Hockey or Basketball?

[Smokey]

I'm not asking which you prefer. No, in the true spirit of the War Room, I'm asking you which of these winter sports is inherently better? The obvious answer is hockey, as it takes infinitely more skill to master and to play. It's also a hell of a lot more entertaining, 'cause there is actually some defense mixed into the game, as opposed to basketball where a goal is scored every ten seconds. And what can beat a sport where fighting won't result in legal action? Not even rugby can claim that.

Before we come to the inevitable conclusion of hockey's glorious victory, let's see some fire from you basketball people before you concede.

[HGW XX/7]

You ask which one of these "Winter Sports" is better.

Obviously hockey, because basketball isn't a winter sport. I mean, c'mon. They play it during the SUMMER Olympics.

That said, the olympics suck, so they shouldn't be a guide or anything.

That, and hockey is on ice. That's more winter than a lacquered wood floor.

[Smokey]

Originally Posted by HGW XX/7

You ask which one of these "Winter Sports" is better.

Obviously hockey, because basketball isn't a winter sport. I mean, c'mon. They play it during the SUMMER Olympics.

That said, the olympics suck, so they shouldn't be a guide or anything.

That, and hockey is on ice. That's more winter than a lacquered wood floor.

Well, I say winter sport because that's when the NBA season is. Like you said, the Olympics suck. Why would I base anything off of that?

And tedious though it may be to belabor the point, why do you know hockey is superior to basketball?

[Tanooki]

Yah got to give it to hockey. The only sport where fighting is silently encouraged. It takes a hell of a lot of skill, patience and talent to be able to skate as they do while doing all that stick and puck work, and the goalie...ugh hell of a time there. A good idea here, which game do you see done normally as a casual sport to relax...not hockey.

[Smokey]

Originally Posted by Tanooki

A good idea here, which game do you see done normally as a casual sport to relax...not hockey.

Ah, but does that make it better? I say NAY, sir, NAY!

In all seriousness, basketball is more accessible since it requires less stuff, specifically it does not need a special floor, just something hard. It'd be hella hard to arrange a pick-up game of ice hockey in these here parts. Field hockey, on the other hand...but that's beside the point.

The point being, in all seriousness, hockey still whips basketball's bitch ass.

[Lizzaroni]

Hm, it's not as easy a decision as far as I'm concerned -- and before anybody makes any girl jokes, I say this in spite of the fact that hockey players are almost always hotter than basketball players. It's a tough loyalty to break.

I never played hockey, but I did play basketball. What I like about both sports is that, in my opinion, a person who knows very little about either sport can sit down and enjoy it. Sports like baseball and football require a bit more of a personal and time investment in the sport (ie. familiarity with rules/penalties/flags.) I could be wrong on this, but I've found it far easier to "drag" friends to Amerks games than 'most other sports. And, just for the record, I'd put lacrosse and soccer in this category too. They're all very accessible for spectators, though this is very subjective and probably the most debatable point here.

Now, accessibility for athletes is entirely different. The reason why I like basketball so much is that there is much more opportunity to play. Unless you're playing balls-out-stick-and-puck hockey, you need to purchase gear, skates, nets, find ice, etc. Basketball essentially requires a basket, a ball, and firm ground. In America, and I think even in most countries where hockey dominates (winkwink), you're more likely to find an easy access basketball court for a quick one-on-one than a hockey rink. Even in the barest of conditions, I'd take a makeshift basket and court over, say, a makeshift ice rink (the latter strikes me not only as harder to create but probably very unsafe to boot. Oh well.) In this sense, I'd consider basketball more democratic. As for playing alone, I've never played hockey so I can't comment on how fun it is to practice by yourself, but I can say that I enjoyed shooting hoops on my own if no one else was around.

Professionally, I feel hockey wins hands down. Basketball's competitiveness has been so diluted by a virtually offense-only strategy and eight billion (rough estimate) games a season, essentially causing players to perform like **** until the playoffs light a fire under their ass. Also, I really hate the showboating in basketball. I'm thoroughly impressed by dunking but when it dominates the game, it gets boring. Similarly -- and this might be me being a sports snob -- basketball culture as of late has me unimpressed. It hasn't quite hit NFL perversion yet, but with the exception of a few problem children, the NHL appears to have itself under far more control.

So, I guess my vote is going to hockey, although if you asked me personally which sport I'd rather spend eternity playing, I can say without a doubt I'd choose basketball.

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

I like basketball more, but I think hockey's "inherently better" because it's too hardcore for normal men.

[Lizzaroni]

Gaelic football is too hardcore for normal men. They are gods.

[MR EPIC]

Basketball, because having the privilege to watch Michael Jordan was infinitely more historical and entertaining than watching either Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemiux. Neither of them were able to make non-hockey fans fans of the sport for a period of time. But like only Tiger Woods was able to do with golf, Michael made basketball fans out of those who couldn't have cared less about the sport previously.

[Luis Sera]

alright hockey wins thread over bros

[prime_timer]

Originally Posted by Luis Sera

alright hockey wins thread over bros

QFMFT.

[Monkeylord]

Curling

[HGW XX/7]

Originally Posted by Monkeylord

Curling

Sorry to derail your joke, but I honestly prefer curling over basketball. There's more potential for awesome and violence (especially in a casual setting where you're most likely drinking).

[Smokey]

Originally Posted by Lizzaroni

I could be wrong on this, but I've found it far easier to "drag" friends to Amerks games than 'most other sports.

Even this season?

Originally Posted by MR EPIC

Basketball, because having the privilege to watch Michael Jordan was infinitely more historical and entertaining than watching either Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemiux. Neither of them were able to make non-hockey fans fans of the sport for a period of time. But like only Tiger Woods was able to do with golf, Michael made basketball fans out of those who couldn't have cared less about the sport previously.

I smell BS.

1) Michael Jordan isn't that historical a figure. His greatness is in danger of being overshadowed by several other contemporary players. Gretzky is in no such position. There's a reason why he's called The Great One.
2) One great player doesn't make a sport better than another. Even if it did, you named two great figures from hockey and only one from basketball. Two of a kind beats one, my friend.
3) Gretzky has his own videogame. Where's Jordan's?

[HGW XX/7]

Originally Posted by Smokey

Even this season?



I smell BS.

1) Michael Jordan isn't that historical a figure. His greatness is in danger of being overshadowed by several other contemporary players. Gretzky is in no such position. There's a reason why he's called The Great One.
2) One great player doesn't make a sport better than another. Even if it did, you named two great figures from hockey and only one from basketball. Two of a kind beats one, my friend.
3) Gretzky has his own videogame. Where's Jordan's?

He shared that one with Bird. Also, there probably was a Space Jam game of some kind.