NFL #1 sport? Only for one reason...

sixto · 10-23-2002, 09:23 AM

...and that is gambling.

I'm sorry, and again, I love the NFL, watch the DirecTV package every Sunday with my buddies. Who are in. My fantasy league.

Why's soccer the #1 worldwide sport? Best gambling sport. Go to any soccer team Web site outside the US.
How about Luton Town. Bet (haha) there's a reference to betting on the Web site.

Who bets on baseball? Hardcore gamblers, yeah. Pete Rose. But what's fun about gambling on baseball? Nothing that also makes watching an entire game compelling. If you bet that Mike Mussina will strike out more or less than 8, you certainly don't want to watch it happen (or not).

So I mean, I see references to baseball's dwinding TV ratings and baseball's failure to market itself properly and I can't help but ask why I never see the gambling aspect acknowledged.

Why's the NCAA basketball tournament one of the top 3-4 events of the sports year, despite the fact that college basketball is now about as relevant as NCAA baseball? Exactly.

6

[ugh. spello.]

thome25 · 10-23-2002, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sixto
Why's soccer the #1 worldwide sport? Best gambling sport.

I disagree. It may help to explain why Malaysian businessmen follow the English Premier League so closely but the reason soccer is the world's most popular sport lies in its innate simplicity. You need just one thing to play, a ball - everything else is pretty much optional. The principle of a game centered on kicking a ball of some kind around has existed for thousands of years.

sixto · 10-23-2002, 11:52 AM

most popular professional sport i mean. although there is certainly something to be said for soccer's simplicity.

6

LivnLegend · 10-23-2002, 12:55 PM

Man, I love football!

My Sunday checklist:

1) Big screen TV (remote control goes without saying)
2) LA Times sports section
3) Raiders t-shirt or sweatshirt and cap (I get more fired up wearing my gear)
4) Big fat sub sandwich (and not that “lite” crap Jared eats)
5) Wings, chips & dip
6) Good beer
7) Some small, light objects I can throw around the room when the calls go against the Raiders without breaking anything. (I learned the hard way.)
8) Internet connection for fantasy team updates
9) Kids out of the house so they don’t hear daddy swear

JML · 10-23-2002, 01:42 PM

I think violence has a lot to do with football's popularity as well.

Khaos · 10-23-2002, 04:56 PM

It's the change in American living. We're a fast food, speed dial, instant everything nation that demands drama.

1. 16 games. Every game is important and can have later ramifications. Every week is exciting because of parity. Who would predicted the division leaders at this point right now. The fact that even a lowly team can beat a big team at anytime and that each game is extremely important gives the fans so much more to hope for and also dread. Opening day is great, but who has any real intensity for game 10 of a baseball season when your team is playing the Devil Rays?

2. Football was made for TV. I actually like watching it on TV more than being there. Baseball is great on the radio and is magnificent live, but on TV it's ho hum. The fact that you can't actually see how fast that ball is being thrown towards the batter doesn't help. The graphic may say 98mph, but it actually looks slow.

3. The NFL is about beating the clock and big plays. It's about the grand finale, the big comeback while racing against the clock.

4. The NFL keeps a commissioner that markets the sport like a business genuis. Baseball, well, um.......Selig.

sixto · 10-23-2002, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Khaos

2. Football was made for TV. I actually like watching it on TV more than being there.

I hear that. Although I have to say I'm very disappointed in the networks for their refusal to broadcast in HD. Ever since I saw my first widescreen TV and highlights of the 98 super bowl on it I've been waiting to watch live football at that aspect ratio. Still waiting.

twins15 · 10-23-2002, 08:22 PM

There's more parody in the league. A team could win the SB one year, get to the SB the next, and go 0-5 the nest year.

JML · 10-23-2002, 09:25 PM

[nitpicking] you mean parity, right twins? [/nitpicking]

Sorry, it just sounds really funny to say football has a lot of parody, especially since I'm not a fan.

twins15 · 10-23-2002, 10:43 PM

Yes, that's what I mean. What does parody mean? Or is that not a word? I'm only 15, cut me some slack.

