Living in UK = New Sports Interests?

Since moving to the UK, I've noticed that I've started liking certain sports that never interested me before.  Mainly soccer/football but I've also developed an unexpected desire to watch F1...I've even been keeping up with cricket (since I figured out how it works).  These are all sports that I've watched previously but never cared about or had a desire to follow.

I don't know if this discovery is because I live in the UK now and these sports are much more popular here than they were in the US (at least where I lived) or if it's more because it gives me and DH a common hobby.

Anybody else experienced this?

Well, I watched the World Cup in the states four years ago, but I was working in a pub that was showing the matches, so I kind of had to. I sort of got into it, but not really. I've been strangely fanatical about watching it this time, though, not sure if it has to do with being here in England, but I don't watch any other matches normally and I've been here two years. I have watched more of the World Cup games than DH, which is pretty shocking. But F1? Never! LOL! I couldn't watch cars go around in a circle over and over.  DH is a die-hard fan, though. 

But F1? Never! LOL! I couldn't watch cars go around in a circle over and over. 

They're not really circles!!    

I agree about the Formula 1, but I didn't get into racing in the US either. And I can't get into cricket.  However, I do enjoy watching football more than I ever did. DH is a Liverpool fan and I like watching the matches with him. I've also gotten into the World Cup, even watching games on my own while DH is at work. I also enjoy watching rugby (especially at the pub), which is something I never watched when I was in the US.

Thanks, IPW!  I love sports topics, and used to work for ESPN, which was one of my favorite jobs ever!

I haven't gotten into football/soccer, because a) a team's success is too dependent on whether or not it is owned by a Russian billionaire, b) most of the matches are only available on Sky, which sucks (search my posts for "sky" and you'll find lots of colorful ranting), and c) it's too expensive/difficult to get tickets to games. 

For example, I looked into getting Arsenal tickets when we lived in Finsbury Park, but you had to be a member of the club for £40/year, and all that did was give you the right to bid on tickets season ticket holders didn't use.  No thanks, Arsenal, I'll just get a t-shirt and be on my way.  I realize I could just follow a local team or one from a lower league, but I'm not that motivated about it and have moved around too much to feel loyal to a particular area's team.

I'm following the World Cup more closely than I did in the US, but I imagine that's because it's more readily available and getting wider coverage in the UK.  I'm still surprised, though, by how interesting I find it even after the US team was knocked out.  (My nationalism is sad, I know.)

I watch F1 here in the UK, but I liked motorsports in the US, too, so I think that's really more of a "whatever is available" thing.

Cricket I barely understand, so that's out.

Even after coming to the UK, the only sport I follow religiously remains the NFL (go Cowboys!!).  Somehow the difficulty of catching games has deepened my love for American football.  Staying awake from 2am to 5am on a Tuesday morning, sitting on my couch with only the light of the television as England sleeps, wearing a Tony Romo jersey and watching the Cowboys live on Monday Night Football has only inflamed my passion for the game. 

OH NO!  I no likey Dallas.  I  the Vikings though (not a big Favre fan but had to support him last year anyway...and he rubbed off on me a bit).  I can complete relate to the 2am games (I don't even think DH is that dedicated to his football team!). 

There's a few pretty good local football and rugby teams near us so I'd like to catch a few matches during the upcoming season.  I know the "big" teams can be pricey but I'd like to check one out at some point in time...just to say I've done it.  Personally, I usually prefer to watch sports on TV anyway because you get a much better view...but I want to go to some matches to experience the atmosphere.

I grew up with NASCAR and I hated it so much!  Our entire lives revolved around when the race was on.  I guess that's why I'm so surprised that I can get into F1.  Granted, watching people drive around in matchbox cars on street circuits is much more amusing than watching regular size cars go around an oval.  Maybe it's just because some of the drivers are so handsome.   

Baseball was always my favorite sport so I guess that's why I relate to cricket (after I finally had the rules explained to me).  Yeah...because they're so much alike.      I mean...they both involve swinging wooden thingies at ball thingies.

I'm following the World Cup more closely than I did in the US, but I imagine that's because it's more readily available and getting wider coverage in the UK.  I'm still surprised, though, by how interesting I find it even after the US team was knocked out.  (My nationalism is sad, I know.)

Even after coming to the UK, the only sport I follow religiously remains the NFL (go Cowboys!!).  Somehow the difficulty of catching games has deepened my love for American football.  Staying awake from 2am to 5am on a Tuesday morning, sitting on my couch with only the light of the television as England sleeps, wearing a Tony Romo jersey and watching the Cowboys live on Monday Night Football has only inflamed my passion for the game. 

Yeah, I was all about the USA, too, which actually kind of surprised me. I'm not an outright patriotic person (or never thought I was) but I certainly couldn't cheer for England during that first match, even though I kind of thought I would somehow, since it means more to them or whatever. I was the only one in the pub cheering for the USA, so I had to cheer loud enough to make it count.... haha! Luckily, we live in a small village and I knew a lot of people there!

And, did I know you were from Dallas? Well, anyway, that's uber cute about the Cowboys. As a Dallasite, I have to respect that, even though I don't care about American football.  Too many rules. I went to a Cowboys game once and cheered for the huddle!  I never had a clue of what was happening. But I do love the Mavericks and I miss basketball so much now that I live over here.  It's almost worth getting the Sky sports package. DH says we can if I watch all the Man U games... haha. Maybe I can get into football? 

