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13. Sports. Fitness

(Lab. Workbook ‘Sports’, 2003)

Sport and Fitness

        The British are very fond of sport, but many people prefer to watch rather than take part. Many go to watch football, cricket, etc. at the ground, but many more sit at home and watch sport on television.

Most people today take relatively little general exercise. Over the last 30 or 40 years lifestyles have changed considerably and many people now travel even the shortest distances by car or bus. Lack of exercise combined with eating too many fatty and sugary foods has meant that many people are becoming too fat). Experts are particularly concerned that children spend a lot of their free time watching television or playing computer games instead of being physically active. In the 1980s and 1990s, however, there has been a growing interest in fitness among young adults and many belong to a sports club or do sport as their main leisure activity.

        In Britain most towns have an amateur football and cricket team, and people also have opportunities to play sports such as tennis and golf. Older people may play bowls. Some people go regularly to a sports centre or leisure centre where there are facilities for playing badminton and squash, and also a swimming pool. Some sports centres arrange classes in aerobics, step and keep-fit. Some people work out (= train hard) regularly at a local gym and do weight training and circuit training. A few people do judo or other martial arts. Others go running or jogging in their local area. For enthusiastic runners there are opportunities to take part in long-distance runs, such as the London marathon. Other people keep themselves fit by walking or cycling. Many people now go abroad on a skiing holiday each year and there are several dry slopes in Britain where they can practise.

        Membership of a sports club or gym can be expensive and not everyone can afford the subscription. Local sports centres are generally cheaper. Evening classes are also cheap and offer a wide variety of fitness activities ranging from yoga to jazz dancing. Some companies now provide sports facilities for their employees or contribute to the cost of joining a gym.

        Sports play an important part in American life. Professional baseball and football games attract large crowds, and many people watch games on television. Although many parents complain about their children being couch potatoes (= people who spend a lot of time watching television), there are sports sessions at school for all ages. College students are usually also required to take physical education classes to complete their studies. But an official report published in 1996 said that more than 60% of adults in the US were not regularly physically active.

        Many popular keep-fit activities began in the US. Charles Atlas, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others have inspired people to take up body-building (= strengthening and shaping the muscles). Many women joined the 'fitness craze' as a result of video workouts produced by stars such as Jane Fonda and Cindy Crawford which they could watch and take part in at home. New fitness books are continually being published and these create fashions for new types of exercise, such as wave aerobics, which is done in a swimming pool, and cardio kick-boxing, a form of aerobics which involves punching and kicking a punchbag. There is even a 'dancing through pregnancy' programme. Many richer Americans employ their own personal trainer, either at home or at a fitness centre, to direct their exercise programme. Local YMCAs offer programmes which include aerobics, gym, running, weights, treadmills and rowing machines, as well as steam rooms and swimming. But many people just walk or jog in the local park or play informal games of baseball or football.

Hobbies and Leisure Activities

Attitudes to leisure

        Until the 20th century, Americans had little time for leisure activities and did not really approve of leisure. The Puritan ideal of hard work remained strong, and leisure was associated with the 'idle rich', sometimes called the leisure class. In the 19th century one book warned: 'True recreation must not interfere with our duty; must not injure health; must not waste money; must not waste time.' At the end of that century, President James Garfield said the question was: 'What shall we do with our leisure when we get it?' Modern Americans have not found this a problem and can choose from a wide range of leisure activities.

        The British share the Protestant work ethic (= the belief that hard work is good for people) but have always believed that it is also good for people to have activities outside work. A traditional saying warns that 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'. Many people now believe that making time for relaxation after work is also necessary for the sake of good mental health. Some people, however, think that leisure time should be spent on worthwhile activities and not just frittered away (= wasted). Children are often encouraged to develop an interest or hobby which they can pick up in their spare time. Many British people care more about their leisure time than their work which is, for some, simply a means of getting money to live on.

Hobbies

        Traditional indoor hobbies or pastimes include collecting things, e.g. shells, model cars, dolls, comic books, stamps, coins or postcards. Children also collect sets of picture cards from packets of tea and small toys or models from packets of breakfast cereal. Many collect stickers (= pictures with glue on the back) of football or baseball players or pop stars. They buy packets of these and trade them with their friends, exchanging those they already have for the ones they need to complete the set. Many people continue to collect things as they get older. Formerly picture cards were given away in packets of cigarettes and many of these old cards are now valuable. Now people collect things like beer mats, concert programmes, decorated plates, and antiques.

