Scientists prove it - Soccer is the most exciting sport

[Michael_UK]

I saw this and thought it interesting (but I wouldn't take it too seriously)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4581374.stm

American football, basketball and baseball have millions of followers, but they can't match soccer for sheer excitement, says a team of scientists....

...The results of the analysis showed that the "upset frequency" was highest for soccer, followed by baseball, hockey, and basketball. American football came last on the list, and so was labelled the least exciting sport.

[hijinx87]

1. first of all, the hypothesis is silly.

excitement = unexpected result?

no.

excitement = watching "your" guys play "the other" guys. whether the
result is expected or not is almost always beside the point. I don't
know what these scientists have proven, but it certainly isn't what
they profess to have accomplished. and whatever happened to pulling
for the underdog in the first place?

I think the problem here is the attempt to define something so subjective
in such broad terms.

[trotsky]

2. Agreed.

Besides, different people find different things exciting. It's not something you'll ever be able to quantify.

And another besides: SOCCER IS BORING! :)

[ProfessorGAC]

3. I'll Third The Motion

A conclusion drawn from a flawed and subjective premise can only be flawed and subjective.
The Professor

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. oh please, soccer and baseball as most exciting?

soccer is long distance running with a ball. Every hour or so someone tries to score a goal. Every week or so someone actually does.

Baseball is a great sport, to watch live or on tv, because its the only sport you can do other things while watching it. You can mow the lawn, do laundry, read a book, and not miss any of the action. Because there hardly is any.


To me, basketball is the most exciting sport, followed by football and then hockey. Of course, playoff hockey is one of the most exciting things there is, and playoff overtime hockey is just about the most exciting thing in the world.

[T_i_B]

17. Baseball is rounders with protective clothing

It's not even as good as Cricket! Give me Freddie Flintoff and Shane Warne over baseball anyday.

[Lefty48197]

5. It's absolutely true

Prior to a soccer game, you never know if the final score will be 2 to 1, or 1 to 2. It's every bit as fun as coin flipping.

[CoCre8tor]

6. Soccer's second most exciting...

behind hockey.

Watching football and baseball is like watching paint dry. :boring:

Can't comment on basketball. It's during the NHL and EPL seasons! :woohoo:

Go Avs!
Go Lightning!
Go Devils!
Go Arsenal!

[realisticphish]

7. hahahahahaha

riigghht. Sitting watching men dance around the field VERY slowly with a ball for an hour and a half is more exciting than the other sports?

FOLLOWED BY BASEBALL?????

Unexpected results do not equal excitement. Whoa! I totally expected there to be Crest toothpaste at the store, but there wasn't! That's an unexpected result, but that isn't exactly exciting (and if you think it is... get out more).

I look at the PACE of the game. I love hockey, because it's fast, and people hit each other a lot. I love (American) football because of the mix of athletic ability and chess-like strategy. Scientifically analyzing an opinion is moronic (and I REALLY hope these scientists weren't serious about this study)

[CoCre8tor]

8. Forget science...let the fans decide

This is Democratic Underground, right? So we're for the people's vote, right? What better gage of what's more exciting by the average number of fans attending the sport.

Professional Sports Average Attendance - top level:

NFL (2005) 67,463
NCAA Football (2004) 45,247
Total Avg. Football = 112,710

MLB (2005) 30,970
NBA (2004-05) 17,319
NHL (2003-04) 16,533

These are the fans of the top leagues. Let's look at average attendance of the top soccer leagues around the world.

English Premiere League 33,893
Bundesliga 1 - Germany - 37,771
La Liga - Spain - 28,401
Serie A - Italy - 25,805
Ligue 1 - France - 21,392
Turkish Premiere League - 16,799
Eredivise - Netherlands - 16,257
J-League 1 - Japan - 18,965
Scottish Premiere League - 15,659
Supra Liga Portugal - 10,624
Jupiler League - Beligium - 9,715
Russian Premiere League - 12,241
MLS - USA - 15,108
Allsvenskan - Sweden - 9,764
K-League - South Korea - 11,258
Ukranian Premier League - 7,199
Norwegian Premier League - 9,480
Danish Superliga - 8,589
Chinese Super League - 11,000
Alpha Ethniki - Greece - 5,944
Swiss Super League - 8,305

Total Avg. = 334,169 :woohoo:

This is just a partial list...wikipedia (my source) didn't include Mexico, Central and South America countries and the countries of Africa and the Middle East, which would raise this number even moreso.

It is probably save to say that world-wide, there are on average, 6 times more soccer fans than there are American football fans.

And watching soccer is 100 times better than watching the NFL or NCAA any day. That's my opinion, along with the rest of the world.

[democracyindanger]

10. Not only did you leave out

several leagues--CFL, Arena, various professional basketball leagues around the world, Japanese professional baseball (a glaring omission; J-league is big, but baseball is still bigger) not to mention all the leagues in Latin America, to name but a few--your reasoning is flawed from the get-go.

And not even mentioning NASCAR? I don't personally rank it high on my what-qualifies-as-a-sport list, but it's the most popular (read well-attended) spectator sport in the US.