Also, I was freezing cold cause I just came home from a football game in about 10- 20 degree weather.

JML · 10-23-2002, 10:46 PM

par·o·dy Pronunciation Key (pr-d)
n. pl. par·o·dies

1. A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule. See Synonyms at caricature.
2. The genre of literature comprising such works.
3. Something so bad as to be equivalent to intentional mockery; a travesty: The trial was a parody of justice.
4. Music. The practice of reworking an already established composition, especially the incorporation into the Mass of material borrowed from other works, such as motets or madrigals

Hmmm... didn't know about #4. Learn something new every day.

LivnLegend · 10-24-2002, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by twins15
There's more parody in the league.

LOL!! That malapropism just might top jblaze's "taking it for granite"!

JML · 10-24-2002, 02:02 AM

Taking it for granite!?!? Did he actually say that?

Jason Moyer · 10-24-2002, 03:07 AM

Yes, he really said that.

Does jblaze even post here anymore? It sucks if the only person left to kick around is that cute twins15 girl.

Jason

twins15 · 10-24-2002, 04:42 PM

I have not seen him post here or in OT for a long time. Besides, that was my only grammar mistake. Give me a break.

Khaos · 10-24-2002, 09:15 PM

I think he was giving you a break. He was kidding around, thus the [nitpicking][/nitpicking] vB code joke.

We all make mistakes, but the age thing is lame. You should know that word at the age of 15. Quit watching TV, playing video games, and surfing the internet, and read more.

twins15 · 10-24-2002, 09:24 PM

I do read a lot. But I do play too many video games, and i should have known that word. My apologies.

10-23-2002, 04:56 PM	#6
Khaos Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canfield, OH Posts: 473	It's the change in American living. We're a fast food, speed dial, instant everything nation that demands drama. 1. 16 games. Every game is important and can have later ramifications. Every week is exciting because of parity. Who would predicted the division leaders at this point right now. The fact that even a lowly team can beat a big team at anytime and that each game is extremely important gives the fans so much more to hope for and also dread. Opening day is great, but who has any real intensity for game 10 of a baseball season when your team is playing the Devil Rays? 2. Football was made for TV. I actually like watching it on TV more than being there. Baseball is great on the radio and is magnificent live, but on TV it's ho hum. The fact that you can't actually see how fast that ball is being thrown towards the batter doesn't help. The graphic may say 98mph, but it actually looks slow. 3. The NFL is about beating the clock and big plays. It's about the grand finale, the big comeback while racing against the clock. 4. The NFL keeps a commissioner that markets the sport like a business genuis. Baseball, well, um.......Selig. __________________ squish

10-23-2002, 08:22 PM	#8
twins15 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Area 51 Posts: 4,792	There's more parody in the league. A team could win the SB one year, get to the SB the next, and go 0-5 the nest year. __________________ "Ah man we're just hungry man" - Dovonte Edwards Bismarck Boy Scouts of the OTBL - league yes-man Ross Gload at baseball-reference.com Book Quotes and Book Lists

10-23-2002, 10:43 PM	#10
twins15 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Area 51 Posts: 4,792	Yes, that's what I mean. What does parody mean? Or is that not a word? I'm only 15, cut me some slack. Also, I was freezing cold cause I just came home from a football game in about 10- 20 degree weather. __________________ "Ah man we're just hungry man" - Dovonte Edwards Bismarck Boy Scouts of the OTBL - league yes-man Ross Gload at baseball-reference.com Book Quotes and Book Lists

10-24-2002, 03:07 AM	#14
Jason Moyer Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,106	Yes, he really said that. Does jblaze even post here anymore? It sucks if the only person left to kick around is that cute twins15 girl. Jason __________________ "I pretty much popped everything cold turkey. We were doing steroids they wouldn't give to horses." -- Tom House "I was very fortunate to have a pitching coach by the name of Tom House...Tom, I really miss those days that we spent in the weight room and out on the field working together." -- Nolan Ryan's HoF Induction Speech

