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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: KevShmev on March 24, 2014, 12:53:11 PM

Title: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: KevShmev on March 24, 2014, 12:53:11 PM
When I say football, I am obviously talking about American football.  Soccer fans, don't throw a fit. :P

Anyway, I will go with hockey as my favorite and basketball as my least favorite.  It was tough picking hockey over football, but I won't let my love for playing fantasy football change my mind.  Baseball over basketball for 3rd place was easy, as I hate the fouling out rule in basketball. 
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: hefdaddy42 on March 24, 2014, 01:02:21 PM
Favorite: football
Least favorite: baseball
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dark Castle on March 24, 2014, 01:08:37 PM
Favorite: Hockey
Least: Baseball

I actually love baseball.... when I go to the game, but on tv, no matter if it's the regular season or World Series, it's dreadfully boring. Basketball, which came in third actually gets pretty entertaining during the playoffs and finals.


But Hockey easily remains no.1.  I just absolutely love hockey.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: cramx3 on March 24, 2014, 01:12:53 PM
Favorite: football
Least favorite: baseball

This.  Although if I wanted to be specific, id say college football is the best.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Tom Bombadil on March 24, 2014, 01:24:25 PM
Favorite: football
Least favorite: baseball
I voted this, but if we're strictly talking at the Pro level, then my least favorite would be basketball.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: gmillerdrake on March 24, 2014, 01:31:51 PM
Favorite: Hockey
Least Favorite: Basketball

"Professional" Basketball in my eyes is an utter joke of a game and League. Nowhere near as competitive as College basketball nor entertaining. And as much as I love Baseball it's boring as heck to watch, especially when compared to a sport like Hockey. IMO....there is no professional sport out there that comes close to matching the intensity, speed, toughness, mental strength, team work and skill level required to play professional Hockey. American Football would be second behind Hockey with that criteria but the amount of breaks in the game and the actual time of play and games played in a season render it a distant second to what professional hockey players endure.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: black_biff_stadler on March 24, 2014, 01:54:01 PM
Professional" Basketball in my eyes is an utter joke of a game and League. Nowhere near as competitive as College basketball nor entertaining.

You mean the same college basketball where teams like Duke and Kansas play schools with enrollments of less than 10,000 every season due to 350 schools of a dizzying degree of disparity are all in the same level of competition, 40-point margins of victory happen every single day of the regular season, and any game decided by fewer than 15 points is considered close?
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: senecadawg2 on March 24, 2014, 01:59:47 PM
To be fair, b_f, there is a lot less disparity when it counts in march. Schools like Duke and Kansas go down early in the tournament very frequently, often to the Mercer's of the NCAA. And within conferences large blowouts are not all that common.

As for me, basketball is favorite and baseball least favorite.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Implode on March 24, 2014, 02:02:50 PM
College basketball is great. Baseball is probably my least favorite, but I wouldn't say I hate it.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Big Hath on March 24, 2014, 02:13:26 PM
Favorite to watch: NFL/collecge football followed closely by college basketball
Favorite to play: baseball

hockey doesn't even register
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: cramx3 on March 24, 2014, 03:03:35 PM
Definitely like college bball over NBA, but not due to blowouts, but due to team play.  College runs a lot more different styles of offense and defense where they have to play as a team.  NBA does this too, but often it comes down to isolations with the best players and for me, thats just not as fun or entertaining.  Also the NBA does have quite a big difference between the top and bottom just like college.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: zepp-head on March 24, 2014, 03:10:46 PM
Football
Hockey
Baseball









Basketball
Lawn darts
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: antigoon on March 24, 2014, 03:24:10 PM
Favorite: Basketball
Least Favorite: Football

I truly enjoy them all, though.

Just a side note: The 35 second shot clock is enough alone to stop me from watching anything more than a handful of March Madness games. Ugh.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: KevShmev on March 24, 2014, 03:36:21 PM
To elaborate on what I said earlier, I hate the idea of fouling out in basketball.  It's stupid.  In no other major sport do you see major stars have to sit out huge chunks of games, or have to play tame or soft, but you do in basketball, and when you consider the subjective nature of foul calling, that puts a ton of power in the hands of the officials.  All it takes is a couple of ticky tack falls to be called on a player early in a game and all of a sudden he is sitting out for most of the rest of the first half or having to not be aggressive.  It hurts the game.  And, no, I don't think you should be able to rack up fouls all day, but make it to where, in college, for example, once you get your 5th foul, every time that player commits a foul, you treat it like a technical: one shot and the ball (or two shots if it was a shooting foul).  That would add a lot more strategy to the game. 
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: snapple on March 24, 2014, 03:37:36 PM
Baseball
Basketball



Baseball is the purest and most athletic sport.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: King Postwhore on March 24, 2014, 03:44:13 PM

Baseball is the purest and most athletic sport.

