What is the sport of sports?

[Smokey]

Self-explanatory. Vote, discuss, and bash. GO!

[JValone]

I voted basketball. While the NBA is not my favorite sports league (that would be the NFL) the game itself is my favorite. It's also the only sport that has any business being in the same discussion with soccer from a global popularity standpoint. Before you futbol fans throw that back at me consider that basketball is now the most-played and followed sport in China. That population, along with the USA, give it the sheer fan numbers necessary to rival soccer. Soccer still has the edge, but I could see that changing given four or five more decades.

The 2008 Olympics proved that basketball has globalized. The US sent their best squad and still only barely edged out Spain. The continued improvement and competitiveness of the game at the international level will do wonders for its popularity. In the past the biggest thing holding it back was the fact the US would stomp everyone out with ease, basically the same obstacle American football faces today. Basketball has made incredible inroads worldwide since the 1992 Olympics. Europe is now filled with professional leagues, some of which are now actually signing players away from the NBA (Josh Childress) and China has made it clear that they have a national initiative aimed at wrestling supremacy in the sport away from the United States. They actually passed a bill awhile back that intends to build a court in every city and village throughout the country, pretty ambitious stuff.

[MR EPIC]

Baseball - Because hitting a baseball is the most difficult thing to do in sports. Because seeing a homerun launched off the sweet spot of the bat soaring deep into the night is a thing of beauty. Because watching a 95 MPH fastball or a high arcing curveball completely miss the swing of the batter for strike 3 is a sight from heaven.

[Z.E.I.D.A.N]

Football (as in SOCCER) is the true international sport because, duh, everybody plays it. Americans hate it because scoring goals consumes time beyond their usual attention span, but it's still the sport of sports. Plus, the framework of football isn't ridiculous like some other sports (*cough* baseball, American football, etc. *cough*)

[Lizzaroni]

Best sport as in what I find most pleasing or what I think is objectively the best? I would find the latter hard to pick, especially without some given criteria that has to be met in order to qualify as "best."

Personal favorites come down to rugby, baseball, and basketball. I'll vote baseball because of my experience playing the game coupled with simply watching it (I also played basketball, but more casually once in HS.)

EDIT: No, really, ZEIDAN. Offer something beyond "Americans have no attention span" and "everybody plays it" as reason why it's the best. One of the greatest things about soccer is that it's very accessible (and that's one of the reasons why most people play it) but I can't think of any reason why it's fundamentally better because it's a low scoring game that supposedly requires a bigger attention span (a spurious claim at best; I am no big soccer fan but I find it easier to watch knowing nothing about it than I ever did about baseball prior to playing it (and softball) myself.) I'm going to have to dig up that Chuck Klosterman piece; he absolutely lambasts soccer in one of the funniest ways I've read.

EDIT II: It's not the full essay, but these (http://thinklings.org/jared/?post_id=217) little snippets are classic. I highly recommend the book, especially to sports and pop culture fans and even if you disagree with him on soccer.

[MR EPIC]

My family is originally from Mexico and my brother happens to be a great local soccer player who practices with some professionals. That being said, watching a soccer game is the equivalent to masturbating with a cheese grater IMO.

[Z.E.I.D.A.N]

EDIT: No, really, ZEIDAN. Offer something beyond "Americans have no attention span" and "everybody plays it" as reason why it's the best. One of the greatest things about soccer is that it's very accessible (and that's one of the reasons why most people play it) but I can't think of any reason why it's fundamentally better because it's a low scoring game that supposedly requires a bigger attention spam (a spurious claim at best, since I am no big soccer fan but I find it easier to watch knowing nothing about it than I ever did about baseball prior to playing it (and softball) myself.) I'm going to have to dig up that Chuck Klosterman piece; he absolutely lambasts soccer in one of the funniest ways I've read.

We all have our own definition of best, and to me, it's what most people recognize and practice on an international level. Other than here and Japan, nobody cares for baseball, and basketball is still nowhere as popular as soccer is. That much is fact though, so anything beyond that is just subjective stuff. But yeah, Americans would much rather watch 500 pound giants tackle each other or balls being hit by sticks. So meh.

[virion]

football has the most strategy, depth and skill needed to play on a professional level. baseball players are also very skilled but that sport is just plain boring. hockey is just basketball on ice with the same formations and strategy's on offense and defense. same thing with soccer. when football added the forward pass it brought so many more complexities not found in the other sports. not to mention the numerous sets and formations.

[Luis Sera]

I pick Hockey.