[CoCre8tor]

13. Gotta disagree

Comparison is not flawed. I only counted the top leagues. English soccer has three levels of play below the EPL. The other European leagues have levels below them. I only pulled the top tier leagues of each sport.

I'd be willing to bet that the South and Central American soccer teams outdraw their baseball leagues significantly. And we didn't include all the African leagues.

As for baseball in Japan, wikipedia didn't report their stats. Seems no one has any. A simple Google search displays many articles about inflated and inaccurate attendance figures (one article said that a team reported 55,000 in attendance even with the stadium near void of fans), and how a couple of the leagues are being required by the IRS of Japan to start reporting accurate figures.

Soccer, by far, is the highest attended sport in the world.

And NASCAR isn't a sport. A competition, yes. But not a sport. A sport requires the athletic prowess, skill, and teamwork to achieve victory. Manuevering a machine around a track does not qualify.

Even if it were, it may be well-attended in the US, but certainly not anywhere else in the world. On a full schedule, there are more people attending a soccer match in all of Europe than attend a US NASCAR event.

Finally, yes, we can pack them in. Check out the last couple of summers when European teams came over to the US, and we packed Giants Stadium and other NFL stadiums for exhibition matches between them.

[democracyindanger]

15. Yeah, right

"A sport requires the athletic prowess, skill, and teamwork to achieve victory. Manuevering a machine around a track does not qualify."

F1 drivers and MotoGP riders train like professional athletes because they are. I don't think much of NASCAR because one long left hand turn doesn't rate exciting in my book, but to pooh-pooh all motorsport as not qualifying is ridiculous on its face. Not to mention what you identify as the parameters means every individual track and field event isn't a sport because there's no "teamwork." That includes you, triathletes--your little hobby doesn't involve teamwork, so it doesn't count as a real sport.

"Highest attended" doesn't mean "exciting," as much as you'd like it to. And offering up gamed numbers to "prove" it only shows how weak the proposition is.

And there are other times NFL stadiums are packed: During NFL games.

I will give soccer credit for one thing, though--any given game will have more melodramatic acting than the sappiest episode of General Hospital.

[northzax]

11. well sure, there are six times more soccer fans

if we go with your numbers, but that's out of a pool that is 20 times bigger. More people squeeze into Michigan Stadium on Saturday to watch the Indiana game than have ever watched Arsenal or ManU.

NFL Europe averages more than 20,000 fans, so it's in the same category as the wealthiest leagues.

[SaveElmer]

9. No sport that routinely ends in 0-0 ties....

Can possibly be the most exciting...

My theory is the anticipation factor...

Even in baseball at any moment there is the possiblity of a score....a home run for example

With soccer, as they run up and down the middle of the field you just know watching it that the likelihood of someone scoring is nearly 0.

[melissinha]

12. Watch Ronaldo and you will understand

or watch some vintage clips of any Brazilian player....

Come on. Watch Pelé, the greatest ever and you will understand. Of course if you've got a lot riding on any game, that affects excitability......

But when someone DOES score its so mych more exciting...

[CoCre8tor]

14. Yup, but you don't need to go that far back

Watch clips of Arsenal's perfect season of a couple years ago. That team was magic on the pitch. (They sure miss Viera now!).

Mike

[Phoebe_in_Sydney]

29. hey fellow Gooner!!

I had trouble getting into soccer until I started following Arsenal in 2002. I watched most of that perfect season -- they are a beautiful team to watch.

And I could watch, and listen to Arsene Wenger, just about interminably as well. (but maybe that's nothing to do with soccer?)

Yes, they are missing Patrick this season, but I'm over the moon at yesterday's news that Henry says he will stay. I'll feel better when he actually puts pen to paper, but if he wants to stay I'm sure they'll figure out a deal.

[MrSlayer]

16. Soccer is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

It's one long game of catch with your feet. The reason all the riots happen at soccer games is because the spectators are bored out of their minds and have nothing better to do.

[T_i_B]

18. Could not be more wrong if you tried.

How about you come over to England and actually go to see a football match? I was at Sheffield Wednesday v Crewe Alexandra last week and had a great time. Or if you're a lazy arse get a copy of the Liverpool v AC Milan Champions league final on DVD.

[MrSlayer]

24. I disagree. I can be a lot more wrong than that, if I tried.

What I don't like about the game is all the faking injuries and playacting to draw cards on the other team. And a lot of it is just kicking it back and forth. It seems throughout an entire match there might be five plays to get exited about and if you're really lucky someone might score.

[T_i_B]

31. No not really

I mean goodness, you obviously missed the Luton Town v Liverpool match last night. It finished 5-3 to Liverpool and all the goals bar Luton's penalty (Liverpool also had a penalty saved BTW were superb. Xavi Alonso's goals inparticular were very special. One was from 40 yards out and the other was from inside his own half! If you can't get exited about a game like that then you really do need professional help.

Mind you, those of us who've been watching lower legue football could have told you that Luton are a pretty good side.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/4565232.stm

[Phoebe_in_Sydney]

30. like your taste in candidates Mr Slayer

... but can't agree with your taste in sport.

