American Sports Thread

[Syferus]

I heard that NBC now have rights to show EPL games.  Will this affect other American games' popularity?

Are you serious?

I heard that NBC now have rights to show EPL games.  Will this affect other American games' popularity?

You mean NFL? Not a hope.

Baseball is currently in a bit of trouble I feel. The NFL is an absolute bohemoth, and NCAA football is also enormous. I read somewhere that the NFL Pro Bowl (Which is a joke of game the NFL are embarassed about) had more viewers than any of the NBA playoff games apart from some of the finals themselves, more than all Stanley Cup games, more than MLB world series games. It's huge and showing soccer will not affect that, certainly in the short term.

I've seen soccer emerge in the US markets, but while it is a game played by many, and a generation are growing up playing it, and there is access to EPL soccer on cable over there, I've not seen anything that would make me think it is going to dominate the way it does in other parts of the world. It may well threaten Hockey for the #4 spot.

Look at this, it's frightening if you are an administrator of MLB, NBA or NHL. The top 100 sports broadcasts in 2012 for men aged 25-50+ AND men aged 18-49 had

1-20 ALL NFL programmes *including those pre and post game shows for the superbowl!* and about 60 of the top 100.  The Olympics were on as well that year.

http://www.tvb.org/media/file/2012_M18-49_Top-100-Sports.pdf
http://www.tvb.org/media/file/2012_M25-54_Top-100-Sports.pdf

The NBA is flying. You have to remember that the NBA has an 82-game regular season while the NFL is only 16-game, and their play-offs are straight knockout rather than series. The arenas are far smaller too. Of course the raw ratings will always be higher. I doubt they give a shite what ratings the NFL get in November or Janurary when their play-offs are nestled away in June in the NFL's off-season.

Coupled with the presence of some all-time superstars the NBA is going from strength to strength right now. They shouldn't be grouped with MLB and the NHL.

[AZOffaly]

NFL is always, always, higher than the NBA. It is the number 1 sport in the USA by a mile. All you have to do is look at the attention that things like the draft get in the states, which falls right in the middle of the NBA playoffs. I consume American sports year round thanks to t'internet, and I can tell you that even in the midst of the NBA's playoffs, NFL news and talk gets just as much attention apart from those days when the games are actually on. The amount of news about Free Agent signings, injuries, coaching changes, drafts, the Combine, etc etc etc means that the NFL is never really out of the US consciousness.

Having said that, the NBA is doing very well, you are right, but the facts are that in 2011/2012, full year, the top 50 programs watched in the USA were 34 NFL games, 15 Olympics broadcasts, and 1 College Football game (the BCS game between 'Bama and LSU).