[Coral]

Tennis

[MR EPIC]

Other than here and Japan, nobody cares for baseball,

Are you kidding me? Baseball is the only sport that some Latin and Central American countries have. Young kids create their own baseball gloves from native materials in the Dominican Republic but the sport is also very popular in Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela and Puerto Rico to name a few others.

Virion - If you look at baseball as a game of action then yes I can see where you're coming from. However, it's a game of anticipation and if you really understand what it is you're looking at you may think differently about it.

[virion]

Are you kidding me? Baseball is the only sport that some Latin and Central American countries have. Young kids create their own baseball gloves from native materials in the Dominican Republic but the sport is also very popular in Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela and Puerto Rico to name a few others.

Virion - If you look at baseball as a game of action then yes I can see where you're coming from. However, it's a game of anticipation and if you really understand what it is you're looking at you may think differently about it.

oh i agree with you epic about the anticipation and i know what to look for.. i just wish the pitcher wouldn't check off 20 times before throwing a single pitch. 9 innings could be played in about 50 minutes instead of being dragged out for 3 hours.

[Lizzaroni]

What's really funny is that a lot of what is considered "boring" today about baseball was deliberately implemented at the time of its inception to make it more "manly" (that is, scientific.)

[MAX]

Rugby

[Lizzaroni]

I think Rugby is awesome, but Gaelic Football (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StcMJkQ80ns) is waaay more badass.

In fact, you know what? I take back my pick; I'm voting for Gaelic Football.

[Lovebird]

Baseball. Cause it's the American thing to do.

[MikeWolfskin]

None of the above, I personally get zero enjoyment out of sports rather playing or watching. I'd much rather read a book, cook, watch Anime or play a Video Game. If I was however forced to say which is more interesting it's Soccer.

[Sascha-AMN]

Hockey. Perfect combination of speed, aggression, finesse, strategy, skill, and teamwork. No other sport is more fun to play or watch.

[MR EPIC]

Maybe in person Sascha, but Hockey does NOT translate well to TV. In the US it's popularity on TV is all but dead. You can't find it anywhere anymore, aside from the most obscure channels like Versus. The league has tried everything from changing the structure of the game to breaking down the philosophy of the game during broadcasts for newcomers but to no avail. Here's (http://sportsfullcircle.com/2008/08/why-hockeys-not-a-mainstream-sport-in-america-an-examination/) an article you might find interesting which attempts to explain Hockey's lack of popularity in the US and here's a little snippet from the article itself...

"Hockey can really only be seen on Versus unless you have one of the hockey plans some companies offer. Many Americans don’t get Versus, or do not even know the station exists. ESPN and all other major networks have virtually dropped hockey in favor of other sports and events. It is hard for Americans to watch the sport on TV, making interest go down and down."

Trust me when I say that ESPN gives more coverage to women's basketball than it does to hockey. I like hockey and am a big Shark's fan personally, but going to a game is pretty much the only way to experience it. Unfortunately even hockey's ticket prices have gone through the roof.

[HGW XX/7]

Hockey. Thread over.

[MR EPIC]

But why Hockey?

[HGW XX/7]

Hockey. Thread over.

See the bolded part? I thought I said it was over?

:D

[Monkeylord]

The sport of sports is clearly...



... THE DANGER WANK!




/thread ;)

[HGW XX/7]

I don't know if I should delete that post or not. :D

[Monkeylord]

You're just scared it'll be more popular than hockey ;)


A man-wench through and through.

[Smokey]

Maybe in person Sascha, but Hockey does NOT translate well to TV. In the US it's popularity on TV is all but dead. You can't find it anywhere anymore, aside from the most obscure channels like Versus. The league has tried everything from changing the structure of the game to breaking down the philosophy of the game during broadcasts for newcomers but to no avail. Here's (http://sportsfullcircle.com/2008/08/why-hockeys-not-a-mainstream-sport-in-america-an-examination/) an article you might find interesting which attempts to explain Hockey's lack of popularity in the US and here's a little snippet from the article itself...

"Hockey can really only be seen on Versus unless you have one of the hockey plans some companies offer. Many Americans don’t get Versus, or do not even know the station exists. ESPN and all other major networks have virtually dropped hockey in favor of other sports and events. It is hard for Americans to watch the sport on TV, making interest go down and down."

Trust me when I say that ESPN gives more coverage to women's basketball than it does to hockey. I like hockey and am a big Shark's fan personally, but going to a game is pretty much the only way to experience it. Unfortunately even hockey's ticket prices have gone through the roof.

