Sports is something all guys should be good at for two main reasons: 1. If you want to attract women, playing sports is the arena to show your potential as a mate; it is natural in the animal world, 2. If you want lots of friends, sports would give them to you effortlessly (this is why the school jock wins Mr Popularity by default).
Unfortunately, people seemed to have forgotten not everyone is competitive or courageous enough to be anyone's entertainment. And in case you're wondering, yes; chess and other mind sports don't pose as attractive as their action-packed cousins. People watch sports because it's physical. We want to see actions and someone getting hurt.
There are several reasons pertaining to active people not going the usual picks, such as basket ball, foot ball, and volley ball. First, they lack the social ingenuity to make it to the team. Most of them are so awkward and over thinkers the other members can't connect with them. Second, they're just so insecure of the crowd it hampers their sportsmanship to zero (even when they really want to play). And third, they simply don't want team sports as they're so self-sufficient they're designed for single-player sports.
As for me, I used to play basketball back in elementary. I did enjoy it, but it didn't last. Of the three reasons mentioned above, I was inflicted with crowd insecurity. I just don't like the feeling of being watched. I felt vulnerable, like those grazing water buffalo in Africa being watched by predators, looking for weaknesses. It is weird, but it is happening. It happened to me.
On the other hand, baseball is something I was SO hooked in to I didn't mind who was watching (lol). I was always the pitcher and I like the feeling I excel in speed. I was so deep with it the only reason I stopped playing was when I graduated in elementary, losing our access to the school's baseball diamond. It is my favorite sports of all time.
When I decided to get back in shape, opportunities to relinquish the good old sporty days (without the crowd) are suddenly endless now that I'm earning. Not only you pay for the equipments, but you also pay for the space (privacy). The latter is impossible back in the days as basketball courts were in the barangay halls and plaza, which are crowd pleasers.
For those who share the same sentiments, here are the 3 Great Alternatives to the Common Crowded Sports
1. Bowling
When I first threw that tenpin, I thought it reminded me of the feeling of genuinely enjoying a sport. I connected the dot and found baseball to be the bridge. Unlike other team sports, bowling gives its members a time to shine individually. Bowling is a great sport that requires precision and focus. You can be silly most of the time, trying new moves and tactics. Great to play with a small group of friends or even alone.
2. Ping Pong
I dismissed this one as a waste of energy as it felt very difficult to play; this was after seeing two Chinese men ping-pong their way in a speed that would make the Cheetahs nod in approval. But after trying it for the first time, I really enjoyed it so much I overextend my stay in the office just to play it with less people watching (the office had this ping-pong area). Aside from the exhilaration, playing ping-pong really raises the heart beat rate, burning huge amount of calories along the way.
3. Ultimate Frisbee
Back then, I didn't know it was called Ultimate Frisbee. What I know was we (my siblings) were so fascinated with ninjas (and their flying discs) that we want the milk to be consumed so that we could take its cover and play with it. Fast forward today, and I could still feel the tingling urge to throw and catch discs like an over polite pet. Good thing about this is the crowd won't be that close when you're playing in ovals (and in the backyard).
There's still hope to those people who hates the crowd but loves sports. While being able to pay for gear or space plays an important role in fulfilling the game, it is the genuine interest in sports that would melt all the obstacles along the way.