If you take the NFL and the Olympics out of it, the top 50 were
1      Mon., 1/9/12    NCAAF: BCS Champ.    Alabama/LSU    ESPN    14.0  24.2M
2    Mon., 4/3/12    NCAAB: Final Four    Kentucky/Kansas    CBS    12.3 20.9M
3    Thu., 6/21/12    NBA: NBA Finals    Thunder/Heat G5    ABC    10.9 18.4M
4    Mon., 1/2/12    NCAAF: Rose Bowl    Oregon/Wisconsin    ESPN    10.2 17.6M
5    Tue., 6/19/12    NBA: NBA Finals    Thunder/Heat G4    ABC    10.5 17.5M
6    Thu., 6/14/12    NBA: NBA Finals    Heat/Thunder G2    ABC    10.4 16.7M
7    Sat., 3/31/12    NCAAB: Final Four    Kansas/Ohio State    CBS    9.6 16.6M
T8    Tue., 6/12/12    NBA: NBA Finals    Heat/Thunder G1    ABC    9.9 16.2M
T8    Sat., 12/1/12    NCAAF: Reg. Season    Alabama/Georgia    CBS 9.8 16.2M
10    Sat., 11/24/12    NCAAF: Reg. Season    Notre Dame/USC    ABC    9.4 16.1M
T11    Sun., 10/28/12    MLB: World Series    Giants/Tigers G4    FOX    8.9 15.5M
T11    Sun., 6/17/12    NBA: NBA Finals    Thunder/Heat G3    ABC    8.8 15.5M
13    Sat., 5/5/12    Horse: Triple Crown    Kentucky Derby    NBC 9.0 14.8M
14    Sat., 3/31/12    NCAAB: Final Four    Kentucky/Louisville    CBS    8.4 13.9M
T15    Mon., 1/2/12    NCAAF: Fiesta Bowl    Okla. St./Stanford    ESPN    8.4 13.7M
T15    Mon., 2/27/12    NASCAR: Sprint Cup    Daytona 500    FOX    8.0   13.7M
17    Sun., 4/8/12    Golf (M): The Masters    Final Round    CBS    8.0   13.5M
18    Sat., 6/9/12    NBA: East Finals    Celtics/Heat G7    ESPN    7.7   13.3M
19    Thu., 10/25/12    MLB: World Series    Tigers/Giants G2    FOX    7.8   12.3M
20    Wed., 10/24/12    MLB: World Series    Tigers/Giants G1    FOX    7.6   12.2M
21    Sun., 3/25/12    NCAAB: Elite Eight    Kansas/UNC    CBS    7.1   11.7M
22    Sat., 11/3/12    NCAAF: Reg. Season    LSU/Alabama    CBS    6.8   11.4M
T23    Thu., 6/7/12    NBA: East Finals    Heat/Celtics G6    ESPN    6.8   11.1M
T23    Sun., 6/3/12    NBA: East Finals    Heat/Celtics G4    ESPN    6.8   11.1M
T25    Sat., 3/24/12    NCAAB: Elite Eight    Ohio St./Syracuse    CBS    6.7   10.9M
T25    Tue., 7/10/12    MLB: All-Star Game    A.L./N.L.    FOX    6.8   10.9M
27    Wed., 10/27/12    MLB: World Series    Giants/Tigers G    FOX    6.1   10.5M
28    Tue., 6/5/12    NBA: East Finals    Celtics/Heat G5    ESPN    6.3   10.3M
29    Sun., 7/1/12    U.S. Olympic Trials    Gymnastics    NBC    5.9   10.0M
T30    Sat., 11/10/12    NCAAF: Reg. Season    TAMU/Alabama    CBS    6.1   9.6M
T30    Tue., 1/3/12    NCAAF: Sugar Bowl    Michigan/Va. Tech    ESPN    6.1   9.6M
T30    Sun., 6/17/12    Golf (M): U.S. Open    Final Round    NBC    6.0   9.6M
T30    Tue., 12/25/12    NBA: Reg. Season    Thunder/Heat    ABC    5.1   9.6M
T34    Wed., 6/6/12    NBA: West Finals    Spurs/Thunder G6    TNT    6.0   9.5M
T34    Sat., 11/24/12    NCAAF: Reg. Season    Michigan/Ohio St.    ABC    5.8   9.5M
36    Sun., 3/4/12    NASCAR: Sprint Cup    Subway Fresh Fit 500    FOX    5.6   9.2M
37    Mon., 5/28/12    NBA: East Finals    Celtics/Heat G1    ESPN    5.6   9.0M
T38    Wed., 5/30/12    NBA: East Finals    Celtics/Heat G2    ESPN    5.7   8.8M
T38    Sun., 3/18/12    NCAAB: Third Rd.    UNC/Creighton    CBS    5.7   8.8M
T38    Tue., 12/25/12    NBA: Reg. Season    Knicks/Lakers    ABC    4.8   8.8M
41    Fri., 3/23/12    NCAAB: Sweet 16    Kentucky/Indiana    CBS    5.2   8.7M
T42    Sat., 10/27/12    NCAAF: Reg. Season    Notre Dame/Okla.    ABC    5.2   8.6M
T42    Mon., 12/31/12    NCAAF: Peach Bowl    Clemson/LSU    ESPN    4.8   8.6M
T44    Mon., 6/4/12    NBA: West Finals    Thunder/Spurs G5    TNT    5.5   8.5M
T44    Sun., 3/11/12    NASCAR: Sprint Cup    Kobalt Tools 500    FOX    5.2   8.5M
T44    Sat., 11/24/12    NCAAF: Reg. Season    Florida/FSU    ABC    5.1   8.5M
47    Fri., 1/6/12    NCAAF: Cotton Bowl    Arkansas/K-State    FOX    5.0   8.4M
T48    Sat., 11/17/12    NCAAF: Reg. Season    Stanford/Oregon    ABC    5.1   8.3M
T48    Sun., 5/6/12    NASCAR: Sprint Cup    Talladega    FOX    5.1   8.3M
T50    Mon., 1/2/12    NCAAF: Outback Bowl    Mich. St./Georgia    ABC    5.1   8.2M
T50    Sun., 3/25/12    NCAAB: Elite Eight    Kentucky/Baylor    CBS    5.0   8.2M

[Syferus]

NFL is always, always, higher than the NBA. It is the number 1 sport in the USA by a mile. All you have to do is look at the attention that things like the draft get in the states, which falls right in the middle of the NBA playoffs.

I didn't say the NBA was bigger than the NFL, but it certainly isn't ailing like the NHL or MLB.

