I’ve been happy for the football season to be in full swing. This time of year, when football and baseball overlap, is a lot of fun. I know. It’s crazy.

Baseball fans are in the critical time of the year now as the postseason is upon us. Some love these games regardless of who is playing. Some have the attitude of “if my team isn’t playing, none of it matters.”

And, I guess now is a good time to mention that I evidently touched a nerve with some Yankee fans with last week’s column. You may remember that in that column, I reported on funny or entertaining T-shirts. Some of them had a baseball theme.

Now, remember here, that I was just a “reporter of the news,” not necessarily a believer of it. One of the T-shirts I mentioned read, “Jesus Hates the Yankees.”

I was informed that what I reported was offensive. And, I might add, I was pretty much forced to have my photo taken with a Yankee baseball cap on my head.

So, let me clarify, witness and represent here and now: the Jesus I know, doesn’t hate the Yankees or any other sports team or anyone, for that matter. Jesus, in fact, loves the Yankees! (and the Red Sox, etc. etc. etc.)

Whew! Okay, back to football. A week and a half ago, I took my 9-year-old granddaughter to the BYU vs. Kansas State game. We were there with 64,000+ other people. We were all going a bit crazy with all the wild plays that resulted in a big win for the Cougars.

It was Scout’s first football game and she seemed to love it. It was a very late night and I offered to leave early after the outcome of the game was clear. She had no interest in leaving early. She wanted to stay to the very end.

Lots of people are football fans to one degree or another. I can’t help but enjoy watching it. For some reason, when I’m flipping channels, if a game is on, I’m suddenly interested and want to watch it for a while regardless of who is playing.

The same type of thing happens to me when certain movies are on television. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen the movie, I’ll stop and find myself watching.

It also doesn’t even matter if I have the movie on DVD sitting in the cabinet that I could watch at any time without commercial interruption. I’ll still stop and watch. I heard a comedian call this phenomenon “The Shawshank Redemption Syndrome.” For me, it’s that and also the “Indiana Jones Syndrome” and several other movies.

There are some people who aren’t interested at all in football or any kind of “ball.” When asked about it, their feelings are like the classic answer to the old question: “What do you think about ignorance and apathy? Answer: “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

I can enjoy just about any kind of a ball game. I am not as invested in baseball as I am in football and basketball, but “America’s Pastime” is fun – especially when watched live and in person. Watching Sanpete’s kids play baseball is a good time. Watching their parents cheer, encourage, rant and rave is also a good time – but sometimes uncomfortably embarrassing. (the ranting and raving part)

Sometimes, as games end (especially games where “my team” loses), I find myself asking myself the same question that has plagued me for years. It hits me hard sometimes.

The question? – “What is the big attraction of watching ball games?” The associated question when watching professionals play is, “Why do I want to watch a bunch of millionaires play with a ball?”

I address this concept every so often here. It never goes away. I don’t know if the questions will ever be adequately answered.

I’ve thought about it and have come up with several possible answers as to why some of us are sports nuts. (I actually don’t think I really qualify as a bona fide sports nut, but I sometimes pretend to be one.)

Here are the possible answers to the “sports nut question:”

1) Nature and Nurture. It’s a genetic and environmental thing. This theory goes for most (fill in the blank with a team name) fans. They were born to fan parents and were nurtured in the culture. It can happen to anyone. Nothing but intensive de-programming with professionals has a chance to break this heartbreaking cycle. (kidding)

2) Body Chemistry Issues. SNAD (Sports Nut Affective Disorder) is in the same league (no pun intended) as OC, ADD, SAS, SAD, and a host of other maladies. Drug companies haven’t discovered a reliable medication yet to deal with the problem, though sufferers continue to unsuccessfully experiment with alcohol as a possible cure. Practically speaking, SNAD victims have no alternative but to attend sporting events and/or watch them on television.

3) Peer Pressure. Everybody is going to ball games, watching ball games or talking about ball games – so I will too. As my mom used to say, “If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?”

4) Avoidance of Real-Life Responsibilities. What would you rather do? – Mow the lawn, weed the garden, clean the garage, fix the leaky faucet or sit on your butt eating chips and salsa while watching a ball game?

5) Character Building and Educational Aspects. Being a spectator at ball games builds character and teaches important life lessons. Philosophical, intellectual, and deep moral symbolisms exist in every game. One can’t help but be a better person as a result of watching a ball game.

Like I say, these are all just possible answers to the questions. It’s likely that I’m still going to be asking myself the questions. But, as I think about it, Number 5 above is my best guess as the correct answer for me. I think many of us like sports for all the “noble” reasons. That’s my position and I’m sticking to it.

— Merrill