Best Major League Sport?
- Thread starter Bounce
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I know I wanted to get a response for both......I can't believe the NHL is not last.....the product, rules, and leadership are horrible. It will only get better when a few teams fold and Gart Bettman is gone - oh ya - get rid of the goons and useless players who have no talent!!! Hockey used to be my #1 but no more.....
First.....#1 - NFL
Tied for last - MLB, NBA, NHL by far
First.....#1 - NFL
Tied for last - MLB, NBA, NHL by far
Baseball means summer and all the great things that summer brings, girls in mini skirts and halter tops and going to the beach. You forgot to list NCAA football, I know it is not a pro-league but I would take NCAA football over anything the pros got.
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OnTheWayOut
Hard for me to chose between football and baseball, played both as a kid so they have their own fond memories. I voted MLB by a whisker because of fond memories of being in my bedroom on a summer night tuning my AM radio to far away places and listening to grainy broadcasts. To this day I will sometimes forgo my satellite radio and tune my AM to 660 (Mets) or 1210 (Phillies) or some of the others (Chicago White Sox comes in at times, as do the Indians) whose call numbers evade me.
And as stated already, nothing like sitting outside in the spring or summer checking out the players wives (usually behind home plate) and the rest of the fans. I almost always meet someone interesting or connected in some way during a game. Overpriced peanuts, nachos and hot dogs just don't taste as good outside the ballpark. I've NEVER had a bad time at a baseball game.
OK, never had a bad time at a football game either, I told you it was a close vote!
And as stated already, nothing like sitting outside in the spring or summer checking out the players wives (usually behind home plate) and the rest of the fans. I almost always meet someone interesting or connected in some way during a game. Overpriced peanuts, nachos and hot dogs just don't taste as good outside the ballpark. I've NEVER had a bad time at a baseball game.
OK, never had a bad time at a football game either, I told you it was a close vote!
As others have mentioned, hockey used to be my 100% total #1. Now it ranks about 3rd.
I'm torn between NFL and MLB.
Football is competitive, exciting, more athleticism and great to bet on. It's a better spectacle.
Baseball has games all through the week, more games, a longer season, ability to compare eras and we have our own home team here in Toronto. There's also more of a sportsman's mentality to baseball players i.e. way less hot dogging and taunting than you see in the NFL.
In a game vs. game scenario football is probably better but I can get more overall enjoyment out of a longer baseball season.
I'm torn between NFL and MLB.
Football is competitive, exciting, more athleticism and great to bet on. It's a better spectacle.
Baseball has games all through the week, more games, a longer season, ability to compare eras and we have our own home team here in Toronto. There's also more of a sportsman's mentality to baseball players i.e. way less hot dogging and taunting than you see in the NFL.
In a game vs. game scenario football is probably better but I can get more overall enjoyment out of a longer baseball season.
Actually...
...believe it or not (coming from the American and casual fan at best compared to many Canadian guys), I find nothing as entertaining as PLAYOFF hockey. The action and intensity is unreal...even playoff NFL games you get both lulls in the action and dud match ups.
guyroch said:
...believe it or not (coming from the American and casual fan at best compared to many Canadian guys), I find nothing as entertaining as PLAYOFF hockey. The action and intensity is unreal...even playoff NFL games you get both lulls in the action and dud match ups.
I have to agree with others in saying the NFL is the top league in terms of how it is run. The betting and weekly pools also make it interesting even for those who are not big football fans. What other sport gets Sally from accounting or Merv from purchasing all excited on Monday (or Tuesday after MNF) when the 'pool guy' comes around with their winnings.
My fav sport used to be hockey and it was year round for me. I couldn't get enough of it. Not any more, it just isn't the same for me. I think it is because there are too many teams who play too many meaningless games. When you hear the Leafs and Sens talking about making the playoffs with the terrible seasons they are having, you know something is wrong. However, as another poster said, the playoffs can be exciting. But the regular season, doesn't do it for me anymore.
Now my fav is MLB without question. I order the MLB extra innings package on April 1st and I cancel it on Oct 1st. I love knowing I can see my fav team play nearly every night along with being able to pick and choose other games. I like their playoff system in that only 4 teams make it from each league, just as I like the NFL with 6 per conference. I hope they don't ever add more teams to the playoffs.
My fav sport used to be hockey and it was year round for me. I couldn't get enough of it. Not any more, it just isn't the same for me. I think it is because there are too many teams who play too many meaningless games. When you hear the Leafs and Sens talking about making the playoffs with the terrible seasons they are having, you know something is wrong. However, as another poster said, the playoffs can be exciting. But the regular season, doesn't do it for me anymore.
Now my fav is MLB without question. I order the MLB extra innings package on April 1st and I cancel it on Oct 1st. I love knowing I can see my fav team play nearly every night along with being able to pick and choose other games. I like their playoff system in that only 4 teams make it from each league, just as I like the NFL with 6 per conference. I hope they don't ever add more teams to the playoffs.
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OnTheWayOut
Damn you!!! Quit showing off ...... we need extra innings on Star Choice *pout*blueline said:
Or even MLB TV
You can get the MLB package online and it gets you acces to every game. They are offering a spring training package now for something like $14.95slurp said:Damn you!!! Quit showing off ...... we need extra innings on Star Choice *pout*
Or even MLB TV
Being a red blooded Canadian boy, I voted for NHL hockey.
