From The Editor: In Defense of Sitting on the Couch and Watching the Big Game

I love sports. I have as long as I can remember, and there are photos of me in team gear from before I have memories.

For most of my life, I took for granted that this was a good thing. Sports are cool and fun and keep you in shape. What’s not to love?

Then I started working full-time. More often than not, I would get off work, make dinner, and then set up camp on the couch for the important sports event of the night. Because there was always something on. And it was always a Big Game.

About a year ago, I decided to track how much time I spent watching sports over a week. The result? Fourteen hours, 39 minutes. Yeesh. But it was the Euros! Copa America! The Stanley Cup Finals! The second round of the NBA Draft?

I realized that I might not be making the most of my time by gluing myself to the couch every time a ball (or puck) was headed toward a goal of some sort. I briefly considered going full “ew, sportsball?” and trying to give it all up. But that felt impossible. So I wondered, why? Why do I love sports so much?

It turns out there are a couple of reasons that, to me, at least, are absolutely worth the time commitment. The first is that playing sports gets me active. Strength training and running are definitely more optimal for improving my physical fitness than playing pickup basketball. But sometimes I don’t want to go for a run. And I’m not a professional athlete. I don’t think I’ve ever turned down the chance to play pickup basketball, because it makes me happy. Something that makes it easier to be active than anything else does, even if it’s not perfect, seems worth continuing to do.

But I don’t have to keep watching sports to keep participating, and it’s watching that really takes up most of my free time. So why keep watching?

For me, it’s the sense of community. Following sports gives me a way to connect with complete strangers that I wouldn’t have otherwise, and the time I’ve spent watching the Big Game with friends and family has helped strengthen those bonds. In a world that is increasingly polarized and isolated, I find that incredibly valuable.

So I decided I’d stick with it. I don’t need to watch every single game that’s on, and I’ve learned to balance my time better. But I’m not giving up on sports, even if the Timberwolves find a new way to break my heart every year.

Sports are, obviously, not the only way to find community. They are, however, an option, and a good one. If you’re seeking a new community to be a part of, I’d recommend giving it a try. There are plenty of options in our LGBTQ+ Sports Directory if you’re looking for a place to start!

Lavender has updated two articles, the 2025 Small Town and Regional Pride Calendar from Issue 782, Summer Preview, and “Stronger Together: TC Pride’s New Parade Unit Screams, ‘You Can’t Erase Us’” from Issue 784, Twin Cities Pride Preview,  to correct mistakes. Details on the corrections are listed at the end of each article online.