The way I consume sports has changed a lot over the past five years. As sport communication has evolved, so has my sports media diet. I have gone from being mostly a fan watching whatever was on TV to being a college baseball player who consumes sports with more purpose and analysis.
Five Years Ago: Cable and SportsCenter
Five years ago, sports were always on in my house. When I came home from school, SportsCenter was always on the TV. We had cable, so it was easy to flip through channels and find a game. I watched a lot more full games back then, especially MLB and college baseball. At that point, I was watching purely as a fan. I wasn’t looking mechanics or thinking deeply about strategy. I just enjoyed big plays, rivalry games, and watching my favorite players compete. My sport media diet felt more passive. I turned on the TV and consumed whatever was being shown.
Now: Highlights, YouTube, and Studying the Game
Today my sport media diet looks very different. We use YouTube TV instead of cable, and during the season I mostly watch college baseball highlights on YouTube. I still enjoy watching live games because there is nothing like seeing a game unfold in real time, but I do not always sit down and watch entire broadcasts like I used to. Highlights allow me to quickly see key moments and the best plays. I also watch differently now. As a college baseball player, I like analyzing pitchers, paying attention to mechanics, pitch sequencing, and overall approach. I am not just watching for entertainment anymore. I am studying the game while I consume it.
The Next Five Years
In the next five years, I think I will continue watching live games because that experience cannot be replaced. However, I expect sport media to become even more personalized. Algorithms will likely push the exact teams, players, and moments I care about most. I also think athletes will continue controlling their own content through social media, especially with NIL and personal branding becoming more important. Live games will always matter, but the way we access and supplement them with highlights and digital content will continue to evolve.
If I Could Change One Thing
If I could change one thing about the sport communication landscape, it would be the constant overreactions to players’ words. It feels like every comment an athlete makes gets dissected, twisted, or taken out of context. Small statements can quickly turn into major headlines, and sometimes players are criticized or slandered for things that were never meant to be seen a certain type of way. As an athlete, I understand how easy it is for something to be taken out of proportion. I would want sport media to focus more on accurate representation instead of chasing attention. That would create a healthier environment for both players and fans.
