DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Sept 7, 2010 15:17:57 GMT -5
"The kids - meaning anybody under 40 - laugh when you tell them baseball used to be America's sporting passion. They stare at you in disbelief when you try to explain that the heavyweight champion was often the most adored athlete in the world, or that tens of millions listened to big horse races on the radio and that Sunday, not all that long ago, was a day off from sports...Pro football has gone from surpassing baseball to trouncing it, and every other sport in the nation. We're the only country where a sport laps soccer, something football fans seem particularly proud of. " www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/07/AR2010090704304.html |
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Sept 7, 2010 15:41:42 GMT -5
What's interesting is that football so dominates the American sporting scene, yet despite the NFL's best efforts it has almost completely failed to gain any sort of a foothold anywhere else in the world.
Another notable trend not mentioned in the article: NASCAR, the former rising star of the American sports scene, has hit some hard times. Empty grandstands and sagging TV ratings have been a consistent trend for the past couple years.
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on Sept 7, 2010 15:47:21 GMT -5
Seriously what was the point of that piece? Its common knowledge that this country is ruled by Football Zombies. I just thank God I found a cure years back and no longer fall under football's spell. And this line in particular is absurd:
"We're the only country where a sport laps soccer, something football fans seem particularly proud of"
There are at least three sports in America which trump soccer. So what difference does it make? Why would football fans get excited about that? Besides I get a laugh whenever the NFL tries to sell itself outside of American borders because that's truly a lost cause (outside of possibly Mexico). So the NFL needs to dominate USA because its not cared about anywhere else on the globe.
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rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Sept 7, 2010 15:57:28 GMT -5
"We're the only country where a sport laps soccer, something football fans seem particularly proud of."
Sumo in Japan.
Baseball in Japan.
Baseball in Taiwan.
Basketball in Taiwan.
Sumo in Mongolia.
Cricket in India.
Cricket in Pakistan.
Cricket in Bangladesh.
Cricket in Sri Lanka.
Cricket in Trindidad/BWI.
Rugby in Australia.
Rugby in New Zealand.
Aussie-rules football in Australia.
Hockey in Canada.
You can probably come up with a couple dozen more without too much thinking, but that's beyond the average America-loathing soccer fan's ability.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 7, 2010 16:03:04 GMT -5
Well, Maske got a few things right anyway:
What they ought to know is that the Baltimore Ravens are loaded, that the Patriots might be the third best team in the AFC East, that the Packers are going to beat out the Vikings in the NFC North, that Jay Cutler is on the verge of being the most overhyped quarterback in 20 years, and that the Dallas Cowboys are (again) the most overrated team in professional sports
;D ;D
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Sept 7, 2010 16:09:09 GMT -5
Basketball is bigger than soccer in China. Not sure if you listed it, but so is cricket in India.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Sept 7, 2010 16:09:34 GMT -5
"We're the only country where a sport laps soccer, something football fans seem particularly proud of." Sumo in Japan. Baseball in Japan. Baseball in Taiwan. Basketball in Taiwan. Sumo in Mongolia. Cricket in India. Cricket in Pakistan. Cricket in Bangladesh. Cricket in Sri Lanka. Cricket in Trindidad/BWI. Rugby in Australia. Rugby in New Zealand. Aussie-rules football in Australia. Hockey in Canada. You can probably come up with a couple dozen more without too much thinking, but that's beyond the average America-loathing soccer fan's ability. Yeah, but no one lives in those places. You could also argue that Ireland cares more about GAA Football, Rugby, and even Hurling in some counties. Certainly the average attendance is better for all of the above. Meanwhile, for all football's supposed dominance, it remains the worst of the major American sports as a live spectator experience, at least on the NFL level. Living in Boston, the only way you are getting me to a Patriots game is with free tickets and charter bus ride to a tailgate spot, whereas I will gladly pay to go to Fenway or the Garden 10-12 times a year. |
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Sept 7, 2010 16:20:38 GMT -5
NFL is going to push their propoganda because they are heading for Blackouts galore this season--they are in world of hurt in a lot of markets and make up this crap about being so big/flexing their muscles---and reality is that football is a great game/enjoyed--but if given a choice between CFB and NFL football--I'll take the college game/kids day/night. NFL football is fun to watch--gets tiresome due to rules that have changed the game to appease offense and Fantasy Football players (LOL) and their overkill is going to eat them alive--as it does everything popular. They can claim all they want--but when you have 6-8 markets on verge of blackouts on opening weekend already--that is an ominous sign.
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Sept 7, 2010 16:36:45 GMT -5
The bigger risk for the NFL will come in 2011 if there's a lockout. I still think the 1994 strike was the beginning of the end for baseball, and the 2005 lockout very nearly killed the NHL.