Um, no.

Athletic?!  There a grace to baseball, a majestic feel to seeing a pitch thrown and and the hand eye coordination to his a 97 MPH fastball 400 feet. but it's not the most athletic sport of the 4.  I'd say it's the least athletic.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: KevShmev on March 24, 2014, 04:11:27 PM
Yeah, baseball is easily the least athletic of these four sports.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: CrimsonSunrise on March 24, 2014, 04:14:17 PM
1. Football




2. Baseball
3. Basketball
4. Hockey
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: rumborak on March 24, 2014, 04:17:19 PM
I voted baseball as my favorite but hell yeah, it's certainly the least athletic. I mean, a good percentage of the players are plain overweight. I would say basketball is the most athletic.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dark Castle on March 24, 2014, 04:19:04 PM
Hockey is undoubtable the most athletic. Fast paced like basketball, and unlike basketball, it's physical as shit.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: KevShmev on March 24, 2014, 04:20:27 PM
I think hockey gets the slight nod over basketball when it comes to athleticism.  It's pretty close, though.  The gap between football in 3rd and baseball in 4th is pretty wide.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Neon on March 24, 2014, 04:44:53 PM
Football is definitely my favorite, and is the only sport that I make a point to watch regularly on TV.  However I of course love hockey and baseball as well.  I'm not really a basketball fan anymore, but I was when I was a kid. 

I think it's time to consider the possibility that there are now 5 major sports in the USA though.  As much as some people in the USA still consider soccer the game of little kids supported by bored middle-aged moms driving minivans, it's definitely not the case anymore. 

I never grew up with soccer and therefore never liked it- if you had told me 10 years ago that I would be a soccer fan, I would have laughed in your face.  But I completely love it now.  And MLS ticket sales beat out both NBA and NHL in many cities.  I realize that MLS level of playing doesn't compare to the level of playing that the rest of the world plays on.  But it's something at least :)
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: orcus116 on March 24, 2014, 04:45:21 PM
Baseball
Hockey

I know a little about hockey but not being able to track the puck makes it really hard to watch.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: KevShmev on March 24, 2014, 04:49:14 PM
Indoor soccer was actually really popular in the mid to early 80s.  I am sure some older DTFers remember the MISL.  The St. Louis Steamers, NY Arrows, Wichita Wings, Cleveland Force, San Diego Sockers, etc.  Good times.  We used to go to Steamers games all of the time at the old Checkerdome/Arena downtown and the place was almost always filled up.  Sadly, indoor soccer's popularity just plummeted over time.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: rumborak on March 24, 2014, 04:53:59 PM
I think this year's soccer world cup will give it a good push, partially because for once it's in the same time zone.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Neon on March 24, 2014, 04:57:37 PM
Indoor soccer was actually really popular in the mid to early 80s.  I am sure some older DTFers remember the MISL.  The St. Louis Steamers, NY Arrows, Wichita Wings, Cleveland Force, San Diego Sockers, etc.  Good times.  We used to go to Steamers games all of the time at the old Checkerdome/Arena downtown and the place was almost always filled up.  Sadly, indoor soccer's popularity just plummeted over time.

Yeah, but MLS is growing- and it's played by FIFA rules and same size fields and all- just from the standpoint of the Philadelphia Union (the team I obviously support  :P) their home games continually sell at least 17,000 tickets- and for easily accessible road trips (ie NY, Washington DC) we are known to organize 8-10 busses of people and travel for games. 

And look at the Seattle Sounders- they play at the Seahawks stadium and that crowd is massive every week- perhaps because Seattle no longer has an NBA team and doesn't have an NHL team, but you can't deny those numbers.  And that rivalry they have with Portland and Vancouver is huge. 
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Neon on March 24, 2014, 04:59:02 PM
I think this year's soccer world cup will give it a good push, partially because for once it's in the same time zone.

I agree.  Except for the fact that the US isn't surviving the first group.  Fuck. 

And for USA vs. Germany- bet your ass I'm taking off work that day and going to my favorite German bar.  Gonna be out of control...
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dimitrius on March 24, 2014, 05:01:30 PM
Baseball

Hockey

I'd like to get more into hockey but there's so little shown on TV and I really don't feel like going out of my way and find more.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: snapple on March 24, 2014, 05:47:34 PM

Baseball is the purest and most athletic sport.