Soccer is a wonderful game. Took me some time to appreciate it, but now I'd rather watch it than any other sport and I watch plenty of sport.

[Zech Marquis]

19. my take on this thread

speaking for myself, I have alays beena soccer fan--it's what I would ALWAYS play in recess way back in my early school years. being n spain during the second grade really helped--imagine about 50 elementary kids (all military dependents no less) playing daily soccer matches during the lynch break. I remember scoring my very first goal, and I had like the whole school chering and actually carry me around the field for the "golden goal"! oh man that was great) When we were stationed in Texas, I did start to play touch football in the 3rd and 4th grades--I never did try out for nay tackle football, the whole "don't break your glasses and legs thing--but soccer was still my favorite sport. However, by that time Pele and the fist MLS had come and gone, so I never got a chance to see him play here. And gradually I became a football fan as well.

Now that I can watch the EPL (Chelsea has an American chairman who actually has a clue, not the Glazer screwups at Man U), La Liga (Real madrid, as I do remember watching macthe son spanish tv of them way back,as well as my dad once going by the huge stadium), the Bundes Liga (I like Bayern Munich) and Serie A (Gol TV shows Juventus and AC Milan llive or replays alot). This past season I watched ALOT of great European soccer matches, Boxing Day and the Champions League matches in particular. And I started to notice that I had begun gradually stp watching the NFL games, especialy with Green Bay and oher teams getting destroyed on a regalt basis. College football--I only watched Pac 10 and the the Rose Bowl game. for me, I find soccer alot more watchable, and now I have a wider array of choices to pick from. And with the World Cup coming up in June, I'll buy a new HDTV for that. The NFL has a BIG following in the uS and I would say SOME worldwide. But if you want to prove a proof, ask anyone outside of the US to identify the follwoing three people: Shaun Alexander, Michael Schumacher, and David Beckham. I can guarantee that almost no one outside of the uS will know who Alexander is. Or ask aout Juventus, NASCAR, and Chelsea.

[CoCre8tor]

20. Who?

Seriously, I am an American, and I've never heard of Alexander or Schumacher. :shrug:

But Beckham? Most definitely! Theirry Henry? Most definitely!

And how many Americans have heard of Landon Donovan?

The last time I watched a football game, Billy Sims was a Lion. The last time I watched a baseball game, Dale Murphy was a Brave. I've never watched NASCAR, and basketball always had the disadvantage because it was during the NHL season. (Being from Detroit, I've heard of Ben Wallace, but aside from that, I couldn't name another Piston).

[Zech Marquis]

21. F1 driver for Ferrari

until lasts eason, Schumacher was unstoppable in F1, now Ferninand Alonso's the new Top Gun. BTW, do you think Henry's going to Barcelona next summer? I'm watchng Barc right now, and theyre already too powerful for La Liga--I watched how they put the hurting on Real Madrid back in the fall.

[CoCre8tor]

22. I hope not!

I don't think Fox Sports World covers the Spanish league, so I'd be out of luck in watching him!

I hope he stays, and that Arsenal can pick someone up to provide the leadership Viera used to bring. They don't have that quick transition game like they used to. :(

[Zech Marquis]

34. GOL TV

covers La liga, Serie A, and the latin American leagues too. sStanta covers the Bundes Liga, just about all of the Champions League matches (and i mean ALL of them), ahd FSC covers the EPL for the most part.

[CoCre8tor]

23. Question

You've experienced soccer outside of the US. What are other countries' feelings toward US soccer? Do they hope we get good at it, and compete at their level? Do they enjoy us being not quite good enough to be consider top echelon? Or do they really care whether the US improves its level of play? Just curious.

[Zech Marquis]

33. well...

the us is currently ranked number 6 in the world by FIFA. That's just outside of the top group of countries like Spain, Brazil, Germany, etc. MLS has come a long way, but there's still alot of worl to be done. There are some good American players in Europe, Beasley plays in The Netherlands, Tim Howard is one of the golkeepers for man U, Reyna
How does the world fanbase see the us soccer scene? I think before the last World Cup we were considered a joke. BUt now the opinion is more like,"they're not a threat YET..."because when that first real US superstar emerges, you just know he will get alot of media attention here and lead more kids into the beautiful game. David Beckham is starting a soccer training center in LA, and the EPL champs Chelsea have made it a VERY pointed goal to have summer tours in the uS--their Chairman happens to be an American by the way. MLS dosn't have a team anywhere near Chelsea, but the more good players are developed, it won't be long.

[long_green]

25. Question: Why are fans of the world's most popular sport

so. freaking. insecure?
I like the sports I like and don't care what other people think. Soccer fans? Constantly trying to tell you WHY their favorite game is so much better than everyone else's.

[madrchsod]

26. i`ll agree it`s the most exciting ball sport

watching soccer on tv sucks but in person there`s nothing better...

[MrSlayer]

27. See an NHL playoff game and give me a call.

The NHL playoffs are the best any sport has to offer.

[Burma Jones]

28. The most exciting part of Soccer is the Announcer

GOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLL

Over here, it's a girl's sport..........

:hide:

[BamaLefty]

32. Screw Science

Soccer sucks. :rofl: