Ask HN: Who are hackers who also like sports?

[mickhagen]

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.

[g0atbutt]

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.

[kjell]

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.

[kooshball]

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]

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...

[webspiderus]

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.

[brlullo]

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

[safetyscissors]

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.

[aorshan]

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.

[vishaldpatel]

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.

[chetane07]

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

[nurik]

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

[Mz]

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.)