Statistics!!! If you go by how much you have to pay attention, Soccer is the most exciting sport.
How much of a game could you miss without missing out?
How closely do you have to pay attention to what's going on or else you'll miss an important play?
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/25/1718580/-Irrefutable-proof-that-soccer-is-the-most-exciting-sport
Consider soccer to start. A typical match consumes about 2 hours of running time. Of that time, the event is live and the ball is moving for 90 plus minutes. When there is stoppage, the referree adds time back in at the end of each period. Subtracting for substitutions, injuries, fouls, throw-ins, goalkeeper stalls, etc., I estimate that the ball is in play for about 75 minutes of every match. That gives an action fraction of 75/120, or 62.5%.
(Soccer has two half-times of 45 minutes each and a 20-minute break. That's 110 minutes. Plus 1-3 minutes per half-time added to the clock at the discretion of the referee because there are no time-outs. But his estimate of 75 minutes of attention-worthy plays is good.)
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Given that an average baseball game takes about 3 hours, that gives an action fraction of about 11.3%. In other words, one could sleep through 88.7% of a baseball game and not miss one second of action.
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There are about 130 plays from scrimmage in a football game, each taking about 6 seconds from snap to whistle. Adding in 14 punts and 10 kickoffs at 8 seconds each brings the total playing time to 16.2 minutes, and the action fraction clocks in at a whopping 7.7%. So in fact a football game provides an even greater sleep fraction than a languorous baseball game, more than 92%.
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that brings the total action time to 52 minutes. A basketball game takes about 2.5 hours to play, so the action fraction is a respectable 34.7%.
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A professional hockey game consists of three 20-minute periods of non-stop action. Given that a hockey game takes about 3 hours, that gives an action fraction of 33.3%.
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I think that so few goals being scored in total precisely is what makes Soccer so exciting: There's maybe 5 goals in the whole match. And it only takes 1 minute to go from defense to a counter-attack and to maybe score a goal.
0:00 You go to the toilet.
0:05 The goalkeeper kicks off. The ball goes to a midfield-receiver.
0:10 The midfielder passes the ball on to a striker running along the flank.
0:15 The midfielders move their line forwards to support the strikers.
0:20 The striker gets intercepted. He passes the ball to another player.
0:25 The defenders intercept again.
0:30 A fumble, a hole in the defense, a lucky shot. Goal.
0:40 - 1:30 The goal is repeatedly replayed in slow-motion from multiple angles.
1:30 Kick-off.
2:00 You return from the toilet. And you missed the probably only goal of the game.
= new reply since forum marked as read
The DVR has spoiled me so that I can't watch sports live anymore. I start watching at least an hour after the game starts and just fast forward through the non-action bits.
In reality, the DVR has upended my love of soccer by changing my attention span. I used to watch soccer a lot and it did compare favorably in action to the other sports. Now, I get restless when watching soccer because it is not as suitable for DVR acceleration.
Yes, I realize it is sad. But it correlates to life changes that has diverted my time elsewhere. When I was young, single and childless, I could devote long stretches of time to sports at the very specific times that they were on. Now, I have family and work obligations that make it harder to devote that time. So I watch it when I am available and in a fraction of the time.
And no commercials is a bonus.
I think part of it is that I am frustrated by the state of soccer in the USA. I remember the NASL of the 80's and the constant talk about how we were going to be an emerging power because millions of youths were taking up soccer. Not so much. Every time I see the MLS I can't help but think that we are miles behind everyone else. They play the worst defense in that league I have ever seen.
diving!
wear Speedos! 
Oh woes me oh WOES me it hurts so bad look at me rolling back and forth. 3 minutes, later, oh, yeah, I can stand just need to walk it out. Yep, I'm fine, lets play!