Um, no.

Athletic?!  There a grace to baseball, a majestic feel to seeing a pitch thrown and and the hand eye coordination to his a 97 MPH fastball 400 feet. but it's not the most athletic sport of the 4.  I'd say it's the least athletic.

I could rephrase. Baseball players tend to be the better overall athletes. Just because the players are good at what they are doing, doesn't meant these guys arent athletes. Plus, NFL has probably got a huge steroid problem. I'm not quite sure how it could be argued that the other sports are any more athletic.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dr. DTVT on March 24, 2014, 06:09:01 PM
To elaborate on what I said earlier, I hate the idea of fouling out in basketball.  It's stupid.  In no other major sport do you see major stars have to sit out huge chunks of games, or have to play tame or soft, but you do in basketball, and when you consider the subjective nature of foul calling, that puts a ton of power in the hands of the officials.  All it takes is a couple of ticky tack falls to be called on a player early in a game and all of a sudden he is sitting out for most of the rest of the first half or having to not be aggressive.  It hurts the game.  And, no, I don't think you should be able to rack up fouls all day, but make it to where, in college, for example, once you get your 5th foul, every time that player commits a foul, you treat it like a technical: one shot and the ball (or two shots if it was a shooting foul).  That would add a lot more strategy to the game.

I disagree.  I like that you can foul out in basketball, it is part of what makes it different than other goal-oriented sports.  Yeah, it sucks when some of those are ticky-tack or questionable block/charge calls; but by in large it makes it adds something to the sport's uniqueness.  I don't feel like writing any more because I'm not going to change your mind and I don't really care to argue because you won't change mine.

Anyway: Football, Hockey, NL, basketball, AL.  I'm not a DH fan.  Deal with it.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: King Postwhore on March 24, 2014, 07:25:22 PM

Baseball is the purest and most athletic sport.

Um, no.

Athletic?!  There a grace to baseball, a majestic feel to seeing a pitch thrown and and the hand eye coordination to his a 97 MPH fastball 400 feet. but it's not the most athletic sport of the 4.  I'd say it's the least athletic.

I could rephrase. Baseball players tend to be the better overall athletes. Just because the players are good at what they are doing, doesn't meant these guys arent athletes. Plus, NFL has probably got a huge steroid problem. I'm not quite sure how it could be argued that the other sports are any more athletic.

I love baseball but we all know steroids and HGH is huge in all sports.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Grizz on March 24, 2014, 07:35:27 PM
Hockey/Basketball
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: TempusVox on March 24, 2014, 08:00:14 PM
Football (although the older I become, the more I like baseball I think. Not sure why. Could be I'm just tired of football, or the fact that football has probably taken 10 years off my life if I had to guess. The older I get the more aches and pains I have as a result of football.)
Baseball- But as I mentioned, it's darn close to football.
Hockey


Horse Racing
Boxing
Lawn Darts
Croquet
Badminton
Jai Alai

Tractor Pulls

Herding Cats
Bowling on TV


Watching Flies Fuck


Professional Basketball   :(
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: orcus116 on March 24, 2014, 08:11:51 PM
I think you're shorting tractor pulls.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: jammindude on March 24, 2014, 08:23:10 PM
Football (although the older I become, the more I like baseball I think. Not sure why. Could be I'm just tired of football, or the fact that football has probably taken 10 years off my life if I had to guess. The older I get the more aches and pains I have as a result of football.)
Baseball- But as I mentioned, it's darn close to football.
Hockey


Horse Racing
Boxing
Lawn Darts
Croquet
Badminton
Jai Alai

Tractor Pulls

Herding Cats
Bowling on TV


Watching Flies Fuck


Professional Basketball   :(

I seriously could have written this ENTIRE thing.   You've nailed my exact list.  EDIT:  With the exception of boxing...which I truly despise. 

And it's a shame really, because when I was 9 years old, and the Seattle Supersonics won the NBA Championship, you never saw a little kid who was a bigger basketball geek.   And even years later with the mid-90's Sonics with Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Detlef Shremf, Sam Perkins and Nate McMillon.   I never missed a game.   