        Many people like to do something creative, such as painting or drawing, playing music, knitting or sewing, DIY (Do It Yourself), cooking, or doing crossword puzzles. In 1996, 84% of US households contained one or more people with a hobby or craft (= an activity in which something is made) and over $10 million was spent on such activities.

        Some people have hobbies which take them away from home. Birdwatching is especially popular. So too is flying model aircraft. Other people go to public record offices and churches to research their family history. One very British hobby is train-spotting, which involves visiting railway stations and recording the names or numbers of trains. The range of hobbies now popular is reflected in the number of specialist magazines available in both Britain and the US.

Sports

        Many people have a sport as their hobby. The most popular sports that people play include football, basketball, softball, cricket and tennis. Some people play informally with friends, others join a local team. Many companies also have teams which play against each other. Some people go regularly to a sports centre or leisure centre, which provides facilities for keep-fit classes and indoor sports such as squash and badminton, and usually has a swimming pool. Others join a sports club which caters for a particular sport, e.g. golf or snooker. Clubs usually also have a bar and organize social events for their members.

        Sports such as football, basketball and swimming are cheap and attract a lot of people. Golf and sailing, which are more expensive, tend to attract wealthier people. Tenpin bowling and ice-skating are popular social activities among young people.

More unusual sports include orienteering (= running from place to place, following clues marked on a map), paragliding (= floating through the air attached to a canopy like a parachute) and hot-air ballooning.

        A lot of people who are interested in sport prefer to watch others play, either at a stadium or on television, rather than play themselves. Baseball, football, cricket, golf and also horse racing are regularly broadcast on television.

Leisure activities

        Television and videos provide easy indoor entertainment, and watching television is by far the most popular leisure activity. People also play computer games or use the Internet. Other home-based activities include reading and listening to music. Many people's social lives are closely bound up with their interests. Most towns in Britain and the US have a wide choice of clubs and societies for people to join, including choirs, amateur dramatics groups, film societies, dance clubs and special-interest societies for those interested in art, astronomy, local history, etc. There are usually also classes where people can learn a new skill.

        A lot of people go out one or more evenings a week and at the weekend. Children go to youth clubs or visit friends. Adults go to the cinema or theatre, eat out at a restaurant, or, very commonly, go to a pub or bar.

        At the weekend many people spend part of their time shopping. For many, shopping for clothes and household goods is a pleasant activity, not a chore. People also visit relatives and friends or invite them to their house. They go to places of interest, such as stately homes and museums, to funfairs, boating lakes and safari parks, and to special events ranging from school fetes to jazz festivals.

        Some people like to go away for the weekend and turn it into a short holiday/vacation. Many go to national parks and other country areas, and go walking or fishing, or, in the US, hunting. Other people like to go to the beach. In the US people own recreational vehicles, such as Winnebagos (large motorhome vehicles), which they can live in during such trips. British people may have a camper van or caravan.

Baseball

        Baseball is America's national sport, played mainly by men. It developed in the mid 19th century from the British games of rounders and cricket. Baseball is also popular in Japan and several Latin American countries, and has been an Olympic sport since 1992. Softball is similar but uses a larger, softer ball and is popular with women.

       Many Americans play baseball for fun because players do not have to be strong like football players or tall like basketball players. Some people think baseball is too slow, but the team managers often change their players and plans during the game, and there are many exciting plays. Many American families enjoy going to a Sunday afternoon double-header (= two games between the same two teams in one day).

The game

        Baseball is played with long wooden bats and a small, hard ball, by two teams of nine players each. The infield has three bases (= bags filled with sand) and a home plate, also called home, arranged in a diamond. The distance between each base is 90 feet (27.4 metres). The pitcher, who throws the ball to the batter at the home plate, stands in the centre of the diamond. The distance from the pitcher's mound to the home plate is 60.5 feet (18.4 metres). The team that scores the most runs as its players move round the bases is the winner.

         Each game lasts nine innings. In each inning the visiting team is first to bat (= hit the ball), while the home team plays defense. Players bat in turn but when a team has three outs, it must let the other side bat. If a batter hits the ball and it is not caught in the air for an out, he runs to first base. If the ball is thrown to first base before the batter gets there, he is out. If not, he then tries to advance to second base, third base and back to home for a run while other players bat. A base runner is out if another player in his team hits the ball and it is thrown to second or third base before he gets there. The most exciting play is when the batter hits a ball very far and can go round all the bases for a home run, also called a homer.

