Facinating American Sports

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I'm not sure it is only an American black phenomenon. I believe that the American whites are also losing interest in baseball. It is killing my father in law that my son (age 7) will not sit down and watch the Red Sox with him. Especially this weekend when they were playing the dreaded Yankees.

 

To quote (as best I remember) Giles of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer": "I have never been able to understand why a people so brash and forward as Americans need to put on 20 pounds of protective gear just to play rugby."

 

All of that protective padding in football is necessary to save the lives of the players. American football is the hardest hitting sport there is (IMHO). The rugby and soccer players I know would never even consider playing football. It is also one of the reasons why football isn't played as a recreational sport as it is to dangerous. People may play flag football or two handed touch, but you don't see many people playing recreational football for they don't want to risk the injuries.

 

I hate to say it, because I spent my youth watching the Cubs with my grandfather, but I think Baseball is on it's way out. It's simply outdated and not very exciting by today's standards. God, I hope they don't take away my American card for saying that!

With Basketball, the action is constant. Points are being scored constantly and the crowd is more involved in the momentum of the game. Football is very similar. It's hard action, then stop. Hard action, stop. Repeat. But the action is more frequent, and thus more stimulating. Baseball is a very slow paced, calm game. Baseball comes from a time where sitting and listening to a wind-up record player was the hip thing to do on a Saturday night. It's just past it's prime. Sports today are all about flash, prowess and power. Showmanship. Baseball just has trouble keeping up with that.

Or am I just too cynical?

Nope. Looks like I pretty much nailed it.

 

Have you ever watched Australian Football? There are things being done on those fields that would get you arrested in the real world. Anything short of bringing a weapon onto the field won't even have the referee bat an eyelid.

 

Cross you beat me to commenting on that quote! However I wasn't going to talk about Australian Football (which I agree, from the little i've seen of it, is very tough) but of Playground Football.

Think a foam ball that gets ripped up within 30 seconds and the largest chunk is then the ball. Then think about 50-60 (in one case over 100) on each side. On concrete. Limited rules - 2 scoring areas, get the ball from the opposition (and if he comes to hit you then hit him right back). Oh and 3 sides of the playground are fenced in. Played it for about half a term 2 years back, tottally insane but a huge adrenaline rush. Oh and zilch protection, other than lots and lots of people being like a cushion (an a live and pretty violent cushion).

It was incredibly stupid, and incredibly fun. I only scored twice but I stayed in mid defense normally (not real positions just more of what you did).

 

Of course, in comparison to golf, baseball is chock full of action and excitement, and yet golf seems to be growing in popularity.

The one I don't get is car racing. Watching cars go hundreds of miles around and around and around the same oval track... Oops, sorry, I dozed off just thinking about it. Where was I? Oh yea, so anyways the only time something exciting happens is when there is a crash, which is kind of sad - near-death as the only form of entertainment

 

I admit that I hate Golf. However, I do understand its growing popularity. It is increasing because it is a sport that people can play by themselves without having to join a league. As the people play more and more they enjoy watching the professionals hit truly amazing shots.