What is the most popular Sports in America and the World???

[ChocolateGirl]

The most popular sports in America in my opinion is in this order:
#1 - Foootball
#2 - Basketball
#3 - Baseball
#4 - Hockey (and slowly slipping down the list)
#5 - Nascar
#6 - Tennis
#7 - Golf
#8 - Soccer

The most popular sports in the world in my opinion is in this order:
#1 - Soccer (Football)
#2 - Basketball
#3- Baseball
#4 - Hockey
#5 - Tennis
#6 - Golf

Remember, this is only my opinion and it is not a fact. I just wanted to have a discussion with people with other sports fans. So feel free to add your two cents. Also, I am sorry if I left out any major sports. In terms of the world, I looked at what is played in almost every continent. A sport like Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball is played, watched and enjoyed by Americans as well as other people around the world.

[deranged2005]

US:
1. Football
2. Baseball
3. Nascar (it's becoming more and more popular)
4. Basketball

World
1. Soccer/football
2. Baseball
3. Basketball
4. Tennis

[chanman7483]

I think cricket has to be thrown in here somewhere. I'm not sure how far reaching it is, but I know it's MASSIVE in India. For the simple fact that it's one of the top sports in India and with the sheer population size of India, I'm going to have to include that in my "world's most popular sports"

[Big_E]

In the US:

NFL
MLB
NASCAR
NBA
NCAA Basketball
NCAA Football
NHL
Golf
Tennis
Bowling
Fishing
Volleyball
Track and Field
Gymnastics
Lacrosse
Horse racing (higher during Triple Crown Races)
Yacht racing
Lawn bowling (Bocce)
Horseshoes
Tiddlywinks
Watching grass grow
Watching paint dry
Soccer

[chanman7483]

Nice BigE

Interesting though... it's rough... absolutely painful to watch it on TV.. but very enjoyable in person. I have a flex plan w/ the Metrostars... should be a good time. I went to a game last season.. very entertaining and I recommend it.

[NYYFAN]

Big E...you have Hockey way too high...

[ChocolateGirl]

Interesting that 2 people put nascar and baseball before basketball. I guess in my opinion baseball and nascar ratings are not as high as basketball. For instance, compare the baseball playoffs to basketball playoffs. Baseball ratings are high in NY state, but what about other states who have small market baseball teams? The popular sports in those states might be both Professional and College basketball and football.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

The Daytona 500, NASCAR's premier event, killed the NBA Allstar Game in the ratings (both were on the same Sunday). Just a fact (I don't care for either sport).

All of the posts thusfar are missing world #2, just behind soccer, F1 racing (based on TV ratings).

[Big_E]

Interesting that 2 people put nascar and baseball before basketball. I guess in my opinion baseball and nascar ratings are not as high as basketball. For instance, compare the baseball playoffs to basketball playoffs. Baseball ratings are high in NY state, but what about other states who have small market baseball teams? The popular sports in those states might be both Professional and College basketball and football.

Do you think baseketball could fill 50K seat arenas like baseball?
Do many people care about baseketball with no Jordan, and scoring down in the 70s and 80s on most nights?

[YankeePride1967]

Interesting that 2 people put nascar and baseball before basketball. I guess in my opinion baseball and nascar ratings are not as high as basketball. For instance, compare the baseball playoffs to basketball playoffs. Baseball ratings are high in NY state, but what about other states who have small market baseball teams? The popular sports in those states might be both Professional and College basketball and football.

The NBA is in poor shape.

[Casey37]

In the US:

NFL
MLB
NASCAR
NBA
NCAA Basketball
NCAA Football
NHL
Golf
Tennis
Bowling
Fishing
Volleyball
Track and Field
Gymnastics
Lacrosse
Horse racing (higher during Triple Crown Races)
Yacht racing
Lawn bowling (Bocce)
Horseshoes
Tiddlywinks
Watching grass grow
Watching paint dry
Soccer

What! No poker?

[Big_E]

What! No poker?

If gambling was a sport, Pete Rose would finally be in a Hall of Fame.

[thecaptain]

Billiards

[RhodyYanksFan]

If someone could explain the excitement in watching rednecks drive in circles, please fill me in. Thanks!

[Saxmania]

US:
1. Football
2. Baseball
3. Nascar (it's becoming more and more popular)
4. Basketball

World
1. Soccer/football
2. Baseball
3. Basketball
4. Tennis

Interesting topic. I have to think that baseball would be a long, long way down on the 'World' ranking - practically unknown in Europe and Africa, for starters. I would suggest:

World
1. Football
2. Motor racing (primarily Formula 1)
3. Tennis
4. Golf
5. Cricket
6. Rugby (perhaps reverse these two, but India/Pakistan go nuts for cricket)
7. Hockey
8. Basketball
9. Baseball

Much as I wish it would make an impact, baseball just doesn't have the support yet. The Cricket World Cup involves nations of total c. 800m population; rugby a little less.

I don't really consider golf a sport, to be honest, and I'm still undecided about motor racing, since the participants have so little interaction with each other, but that's another thread.

Be seeing you,

Saxmania

[Big_E]

If someone could explain the excitement in watching rednecks drive in circles, please fill me in. Thanks!

Where else can you see a 12-car collision and not be in the middle of the darn thing?

[DaBoys4LifeNYY35]

The Daytona 500, NASCAR's premier event, killed the NBA Allstar Game...

What REALLY killed the NBA Allstar Game was that d*mn awful half-time sorry excuse for music-based entertainment.


Big E, I agree with your list, except to note that during Olympic years, Gymnastics shoots way up on the list. And...World Cup soccer is pretty fun to watch...but only during the World Cup. (My bf insists on watching British soccer when he's over, and it drives me up a wall.)

[GHRuth3]

If someone could explain the excitement in watching rednecks drive in circles, please fill me in. Thanks!

You just showed that ur more ignorant than the rednecks. why dont you understand the sport before you bash it. thank you

[Boogiedown Bomber]

If someone could explain the excitement in watching rednecks drive in circles, please fill me in. Thanks!

even i couldn't muster up something like that!

[RhodyYanksFan]

You just showed that ur more ignorant than the rednecks. why dont you understand the sport before you bash it. thank you

No, I'm all set with just bashing it. Thanks.

[Big_E]

If someone could explain the excitement in watching rednecks drive in circles, please fill me in. Thanks!

[RhodyYanksFan]

perfect!

[Boogiedown Bomber]

Nice!

[ChewieTobbacca]

Don't forget figure (ice) skating, thats actually rated as the #2 in America before

[dabomb2045]

America:

1) NFL
2) NASCAR (sickening, but I think true...personally I'd rather gouge my eyes out with hot irons then ever watch a Nascar race)
3) College Football
4) MLB
5) NBA
6) College Bball
7) Golf

gymnastics and figure skating shoot up on the list during Olympic years