Is it Better to Watch Sports on TV or in Person?

I'm going to let you in on a not-so-shocking revelation: Even the most decisive people change their minds every once in a while.

Somebody once asked me, "Do you like watching sports better in person or on TV?"

I found that question rather perplexing at the time, since I go to a zillion games in person as it pertains to my profession of sports reporter.

Anyhow, it dawned on me later that this person was referring more to college or pro sports events. Not that I'm an old man, but when I was younger (say late teens to mid 20s), I would have almost assuredly preferred to go to the games whether it was pro or college.

While I still enjoy going to those games from time to time, the older I get the more I see the benefit of watching the game from home. For one thing, simply getting to the game is a headache.

Truth be known, there is nothing like being at the stadium on gameday because you can feel the excitement that you can't get on TV.

However, every year more and more middle class fans get priced out of going to the games, which lessens the desire to go as frequently as one might have at an earlier point in their lives.

I do not believe in grumbling about ticket and food prices because fans are part of that problem, too. After all, owners are going to keep jacking up the price until fans say no, but I digress.

The big events (i.e. postseason games) are an arm, a leg and goodness knows which other body parts.

Of course, when you are at the game, it takes all kinds when it comes to fans as well. Because the ticket prices are so jacked up, you have two extremes in thought.

For starters, there's the elitists who might be sitting behind home plate, at the 50-yard line or courtside. The most prime example are the celebrities you see with courtside seats when the Lakers are TV. Some of them might not know midcourt from midfield.

Sometimes you wonder if they are legit fans. For example, they could be sitting behind home plate at AT & T Park. Barry Bonds or Pedro Feliz could hit a weak flyball with the outfielder coming in and that same fan might be going nuts thinking it's a three-run homer.