What's Your Favorite Sport, and Why?.....

When you meet someone new, the first few minutes can be a struggle. Both sides will be looking to find common ground to continue the conversation. That means, among guys at least, there will be a question like this:  "How about those Browns?" The Browns are the Cleveland Browns, the World's Worst Professional Football Team.(so at least that's something). In my town, whether you are a fan or not, you have an opinion about them.

But what is your favorite sport, and why? Is it a sport you grew up with, appreciate the athletic ability, or just enjoy playing? Let's look at the major spectator sports. What makes them popular, or lack of. (In alphabetical order).

My favorite. Never saw him play live. Only in legend.

BASEBALL: Yes, this is my personal favorite sport. Why? Part of it is because it's what I grew up with. As a kid I can remember playing catch, running bases, playing games, talking about it, listening to games on radio, and collecting baseball cards. This is what every father my age dreams of doing with their kids.

The game itself is the ultimate individual game within a team concept. It can take a few minutes to explain, but a lifetime to master. Baseball also has the best history. You could have gone to a game in the 1920's and understood what was going on. Heck, you might even have heard of some of the players. It also has the best statistics, both common and advanced. This allows you to compare players from different eras. Visiting the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY was one of the thrills of my adult life.

But baseball is in trouble. It may have the bleakest future of all the sports. It's too slow, is the common argument. Not enough action is the other. But that's the way the game is. It allows you to comment on the play. You can guess how the pitcher will approach the hitter. You either like that, or you don't. Also I don't see kids playing the game any more. That is most concerning to me. Most of the scouting concentrates in the south and Latin American countries. Another problem with professional baseball is something called the lack of a salary cap. That means there is not a level playing field for teams when it comes to acquiring talent.

From Dr. J, to MJ, to Lebron: each built upon what the other gave the game.

BASKETBALL: It's been referred to as watching the ballet in sneakers. Grace, power, skill.  Possibly the most athletic of the major sports. My major problem with basketball is that if you happen to be taller than your opponent, you have a distinct advantage. Other than that, I love it. I was never a good player. Never had a hoop on my garage. But I loved to watch the games on TV when I was a kid. . There weren't that many games on back then, so it made the games that were on seem more important. Saturday afternoon usually meant college basketball (it seemed like Iowa was on every week). But Sunday meant the NBA.

 My favorite NBA team as a kid was the champion 1969-70 New York Knicks. The Cavaliers didn't even exist yet, but you had to love the way the Knicks played. Willis Reed might have been the leader, but point guard Walt "Clyde" Frazier made it all happen. He might be the coolest guy I ever saw play. (I've still got an autographed poster of him hanging in my basement).

I think a problem the game has today is players relying too much on their natural ability, and not enough team play. The game is too much above the rim, if that's possible. Maybe that's envy. Hell, I can't even touch the rim. Another issue recently is too much reliance on the 3-point shot. But that's just me. Sometime when I watch a little bit of the WNBA, it seems like a more fundamentally sound game.

FOOTBALL: America's most popular sport. On lower levels, it's usually a game of who's faster, stronger, and bigger. On higher levels, the speed, strength, and size tend to level out. But the coaching is a game of chess. High level thinkers believe this game is a microcosm of aggression in society and warfare. You gain territory, and everyone has a role. All I know is it was fun to play as a kid. There is much history and tradition in this game, but far less than baseball. But football today has become big business. Did I say big business? I mean HUGE business. (Hyman Roth would say, "We're bigger than US Steel!")

The problem football has isn't too much money. It's too much serious injury. Repeated concussions are common. Serious knee injuries are common. If the object of the game is for a big guy to knock you over, injuries will happen. Old football players are becoming more handicapped at a relatively young age. Parents are now trying to keep their kids out of playing the game. (That wouldn't be me though).

HOCKEY: I can't skate. So I'm amazed by anybody that can play this game. Obviously it's the national sport of Canada, and became popular initially in the USA in areas near Canada. But now, you can watch NHL games in Florida and Texas. I think this game suffers on TV. In person you can watch the puck and overall play better. It's fast. It's fun, and hard hitting.

Did Gretzky fight?

On the downside, it can be almost too free flowing. For the uninitiated it can be hard to understand the differences of the different positions. Also, too many fights. Traditionalists will talk about the importance of this. I think it's cartoonish. It also diminishes the skill of the players. ( If it was important, how come there's no goons in the Hall of Fame).

Lewandowski's is setting records. But who knows him in the US?

SOCCER: The true international game. The beautiful game. The field is called a pitch. Shoes are boots. The best soccer announcers seem to have British accents. I love the Spanish speaking guys, with the "Gooooooalll!" After having worked for a professional soccer club, I can attest, these guys are exceptionally skilled. Getting the ball from point A to point C with your opponent at point B is no easy feat (feet). But the skill can only be appreciated close up, or if you've played the game. It takes skill, strategy, and exceptional teamwork to play this game well.  It seems there are more soccer games on my cable tv than anything else. From a variety of countries, in a variety of languages. most with packed stadiums.

But the elephant in the room is the lack of scoring. America loves high scores. It's tough to watch a game that ends 1-0 (that's one-nil). Twenty or more years ago I remember people would say soccer is going to blow up in popularity, just watch. I personally don't think it's grown much. We're still waiting for it to become a major sport in the United States. More kids are playing now, instead of baseball. I'll say that.

In the end I believe it's whatever sport you grew up with. Or your parents played with you. Or gave you that special memory. Sports are the toy department of life. But we all had a favorite toy didn't we? (Maybe that's another blog!)