But through the years, I've just really come to see the NBA for the completely mindless drivel of a game that it is.   It's almost agonizing to watch.    I don't really care if Seattle ever gets an NBA team back...just give us a hockey team and I'll be happy.    And I'm REALLY looking forward to baseball this year. 
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: lonestar on March 24, 2014, 09:38:08 PM
Yup, that's my list too. Football is tops, followed very closely by baseball. I rarely watch hockey, and pro basketball I'll only watch when the Warriors are in the playoffs, just cause my restaurant is heavy on the Warrior fans and it's hard not to get swept up in it, I really don't like watching pro ball. Strangely enough, I am very passionate about college basketball.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on March 25, 2014, 12:06:03 AM
Hockey is the only one I find worth watching consistently. Football I find exciting sometimes, and pretty boring most times. Basketball I can get into when it's close and there's a couple minutes left. Baseball I find to just be straight-up zzzzz. So favourite: hockey, least favourite: baseball.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: jammindude on March 25, 2014, 12:28:17 AM
Hockey is the only one I find worth watching consistently. Football I find exciting sometimes, and pretty boring most times. Basketball I can get into when it's close and there's a couple minutes left. Baseball I find to just be straight-up zzzzz. So favourite: hockey, least favourite: baseball.

What's funny is that I've often thought that entire basketball games should just be this...and only this.   I mean, 80% of the games end close with an exciting 2 minutes left to play, and the rest no one gives a crap about anyway.   So I propose that the game should BEGIN tied 80-80 with 2:00 left to play.   Because that is the only part of any NBA game worth watching. 

But the downside, is that even those games start to look exactly alike.    I can hardly tell one game from another. 
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Zantera on March 25, 2014, 03:21:24 AM
Would probably say:

Football > Hockey > Baseball > Basketball
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on March 25, 2014, 06:23:57 AM
Newsflash

Baseball  :tup

Football  :tdwn :tdwn :tdwn :tdwn
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: cramx3 on March 25, 2014, 07:42:31 AM
To elaborate on what I said earlier, I hate the idea of fouling out in basketball.  It's stupid.  In no other major sport do you see major stars have to sit out huge chunks of games, or have to play tame or soft, but you do in basketball, and when you consider the subjective nature of foul calling, that puts a ton of power in the hands of the officials.  All it takes is a couple of ticky tack falls to be called on a player early in a game and all of a sudden he is sitting out for most of the rest of the first half or having to not be aggressive.  It hurts the game.  And, no, I don't think you should be able to rack up fouls all day, but make it to where, in college, for example, once you get your 5th foul, every time that player commits a foul, you treat it like a technical: one shot and the ball (or two shots if it was a shooting foul).  That would add a lot more strategy to the game.

I disagree.  I like that you can foul out in basketball, it is part of what makes it different than other goal-oriented sports.  Yeah, it sucks when some of those are ticky-tack or questionable block/charge calls; but by in large it makes it adds something to the sport's uniqueness.  I don't feel like writing any more because I'm not going to change your mind and I don't really care to argue because you won't change mine.

Anyway: Football, Hockey, NL, basketball, AL.  I'm not a DH fan.  Deal with it.

Fouling out is necessary because whats then to stop a player from constantly fouling.  But i get what you are saying about the officials.  The officials in basketball have the biggest impact because the fouls can be extremely tough to call.  Its also not surprising then that past officials have been caught gambling since they actually have the power to influence a game.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: KevShmev on March 25, 2014, 09:06:18 AM

Baseball is the purest and most athletic sport.

Um, no.

Athletic?!  There a grace to baseball, a majestic feel to seeing a pitch thrown and and the hand eye coordination to his a 97 MPH fastball 400 feet. but it's not the most athletic sport of the 4.  I'd say it's the least athletic.

I could rephrase. Baseball players tend to be the better overall athletes. Just because the players are good at what they are doing, doesn't meant these guys arent athletes. Plus, NFL has probably got a huge steroid problem. I'm not quite sure how it could be argued that the other sports are any more athletic.

Er, I don't think someone defending baseball should really play the steroid card in regards to other sports. :lol :lol

To elaborate on what I said earlier, I hate the idea of fouling out in basketball.  It's stupid.  In no other major sport do you see major stars have to sit out huge chunks of games, or have to play tame or soft, but you do in basketball, and when you consider the subjective nature of foul calling, that puts a ton of power in the hands of the officials.  All it takes is a couple of ticky tack falls to be called on a player early in a game and all of a sudden he is sitting out for most of the rest of the first half or having to not be aggressive.  It hurts the game.  And, no, I don't think you should be able to rack up fouls all day, but make it to where, in college, for example, once you get your 5th foul, every time that player commits a foul, you treat it like a technical: one shot and the ball (or two shots if it was a shooting foul).  That would add a lot more strategy to the game.

