What is the most obscure sport you have a serious interest in?

**robinp** · 18-09-2007 03:49 PM

Serious answers here please.

I'll start it off with Biathlon or Cycling, both are deemed boring and kind of stupid by those uncultured people in the UK. :cool:

***bawheid*** · 18-09-2007 03:52 PM

Orienteering. More popular than football in Scandanavia.

Fittest sportspeople in the world.

Not a sport which makes good tv though.

**robinp** · 18-09-2007 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by bawheid

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Orienteering. More popular than football in Scandanavia.

Fittest sportspeople in the world.

Not a sport which makes good tv though.

I beg to differ look up biathlon

***bawheid*** · 18-09-2007 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by robinp

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I beg to differ look up biathlon

When a baithlete is capable of running up to 20 Km across rough terrain in under 4 minutes a Km, come back to me....

***Sylar*** · 18-09-2007 05:00 PM

Not exactly "out there" but i have a serious addiction to Baseball! I find myself sitting up watching games on my laptop at 2 in the morning, just to keep tabs with the team i support.

I love most games at the Winter Olympics too, particularly Snowboarding and the biathlon also (where athletes ski and shoot, instead of run).

**~~PC Stamp~~** · 18-09-2007 05:14 PM

Ice Hockey. Fantastic game vastly under supported in the UK and particularly Edinburgh.

***Biggie*** · 18-09-2007 06:17 PM

squash..it's the bollocks....not a great sport for TV but if you know the game, it's got to be up there for fitness, sharpness and speed of thought...

**Stoney Hibee** · 18-09-2007 09:05 PM

I was in Boston in October 2004 when the Red Sox came back from three games down to beat the Yankees in the ALCS and the Cardinals in the World Series.

Just the experience of being in Boston at this time and seeing what their team meant to them was amazing, ever since I have become a bit of Baseball addict and find myself staying up to all hours of the night watching it in on NASN or Ch5 or listening in on WEEI.

On Sunday I found myself going to bed at 4am after Derek Jeter

hit a HR to beat the red sox, still up at 7:00am for work though

***Pheona*** · 18-09-2007 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by PC Stamp

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Ice Hockey. Fantastic game vastly under supported in the UK and particularly Edinburgh.

Especially as they are looking dangerously like an Elite League team this year.

Oh and Speedway, although I wouldn't really class these as obscure as such.

I have even found myself watching bl**dy baseball this year. If you can't beat them,join them....hubby's bit of a Yankee's fan.

**~~Toaods~~** · 18-09-2007 11:01 PM

Kabaddi

...can't forgive Channel 4 for cutting it....

........for those of you who are alien to this magical event, think tig and 'chain-ey' if you played that at school. Some clips to open your euyes from the 2007 World Championships here:

http://www.kabaddi.org/2007wkc.htm

**chorley_fm** · 18-09-2007 11:10 PM

UFC

Got into it by chance having caught a program on Bravo called The Ultimate Fighter.

Think 'The Contender' but with mixed martial arts instead of boxing.

Became hooked and i have watched all the series (about to start series 6) and all the pay per views. These are usually shown on Bravo the day after the live show.

UFC 76 is on this sunday at 9pm on Bravo

Its a lot less blood thirsty as the first few ufc's and the weight classes and fights are sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Board of Control (a bit like boxing) and there has been rules brought in.

These guys are supreme athletes and train exceptionally hard for there craft.

Its well worth a look, these guys have a multitude of skills and methods to finish the fights quickly.

Current champions include 40+ years old Randy Couture (sp) at heavyweight, Anderson Silva at Middleweight and Matt Serra at Welterweight.

There is a Pay per View scheduled for Newcastle later this year / early next year so I am hoping to catch it live.

**~~Toaods~~** · 18-09-2007 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by chorley_fm

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UFC

Got into it by chance having caught a program on Bravo called The Ultimate Fighter.

Think 'The Contender' but with mixed martial arts instead of boxing.

Became hooked and i have watched all the series (about to start series 6) and all the pay per views. These are usually shown on Bravo the day after the live show.

UFC 76 is on this sunday at 9pm on Bravo

Its a lot less blood thirsty as the first few ufc's and the weight classes and fights are sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Board of Control (a bit like boxing) and there has been rules brought in.

These guys are supreme athletes and train exceptionally hard for there craft.

Its well worth a look, these guys have a multitude of skills and methods to finish the fights quickly.

Current champions include 40+ years old Randy Couture (sp) at heavyweight, Anderson Silva at Middleweight and Matt Serra at Welterweight.

There is a Pay per View scheduled for Newcastle later this year / early next year so I am hoping to catch it live.

I've sat up and watched it a few times - something supremely athletic,tough and controlled about their characters.

**chorley_fm** · 18-09-2007 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by Toaods

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I've sat up and watched it a few times - something supremely athletic,tough and controlled about their characters.

Indeed Dave,

I have got quite into it to the extent that I now peruse a very good web page (and message boards) at www.sherdog.com

I enjoy the fitness element of it and I have started to attend the gym at my work on a regular basis in order to try and get into shape like the fighters.

If you are interested you can find the fighters fitness programmes and regimes on line at the usual places, the routines they follow to get into ahape for a fight are obscene. The cardio and mental fortitude these guys have amaze me.

**Pete** · 19-09-2007 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by chorley_fm

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UFC

Got into it by chance having caught a program on Bravo called The Ultimate Fighter.

