deal with other people and their thoughts. (It's also why I have never even entertained the idea of visiting the chat here and enduring you coconuts during a game.)

I really, really, really cannot watch with people if those people are my in-laws. I love them dearly but they have never had an unexpressed thought in their lives and that can be grating during a UConn game. If UConn goes down 2-0, invariably, my mother in law will say, uh-oh and my brain will start to bleed.

Making that worse, we vacation with them around this time every year. We rent a place in Florida and there's one television. Since it's NCAA time and that's even more stressful than normal, what I do is remove myself from the situation.

I go find a park bench in the complex and I watch the games there. I take my iPad and a few airplane bottles of rum. Here's where I watched the San Diego State game.

View attachment 118530
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Was the urine sample part of your probation conditions?

Hard to watch alone. Get too frustrated and turn if off for awhile. Much rather watch it live or in a group. (Except for being at MSG for the Big East Championship)
 
My kid is usually asleep so I keep my cheering down to an inside voice at best. Good practice for me in self-control :D

OHHHHH YEAAAAAHHHHHH
 
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Jaydumo20 said:
I gripe about the chat but I'm always on it. You all are my only social media contacts. I dont F with all that other fluff.

So lately, because I live in TN now and for some reason many of you back home get the feed before me, I love seeing someone post in the chat "AK baaaaaaang" or something or other.
Not having seen it on my side yet and waiting for it to happen is like double the thrill.

But the greatest thing about being an insane UConn fan is that my Dad (who still lives in Greenwich) and I talk every day multiple times a day, 365 days a year about one thing: UConn basketball. I have a great relationship with him, 1,000 miles away, and I owe a lot of it to our mutual love for the Huskies. Nothin better.
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I've mentioned this before, but my dad and I shared a love of husky hoops as well. Back in the days before Internet, he would cut out every UConn article out of multiple papers and send them to me with a 4-5 page letter that touched a lot of things, including a lot of UConn basketball analysis. I miss those, and him a lot. Enjoy those conversations while you can!
 
willie99 said:
I frequently watch games with other people. I'm loud, so is most everyone else.

I can't watch a game alone with my wife. For some reason, she thinks I'm going to sit there and shut up. She should know by now that's never going to happen. So she goes to another part of the house where she can still hear me.

I have no game watching etiquette, and I don't expect anything from anyone.
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My wife has been trying to watch games with but it ticks me off because she thinks I should talk to her rather than Hurley or the players.
 
Started dating my wife in May of 98. She fell in love with UConn basketball that first year and I even took her to the Big East tourney final at MSG against St Johns in March 99. We then beat Duke a few weeks later for our first National Championship. We were supposed to go to a big party for that game but I got sick and she watched the game with me in bed. Was so nervous I started sipping whiskey with a fever in the 2nd half. We shocked the world and the rest is history. In 2004 I watched final 4 game against Duke with just her. We looked dead in the water and then Rashad 3 and Okafor lay in and we snatch Duke's heart right out of their chest. Final 4 in 2009 my wife and I had one of my friends over to have a few beers for the game. We lost and now he and everyone else is banned for UConn games in March. It remains our only Final 4 loss. Since then it is just my wife and I and we are both equally sick with nerves until the buzzer sounds. Can't argue with the formula. Worked 6 times.
 
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First, my wife will purposely stay away from watching or even entering the room because she gets to emotionally charged by it. Second, she has thoughts like most fans (and continues to) that not only does her watching influence the game but that she can (and will) bring bad mojo just watching it so she asks me during or afterwards "how are they doing or how did they do?"

As for me, I tape the game always. This allows me to turn off the game when I start to really get agitated at players or the coach and sometimes officials or announcers. Not sure if this is just running away (avoidance) or refusing to emotionally abuse myself by sitting through it. I will almost always return sooner or later to watch it under a more calm demeanor.

I used to find the roller coaster exhilarating (of a lot of negativity) but at my age not any longer. If it gets too much I can use the mute or turn on another channel (am I subconsciously haunted by possible bad mojo vibe too ??) and then revisit the tape later to either joy that they turned it around or continued to stink but somehow it being over is less likely to influence my anger.