I disagree.  I like that you can foul out in basketball, it is part of what makes it different than other goal-oriented sports.  Yeah, it sucks when some of those are ticky-tack or questionable block/charge calls; but by in large it makes it adds something to the sport's uniqueness.  I don't feel like writing any more because I'm not going to change your mind and I don't really care to argue because you won't change mine.

 

Fair enough. :)



Anyway: Football, Hockey, NL, basketball, AL.  I'm not a DH fan.  Deal with it.

Me neither.  If you are playing, you should play the field AND bat.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: dparrott on March 25, 2014, 11:56:32 AM
Favorite: baseball.  Always loved it.  Mainly because in L.A. we've had the legend Vin Scully calling games. 
I like playing basketball but not watching it.  The scoring is too predictable and it's a lot of showboating.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dr. DTVT on March 25, 2014, 01:56:25 PM
The reason I dislike the DH rule is part of the charm of baseball for me is that more in-game tactical decisions are made in baseball than any other sport other than American football.  Having a DH makes decisions easier because you remove some decisions and simply others.  Having a manager stew over whether he should double switch or save a pinch hitter adds a layer of intrigue to the game.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: dparrott on March 25, 2014, 05:14:01 PM
I defend baseball against the "boring" tag.  Yes it is not as action filled as the other sports and there is less physical contact.  If that is what you like, then I can see it.  But I view it as more of a relaxed game with occasional bursts of excitement.  I also love the "setting" of baseball.  Baseball stadiums usually have more of an open atmosphere with views of the city around it. 
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: orcus116 on March 25, 2014, 05:27:54 PM
The thing about baseball too is that, due to no time limit, anybody can win any game even if the odds are almost nil. Sure in other sports there are late game strategies that, if pulled off correctly, can result in an upset but you're always playing against the clock and there is always a point where a team just simply can't come back.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Neon on March 25, 2014, 06:31:30 PM
I defend baseball against the "boring" tag.  Yes it is not as action filled as the other sports and there is less physical contact.  If that is what you like, then I can see it.  But I view it as more of a relaxed game with occasional bursts of excitement.  I also love the "setting" of baseball.  Baseball stadiums usually have more of an open atmosphere with views of the city around it.

It's true that baseball moves more slowly, but when it DOES have exciting plays, particularly in the playoffs, there's nothing quite like it. 

Baseball was my first sports love, so it will always hold a special place :)
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: dparrott on March 25, 2014, 06:40:05 PM
Great baseball plays are always fun for me to watch.  These guys run, sometimes dive, get up, sometimes have to spin, take a small ball out of their glove into their hand and make an accurate throw all within like 3 seconds....amazing. 
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: snapple on March 25, 2014, 06:42:54 PM
Baseball has actually tried (and is still trying) to clean ip their sport.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: hefdaddy42 on March 25, 2014, 07:40:27 PM
Baseball is three minutes of nonstop action crammed into three hours.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: jammindude on March 25, 2014, 07:45:15 PM
When I was a kid, I thought basketball was exciting and baseball was boring.

Now that I'm in my 40's, I feel exactly the opposite.   Baseball has *FAR FAR FAR* more strategy involved in every aspect of the game than basketball does.   Some of the most exciting and knuckle-biting moments are the times when nothing is technically happening.   Because once you know the game well enough, you can see some of the decisions being made, and how they set up what's about to happen.   (Pitching changes, how the outfield is playing, how the infield is playing, switching players, or simply just the battle of wills that's happening between a pitcher and batter....the list goes on and on)
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: antigoon on March 25, 2014, 07:52:45 PM
When I was a kid, I thought basketball was exciting and baseball was boring.

Now that I'm in my 40's, I feel exactly the opposite.   Baseball has *FAR FAR FAR* more strategy involved in every aspect of the game than basketball does.   Some of the most exciting and knuckle-biting moments are the times when nothing is technically happening.   Because once you know the game well enough, you can see some of the decisions being made, and how they set up what's about to happen.   (Pitching changes, how the outfield is playing, how the infield is playing, switching players, or simply just the battle of wills that's happening between a pitcher and batter....the list goes on and on)

Eh. Defensive and offensive schemes in the NBA are pretty complex and nuanced these days. You're not giving it enough credit. 
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dr. DTVT on March 25, 2014, 10:19:59 PM
I think if you know enough about a sport, you can enjoy watching it.  My appreciation of soccer greatly increased when I understood started looking for the nuances and got past "How does a sport with big freaking nets get so many 0-0 ties?".

