What would you consider your national sport to be?

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

As a Brit, I'd plump for soccer, cricket or tennis

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Baseball is Americas “national pastime” but I really think the nfl has trumped baseball. Would all of my fellow yanks agree?

There is a faction of us, especially here, that also love football (soccer)
And my business partner is in India, so I’ve learned a few things about Cricket.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

As a Brit, I'd plump for soccer, cricket or tennis

In the USA, I'm pretty sure #1 sport is football. Personally, I'm a baseball girl through and thru!! After that, I like hockey, football and basketball in that order.

 

[BrianL]

It should be baseball, but I agree that it's football. Football has become such a powerhouse becuase it's such a TV friendly sport that stops so much that they can run commercials all the time. TV networks love this, but to me it's not a fun sport to watch. They spend more time lining up than playing the game, but fans eat it up because it lends itself well to armchair quarterbacking. Baseball's not exactly exciting either. I like more kinetic sports liek basketball or hockey. Hockey, while popular, definitely doesn't lend itself to TV becuse of the nonstop action. Soccer is the same really, though it's nonstop doing nothing, but they still can't cut to commercial lest the miss the 6 seconds of excitment that might actually happen.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

It should be baseball, but I agree that it's football. Football has become such a powerhouse becuase it's such a TV friendly sport that stops so much that they can run commercials all the time. TV networks love this, but to me it's not a fun sport to watch. They spend more time lining up than playing the game, but fans eat it up because it lends itself well to armchair quarterbacking. Baseball's not exactly exciting either. I like more kinetic sports liek basketball or hockey. Hockey, while popular, definitely doesn't lend itself to TV becuse of the nonstop action. Soccer is the same really, though it's nonstop doing nothing, but they still can't cut to commercial lest the miss the 6 seconds of excitment that might actually happen.

I find Hockey easier to watch on TV as my eyes are so bad I cannot follow the puck in live games. Same with soccer, It's just become easier (and cheaper) to watch at home.

 

[tony67]

So in the states Id agree its Football. Its a short season and limited schedule you can easily plan around and people are obsessed. College or Pro depending on the state.

In Ireland I'd say its GAA - depending on the part of the country its Hurling or Gaelic Football. Its been decades since I lived there but hurling is huge and everyone gets very into it - people who don't even care about sports in general will go out and rabidly support the county team. Its pretty cool.

More recently I think Rugy has become very popular, especially when the team is doing well.
Soccer is also very popular no doubt - but English premier league more so than anything local. People do come out to support the national team but they usually don't do well.

 

[ronandannette]

Curling.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Curling.

Are you in Scandinavia?

 

[EACarlson]

Are you in Scandinavia?

@ronandannette is Canadian I believe.
I'd agree with in the US it's American football. Being what in the US is called Native or Indigenous and in Canada is called First Nation, my national sport is Lacrosse.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

@ronandannette is Canadian I believe.
I'd agree with in the US it's American football. Being what in the US is called Native or Indigenous and in Canada is called First Nation, my national sport is Lacrosse.

It is, and everyone else thinks it's hockey.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Growing up it was baseball, but now it's American football, IMHO. The NFL made a lot of strategic decisions to grow their sport nationally and MLB made a lot of decisions that created little fiefdoms with haves and have-nots. The NFL waved at MLB as it blew past.

 

[disney4us2002]

Baseball is Americas “national pastime” but I really think the nfl has trumped baseball. Would all of my fellow yanks agree?

There is a faction of us, especially here, that also love football (soccer)
And my business partner is in India, so I’ve learned a few things about Cricket.

Yuck. I do not enjoy football and the more I read and hear about CTE, I hope it dies off. I'm thrilled none of my sons ever wanted to play because I find it scary.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Yuck. I do not enjoy football and the more I read and hear about CTE, I hope it dies off. I'm thrilled none of my sons ever wanted to play because I find it scary.

I see where you're coming from. Hernandez played for the Patriots and that had a ghastly outcome. I enjoy watching Football but I do see your point.

 

[Disneylover99]

Growing up I’d say hockey. We watched it all the time.


Nowadays, in my household anyways, I’d say football.
Those darn NFL games seem to be on all the time.

 

[tvguy]

Football, thanks to aggressive marketing. Saturday at one point I had a choice of 30 College Football games on the TV. None of the teams were from my area.
I'm a baseball fan, and IMHO MLB marketing efforts to try and gain audience are ruining the game.
1) The intentional walk.....without throwing the pitches just send the batter to first now. I'm sure Johnny Bench during the 1972 World Series wished that had been the rule. Ball 4 turned out to be strike 3.
2) Putting a runner on second in extra innings, wasting my time. If you don't earn your way on base, you don't belong on base.
3) Pitch clock. Just play the game.

Now one rule I am divided on....limiting how the shift can be used. I don't like it, but when a routine ground ball to the infield goes into the outfield because the infielder who should be there, isn't there, does amuse me.

 

[dcassetta]

Baseball (my favorite) has been surpassed by football, but March Madness (college basketball) has become huge in recent years.

 

[soccerdad72]

The phrase, “Baseball is America’s favorite pastime” has always bugged me for 2 reasons:

1. Which “America” is it referring to? I know it means the US, but America is too generic a term.

2. It’s American Football. It’s always been the country’s favorite sport (at least since the 60s and 70s).

 

[dcassetta]

1. Which “America” is it referring to? I know it means the US, but America is too generic a term.

Good point. If we say The Americas, then I would go with baseball or soccer rather than American football

 

[SpaceMan5]

In the U.S. - fans fighting each other at the sporting events. (I assume this is also true in other countries)

I am just joking but it is a sad commentary on what is happening so frequently.

 

[E&Cmom]

Hockey