I love the team and the Boneyard but there are times when its better for my sleep not to get too worked up anymore. One thing for sure is how passionate this college basketball following can make me. It is one of the most enjoyable experiences I can think of. Just love the excitement it brings and that passion it stirs up in everybody. Great escape and really enjoy the development of the young players and the insights and commentary of the BY'ers.
 
jibsey said:
OK, apparently I don’t have it. So last night I’m watching the game with my wife, son and his wife all rooting Huskies. It was a 1 point game in the second half so I got up and started pacing to get energy out but not in front of anyone. Yes I was loudly contesting some calls but never did I swear or curse. I was told to sit down and not talk so loud.
We were on a trip visiting and no other tv to go to but I can’t just sit on a couch and watch this biting my lip. I’m guessing many of you are more animated (Hurley like) than I am during these games, right? Do I disown these people?
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Yes - clearly a poor choice in your spouse and you raised your son wrong.
 
BigErnMcCracken said:
I've watched every game with the volume off since Iona. Greatly reduces the stress. If there's a good play I'll rewind and watch with audio.

We have friends who have a rolling watch party for the tournament with a pretty spectacular set up. I went for a couple hours on Saturday afternoon and someone asked me if I was coming yesterday. I laughed out loud at the absurdity of watching a UConn tournament game in a group setting.

I actually watched the game last night in the office preparing for a deposition. About as miserable a night as I can remember.
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This is me. I feel sick in close games and worse when we lose. My face is hot, my heart races a bit. When people say they “enjoy” the games, I cannot relate. I enjoy blowouts and the actual act of winning. The two hour duration of a tough win or a loss is miserable for me. I am not looking forward to tonight at all.
 
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Not anti-social. Just prefer watching alone. Wife watching Heartland or The Seven Johnsons in the other room. Prefer an adult beverage or two leading up to the tip. Eagle/Hill/Raf is my preferred announcing team-Got them tonite. Like our chances . I'm good. See you crazy Yarders on the other side.
 
Hoophound said:
This is me. I feel sick in close games and when we lose. My face is hot, my heart races a bit. When people say they “enjoy” the games, I cannot relate. I enjoy blowouts and the actual act of winning. The two hour duration of a tough win or a loss is miserable for me. I am not looking forward to tonight at all.
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The "mute" thing works a bit. I also sometimes pause it when the other team has the ball, wait a few seconds, and then fast-forward through their possession. But I haven't come to a definitive conclusion as to whether this works or not. Seems like a 50/50 proposition.
 
BigErnMcCracken said:
The "mute" thing works a bit. I also sometimes pause it when the other team has the ball, wait a few seconds, and then fast-forward through their possession. But I haven't come to a definitive conclusion as to whether this works or not. Seems like a 50/50 proposition.
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I briefly change the channel and I take breaks and hope it will be over when I get back. I’ll take the dog out or go get a drink, see what my wife is doing and then go to the bathroom. Even during all that, I have to fight not to check ESPN.com on my phone. The last few minutes of a game takes an absolute eternity.

I think the no volume thing helps because you don’t have the annoyance of hearing the excitement of the announcers when the other team does something good or hearing their crowd roar. Listening to that makes me feel even worse. It’s like an avalanche of dread.
 
Hoophound said:
I think the no volume thing helps because you don’t have the annoyance of hearing the excitement of the announcers when the other team does something good or hearing their crowd roar. Listening to that makes me feel even worse. It’s like an avalanche of dread.
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Bingo. It's crazy how childish this is but I have no choice.
 
Hoophound said:
I briefly change the channel and I take breaks and hope it will be over when I get back. I’ll take the dog out or go get a drink, see what my wife is doing and then go to the bathroom. Even during all that, I have to fight not to check ESPN.com on my phone. The last few minutes of a game takes an absolute eternity.

I think the no volume thing helps because you don’t have the annoyance of hearing the excitement of the announcers when the other team does something good or hearing their crowd roar. Listening to that makes me feel even worse. It’s like an avalanche of dread.
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I'll do this.

I'll go down to the basement and check on the general state of things. No better time to empty the dehumidifier than when the game get dicey.
 