10-24-2002, 04:42 PM	#15
twins15 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Area 51 Posts: 4,792	I have not seen him post here or in OT for a long time. Besides, that was my only grammar mistake. Give me a break. __________________ "Ah man we're just hungry man" - Dovonte Edwards Bismarck Boy Scouts of the OTBL - league yes-man Ross Gload at baseball-reference.com Book Quotes and Book Lists

10-23-2002, 09:23 AM	#1
sixto Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,271	NFL #1 sport? Only for one reason... ...and that is gambling. I'm sorry, and again, I love the NFL, watch the DirecTV package every Sunday with my buddies. Who are in. My fantasy league. Why's soccer the #1 worldwide sport? Best gambling sport. Go to any soccer team Web site outside the US. How about Luton Town. Bet (haha) there's a reference to betting on the Web site. Who bets on baseball? Hardcore gamblers, yeah. Pete Rose. But what's fun about gambling on baseball? Nothing that also makes watching an entire game compelling. If you bet that Mike Mussina will strike out more or less than 8, you certainly don't want to watch it happen (or not). So I mean, I see references to baseball's dwinding TV ratings and baseball's failure to market itself properly and I can't help but ask why I never see the gambling aspect acknowledged. Why's the NCAA basketball tournament one of the top 3-4 events of the sports year, despite the fact that college basketball is now about as relevant as NCAA baseball? Exactly. 6 [ugh. spello.]

10-23-2002, 11:52 AM	#3
sixto Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,271	most popular professional sport i mean. although there is certainly something to be said for soccer's simplicity. 6

10-23-2002, 12:55 PM	#4
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	Man, I love football! My Sunday checklist: 1) Big screen TV (remote control goes without saying) 2) LA Times sports section 3) Raiders t-shirt or sweatshirt and cap (I get more fired up wearing my gear) 4) Big fat sub sandwich (and not that “lite” crap Jared eats) 5) Wings, chips & dip 6) Good beer 7) Some small, light objects I can throw around the room when the calls go against the Raiders without breaking anything. (I learned the hard way.) 8) Internet connection for fantasy team updates 9) Kids out of the house so they don’t hear daddy swear Last edited by LivnLegend; 10-23-2002 at 01:00 PM.

10-23-2002, 01:42 PM	#5
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	I think violence has a lot to do with football's popularity as well.

10-23-2002, 09:25 PM	#9
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	[nitpicking] you mean parity, right twins? [/nitpicking] Sorry, it just sounds really funny to say football has a lot of parody, especially since I'm not a fan.

10-23-2002, 10:46 PM	#11
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	par·o·dy Pronunciation Key (pr-d) n. pl. par·o·dies 1. A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule. See Synonyms at caricature. 2. The genre of literature comprising such works. 3. Something so bad as to be equivalent to intentional mockery; a travesty: The trial was a parody of justice. 4. Music. The practice of reworking an already established composition, especially the incorporation into the Mass of material borrowed from other works, such as motets or madrigals Hmmm... didn't know about #4. Learn something new every day.

10-24-2002, 02:02 AM	#13
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	Taking it for granite!?!? Did he actually say that?

10-24-2002, 09:15 PM	#16
Khaos Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canfield, OH Posts: 473	I think he was giving you a break. He was kidding around, thus the [nitpicking][/nitpicking] vB code joke. We all make mistakes, but the age thing is lame. You should know that word at the age of 15. Quit watching TV, playing video games, and surfing the internet, and read more. __________________ squish

10-24-2002, 09:24 PM	#17
twins15 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Area 51 Posts: 4,792	I do read a lot. But I do play too many video games, and i should have known that word. My apologies. __________________ "Ah man we're just hungry man" - Dovonte Edwards Bismarck Boy Scouts of the OTBL - league yes-man Ross Gload at baseball-reference.com Book Quotes and Book Lists