Which Sport is the Most Fun?

I like sports. I started my enjoyment of sports as little kid when my dad introduced me to baseball (i.e. he was watching a game on TV and I started asking him questions about it). Since that time, I have gone on to play a lot of different sports over the years.

I decided to make a run down of all the major sports and the various minor sports I have played. From this list I will give out the award for Most Fun Sport.

When you think about fun in sports, there are really two ways you can look at it. The first way is to look at the amount of fun to be had by those people who participate in the sport. The other aspect is the amount of fun that can be had from watching others perform in the sport. In my opinion, I give more weight to having fun while playing a sport than I give to enjoying watching the sport.

With this in mind, let’s get a run down of the different sports out there.

The Major Sports

Baseball

• Fun Aspects of Playing:  Going up to bat and getting a hit is very fun. Pitching and shutting down a batter is awesome. But to me, the most fun aspect of baseball is being on the field and making plays that no one expected you to make (Mikey’s real life example: getting an unassisted triple play while playing CF in Little League).
• Fun Aspects of Watching: Keeping track of the statistics (I’m a bit of a stats nerd, so this is fun to me). Seeing people making plays that you can only wish you could do. The most fun watching experience is the great sense of drama that can build in any game. Sure, the World Series is going to be dramatic, but a mid-June game between two bottom dwelling teams can be just as dramatic (some examples would include: a no-hitter, extra inning match-ups, and if the two teams have a standing rivalry).
• Dull Aspects of Playing: Everyone who has played baseball knows that there is a lot of standing around and waiting for action to happen (Mikey’s experience: Playing Right Field in Little League).
• Dull Aspects of Watching: The season is so long that many of the games in June/July are almost meaningless to the general viewing public. Games can take up a considerable amount of time (usually 3 hours or so). There are many games where not too much happens.
• Other Aspects Worth Noting: There is a sense of tradition that goes along with playing and watching baseball. It has spawn a history that is more robust than any of the other sports.

Basketball

• Fun Aspects of Playing: There is always something going on. It utilizes a variety of skills (speed, agility, strength, jumping, heart/hustle, even on-court intelligence comes into play).
• Fun Aspects of Watching: Just like playing, there is always something going on (especially if you watch games of up-tempo teams). At least once a game someone does something note worthy. The end of the games can get extremely intense (depending on the score and situation of the teams). Seeing the various styles of play and how the match-up with each other (i.e. how Dallas matches up with Golden State, then how they match up with San Antonio, etc.). The ability for one player to take control of the game in his/her own (see: Michael Jordan).
• Dull Aspects of Playing: It takes a lot of athleticism to play. In addition to the athleticism, it requires a good amount of skill. Playing will likely lead to strained muscles, jammed fingers, sprained joints, or worse. Conflicting ideas on how the game should be played can cause problems (i.e. Streetball vs. Organized or the I think I’m Michael Jordan syndrome [wear the crappy player starts shooting every time he/she touches the ball]). There’s no separation of talent (i.e. you take the court with your YMCA pals, then realize the other team is the starting five for the local state university – this is not fun).
• Dull Aspects of Watching: I’m going to take a couple of complaints my wife has against the game here. First, there is a ton of squeaking noises (shoes, whistles, cheerleaders, etc.) Second, there are so many points scored that any particular possession isn’t all that meaningful. I’ll also throw in the lack of people I can relate to (i.e. there aren’t many ballers playing in the NBA that are 5′11″ and white).
• Other Aspects Worth Noting: Basketball and Hip-hop culture have become one in the same. I don’t care for Hip-hop, so this is not a bonus for me.

 Football

• Fun Aspects of Playing: Making an unexpected play to get/keep the ball for your team (Mikey’s Real Life Experience: playing in High School I caught an interception while playing free safety. Not much of a H.S. football career for me, but that play was great). The feeling as a play comes to perfection (i.e. a perfect pass, catch, juke, tackle, etc.). The ability to hit someone as hard as you can (some people enjoy this)
• Fun Aspect of Watching: I’m not sure there are any. I watched football every Sunday from middle school through college, but every game I saw I would get bored with by the end of the first quarter.
• Dull Aspect of Playing: Players like to hit you as hard as they can (this leads to many boo-boos). There are so many players on the field that at times you can feel like you aren’t doing anything special. You need two decent to good quarterbacks in order to play a fun pick-up game.
• Dull Aspect of Watching: Too many timeouts. Too many commercial breaks (if you are watching the NFL). Nothing really happens most of the time (i.e. I grew up watching the Bears do three runs up the middle and then punt). It seems like everything in professional football is arrogant to an extreme level (note: this is a really bad thing, in case you were thinking otherwise)
• Other Aspects Worth Noting: Football is the #1 sport in America (unfortunately). As such, it takes over all sports channels (TV and radio) whenever it comes on (regardless of what is going on in other sports).

Second Tier Sports

Hockey (used to be a major sport, it has been downgraded)

• Fun Aspects of Playing: I’ve never played, so I can’t really say.
• Fun Aspects of Watching: Whether you like brutal hits/fights or agile athleticism, Hockey will suit your desires.
• Dull Aspects of Playing: Once again, I’ve never played. I’d guess that unintended dentistry would come into play here.
• Dull Aspects of Watching: It is too easy to get lost on the action (i.e. Where’s the puck?).
• Other Aspects Worth Noting: Ice is cold, slippery, and hard. As such, hockey is a tough sport to start playing. Also, there aren’t many pick-up games.

