Sporting Event

Included mainly as an example of television show. These are more often than not nonfictional: the action happens, and whatever happens happens. Imagine reality TV, but with more respect.

Since sport does provide so much drama, however, other shows try to capture that drama, with the addition of some scripting to make sure events provide maximum drama and satisfaction. After all, while anything can happen in sports, we're pretty sure what would happen were the Chicago Bears to get to the Super Bowl and find themselves facing the New York Yankees.

The most obvious example of a scripted sporting event is Professional Wrestling. Still, it's possible for a show to feature some sort of athletic competition and try to add drama, whether naturally or artificially. If you're lucky, it will be a tasteful dramatisation of competition. If you're watching it on TV, it'll likely borrow from pro wrestling, but catering to a lower denominator.

Many shows feature some sort of sporting event; this is a popular climax to a storyline, regardless of the original genre.

Another method used to add entertainment to an event is to let it flow as is, but provide entertaining commentary. A good commentator can inject drama into a dramatic moment, suspense in a suspenseful moment ... and sarcasm when the action turns into bot-fodder. This method can range from fans cheering Michael Buffer announcing fighters, John Madden illustrating plays, or at its furthest the repackaging of classic NFL moments into their Football Follies films, heading into Gag Dub (or, depending on your opinion of the team, Take That) territory.

Announcers aren't the only ones who get in on that, either. Players are infamous for their ability (or lack thereof) to add entertainment, and even officials can get in on the act, such as an auto racing flagman waving a black 'report to the pits' flag at a tyre bouncing down the straightaway after falling off its car, still parked in the far corner.

For works that focuses on this, see Sports Stories.

Notable Examples:

 * American Football
 * Collegiate American Football
 * Super Bowl
 * Australian Rules Football
 * Auto Racing
 * Formula One
 * Indy Car
 * NASCAR
 * Dale Earnhardt
 * Baseball
 * Basketball
 * Cricket
 * Cricket Rules
 * The Ashes
 * Electronic Sports (Video Games as a sport)
 * Equestrian Sports
 * Horse Racing
 * Fantasy Sports
 * Humans vs. Zombies
 * Ice Hockey
 * National Hockey League
 * Stanley Cup
 * Martial Arts
 * Mixed Martial Arts
 * Kendo
 * Capoeira
 * Olympic Games
 * Pool Sports
 * Competitive Swimming
 * Competitive Diving
 * Synchronized Swimming
 * Water Polo
 * Professional Wrestling (a scripted example)
 * Rugby
 * Rugby League
 * Rugby Union
 * Soccer/Association Football
 * The Beautiful Game
 * English Premier League
 * British Footy Teams
 * European Championship
 * The FA Cup
 * Footy Rules
 * The World Cup
 * UEFA Champions League
 * Major League Soccer
 * Copa Libertadores
 * Tennis
 * Wimbledon