        An umpire judges the throws. If a pitch (= ball that is thrown) is not hit, the ball is caught by the catcher behind the batter and returned to the pitcher. A batter strikes out (= is out) if the pitcher throws three balls within the strike zone (= the area between the batter's shoulders and knees) and he misses them or does not try to hit them. A batter can go to first base on a walk if the pitcher throws four balls outside the strike zone. As well as the pitcher and the catcher, the defense has four other players in the infield and three in the outfield.

Competitions

        The professional season lasts from April to October. Major league baseball is organized into the American League and the National League. At the end of the season the four best teams in each league play to decide which two will go forward to the World Series. The team that wins four games in this competition are the World Champions. The New York Yankees have won the World Series the most times. Other well-known teams include the Boston Red Sox, the Cleveland Indians, the Detroit Tigers, the Chicago Cubs, the St Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. There are also several minor leagues around the country.

        Amateur competitions include the NCAA College World Series, won most often by the University of Southern California. Both American and foreign teams play in the Little League, and young people play in the Little League or Babe Ruth League.

        Famous baseball players have included Ty Cobb, 'Cy' Young, 'Babe' Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, and Hank Aaron. All have been chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Language and culture

        Baseball has its own colourful language, such as an Annie Oakley (a free walk to first base), a Texas Leaguer (a weak hit just over the infield) and a grand slam (a home run with three runners on bases). Some expressions are more widely used. To strike out means to fail, to throw somebody a curve means to trick them (because a curve ball deceives the batter), not get to first base means to get nothing done, and to take a rain check is to delay an event (a free rain check to a later game is given if a game is stopped by rain).

        Baseball has entered the national culture in other ways. It is the subject of an old popular song, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, novels such as Shoeless Joe (1982) which became the film Field of Dreams (1989), and other films like The Pride of the Yankees (1942) and The Babe (1992). Baseball caps and shirts are fashionable in many countries.

Basketball

        Basketball is the most popular sport played indoors in the US. It was invented in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by Dr James Naismith. He used fruit baskets for the hoops and baskets, and a soccer ball. The first professional organization for male players was established in 1898, and the NBA (National Basketball Association) was set up in 1949. Games are now played by rich basketball stars before audiences of over 20000 people. The team seen most outside the US is the Harlem Globetrotters. By contrast, the sport is played with just as much enthusiasm by young people on the streets of US cities.

        Basketball is played by two teams of five players, but seven other players can be brought on to replace them during the game. The court is up to 94 feet/29.7 metres long and 50 feet/15 metres wide. At each end is a hoop (= a metal ring) 10 feet/3 metres above the floor. The hoop is attached to a backboard and has a net without a bottom hanging from it. Players score two points when they throw the ball through the hoop from an area near the basket, and three points if they are further away. The team that scores the most points wins. The most exciting score is a slam dunk when a tall player jumps up high and pushes the ball down through the hoop. The ball is moved between players by a pass, or a dribble if a player bounces it on the floor. Players are not allowed to push an opponent, but this often happens. When a foul is committed against a player, he or she can have one or two free throws, also called foul shots, that count one point each. If the referee calls five illegal plays on a player, he fouls out and cannot play the rest of the game.

        The NBA has 29 teams which play between November and June. The season ends when the best eight teams in the Eastern Conference and the best eight in the Western Conference compete to play in the NBA Championship. The Boston Celtics have won this most often, a total of 16 times. The best team recently has been the Chicago Bulls, with five championships since 1991. Women players take part in the American Basketball League and the Women's National Basketball Association league. Colleges and universities have teams that play in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Basketball Championships. Basketball is also popular in high schools.

        NBA players are among the highest paid sports people in the world. Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls, the richest of all sports players, was paid more than $33 million for the 1996-7 season and earned another $47 million from advertisements and other deals. Famous players in basketball history include Wilt 'the Stilt' Chamberlain and Julius Erving. Together with many others, they are in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

        Basketball is also played in Britain, where there are national leagues for both men and women. But the sport receives less attention than in the US and, in contrast to football, the names of the leading teams and players are unfamiliar to most people.

Field Sports

        The main field sports in Britain are hunting, shooting and fishing. They are often also called blood sports because they involve killing animals. All three sports were traditionally associated with the upper classes, although today they all, especially fishing, attract a much wider group of people.