Hockey is probably the most entertaining sport to watch either in person or on TV. And I don't know how bad it is in California, but I have no problem catching a game on TV during hockey season. However, as I can't catch my local team on TV (at least on the channels I have), I almost always see hockey in person unless either the Penguins or Hurricanes are playing or it's playoff time.

[Hottotty]

You're just scared it'll be more popular than hockey ;)


A man-wench through and through.

LAWL.

Srsly tho Hockey FTW.

[Rensa]

You're just scared it'll be more popular than hockey ;)


A man-wench through and through.
It's only a sport because you keep count :P

[MR EPIC]

Hockey is probably the most entertaining sport to watch either in person or on TV. And I don't know how bad it is in California, but I have no problem catching a game on TV during hockey season. However, as I can't catch my local team on TV (at least on the channels I have), I almost always see hockey in person unless either the Penguins or Hurricanes are playing or it's playoff time.

It has nothing to do with California, there is a nationwide lack of interest in the sport and it's given virtually no airtime on either ESPN or any of the other sports news programs. You and I might enjoy watching it on TV, but public interest is at an all-time low and continues to sink.

[Smokey]

I don't know about that. There's a rising interest in hockey around here. Attendance at both minor and major league games has been going up for the past few years, and I get hockey games on NBC, ABC, CBS, and Versus. Every now and again, my local news channel will broadcast a 'Canes game.

[Darc Requiem]

American Football for me. Its the only sport that I have as much fun watching as I did playing. I could go on and on about the numerous players that cemented my love for the game but that would take for ever. After seeing the amazing things that guys like Darrel Green, Doug Williams, Randal Cunnigham, and Barry Sanders did on the field, I could never look at another game the same way.

I admire the endurance of Soccer/Futbol players, it was fun to play from my limited exposure to the game. However it is boring to watch. Maybe if Youth Soccer was bigger in my area as a youth or if we had a major soccer league going at the time, things would be different.

I used to watch Hockey as kid. Probably because I had so much fun with Ice Hockey and Blades of Steel on my NES. I got kick out of the fights, and I still often wonder what kind of number Mario Lemieux would have put up if he didn't lose seasons to Hodgkin's disease and retirement. I don't know why I lost interest in Hockey, its not a boring game, I just don't have an interest in it. That said, Hockey players are some tough SOBs.

I had fun playing Baseball as a kid. I became really enamored with Ken Griffey Jr. His swing, the way he played in the outfield, he is still my favorite player til this day. That said, I never really could watch much baseball. I found it boring. I did catch all the Mariner's games I could on TV. They were my favorite team solely because they had Griffey playing center field. However I lost all interest in the game after the 94 Strike. Griffey had Maris' record in his sights, Tony Gwynn was in an earshot of .400. It was the most fun I had watching baseball and it was taken away. Between that and the pathetic leadership of Selig, I don't think I'll ever get into the sport again.

I never really got into basketball. Honestly it something I watch after Football season is over to pass the time. I didn't have regular access to a basketball court until I was 14. So that maybe why. I mean I did watch Jordan with amazement like everybody. I am still wowed by some of things players do on the basketball court but I just don't have a passion for basketball. It is entertaining to watch from time to time though.

I really don't have much of an opinion on the other sports. The closest I came to playing Rugby was playing "Smear the Q***r" as a kid.

[JValone]

I think hockey's biggest problem is that the NHL is a terrible mismanaged league. They don't hype their product in a logical way whatsoever, and they sign contracts with stations that don't give them the exposure they need. They also expanded the league much too fast diluting the talent pool and putting a ton of teams in places like Nashville where it's obvious no one cares. Honestly the only two southern hockey teams that seem to have had any success drawing a crowd are Tampa (which has a very strong history of professional hockey, weirdly enough) and Carolina (because they won the Stanley Cup that one time).

The holdout obviously didn't help them at all. They weren't in a position like the NBA or MLB where the holdout crippled a strong product, the NHL was considerably weaker than either of those leagues before their labor strike and it doomed the sport to obscurity. I personally like hockey and think it has potential to be embraced by the masses but the current brain trust that runs the NHL has no idea how to make that happen. They have a good product but they're simply too dumb to do anything with it.

[ReaganYouth]

If anybody votes football, I will hunt them down and smash their heads open with a baseball bat. Football is for muscle-brained losers who think they're tough **** because they have big biceps. ****ing wankers.

I vote soccer.

[Hottotty]

^ That's the conception, and that's a lot of fans, yeah, but it's a really complex game.

Even in how the players move, and their field placement, it is very like chess I think.

