Although there are many competitive sports in America, I believe that football is the most popular by a landslide. Basketball, baseball, and maybe even hockey are close seconds depending on geographic location in the country, but I think that throughout America football reigns supreme. This is evident in it's TV scheduling as football games are always in primetime on major television networks. One thing all the 'popular' sports in America share is that they are all extremely competitive, physically demanding, team sports. Additionally, only men's sports are popular.
When I think of the typical game day in America, I think of team merchandise, good times with friends supporting your team, and lots of beer! Fans often 'tailgate' in parking lots of the stadium before games. This includes grilling food, consuming alcohol, and fostering an environment of camaraderie among fans. A perfect day for a tailgate would be 60 and sunny, but fans come out and do this no matter what the weather conditions are!
I believe that success in US Sports is measured by how much athletes are paid, their celebrity status, the success of their team, and the legacy they leave on their respective sport. Athletes in America are very highly paid, especially in Baseball. Top (or controversial) athletes in each sport obtain a type of 'celebrity status' with a huge fan base and lots of speculation from the media. More appropriately, athletes are recognized for their on the field (or court) play, where 'successful' athletes are the very best athletes at their sport. Athletes are also seen as successful if they are a 'team player' and help their team and teammates reach that successful status. I believe
I find it very interesting that you see football as more popular than sports like baseball, basketball, or hockey because that is not what I wrote in my blog. I have always thought that those four are always about equal because of what is mostly shown on tv. However, I actually agree with your statement. This is most likely because football is an American sport, even other countries call it "American Football." From my personally experiences, more people like to watch football in general. Especially people who don't necessarily like to watch sports. In the end I agree, football definitely plays a large role in the sports of America.
ReplyDeleteTyler Martin
As you mention, popular sports in the US are "extremely competitive, physically demanding, team sports." I wonder why it is that we seem to value physical prowess over technical skill. It is much like society's value of hard work over natural intelligence. It makes me think of the rugged individualism of America. It is a legacy that seems permanently ingrained in our psyches.
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up a good point regarding the celebrity status of athletes. It's interesting how certain successful athletes are "household names" in the same way that certain actors or musicians are. The more personal and team success that an athlete has, the more recognizable they are as symbols of American popular culture.
ReplyDeleteAsher Bensko