Golf

• Fun Aspects of Playing: It has been said that Golf is the one sport where on any given shot, your average golfer has the potential to hit the ball better than the best professional. Anyone can play the sport.
• Fun Aspects of Watching: Seeing the professional golfers failing miserable (i.e. rooting for Tiger to hit it into the sand trap, forrest, or lake). Also, seeing professionals make unbelievable shots can be fun.
• Dull Aspects of Playing: The whole “you can hit any given shot better than a professional” line is a load of crap. The truth is that you can hit any given shot into a place where it will never be seen again. Now multiply that by about 80-100 or more shots, and you have your normal golf experience. Also, if you use a cart, you don’t get much of a work-out.
• Dull Aspects of Watching: Come on, it’s people walking around in a park… and they don’t even show the action of them walking. Watching golf is a nap waiting to happen.
• Other Aspects Worth Noting: Golf has become wildly popular among executives and business types. So, if you are into that whole happiness is green paper thing, it is bit more exciting. On the other hand, how much land is being used up to put golf courses in? If you are a fan of nature, golf is that much worse

Tennis

• Fun Aspects of Playing: Tennis takes a considerable amount of athleticism and skill. It is fun when you make a hit that you didn’t expect to make. It is a great one-on-one or two-on-two competition. Tennis can be picked up pretty easily be pretty much anyone (We just bought two rackets and a set of balls for $40. There are tennis courts all over that don’t cost a thing to play at).
• Fun Aspects of Watching: I can’t say anything about watching men’s tennis, but watching women’s tennis… oh man, that’s nice. I can’t imagine any male not enjoying women’s tennis.
• Dull Aspects of Playing: Due to the amount of athleticism needed, not everyone can play. Also, tennis can cause problems in your joints.
• Dull Aspects of Watching: If you aren’t excited by the good looking women, it is the equivalent of watching a game of Pong. Also, women’s tennis has gone down hill a bit since the level of power has been going up (i.e. Williams sisters and Lindsey Davenport have brought more strength). The more power means that there are fewer long rallies. Everyone knows that long rallies are the best part of the sport.
• Other Aspects Worth Noting: Tennis outfits are the best looking out of all the sports (not even a really competition here). I’m really surprised at the lack of people playing tennis. It is almost as inexpensive as basketball, but you need fewer players to participate.

Volleyball

• Fun Aspects of Playing: Utilizes a ton of athleticism (running, jumping, hitting things, etc.). Going up and spiking or blocking someone is tremendously fun.
• Fun Aspects of Watching: Does anyone watch volleyball? I guess beach volleyball can be kind of entertaining.
• Dull Aspects of Playing: That ball freaking hurts. You’ll likely go home with your forearms and wrists all red from the hits.
• Dull Aspects of Watching: As I said, there isn’t much volleyball out there to watch. I’d imagine that sometimes it would be like watching a game of pong.
• Other Aspects Worth Noting: There aren’t many men’s volleyball leagues out there (outside of beach).

Boxing

• Fun Aspects of Playing: You get to punch someone… repeatedly.
• Fun Aspect of Watching: There’s always a chance that it will be like Rocky.
• Dull Aspects of Playing: You get punched by someone… repeatedly.
• Dull Aspects of Watching: There’s always a former boxer commentating and it is just brutal to listen to. Also, most fights feature more hugging than punching.
• Other Aspects Worth Noting: While not a great live sport, boxing is one of the best movie/TV sports.

Soccer

• Fun Aspects of Playing: You get to run around a lot. It takes quite a bit of skill and foot-eye coordination. It doesn’t cost much to play.
• Fun Aspects of Watching: Crazy goal celebrations by the players. Crazy announcing of each goal. The possibility of a bunch of hooligans getting into a brawl.
• Dull Aspects of Playing: YOU CAN’T USE YOUR HANDS!
• Dull Aspects of Watching: Ninety percent of time, it is just a group of people running around in the middle of the field. The way they keep track of time in the game makes absolutely no sense.
• Other Aspects Worth Noting: I’m American and it is soccer. The two just don’t go together.

Okay, that is pretty good coverage of the sports out there. It is by no means exhaustive, but it covers the big ones. Now let’s go back and see which one is the most fun.

The contenders:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Tennis

I’ve dropped Football, Hockey, Golf, Volleyball, Boxing, and Soccer because they all had fatal flaws in them. As such, they get knocked out of my unscientific competition.

Looking at the remaining three, you’d probably think my love of baseball would give it the edge. The truth of the matter, though, is that baseball is not the most fun sport. The numerous times when you are waiting around for something to happen kills off some of the fun. So, it gets the third place prize.

This leaves us with Basketball and Tennis. Both are very strong in the category of fun. This is a very hard decision. I’d say that the level of fun you get while playing either is just about equal. So the real difference maker is the level of fun in watching the sport.

I have to admit, as much as I like watching girls play tennis, it can get boring after a short while. I honestly don’t know if I have ever watched an entire tennis match from beginning to finish.

With that in mind, I am awarding Basketball as the most fun sport.

So, if you are looking to get into a sport or force your kid into a sport, I’d suggest a little b-ball.