Is The NFL Our New National Pastime?

October 28th, 2008 at 03:43pm Post Staff 43

I went to the Hickory House and La Cantina on Monday night to watch game 5 of the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. To my surprise, in each case there were more televisions set to Monday Night Football than there were to the World Series game. The patrons at the restaurant were also more concerned with the football game.

And this wasn't just any baseball game, it was the World Series and the Phillies were on the brink of eliminating the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. So it turns out that just a regular Monday Night Football Game was able to attract more attention than a World Series playoff elimination game. I think this is proof that the National Football League (NFL) is surpassing Major League Baseball (MLB) as America's new national pastime.

It's not only just because of one game, there are other issues as well. Before football comes around me and all my friends can't wait for football season to start. We never get that same feeling on opening day in baseball: and when Sunday comes me and my friends congregate together to watch the game. There never really is that camaraderie around baseball. I have never in my life been invited to a World Series party or get together.

What makes the NFL so great is the parody in the league. Each team has a shot to win every Sunday. The teams in the big cities who could have all the revenue don't dominate the sport. Due to the NFL's solid collective bargaining agreement and salary cap the rules are even for the small market teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and large market teams like the New York Giants. With such great competition between the teams it makes watching each game interesting.

I am not saying that baseball is not interesting because it is and I love it to. But when it comes to competition in the league it is clear that the big market teams like the New York Yankees have the advantage. Now it is not always like this. This year the Tampa Bay Devil Rays made the World Series and there are not a large market team. But for the most part big city teams dominate the game and are able to spend more and get more talent.

When is the last time you saw the Pittsburgh Pirates or Kansas City Royals be in contention for a World Series. On the other hand the Pittsburgh Steelers are almost always in the hunt for a Super Bowl and the Kansas City Chiefs have been playoff contenders in the last couple of years.

Baseball now also has the steroid problems hanging over the leagues head while the best players in the NFL have not been busted for any steroid use. Baseball's all time home run champion Barry Bonds can't find a job due to his alleged steroid use. Football, with their huge television contracts and rabid fans keeps growing and in my opinion is ready to take the throne as America's new National Pastime

Entry Filed under: Aspen