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This is very cathartic. I didn't realize how many great posters on here have the same emotional fits with games that everyone else does.
Thanks to all for sharing. We're all a half a bubble off when it comes to viewing Uconn games.
 
My wife took our 2-year-old son to her parents' house for the weekend. (Her suggestion, knowing I'd want to watch alone)

Until he gets old enough to actually understand what's going on, that's probably the optimal viewing situation.
 
Leebo said:
My wife took our 2-year-old son to her parents' house for the weekend. (Her suggestion, knowing I'd want to watch alone)

Until he gets old enough to actually understand what's going on, that's probably the optimal viewing situation.
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Yes, when he is old enough he can join the madness too.
 
I was so extremely calm last night, it was weird. Not one outburst. Did I know something the rest of us didn’t?
 
Jaydumo20 said:
I gripe about the chat but I'm always on it. You all are my only social media contacts. I dont F with all that other fluff.

So lately, because I live in TN now and for some reason many of you back home get the feed before me, I love seeing someone post in the chat "AK baaaaaaang" or something or other.
Not having seen it on my side yet and waiting for it to happen is like double the thrill.

But the greatest thing about being an insane UConn fan is that my Dad (who still lives in Greenwich) and I talk every day multiple times a day, 365 days a year about one thing: UConn basketball. I have a great relationship with him, 1,000 miles away, and I owe a lot of it to our mutual love for the Huskies. Nothin better.
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That really hit home.
I had that same kind of UConn bond with my brother. We lived and breathed UConn hoops talking about the team all year long, breaking down games, looking ahead, reliving moments. And the games we went to together, just different. So much energy, so much spirited moments, those are memories I’ll always hold onto.
My brother had Parkinson’s, and over time things changed, and eventually we lost him. I still watch the games with family and friends and enjoy it, but truthfully, it’s never been the same.
So yeah, like @CL82 said, enjoy it while you can. That time, those conversations, those shared moments… they mean everything.
 
.-.
businesslawyer said:
Any night you spend knowing you'll have to speak to litigators the next day is a terrible night.
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lol I was in a mediation all day in Tampa yesterday. Barely made it home in time to watch.

I usually watch in the man cave. Generally alone or with my son who works at UCONN. He didn’t watch last night because he had to be at Coventry Lake with the rowing team at 8am. I stopped yelling at the TV years ago.

And I have to stay off of the phone so I do t see what is happening before the TV shows it. YouTube TV is 20-30 seconds behind.
 
Dibbie said:
I was so extremely calm last night, it was weird. Not one outburst. Did I know something the rest of us didn’t?
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It’s funny, I was too and there was more nerves getting to the Sweet Sixteen game for me.
Now for the Duke game, they are very good and we are technically an underdog and I like that. But I can see that the experience of our players, the offense and the game plan by our coaching staff is as good as possible. Will it be good enough? Don’t know but defense will be the key to this. Just defend them. What were the defenses ranked finally this year?
 
Dibbie said:
I was so extremely calm last night, it was weird. Not one outburst. Did I know something the rest of us didn’t?
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Sort of like I knew, that game time outbursts don't help sleep after the game is over. And probably not good for the psyche either. That, some of these guys financially are now or in the near future, will be better off than many of us ever will be, so why emotionally "invest" in it to an excess.

Enjoy it as a form of art with artistic performers, and admire their artistry or even their inartful plays. Enjoy the action even when it does not produce the win. You can enjoy it while it happens and follow the art form and give your input online whenever you choose. Like internet chess or bridge or any other engaging activity.

On to #7!
 
Leebo said:
My wife took our 2-year-old son to her parents' house for the weekend. (Her suggestion, knowing I'd want to watch alone)

Until he gets old enough to actually understand what's going on, that's probably the optimal viewing situation.
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He’s two and doesn’t yet get it? You need to spend more time with him.
 
My wife is great. She decided to go away for two weeks because according to her I am a different person in March which is correct. But she texted me this morning and said “I saw you won last night “. Not they won but you won. She knows I think I am on the team. Greatest line ever from her, “I was just wondering, what number are you?” I am 70 years old, but loving my team never gets old.
 
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