EDIT: Still, Hockey FTW

[Darc Requiem]

If anybody votes football, I will hunt them down and smash their heads open with a baseball bat. Football is for muscle-brained losers who think they're tough **** because they have big biceps. ****ing wankers.

I vote soccer.

Come try it Reagan. Just get measured for your coffin first.

[ReaganYouth]

^Yer on, buddy boy!

[MAX]

Come try it Reagan. Just get measured for your coffin first.

This.

[ReaganYouth]

Wait for it....

[JValone]

Hottoty makes an excellent point about football. At the amateur level, specifically backyard up through HS, the game is dominated by the biggest and most aggressive players but the dynamic totally changes beginning with NCAA competition. The game becomes much more cerebral at that point, you have to be in the right area at all times or you won't stay on the field long at all. That's why a coach can be such a difference maker, everyone has great athletes but if you can put those athletes in the right spot at the right time you're almost certainly going to come out on top.

I can see how a lot of non-fans view the game as being for meat-heads and cavemen but that's probably because their exposure to it is limited to the lowest levels of competition. Players spend dozens of hours a week studying tape just for 3 hours on one Sunday, it isn't a moron's game at that level.

Oh, and if the Darc/Reagan feud does result in a fight I have this to say:Youtube or it didn't happen. And for the record if I had to choose a person to square off against in this forum Darc would definitely be at the very bottom of my list. The man is a house, haha.

[ReaganYouth]

Hottoty makes an excellent point about football. At the amateur level, specifically backyard up through HS, the game is dominated by the biggest and most aggressive players but the dynamic totally changes beginning with NCAA competition. The game becomes much more cerebral at that point, you have to be in the right area at all times or you won't stay on the field long at all. That's why a coach can be such a difference maker, everyone has great athletes but if you can put those athletes in the right spot at the right time you're almost certainly going to come out on top.

I can see how a lot of non-fans view the game as being for meat-heads and cavemen but that's probably because their exposure to it is limited to the lowest levels of competition. Players spend dozens of hours a week studying tape just for 3 hours on one Sunday, it isn't a moron's game at that level.

Oh, and if the Darc/Reagan feud does result in a fight I have this to say:Youtube or it didn't happen. And for the record if I had to choose a person to square off against in this forum Darc would definitely be at the very bottom of my list. The man is a house, haha.

And you think I'm just some skin and bones weakling? Lawl.

[JValone]

I'll readily admit that I am in fact a skin and bones weakling, it wasn't a shot at your size. More like a joke for Darc to chuckle about, notice I didn't claim who would win I just said I personally would not envy being in that position myself.

[ReaganYouth]

Well, I'm no stick in the wind myself. I may not have big muscles, but I do know what to bring for such an occasion.

Just kidding. I wouldn't wanna fight darc, because I could get in trouble with the cops.

[MR EPIC]

There are so many jokes I want to make about the Reagan vs Darc brawl, but not only would I be demodded I would also be perma-banned. :D

[Monkeylord]

Just kidding. I wouldn't wanna fight darc, because I could get in trouble with the cops, and would end up going home in a matchbox

Fixed

[ReaganYouth]

I'll light you all on fire.

[chipotleattack]

Basketball is, without a doubt, the most fluid and fun sport to watch. The game is flawless. It may get slow at times with free throws, thanks to the NBA protecting its players, but when the passing is crisp and a player gets hot, it's amazing to watch. I also think it takes the most athletic ability. Basketball players have to jump for rebounds, sprint down the court on fast breaks and out muscle their opponents. It also takes great court awareness to know where everyone is supposed to be on offense and great chemistry for everyone to be in the right place at the right time.

Soccer is pretty much the most boring sport in the world. People only like it because it's accessible. I don't give a **** about the build up and excitement of that one goal. It's not a matter of attention span. It's the back and forth where nothing ever happens. I can watch the highlights and know how the game was decided since the goals are the only important part of the game.

Hockey is a game I'd like to enjoy but really can't. I'm sure it's a blast to play but watching it on TV is pretty boring. I can't see the puck unless it's in HD and I can't tell the players apart half the time. The fights make me laugh because they break out so randomly and the refs don't do anything about it.

I like watching baseball in person but on TV it's boring when the pitcher takes a couple minutes to keep checking the runners. Granted, it takes a ton of skill to hit a ball going 90 mph, but couldn't they speed up the game a little bit? Also, it pisses me off that everything is decided by the umpires and that the 'manager' does nothing the whole time. He sits there and eats sunflower seeds or chews tobacco and high fives his players when they score. That's it.