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kghoya
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Post by kghoya on Sept 7, 2010 20:45:57 GMT -5
NFL is going to push their propoganda because they are heading for Blackouts galore this season--they are in world of hurt in a lot of markets and make up this crap about being so big/flexing their muscles---and reality is that football is a great game/enjoyed--but if given a choice between CFB and NFL football--I'll take the college game/kids day/night. NFL football is fun to watch--gets tiresome due to rules that have changed the game to appease offense and Fantasy Football players (LOL) and their overkill is going to eat them alive--as it does everything popular. They can claim all they want--but when you have 6-8 markets on verge of blackouts on opening weekend already--that is an ominous sign. Which markets? I'm guessing Tampa, Jacksonville, St. Louis, & Buffalo. |
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PhillyHoya
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Post by PhillyHoya on Sept 7, 2010 21:35:18 GMT -5
Also Detroit and Oakland.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Sept 7, 2010 21:37:09 GMT -5
San Diego always teeters on the edge of blackout.
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vcjack
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Post by vcjack on Sept 7, 2010 21:44:10 GMT -5
NFL is going to push their propoganda because they are heading for Blackouts galore this season--they are in world of hurt in a lot of markets and make up this crap about being so big/flexing their muscles---and reality is that football is a great game/enjoyed--but if given a choice between CFB and NFL football--I'll take the college game/kids day/night. NFL football is fun to watch--gets tiresome due to rules that have changed the game to appease offense and Fantasy Football players (LOL) and their overkill is going to eat them alive--as it does everything popular. They can claim all they want--but when you have 6-8 markets on verge of blackouts on opening weekend already--that is an ominous sign. Which markets? I'm guessing Tampa, Jacksonville, St. Louis, & Buffalo. I think its a lot more than that. I've seen printed somewhere that even really successful teams in big-ish markets (I think the Chargers were the singled-out franchise) had to struggle to avoid blackouts this season. |
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Sept 7, 2010 22:24:02 GMT -5
Carolina, Tampa, Jacksonsville, Miami, Buffalo, St. Louis, Detroit, San Diego, Oakland, are some of the early mentions--and wait and see mode with others.
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hoyainspirit
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Post by hoyainspirit on Sept 8, 2010 9:56:08 GMT -5
I've often wondered why my interest in football wanes as I grow older. Still haven't figured that one out.
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Sept 8, 2010 10:17:16 GMT -5
I've often wondered why my interest in football wanes as I grow older. Still haven't figured that one out. ummmm.... maybe it's your memory that's slipping. You seemed to be enjoying the NFL as much as ever when the 'Aints were winning the Superbowl last Season!!! |
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hoyainspirit
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Post by hoyainspirit on Sept 8, 2010 10:23:01 GMT -5
I've often wondered why my interest in football wanes as I grow older. Still haven't figured that one out. ummmm.... maybe it's your memory that's slipping. You seemed to be enjoying the NFL as much as ever when the 'Aints were winning the Superbowl last Season!!! ;D |
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Sept 8, 2010 10:27:16 GMT -5
What's interesting is that football so dominates the American sporting scene, yet despite the NFL's best efforts it has almost completely failed to gain any sort of a foothold anywhere else in the world. Probably for the same reason why soccer is such a non-starter in the US: it is not part of the culture that other sports are. Just as soccer tries to browbeat non-fans with the "everyone else likes it, you should too" attitude (kind of like the metric system), it fails, and the NFL probably gets that same pushback elsewhere. I'm afraid the NFL comes off as a little too American, too expensive and too challenging a sport to master outside of North America. (Note, however, that football has long had a presence in Canada. When the Bills eventually move to Toronto, you'll see more of this. |
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Sept 8, 2010 10:45:30 GMT -5
What's interesting is that football so dominates the American sporting scene, yet despite the NFL's best efforts it has almost completely failed to gain any sort of a foothold anywhere else in the world. Probably for the same reason why soccer is such a non-starter in the US: it is not part of the culture that other sports are. Just as soccer tries to browbeat non-fans with the "everyone else likes it, you should too" attitude (kind of like the metric system), it fails, and the NFL probably gets that same pushback elsewhere. I'm afraid the NFL comes off as a little too American, too expensive and too challenging a sport to master outside of North America. (Note, however, that football has long had a presence in Canada. When the Bills eventually move to Toronto, you'll see more of this. Then why has baseball taken off so well in certain places around the world? I would argue that baseball is even more American and more difficult to master than football is, and it's nowhere near as fun/interesting to watch. |
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 8, 2010 11:18:50 GMT -5
Then why has baseball taken off so well in certain places around the world? I would argue that baseball is even more American and more difficult to master than football is, and it's nowhere near as fun/interesting to watch. Two words: Chico Escuela. Football has no such ambassador. ;D |
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