Ask HN: Who are hackers who also like sports?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3020872

by mickhagen • 15 years ago

10 12 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

It seems like hackers and sports just don't go together. I don't know why. I hack. And I love sports. I'm curious to know who are the hackers out there who are total geeks but also into playing/watching sports. Seems like a rare breed. I'm curious who's out there. I wanna meet you. Speak up.

kjell• 15 years ago

I've played soccer all my life. Everyone talks about flow when coding, but I've never come close to how it feels when I'm in a soccer game.

I've played a bit of softball and kickball and I'm not a huge fan. Likewise most dodgeball. Otherwise it's all great.

I'd like to see an adult renaissance in capture the flag and other 'kid' games.

g0atbutt• 15 years ago

I've found that a lot of my hacker friends are huge fans of fantasy leagues. Being able to track all that data (stats) and put together a coherent team is very challenging. It's the mixture of hard numbers ("Dirk is averaging 27.7 points a game but I really need to win the 'steals' category to edge out a victory) and gut feelings ("Although he has been on a week long cold streak") that draws in nerds like myself.

aorshan• 15 years ago

I do both as well. I love sports in all forms. I go to the University of Miami and haven't missed a home football or basketball game yet. Also I am always ready to play a game a pickup anything really.

brlullo• 15 years ago

I as well love sports. And I feel like there are definitely hackers out there that do like sports. I think that sports have barely been touched by hackers and feel like there are a lot of cool possibilities out there for people to pursue.

Mike, Hope things are going well with the new digs and everything is going smoothly.

brett

kooshball• 15 years ago

I love sports and have always loved it.

I get the same kind of rush when I'm playing a sports game and when I'm coding. Sometimes, you just go into a sweet mental zone where you feel unstoppable. and winning a close sports game at the very end is very similar to when you get a complex app to run and functioning. The moment when everything just works out is pure bliss.

Video games are also similar. I remember the same feelings playing DOTA, where you have a super close game at the very end and both teams are going for the final push, and you end up executing a perfect plan. Pure bliss.

For all of these though, you need to have a certain level of competence through practice or coaching. I'm guessing a lot of people, not just hackers, just never gets to that stage and give up.

dirkdeman• 15 years ago

I hack and I'm actively involved in MMA. It's a rare combo, but I like the way it is so completely opposite to hacking. With hacking, a lot of time goes into the thought process. With MMA, you don't have time for thinking, it's all about training your reflexes. I also like the way there are a lot of physics involved: leveraging, momentum, et al.

The sport has a bit of a knuckelhead image to it, but the guys I train with vary from construction workers to sales/IT guys. We all have to show up at our jobs tomorrow, so we don't beat the crap out of each other, although things can get pretty tough sometimes...

chetane07• 15 years ago

I'm very into sports as well, in particular soccer and bboying/tricking.

vishaldpatel• 15 years ago

I surf. If anyone likes to go surfing and thinks that they'd go more if they knew someone at the break.. drop me a line. I surf at Pacifica.

webspiderus• 15 years ago

I'm very into association football (both watching and playing), although I attribute that more to growing up in Europe as a boy more than anything else. I also spent 4 years studying jujitsu (ended up taking a break because of school, but am hoping to be back into it once I graduate). I have found it to be a great way to stay in shape both physically and mentally, and was also lucky enough to find a great community of people to train with.

safetyscissors• 15 years ago

I'm into a lot of stuff besides programming. I surf, wakeboard, I train in capoeira (had to postpone that because I had to move places) and I'm also into boxing. I find that doing other things besides purely coding helps with mental flow.

Mz• 15 years ago

I'm somewhat surprised at the general lack of response (so far) to this question (on the other hand, it is like the middle of the night basically where I am).

There are people here who do Parkour: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2857239

There is an old-ish poll indicating people pursue a variety of sports/fitness activities: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2178056

There are people into rock climbing and surfing: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2287603

I notice these types of comments constantly on HN. I hadn't noticed that hackers are particularly non-athletic or something. I do personally know an IT professional who is not very fit/athletic. On the other hand, this person had a childhood health issue which undoubtedly places significant limits on them. Off the top of my head, it seems like people in the IT department at the company I work for are generally slimmer and trimmer (and presumably more active/athletic) than is true on average in other departments I am familiar with.

(Edit: Maybe it's partly the title? "who ... like sports" could be interpreted as being a fan who watches sports rather than a participant.)

nurik• 15 years ago

I love to play Basketball, if you are in Germany lets play :)

Ask HN: Who are hackers who also like sports?

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