What makes baseball, basketball, football, and hockey great is that they are different enough from each other that they can fulfill different viewing needs.  It's a part of the reason those are major sports, and similar sports like lacrosse and soccer are seen as minor compared to hockey, rugby as minor to football, korfball and netball as minor to basketball, and cricket as minor to baseball.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: senecadawg2 on March 25, 2014, 11:20:12 PM
Still not entirely sure I get why or how Soccer became seen as minor to hockey. Nothing against hockey, but I've always had trouble understanding how any sport as massively popular, internationally, could be so easily ignored in the US. Obviously got everything to do with the market of the mls, as far as American viewership is concerned, but the relative apathy of Americans during the World Cup still manages to surprise me every four years. It does help that more and more children are growing up on it, although that still seems to remain almost-exclusively among the elite. Still, the same could be said about hockey. Hmph....
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dr. DTVT on March 25, 2014, 11:44:45 PM
Hockey is a faster, more action packed version of soccer.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: jammindude on March 26, 2014, 12:01:29 AM
Still not entirely sure I get why or how Soccer became seen as minor to hockey. Nothing against hockey, but I've always had trouble understanding how any sport as massively popular, internationally, could be so easily ignored in the US. Obviously got everything to do with the market of the mls, as far as American viewership is concerned, but the relative apathy of Americans during the World Cup still manages to surprise me every four years. It does help that more and more children are growing up on it, although that still seems to remain almost-exclusively among the elite. Still, the same could be said about hockey. Hmph....

This answer was, is and always will be exactly the same.....simple, but stupid as it may seem....

ADVERTISING!!!!!!!

You can only put ads in the form of banners and backdrops in a soccer game....you can't cut to commercial every 10 minutes like you can with *EVERY OTHER POPULAR AMERICAN SPORT*!     

You can get into the in's an out's of other, more minor reasons.   But soccer does not fit into the established American advertising framework....and it never will.   
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on March 26, 2014, 01:19:38 AM
Soccer is probably my absolute least favourite sport to watch personally, aside from Nascar. Which is funny because I'm a gigantic hockey fan and the similarities are plenty. But there's something about soccer I can't tolerate. Even baseball I enjoy a lot if I'm actually at the game. But going to a soccer game I can't even pay attention to the game itself. I really dislike it.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Accelerando on March 26, 2014, 01:31:54 AM
My favorite: Basketball

Least Favorite: Hockey

And i say this when I love all the four sports. Hockey is just the one sport that I follow the least.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: adastra on March 26, 2014, 02:59:08 AM
Oh, Hockey is American sport.. I always thought it was Canadian. :P haha

But yeah, Boston Bruins all the way!
Football is kinda boring shit , I guess :D
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on March 26, 2014, 06:40:25 AM
least favourite sport to watch personally, aside from Nascar

Non
Athletic
Sport
Centered
Around
Rednecks
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: dparrott on March 26, 2014, 10:39:17 AM
I would like soccer if it was the size and speed of hockey.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: KevShmev on March 26, 2014, 10:45:08 AM
I like soccer, but I hate that offsides rule.  If the last defender is dumb enough to let the offensive player get behind him, and the offensive player gets to the spot before the ball does, why should that be offsides?  I think there'd be more good scoring opportunities if you took that away.  Also, I enjoy the World Cup, but all of the diving and fake injuries are really a detriment to the sport.  And having games decided by a skills competition (the shootout) is really stupid, especially when you consider that the goalie has almost no chance of stopping a good shot (even if he is fortunate to guess right in regards to what spot the shooter is aiming for).
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: JayOctavarium on March 26, 2014, 11:29:31 AM
Bowling


Baseball
Football

Hockey

Basketball




Soccer




 :biggrin:
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dr. DTVT on March 26, 2014, 01:38:34 PM
I like soccer, but I hate that offsides rule.  If the last defender is dumb enough to let the offensive player get behind him, and the offensive player gets to the spot before the ball does, why should that be offsides?  I think there'd be more good scoring opportunities if you took that away.

I agree with you, yet somehow would argue that offsides is a necessary part of hockey.

Having games decided by a skills competition (the shootout) is really stupid, especially when you consider that the goalie has almost no chance of stopping a good shot (even if he is fortunate to guess right in regards to what spot the shooter is aiming for).