[AZOffaly]

I might have picked you up wrong so, but I can assure you that the ratings of the NFL scares the bejaysus out of the other sports, including the NBA. At this stage, they need a rivalry like the Lakers-Celtics or Jazz-Bulls to come along to compete. Even looking at those number, (and you make a good point about a series versus a single game playoff), if you consider that Game 5 of the NBA Finals attracted 18.4 million viewers; but a regular season game in October between the 49ers and Giants (only seen in 77% of the country) attracted 22 million, that's unreal.

Also, the NFL draft took in 7.7 million viewers on a Thursday night! It's unreal how the NFL has taken over.

[Oraisteach]

AZ, your encyclopedic sports knowledge is truly impressive, not to mention your faciility in writing about it.  Whether crunching numbers or explaining the nuances of Gaelic football club rivalries, you are the maestro.  Have you ever given serious sports writing a go?

[AZOffaly]

Ara stop. You're already in the Fantasy League, no need to be plamásing me. That reminds me, I seriously need to schedule a draft date(s) for us.

[Gabriel_Hurl]

AZ had a little webpage going for a while didn't he?

[Tony Baloney]

http://www.fangraphs.com/not/let-tommy-lasorda-speak/

Like this chaps style...

[cadhlancian]

The NBA isn't in the same parish as the NFL. The NBA is basically unwatchable until the actual finals itself.  50% of the teams make it to the playoffs, in a 82 game season is a joke. There are teams going 38-44 making the playoffs on a yearly basis
As was pointed out the NBA needs some of its "storied" franchises to start competing again. Miami and OKC doesn't really get the juices flowing the way the Celtics v The lakers would? Or, the Pistons v the lakers etc, etc.
MLB is definitely ahead of the NBA currently, although the recent spurt of banned players is not helping their stock!
Bottom line is the TV networks run sports in the US. There isn't enough money in a sport that runs 2 continuos halves of 45mins with no breaks. They aren't interested. Fair play to NBC, definitely pushing it to the next level, and in fairness espn have improved greatly in the last few years.
Hockey is fucked, watching it live is decent, apart from that......

[Minder]

Just noticed Ch4 are showing this seasons Hard Knocks, featuring the Bengals. Starts Sunday 8 September at 7.05am

[thejuice]

The start of the NFL season always sneaks up on me.

Haven't really paid much attention to the Falcons off season moves, though I know Turner is gone, Gonzales is still there and we have a new RB (Jackson from the Rams I think??).

Glad Tony Gonzales is sticking around but I really feel last year was the year to go all the way but it didn't happen. The second half slump continues to blight this team particularly in crucial games.  That to me suggests there is a problem on the sidelines. How can you explode out of the blocks for the fist half and draw blanks in the second. Mike Smith seems to be a coach with just a Plan A for every game.

This year I think will be a bit more of a tired effort and the heavier schedule will take its toll. The Saints and Panthers will be hard to shake off this year and we could even finish 3rd in the NFC South.

[magpie seanie]

I think Atlanta will be there or thereabouts. New Orleans will be better for sure but the Falcons are a serious outfit.

[Crete Boom]

The NBA isn't in the same parish as the NFL. The NBA is basically unwatchable until the actual finals itself.  50% of the teams make it to the playoffs, in a 82 game season is a joke. There are teams going 38-44 making the playoffs on a yearly basis
As was pointed out the NBA needs some of its "storied" franchises to start competing again. Miami and OKC doesn't really get the juices flowing the way the Celtics v The lakers would? Or, the Pistons v the lakers etc, etc.
MLB is definitely ahead of the NBA currently, although the recent spurt of banned players is not helping their stock!
Bottom line is the TV networks run sports in the US. There isn't enough money in a sport that runs 2 continuos halves of 45mins with no breaks. They aren't interested. Fair play to NBC, definitely pushing it to the next level, and in fairness espn have improved greatly in the last few years.
Hockey is fucked, watching it live is decent, apart from that......

When I was livivng in San Fran in 2011 the big news was that the MLS had passed out the NBA in terms of overall attendances in 2010!

[AZOffaly]

I think Atlanta will be there or thereabouts. New Orleans will be better for sure but the Falcons are a serious outfit.

Steven Jackson could well be an animal there in Atlanta. He's a better back than Turner. They have the bones of a great Offence with Gonzalez, Ryan, White, Jones and Jackson.

[magpie seanie]

I think Atlanta will be there or thereabouts. New Orleans will be better for sure but the Falcons are a serious outfit.

Steven Jackson could well be an animal there in Atlanta. He's a better back than Turner. They have the bones of a great Offence with Gonzalez, Ryan, White, Jones and Jackson.

And he won't have to carry the entire team as he's had to do most of his pro career, well recent years anyway.