Think 'The Contender' but with mixed martial arts instead of boxing.

Became hooked and i have watched all the series (about to start series 6) and all the pay per views. These are usually shown on Bravo the day after the live show.

UFC 76 is on this sunday at 9pm on Bravo

Its a lot less blood thirsty as the first few ufc's and the weight classes and fights are sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Board of Control (a bit like boxing) and there has been rules brought in.

These guys are supreme athletes and train exceptionally hard for there craft.

Its well worth a look, these guys have a multitude of skills and methods to finish the fights quickly.

Current champions include 40+ years old Randy Couture (sp) at heavyweight, Anderson Silva at Middleweight and Matt Serra at Welterweight.

There is a Pay per View scheduled for Newcastle later this year / early next year so I am hoping to catch it live.

A couple of my mates have been into this sport for about four years. I thought they were loons until i actually watched it. It's the ultimate combat sport!!

They're into the UFC scene but they wont have it referred to to anything other than MMA...because thats what the sport is.

They showed me some practical fighting techniques...and god help you if you start rolling about with them. Concentrated but effective!

***Speedy*** · 19-09-2007 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by hibs7_0

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squash..it's the bollocks....not a great sport for TV but if you know the game, it's got to be up there for fitness, sharpness and speed of thought...

Squash is good, I'm gonna try get playing more when I get back to uni.

**Tomsk** · 19-09-2007 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by bawheid

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When a baithlete is capable of running up to 20 Km across rough terrain in under 4 minutes a Km, come back to me....

I used to work in sport and recall reading a few studies on which sports required the most fitness. I have to say it was invariably swimming and rowing that came out tops. I don't recall orienteering or biathlon featuring that highly. Of course, swimming and rowing require massive total body muscle expenditure over sustained periods of time.

Don't get me started on obscure sports!

***bawheid*** · 19-09-2007 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Tomsk

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I used to work in sport and recall reading a few studies on which sports required the most fitness. I have to say it was invariably swimming and rowing that came out tops. I don't recall orienteering or biathlon featuring that highly. Of course, swimming and rowing require massive total body muscle expenditure over sustained periods of time.

Don't get me started on obscure sports!

You're probably right.

**Andy74** · 19-09-2007 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by PC Stamp

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Ice Hockey. Fantastic game vastly under supported in the UK and particularly Edinburgh.

Fantastic game when not played in the UK and especially Edinburgh though!

**~~euan moran~~** · 19-09-2007 02:25 PM

It's getting to the stage where I'm beginning to prefer other MMA to football. It's not so much as the sport as the competitors though. Footballers are lazy, greedy wa*kers whilst Mixed Martial Artists are incredibly committed, respectable athletes who make far better role models than most footballers.

Out of interest chorley_fm, do you do any BJJ training, or just gym work?

***bingo70*** · 19-09-2007 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by hibs7_0

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squash..it's the bollocks....not a great sport for TV but if you know the game, it's got to be up there for fitness, sharpness and speed of thought...

dont know if youve ever played raquetball but if youve not you should give it a go, similiar to squash but harder imo

**AllyF** · 19-09-2007 07:50 PM

Table Tennis... I challenge you's all to a match.

**chorley_fm** · 19-09-2007 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by euan moran

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It's getting to the stage where I'm beginning to prefer other MMA to football. It's not so much as the sport as the competitors though. Footballers are lazy, greedy wa*kers whilst Mixed Martial Artists are incredibly committed, respectable athletes who make far better role models than most footballers.

Out of interest chorley_fm, do you do any BJJ training, or just gym work?

just gym work, although once (alot) fitter, I fancy looking to join a gym which caters for MMA and BJJ.

I really want to get into it for the fitness side of things, however, I can imagine if you get a chance to 'roll' with someone it gets into your system and becomes away of life.

You only know how good you are as a person if your 'tested'

**Gatecrasher** · 19-09-2007 08:08 PM

i like bobsleigh

**~~The_Horde~~** · 19-09-2007 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by PC Stamp

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Ice Hockey. Fantastic game vastly under supported in the UK and particularly Edinburgh.

***Ryan91*** · 19-09-2007 09:20 PM

Not so obscure but i have a real interest in Gaelic Football and Hurling don't really support any team but do have favourites.

***Hibbie_Cameron*** · 19-09-2007 09:43 PM

Ice Hockey and Darts are amongst my faves

Also like watching beach football when its on Eurosport

**Gatecrasher** · 19-09-2007 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Hibbie_Cameron

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Ice Hockey and Darts are amongst my faves

Also like watching beach football when its on Eurosport

i like darts as well

**~~PC Stamp~~** · 19-09-2007 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by Andy74

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Fantastic game when not played in the UK and especially Edinburgh though!

Yet despite the lack of a big support, Scott Neil is putting together a decent outfit on a season by season basis working on a very limited budget (sound familiar?)

This year they have moved away from a team full of technically gifted but very lightweight Europeans and brought in a new Director of Hockey (an American, Doug Christiansen) who has been able (with the help of sponsors) to recruit mainly Canadian and American players, several of whom have NHL experience or played in the feeder leagues for the NHL in Canada & the States and who can not only play but have the aggression that's needed in ice hockey.

Remember, it wasn't all that long ago that Murrayfield Racers were the top British team.