Which do you like better: College or pro sports?

[Vox_Reason]

Which do you like better: College sports, or pro sports?

Why do you like one more than the other?

[Vox_Reason]

1. I like college sports because...

The decades of rivalries, and the intense traditional and regional pride that is so important to college sporting events.

The kids are playing for the honor and tradition established by those that went before them many years ago. They hope to make big money someday, but on Saturday, they aren't there for the bucks, they're there to "beat State" or whoever.

It's all about the bragging rights; the in-state smack-talk; the recruiting edge; the hopes of millions of fans and alums.

It's not about massive contracts, endorsement deals, holdouts, agents, etc. - it's about school pride, state pride, regional pride. It's much less petty and personal, and so much more inclusive.

That's why I enjoy pro sports, but look forward to September through March every year with even greater zeal.

[laureloak]

2. Pro football. College basketball. Pro golf.

[Vox_Reason]

5. Of course, there's no comparison between pro and college golf

Pro golf is a beast all its own. There are plenty of good golfers out there, and then there are the guys on tour. If you've ever tried to beat a little white ball around a golf course, you know in about half a minute of watching them how good the guys on the PGA Tour really are. It's something you just can't describe to someone who hasn't picked up a golf club.

I just don't get all that excited about pro football. They're not as lackadaisical as NBA players (may have something to do with the much smaller number of games played) but the crowd and player intensity is just not there like it is on the college level, IMHO. I think it's the whole "I paid $300 for 2 tickets, a parking place and a couple of hot dogs to see a franchise that may move to another city in the next few years" effect.

And I truly believe that there is no greater sporting event (short of the Soccer World Cup, probably) that compares to the NCAA basketball tournament. And might I add that the current champions of NCAA basketball are my beloved CAROLINA TARHEELS????!??!??

The pros are fun to watch, because they're the best of the best--but they're doing it because it's their job. Very few of them are doing it because they truly love the game they're playing. For the pros, it's all about the benjamins, wherever they're coming from. That, to me, is the key difference between college and pro sports.

[Harry S Truman]

3. College sports

are bush-league horseshit. Although the cheerleaders rule!

[papercut]

4. Neither

Waste of time, waste of money.

[givemebackmycountry]

6. Sorry, but I went to 2 NFL games in Denver back to back...

That's right.
I was at the Broncos v Chargers game at Invesco @ Mile High (heretofore referred to as Mile High) AND the Monday night game against the dreaded Kansas City Chiefs, (and I live in K.C. Red State) and I am here to say that the NFL rocks.

Amazing.

We won both games and the atmosphere was electric.
Of course, an average of seven hours of tailgating added to the overall experience.

The Monday night game against the Kansas City Chiefs was a beat down that the fans played a role in.

It was LOUD.
Sound had feeling.

I LOVE college sports.
But I spend my money on the Broncos and the NFL for the TOTAL experience.

[Liberal_Dog]

7. I Love Both Pro & College Football...

but the tradition and rivalries of college football are just something that pro football just can't match.

[IntravenousDemilo]

8. No "none of the above"? n/m

[jakefrep]

9. Depends on the sport...

...for me it's college football (NFL is too homogenized and bland), pro basketball (by a narrow margin over college, in large part because I dislike egotistical puppet-master prima donna coaches more than I dislike prima-donna players).

[kick-ass-bob]

10. pro everything except basketball.

Watching college football is like pulling teeth - 4 hour games??
College basketball is much more a team game (which I enjoy more) than the pros.
And pro baseball doesn't have the annoying "clank" of the metal bats (and all that metal bats mean to the game).

[Hobarticus]

11. College sports, because of tradition...

Nortre Dame will always be in South Bend, etc. Most drastic thing in college ball you'll see is a coaching change, or maybe a snappy new logo.

[bigwillq]

12. I like College Basketball better

but like NFL more than college football

[K-W]

13. Pro, Ive just never gotten into following any college sports. EOM

[hasbro]

14. Depends

As a huge hockey fan I love the pro game, but college hockey has its appels, namely never leaving Denver, no lockout and not having to put up with the arrogance of fans from "traditional" markets.

I'll take pro football over college.

Before the NBA went to shit I prefered it, but I like college ball more now.

[Bill McBlueState]

15. pro (in football and basketball, anyway)

I have a hard time getting into the idea that big-time college athletes get free rides to go to top-notch schools and major in integrated whatever, while academically gifted poor kids have to deal with financial reality. I also don't care for the effect the focus on athletics has on the core missions of teaching and research.

But as an academic, I might have a jaded perspective. ;)

In pro sports, there aren't any illusions about why people are playing the game, and the quality of play is much higher.

Now, if football and basketball had minor league systems the way hockey and baseball do, I would support those. Minor-league hockey is one of the best spectator sports out there! But there are a lot of problems with academic institutions turning into football and basketball factories.

[CatholicEdHead]

16. D-II or D-III College, not D-I Football.

Other D-I sports besides Football are not that bad.

[realisticphish]

17. College, college, college

it just has more going for it; i mean, theres just so more energy from students then from pro fans. students aren't just fans, they're part of the team