During the offseason, I prefer baseball. I think baseball is the only team sport now where normal size human beings can compete. Also, I like the strategizing (is this a word?), the tradition and the fact that they play everyday.
During the offseason, I prefer baseball. I think baseball is the only team sport now where normal size human beings can compete. Also, I like the strategizing (is this a word?), the tradition and the fact that they play everyday.
Very 'North American'-centric
These are only leagues in two countries. UEFA and FIFA blow everything else away.
These are only leagues in two countries. UEFA and FIFA blow everything else away.
Championships being resolved by penalty kicks cannot be considered for best pro league if rules are being considered.Bridgeman said:
I voted for the NFL but I think Godell is starting to swing the pendulum the wrong way. This year was a terrible year for the ref's. Rules against taunting are fine but taking away some of the creativity in TD celebrations is going overboard. Also think some of the poor ref'ing this year was due to putting too much judgement calls in their hands like protecting QB's. Still need to tweek the video replay system too.
MLB leadership is maybe the worst in the four sports by some margin. Bud Selig is an incredible tool and I think if it weren't for the tradition and generations of brainwashing, baseball would be irrelevant thanks to his leadership. What was the whole deal with video replay? Why would you need to trial it for a few months and then introduce it in August? I think it was May when the whole flap came about! Either put it in right away or plan for in properly this season. I'm not sure how you can take an owner as comissioner seriously.
I would wonder ... If all four of these sports were to be brand new right now and did not have the different advantages of heritage, who would capture fans hearts first and hardest? I still think it would be the NFL and I think the NHL and NBA would be very close.
I think MLB would far behind. I go to quite a few games during the warm weather mainly for a very basic reason ... There is nothing else on! When I'm at games, I find myself quite bored. I also find baseball far too over indulgent in it's self game analysis. Seriously, all the pitch analysis is for dorks who really like to think themselves students of the game. I understand sequence of pitches and setting up guys for this and that but bottom line, a person who hits the ball at less than about a third of success rate is considered a very good player. With that in mind, do you really have to be that tricky in having that same player fail?
I have to agree with you on the comment about protecting QBs. I dont get it, QBs are football players too, but you cant even sneeze on them after the pass is thrown without being called for roughing the passer. Some people refer to the NFL as the "No Fun League" for their rules on excessive celebrations. I mean they even have stupid rules like you cannot go to the ground to celebrate, UNLESS you were already on the ground when you scored the TD. I mean really, this is what the competition committee is spending time talking about? I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when that discussion was taking place. Like Wes Welker when he did his snow angel against ARizona, that was an unsportsman like penalty for excessive celebration. Or remember Steve Smith from a few years ago when he did his "rowing the boat" celebration, that would not be allowed in the NFL today cause you cant go to the ground to celebrate. I'm okay with not being able to use props in celebrations as it was getting a little out of hand , especially with Ocho Cinco and his antics. Getting the HOF jacket, using the pylon as a golf club, etc. Joe Horn with the cell phone, T.O with the sharpie in past years, it was getting out of hand with the props. I remember a MNF game this year when Brandon marshall tried to pull out a black and white glove as a reference to Obama and the election but Brandon Stokely got to him and time got him to put the glove away before the officials could see it.iluvbtca said:
Other people refer to the NFL as "Not For Long". When one checks the expiry date of NFL players, they are not very old when they pass away. Baseball players seem to have the longest longevity.ckupets04 said:
Your kidding me, yourself and everyone here right?
1. Watch (5) fat old ladies play with themselves than watch (1) minute of a soccer game
2. Volunteer to have my balls cut off
3. Eat shit everyday for breakfast for a month
4. Walk around in the middle east chanting "USA, USA, USA.....I love the USA"
Soccer could be the most useless sport of all-time....to North America in my humble opinion.
Hockey used to be #1 but the game and leadership continue to sink to new lows. Baseball is out of control with player contracts and unwillingness to expand playoff format. NBA has been crap ever since Jordon, Barkley and the old regime retired. NFL is where the action hands down!!
Things I would rather do than watch soccer include:Bridgeman said:
1. Watch (5) fat old ladies play with themselves than watch (1) minute of a soccer game
2. Volunteer to have my balls cut off
3. Eat shit everyday for breakfast for a month
4. Walk around in the middle east chanting "USA, USA, USA.....I love the USA"
Soccer could be the most useless sport of all-time....to North America in my humble opinion.
Hockey used to be #1 but the game and leadership continue to sink to new lows. Baseball is out of control with player contracts and unwillingness to expand playoff format. NBA has been crap ever since Jordon, Barkley and the old regime retired. NFL is where the action hands down!!
I'm a bit surprised that the fifth North American Major League Sports league hasn't been mentioned: MLS (Major League Soccer). Toronto FC looked to be popular enough. (Yes, UEFA and FIFA have been mentioned, but they do not play in North America)
But I'm an NFL fan. Sixteen games in the regular season, every one of them matters. A sudden-death playoff bracket means every play matters in the post-season. A fairly tight rulebook. Go Bears!
But I'm an NFL fan. Sixteen games in the regular season, every one of them matters. A sudden-death playoff bracket means every play matters in the post-season. A fairly tight rulebook. Go Bears!