Football is my second favorite sport. I used to hate it but now I appreciate how much skill it takes to place a ball in a perfect spot for a receiver.

[DEATHSTAR]

I voted Football (American).

I loath baseball until the day they institute a game clock and shave the number of games in their season.

Basketball lost it's magic in the early 90's for me when all the players became bitches and stopped playing for the love of the sport.

Soccer and Hockey are just too frigging frantic for me to follow :) There's always a whole lot of activity but nothing meaningful happening between long scoring lulls.

[MR EPIC]

I think a lot of guys missed the point of the OP. Smokey didn't ask "Which professional leagues?" but rather "Which Sports?" in general.

[virion]

after football i'm with coral.. tennis is an amazing sport as well.

[DEATHSTAR]

My vote is the same either way.

[MR EPIC]

I also think it takes the most athletic ability.

Athletic ability maybe but I wouldn't say skill. Ever see a Baseketball player try and hit a baseball? Oh wait, didn't Jordan attempt to do that and fail miserably?:)

Baseball requires tremendous amounts of concentration in order to hit, catch, or field a ball that is traveling at speeds in excess of 100 MPH.

And regarding Basketball: The NBA is completely ghetto and selfish and basically unwatchable to the average sports fan these days. I can stomach it personally because I like all sports, but get rid of the dunks and the kicking the ball out to lazy perimeter guys and bring back the mid range jumpers and the fade-aways.

[Coral]

Hockey

[MR EPIC]

Sorry, but I don't take anybody here seriously about their Hockey votes aside form HGW and Sascha. The rest of you wouldn't know the blue line from the red one.

[Coral]

Baseball players are fat

[Lizzaroni]

Baseball players are fat
Fatty McFatface:

http://www.baseballforum.com/photopost/data/502/randy_johnson.JPG

[ReaganYouth]

^That dudes not fat.

[Darc Requiem]

I'll readily admit that I am in fact a skin and bones weakling, it wasn't a shot at your size. More like a joke for Darc to chuckle about, notice I didn't claim who would win I just said I personally would not envy being in that position myself.

Am I really that imposing JV? :)

Well, I'm no stick in the wind myself. I may not have big muscles, but I do know what to bring for such an occasion.

Just kidding. I wouldn't wanna fight darc, because he would get in trouble with the cops for assault and battery.

Fixed :thumbs up:

[Smokey]

Sorry, but I don't take anybody here seriously about their Hockey votes aside form HGW and Sascha. The rest of you wouldn't know the blue line from the red one.

WUT.

[MR EPIC]

Reagan - Have you had a C.A.T. scan done recently? If not you should. :)

Smokey - Tell me what "Icing" is and I'll believe you (if you take longer than 5 minutes to post I'll know you Wikied it). :P

[Hottotty]

I've played hockey since I was five. It's Canada's national watersport.

Wait ... red line?

[chipotleattack]

Athletic ability maybe but I wouldn't say skill. Ever see a Baseketball player try and hit a baseball? Oh wait, didn't Jordan attempt to do that and fail miserably?:)

Baseball requires tremendous amounts of concentration in order to hit, catch, or field a ball that is traveling at speeds in excess of 100 MPH.

And regarding Basketball: The NBA is completely ghetto and selfish and basically unwatchable to the average sports fan these days. I can stomach it personally because I like all sports, but get rid of the dunks and the kicking the ball out to lazy perimeter guys and bring back the mid range jumpers and the fade-aways.

Oh I definitely agree about baseball taking a lot of skill. It's just boring as hell to watch. Jordan was stupid to give up basketball for baseball though.

I love the game of basketball. I don't think there's anything wrong with the NBA though. Maybe it's because I grew up watching in the late 90s. Some players are bitches and the dunks don't even come that often. When someone dunks in traffic it's pretty amazing to get around and over a couple pairs of outstretched arms.

[Darc Requiem]

^Jordan had just lost his father at the time. I honestly think basketball reminded him too much of his father and he just need to get away from the game for a while.

[ReaganYouth]

Am I really that imposing JV? :)



Fixed :thumbs up:

Don't push me.

[Darc Requiem]

Don't push me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/zoophagy/ROFLMAO.jpg

[HGW XX/7]

Alright you two, I think we can both agree that Vikings could take both of you on, along with Ninjas and Pirates. Why not discuss the awesomeness of Vikings here : http://forums.kombo.com/forumdisplay.php?f=110

Leave this to sports.

[prime_timer]

Ice hockey childrenz. Glad to see most of you have your head firmly dislodged from your ass.