It's funny that they have it backwards from hockey.  In the NHL, shootouts are only used in the regular season, and in soccer they are only used in the knockout stage.  I think soccer should get rid of shootouts, and instead play 20 or 30 minute golden-goal overtimes, with each team given 2 or 3 more substitutions at each new OT period (for player safety reasons).
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: cramx3 on March 26, 2014, 02:21:24 PM
I really like the NHL shootouts, but I agree that a skill competition shouldnt really end a game, but with the NHL as long as its regular season and you still get a point if you lose, than I think it works great.

Soccer though, I cant stand the skills competition, but that is mostly because its so much easier to score and unless the goaltender sees the shooter tipping to which way he is kicking, its like a pure guess and pure luck overall, which makes it even less about skills. 

I do really like the excitement as a bystander with no rooting interest watching games that come to shoot outs.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dublagent66 on March 26, 2014, 03:53:09 PM
Favorite: Football   Least Favorite: Hockey

Baseball would my next least fav followed by basketball.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Neon on March 26, 2014, 08:51:47 PM
I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE that the NHL does shootouts- in my opinion, it's such a cheap, crappy way to win or lose a game.

Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: dparrott on March 27, 2014, 12:06:45 AM
Wow...in that poll basketball is the least favorite by far.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: adastra on March 27, 2014, 12:15:47 AM
I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE that the NHL does shootouts- in my opinion, it's such a cheap, crappy way to win or lose a game.

True!  Overtime should go for 10 mins  and  without a winning goal  the game should end in a tie  with both teams getting 1 score.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on March 27, 2014, 01:13:56 AM
Sort of surprised hockey is second most popular. I have a lot of trouble finding hockey fans on other boards I frequent. Cool. :)
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Neon on March 27, 2014, 07:46:55 PM
I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE that the NHL does shootouts- in my opinion, it's such a cheap, crappy way to win or lose a game.

True!  Overtime should go for 10 mins  and  without a winning goal  the game should end in a tie  with both teams getting 1 score.

Unless it's a playoff game.  And in that case, we're just gonna sit here in overtime until someone scores a fuckin' goal.

Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: antigoon on March 30, 2014, 12:02:04 PM
Almost anything would be better than the shootout and loser-gets-a-point system we have now.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: KevShmev on March 30, 2014, 10:24:22 PM
They need to make every game worth 3 points:

3 pts for a win in regulation
2 pts for an OT/shootout win
1 pt for an OT/shootout loss
0 pts for a loss in regulation
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: cramx3 on March 31, 2014, 11:01:19 AM
Almost anything would be better than the shootout and loser-gets-a-point system we have now.

If they could keep playing till someone scored, I think that would make most happy, except the NHL, that would just be too much for the teams/staffs.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: antigoon on March 31, 2014, 11:02:50 AM
Honestly, I would be fine with just bringing back ties.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Nick on March 31, 2014, 11:04:16 AM
Hockey >>> Football >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Basketball >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Baseball
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Nick on March 31, 2014, 11:05:16 AM
They need to make every game worth 3 points:

3 pts for a win in regulation
2 pts for an OT/shootout win
1 pt for an OT/shootout loss
0 pts for a loss in regulation


While not what I would do, this is 10x better than how it is now.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: chknptpie on March 31, 2014, 12:35:45 PM
Favorite - Hockey
Least favorite - Basketball

Looks like we have a majority of football and hockey fans here.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dream Team on April 01, 2014, 08:11:00 AM
Baseball
Hockey


To quote cliche, hockey is a "sport" for hooligans and un-incarcerated thugs, while baseball is a beautiful contest of athletic skill only.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: Dark Castle on April 01, 2014, 08:18:54 AM
Baseball
Hockey


To quote cliche, hockey is a "sport" for hooligans and un-incarcerated thugs, while baseball is a beautiful contest of athletic skill only.
... Well that was rude. Hockey players are some of the nicest athletes you'll come across.
also: https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/puck-daddy/sharks-make-sam-tageson-s-hockey-wish-come-true-and-it-s-a-tearjerker--video-070219363.html
Yeah, what thugs..  :\ Not to mention hockey players are usually deeply involved with the community in which they play in.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: King Postwhore on April 01, 2014, 08:22:42 AM
He did say cliché.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: cramx3 on April 01, 2014, 09:44:04 AM
I dont even understand how where that cliche comes from?
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: antigoon on April 01, 2014, 10:24:53 AM
no no no all the thugs play in the NBA and NFL, DUH. GET YOUR STEREOTYPES RIGHT.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: hefdaddy42 on April 01, 2014, 11:50:34 AM
I dont even understand how where that cliche comes from?
Probably something to do with all of the fighting that was once very prevalent in the game.

