I’ve got about as little interest in watching the Key West power boats races as I do in watching the Atlanta Braves win the World Series. Pretty much not much. I’ve taken a book to a Cubs’ game and passed on a chance to do one of those Richard Petty “pretend to be a race car driver” things in Daytona. I’ve said yes to a Springsteen concert, then wished I’d stayed home and turned up the stereo. (Look it up if you’re unfamiliar with the term.)

Though I leave the cheek-to-cheek crowds, costs, noise and high-performance gear to the super fans, I totally get the adrenaline rush that becomes a body-slamming super collider. Heck, there’s science to back up our human penchant for loving the camaraderie of a crowd and the big noise. The louder, longer and more heart-pounding the better.