I found myself only slightly interested in the sports over here once I moved here.  I was already a fan of footy so it was nice to watch MOTD each week (not going to shell out the 25 a month for Sky Sports).  I don't bother going to matches here because a) too expensive b) why would I want to watch Birm City, Villa or Baggies in person? c) still too much of a New York Red Bulls fan.

F1 I can tolerate--but only just--I was never interested in motorsports back in the states.

Cricket I could care less about, as with rugby.  I will say, though, snooker I have become a huge fan of.  At first I couldn't understand why pool was on, not only in primetime on major networks, but with such an audience.  Anyone who knows about billiards in the states knows that theres only like one event televised by ESPN a year...and it's usually on a 3 or 4 month delay....and it's only if Jeanette Lee is playing...and it's only a 9-ball tournament.

Then I watched some snooker on BBC and realised it's a totally different game.  The strategy involved, the amazing shots some of them take, and to be honest, it is incredibly relaxing.  Just that "clack" of the cue hitting a ball, I could listen to that with my eyes closed all day.

OH NO!  I no likey Dallas. 

Well then you're dead to me.  (KIDDING!)

I know the "big" teams can be pricey but I'd like to check one out at some point in time...just to say I've done it.  Personally, I usually prefer to watch sports on TV anyway because you get a much better view...but I want to go to some matches to experience the atmosphere.

I'd like to see a game in person, too.  A work buddy has mentioned going to see England play their next friendly in October, so maybe that'll be the one.

Yeah, I was all about the USA, too, which actually kind of surprised me. I'm not an outright patriotic person (or never thought I was) but I certainly couldn't cheer for England during that first match, even though I kind of thought I would somehow, since it means more to them or whatever. I was the only one in the pub cheering for the USA, so I had to cheer loud enough to make it count.... haha! Luckily, we live in a small village and I knew a lot of people there!

I watched it at my English in-laws' house, which was really fun.  Before the game my brother-in-law said, "Now if you guys win, I expect you to be really obnoxious about it," to which my wife interjected, "Don't worry, he will." 

And, did I know you were from Dallas? Well, anyway, that's uber cute about the Cowboys. As a Dallasite, I have to respect that, even though I don't care about American football.  Too many rules. I went to a Cowboys game once and cheered for the huddle!  I never had a clue of what was happening. But I do love the Mavericks and I miss basketball so much now that I live over here.  It's almost worth getting the Sky sports package. DH says we can if I watch all the Man U games... haha. Maybe I can get into football? 

Actually I'm from Austin, but my dad was a Cowboys fan, so I'm one by birth, and have followed them religiously.  I went to university at North Texas, so we went to Dallas a lot, and saw tons of Cowboys, Mavs and Rangers games.  I could go on for some time about the Cowboys, but I digress.

I will say, though, snooker I have become a huge fan of.  At first I couldn't understand why pool was on, not only in primetime on major networks, but with such an audience. 

Haha!  I thought that when I saw darts on TV.  Darts?  Really? 

Haha!  I thought that when I saw darts on TV.  Darts?  Really? 

I love watching darts on tv.    DH got into them about 9 months ago and in that time he's gotten me, my mom, and his mum to all occasionally play!  It's so easy to see your progress in the beginning and since it's you against the board you can compare your results to the professionals.  Phil Taylor is the best darts player in the world and he's even gotten recognition lately for being one of the best sportsman in the world.  He was on one of the world cup adverts with other sporting legends and DH and I were so happy every time we saw it.  He's so amazingly good he's a pleasure to watch, and when we were watching the darts a few months ago we were surprised when Stephen Fry came out of the practice rooms where he'd been meeting the players to talk to the commentators and even commentate on a match himself!  I never gave darts a second thought until I met DH, but it's a great time to get into it.  Phil Taylor just smashed two world records in a recent tournament, even though he's been playing for over 20 years.    It was a huge moment in darting history, plus just illustrates how even with such skill and precision involved, darts players are still getting better every year.

So yeah, we watch darts.   Though I wish it were on more accessible channels than Sky  Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2.    I've also gotten into football / soccer since moving here, but only the Euro and World Cups.

I completely agree. I think at least some of it is that it is on t.v. (Yay BBC iPlayer!).  I now watch and enjoy F1, soccer (although I loved it before, just couldn't watch it on tv), various random cricket matches and equestrian events (again, yay for television coverage!).
The F1 cracks my MIL up.  I just find it so soothing; she thinks I'm insane.

I've been a huge F1 fan since I was a kid (Early 80's), so this is like heaven to me, in the states you can't find anything F1, here there entire sections of the bookshops

I'm really getting into Football now, and tryig to figure out Rugby and Cricket enough to follow them.

On a wierd note, I've always loved watching airplanes at the airport, and (after 9/11 it's an easy way to get hassled by the police in the US) found out that it's an accepted hobby here. Pretty cool.

I need to amend my previous posty.  I absolutely love F1 now.  I rented the F1 2010 game for PS3 8 weeks ago and it's still in my machine.  I started learning the names, teams, nuances of the sport and I found myself now following the 2011 season intently.  It's even opened my eyes to IndyCar back in the states.  NASCAR not so much, but I may watch the NASCAR road races.