I remember an old joke.  "I went to a boxing match the other night, and a hockey game broke out."
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: King Postwhore on April 01, 2014, 01:14:57 PM
Exactly. I was crazy in the 70's but I love fighting in hockey.  I think a lot of the things like Orpick has done this year wouldn't happen if he had to fight all the time but that thought is old school.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: son_ov_hades on April 01, 2014, 01:28:44 PM
Favorite: Football
Least Favorite: Baseball

I like hockey quite a bit, and I can get into college basketball(the NBA is terrible though), but baseball sucks.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: cramx3 on April 01, 2014, 02:25:26 PM
I dont even understand how where that cliche comes from?
Probably something to do with all of the fighting that was once very prevalent in the game.

I remember an old joke.  "I went to a boxing match the other night, and a hockey game broke out."

Well that explains the hockey side of the cliche... anyone want to explain the baseball side?  Thats easily the least athletic of the 4 major sports (and no Im not saying that its not athletic, just the least)
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: antigoon on April 01, 2014, 06:27:55 PM
Don't tell that to Snapple.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: dparrott on April 09, 2014, 09:36:17 AM
Gotta love called strike 3's:

(https://media.giphy.com/media/TeKhPTztqOC2Y/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: antigoon on April 09, 2014, 10:19:42 AM
Gotta love Bartolo:

(https://i.imgur.com/2iKk2wt.jpg)
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: dparrott on April 09, 2014, 11:58:28 AM
 :lol  Cut down on them burritos boy!
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: El Barto on April 09, 2014, 12:16:54 PM
Took me a while to decide what my least favorite is, and finally decided on basketball. By and large I consider baseball, basketball and hockey to all be about the same. Great to watch in person, but too many games to take any one seriously enough to watch on TV. One thing separates basketball, though. The best part of any sporting event is the end of a close game. Either the final 2 or 3 minutes or the last inning. Basketball has the potential to be the most thrilling of the sports due to the speed and athleticism, but they've actually found a way to make the whole thing painfully boring and tedious.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: cramx3 on April 09, 2014, 04:19:37 PM
Took me a while to decide what my least favorite is, and finally decided on basketball. By and large I consider baseball, basketball and hockey to all be about the same. Great to watch in person, but too many games to take any one seriously enough to watch on TV. One thing separates basketball, though. The best part of any sporting event is the end of a close game. Either the final 2 or 3 minutes or the last inning. Basketball has the potential to be the most thrilling of the sports due to the speed and athleticism, but they've actually found a way to make the whole thing painfully boring and tedious.

Yup, the timeouts and fouling can make a close ending really long and boring.
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: TAC on April 09, 2014, 04:21:14 PM
Took me a while to decide what my least favorite is, and finally decided on basketball. By and large I consider baseball, basketball and hockey to all be about the same. Great to watch in person, but too many games to take any one seriously enough to watch on TV. One thing separates basketball, though. The best part of any sporting event is the end of a close game. Either the final 2 or 3 minutes or the last inning. Basketball has the potential to be the most thrilling of the sports due to the speed and athleticism, but they've actually found a way to make the whole thing painfully boring and tedious.

Yup, the timeouts and fouling can make a close ending really long and boring.
Edit..wrong thread! :facepalm:
Title: Re: Your favorite and least favorite of the Big 4 American sports
Post by: KevShmev on April 11, 2014, 11:50:44 AM
Took me a while to decide what my least favorite is, and finally decided on basketball. By and large I consider baseball, basketball and hockey to all be about the same. Great to watch in person, but too many games to take any one seriously enough to watch on TV. One thing separates basketball, though. The best part of any sporting event is the end of a close game. Either the final 2 or 3 minutes or the last inning. Basketball has the potential to be the most thrilling of the sports due to the speed and athleticism, but they've actually found a way to make the whole thing painfully boring and tedious.

Yup, the timeouts and fouling can make a close ending really long and boring.

I lost count of how many pivotal basketball plays at the end of games I've missed over the years thanks to flipping around the channels cause I got so frustrated with the 1,844 stoppages in the last minute of games. :lol :lol  Now that I have DVR, I will sometimes hit record if I am gonna flip around, that way I can rewind it and watch if I missed something exciting, but even then, it is going back and watching something I know already happened.