        Foxhunting is the most common form of hunting. Packs of foxhounds followed by horse riders wearing pinks (= red jackets), blowing horns and jumping hedges, are still a familiar sight. The most famous hunts (= clubs that hunt) include the Belvoir, and the Quorn. Foxhunting was once a popular subject for painting and some English country pubs display sets of prints. Staghunting now takes place in only a few parts of Britain. Hare coursing, in which greyhounds are trained to chase a hare, is restricted mainly to northern England. Other traditional blood sports such as badger-baiting and cockfighting are now illegal. Because hunting involves chasing and killing animals it has many critics. Hunt saboteurs belonging to organizations such as the League Against Cruel Sports often protest violently at meetings of hunts. People against hunting have also tried to persuade Parliament to ban hunting with dogs. Supporters of hunting, who include many farmers, argue that hunting foxes with dogs is less cruel than shooting them.

        Shooting game birds, such as pheasant and grouse, is a sport mainly of the upper and middle classes. Grouse shooting begins each year on 12 August, the Glorious Twelfth, and takes place mainly in Scotland. The hunters often employ beaters to drive the birds towards their guns. Those who object to shooting at live birds for sport do clay-pigeon shooting (= shooting at clay discs fired into the air).

        Fishing, often called angling, is a very popular sport, mostly among men. Many belong to angling clubs. There are three main kinds of angling: fly-fishing, coarse fishing and sea-fishing. Fly-fishing, which is expensive, is fishing for salmon, trout and other fish in fast-flowing rivers, using specially disguised hooks. Coarse fishing in rivers and lakes for fish other than salmon and trout, most of which are thrown back after being caught, is more widely popular. On the coast people may fish with a rod and line from a boat or from the shore.

        The US probably has more hunting organizations than any other country. This is mainly because of two strong traditions: the Constitution gives all Americans the right to own guns, and Americans have always hunted animals for food. The first Europeans who settled America hunted deer, bear, foxes, turkeys and ducks to survive, and many Americans still eat what they shoot. For these reasons, hunting is a sport for all classes and many people own hunting rifles.       Americans do not use the name field sports. Instead they say outdoor sports or, because that can include camping, walking and boating, simply hunting and fishing. Bird hunting is often used instead of shooting, because that can also mean shooting at targets made of wood. People who enjoy these sports buy magazines like Field & Stream and American Rifleman. There are also many television programmes about hunting and fishing.

        Many other Americans are against hunting, but animal rights groups have little power against organizations like the National Rifle Association, which has more than 2.3 million members, and other politically active groups that support hunting and fishing. Conservation organizations like the Colorado Wildlife Conservation Coalition also use their influence to protect the rights of people to hunt and fish.

        The first US hunting club, the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club, was established in 1766 in Philadelphia. Foxhunting now only takes place in a few eastern states where it is associated with the upper class and has little opposition. Americans generally hunt deer, elk, bear, antelope, mountain lion, raccoon and wild birds. Hunting licences may cost only $10 for one day's fishing but rise to $135 for a general hunting and fishing licence and $250 for hunting and trapping (= catching live animals ). The US Fish and Wildlife Service is in charge of fishing and hunting laws. States have their own wildlife departments and sometimes both national and state permission is needed to hunt.

        Fishing is the most popular outdoor sport in America. In Florida alone over a million freshwater anglers each year pay $37 million in licence fees. Freshwater fish caught in the US include trout, bass and salmon. Saltwater fish include flounder, mackerel, shark, snapper and tuna.

Darts

        Darts is a popular indoor game, often played in British pubs and working men's clubs. Players throw small steel darts with feathers or plastic flights attached to one end at a round dartboard fixed to a wall. The dartboard is divided into 20 numbered areas, each of which has a particular score, and an outer, middle and inner ring. Double points are scored if a dart lands in the outer ring around the edge of the board and treble points if it lands in the inner ring. If a dart lands in the small centre circle, called the bull's-eye, 50 points are scored.

        Two or four players play against each other. They take turns to throw three darts each at the board, standing behind a line on the floor called the oche. Each player starts with 301, or sometimes 501, and scores are deducted from this. The game is won when one of the players reduces his or her score to zero. The last throw must land in the outer ring or in the bull's-eye.

The game is thought to have developed out of archery several hundred years ago and is said to have been played by the Pilgrim Fathers on the Mayflower. Today, pubs have teams that play in local darts leagues and a few players have been able to turn professional. Major darts matches are sometimes shown on television, though they are not especially popular and some people do not like the association between darts and beer-drinking.