Longing Sports Fans Express Their Nostalgia On Social Media

Last weekend should have been the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament when 64 teams get whittled to 16. The best four sports days of the year. A bacchanal for sports bettors.

With the NHL playoffs slated to begin on April 8 and the NBA playoffs on April 18, sports fans were supposed to be glued to screens watching teams jockey for playoff spots or earn a home ice/court advantage. The coronavirus pandemic put a halt to “normal” as we know it, which includes watching and betting on sports.

Instead, table tennis and Belarusian soccer are the featured offerings at online sportsbooks. (It feels just as weird for me to write it as it does for you to read that sentence.)

We miss sports. And judging by your tweets, so do you. Instead of love letters or soliloquies, here are some people who should earn self-distanced applause for their 280-character expression of feelings about a world without sports.

March Sadness

No brackets to fill out leaves plenty of time to express feelings.

If I could bet on a half dozen college basketball games today I would be absolutely fine with losing every single bet. I can’t even find words to describe how much I miss sports betting #FuckCovid

— Jay Reller (@Jay_Reller) March 21, 2020

I should be getting prepared to be nervous over Duke's first round game in the NCAA Tournament.

I should be telling people on here how good my bracket is gonna be.

I should be mad when the upset I pick doesn't happen.

I miss college basketball.

— Reginald Parks (@TheReggieParks) March 19, 2020

After a long day, I always enjoy turning on ESPN and watching … #Headis? I really miss March Madness, but there is something mesmerizing about this sport pic.twitter.com/P9NnWoF6rs

— Jonathan Li (@DrJLi) March 23, 2020

Work from home woes

Working from home is a new concept for some. It’s OK to think about setting an over/under on the number of times the meeting host says, “Please make sure you are on mute.”

Working. Miss sports so much that we have resorted to betting the over/under on how many times this one person asks questions that have already been answered on our daily conference calls. Today’s line is 10, I have the over. 😂 other than that good. You?

— kelli (@whatthekel) March 24, 2020

Alternative sources of entertainment

During the past 10 days, I’ve said some things I never thought I would. I’ll stick with the lighter side, such as: “Should I buy a bidet?” “Should I make a TikTok?” and “What channel is Belarusian soccer on?” So, I really can’t blame these people for seeking some type of distraction.

People already miss sports so much that over 2,000 people are watching John Wall ride a stationary bike. pic.twitter.com/VpTMJS0O7y

— Sean Keane (@seankeane) March 17, 2020

Day 4 with no sports:

Marble1 racing is intense! pic.twitter.com/StgO4fY8VG

— CH𓂀IS☥MAS (@davdchristmas) March 15, 2020

This is how much I miss sports pic.twitter.com/F6Wf1UfXuF

— Bill Bilinsky (@BilinskyBill) March 22, 2020

Netflix and parlay?

Bettors have gotten creative with their new television programming.

So I guess I’m betting on which house they going to pick on house hunters… god I miss sports

— Paris Saint-Jarrod (@Mayor_Van) March 20, 2020

I’m really out here watching re runs of cops.. I fucking miss sports

— K Dot (@KANYONANDERSON) March 17, 2020

I miss betting on Sports so much… Yesterday I put 20 bucks down on a grizzly bear fight I was watching on Nat Geo. 😂 Big boy Magnus got it done against the young challenger ✅

— Josh Skou (@JoshuaSkou) March 21, 2020

NHL fans won’t be iced

Before the NHL season paused, the Philadelphia Flyers were 41-21-7 and second in the Metropolitan Division. They finally had a goalie in Carter Hart who looked like he could carry them in the playoffs.

“Kyle P” has a newfound appreciation for perhaps the most maddening form of Flyers hockey. He’s not alone.

You don't understand how bad you miss a scoreless Flyers-Devils game going into the 3rd period until you have no sports

— Kyle P (@Kyle_Phillippi) March 25, 2020

Parents at home with kids are turning to live streams from zoos and aquariums for educational content. Sports fans are seeking out venues for other reasons.