After one more game in Cleveland, we will most likely be looking at a World Series Matchup of The Colorado Rockies against the Cleveland Indians. First of all I just want to say: Who in the world picked these two teams at the beginning of the season? I know I didn't. I wouldn't have thought either would have made it past the first round.
All that aside we are faced with a question that only happens every few years. We know that the networks that carry MLB want it to be Redsox v.s. Yankees every year. Why? Because they have the largest fan bases in the country and spend lots more money on things as well as tune into TV broadcasts. When those two play, or some of the other big names, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants etc. play they are big money makers. Also, if truth be told the ratings for the World Series will dip dramatically as a result of these two teams playing. The reason being the majority of people outside of Cleveland and Denver could care less who wins now. So I ask you this question. What would be better? A match up of the powerhouse ball clubs that would be exciting to watch, or a match up of these teams that actually deserve to be here this season? It sounds like an easy question, but if you think about it, it isn't.
9 comments:
of course you didn't pick them. you don't even like baseball. :) You just talk about it now cuz you have to. :)
You keep saying that but its not true. And no, I dont have to. Sunday night football eclipsed the ratings of the MLB playoffs 3-1. So I could be talking about that. Thats not even MONDAY night football. Clearly football is the much more popular sport.
However, the fact remains, I do enjoy baseball, just AFTER all the other major sports. Well, I like it better than hockey!
sorry, I guess I just remember you always saying that baseball was stupid.
In fact, I remember the radio show we were on when you said you hated baseball.
I am 100% that the word hate never came out.
Baseball is however, the most boring, least watched, and least attended of the major sports. Maybe that is why I feel the way I do.
After seeing your true feelings of hatred pour forth on this little comment area I am thoroughly crushed Mr. Berg. Not only have you employed non sequitors in your "arguments", but you have set up a straw man (in this case, baseball) to knock down, burn, and make into a hay bale. Unbelievable.
I am confident however that after those comments I will be able to say with all veracity...
"Sports Exhange" is the most boring, least watched, and least visited of all the major sports blogs. Maybe that is why I feel the way I do.
Viva la Polycarp! (and baseball!)
why do you read it and comment then?
ouch. That's pretty rough.
I will say, however, that baseball is by far NOT the most boring, least watched, or least attended.
And, in support of my statement, I have looked at attendance statistics for this past season in the four major American sports and ranked them from most attended to least attended:
MLB - 79,502,524
NBA - 21,841,480
NHL - 20,861,787
NFL - 17,340,879
Now, that is only a statistic indicating the total attendance for that sport this year. Average attendance per game is quite a different matter. To Mr. Berg's joy, I'm sure, baseball get bumped from the #1 spot to #2:
NFL - 67,738
MLB - 32,785
NBA - 17,757
NHL - 16,961
My purpose for indicating these numbers is to defend America's pastime. I love baseball. I always have. Baseball is a classy game that requires a balance of strength, endurance, and mental abilities. Sure, any sport looked at objectively seems a little bit silly - grown men swinging a wooden stick at a ball, running with a pigskin getting pummeled along the way, trying to throw a ball into a hoop twice the size of said ball, etc - but baseball, is by far, NOT the most hated, most boring, nor least attended professional sport, no matter HOW you look at it.
You may say, Matt, baseball plays WAY more games than any other sport. That's not fair! I submit to you that all I am doing is refuting the claim that baseball is the least attended and least watched. Plain and simple.
First of all I never said it was the most hated. I know lots of people who like it. Just not many that care to watch it on TV or pay to go to a game.
In my defense, I have been a Cubs fan as long as I have been alive. So what about baseball do I really have to be excited about?
Also, I know you try to write off the fact that baseball plays way more games, but the fact remains, its true. They do play way more, so their number are seriously inflated compared to those of the other leagues, especially the NFL.
Suffice it to say we have our favorites and least favorites. I LOVE basketball and baseball is my least favorite, but can still be exciting at times, as we have seen with the Rockies run in the post season. For someone else, I am sure that matter would be totally different. I say let them have their opinion, I will keep mine. Thank you very much.
Deal. You can have yours, I'd rather be right anyway. :)
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