DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Not so popular sports in the US.

So i wanted to start a thread a bit different.

The three main sports, baseball, basketball, and of course football, are definitely the three dominating and most talked about sports here in the US.

Hockey being 4th, most likely.

I just want to know what other sports you guys are into?

like for me, I'm actually starting to get into Tennis. The footwork needed, along with the hand-eye coordination really intrigues me. plus the cardio needed for long sets.

Also, i really enjoy the X games, Rugby, and Racing. Not NASCAR, but....stock car? and rally racing. where they have a bunch of turns and stuff. I'm starting to learn the strategy and such involved in all those sports.

so what sports not named the big three-or 4(hockey) are you guys into?

I know NASCAR is a American thing ,but i'm talking racing in general. Like F1 and such.

I used to play tournament table tennis. This is a very demanding sport when played on a high level. Doesn't work too well being viewed on TV, but watching in person is quite interesting, to see the different styles, strategies.

I enjoy--or enjoyed--playing other sports.

Tennis is a demanding sport. Lots of starting and stopping. Quickness, agility, and strength are all important.

Golf is a good sport, but it is really expensive.

I was a sprinter, so I like track and field.

I also enjoy pool, cornhole, and table tennis.

I despise it, but soccer is probably the fastest-growing, most popular sport that is not on your list.

Boxing was always my 3rd favorite, after baseball and football. Back when ABC used to have the Wide World of Sports on Saturdays, we'd get to see a lot of up-and-comers, along with some feature bouts. Then the alphabet soup of numerous boxing associations came along and totally diluted the word "Champion". Then Pay-per-view became the norm. Then Boxing fell off the map. Now I can't name one champion other than Mayweather, and I don't even like him. Too bad, it used to be fun.

I've always thought the International Medieval Combat Federation and the Armored Combat League (US) were interesting. I'm a big fan of contact sports. Hearing the clang of armor, swords, axes, etc. is pretty entertaining to me.

I really want to be better at golf. Hockey players are supposed to transition smoothly into golf, but I can not get off a good tee shot. I'm just not good with woods in general. Once I break out irons I'm all good. I definitely need a lesson. It's not a sport that my dad was that much into growing up (although neither was hockey) so I didn't really ever get into it. One of my buddies out here is one of the top men at a local course. So I can pretty much go and play for free whenever I want. Part of me is also worried that I will really get into it, and hockey is already incredibly expensive even without having to pay league fees.

I've gotten a lot more into soccer over the last 10-12 years. I love the EPL. I fully appreciate the world cup. I'm still not very much into MLS, but I'm happy to see it stick around, and grow a little bit.

I don't know if you consider darts a sport, or just a bar game, but I love throwing.

I always thought I was saving golf for retirement. I've played a few times, and I liked it, although I'm no good. I could hit decent off the tee, not that long but straight. I could hit a 9 Iron, and my putting wasn't that bad. Could not hit the longer irons worth a damn. But I always thought with a few lessons, I could play bogey golf. Then I had spinal fusion surgery this year (L2-L5) and there's no way my back - even with the new hardware in it - could take the torque you need for a decent swing. I would have to use the old man swing: all arms and no hips or legs. Nah.

So now when I retire, I'm thinking: fishing.

I don't really care that my game sucks, I'm just worried about holding other people up, and having my round take forever because I'm letting everyone play through.

You don't have to be good to play fast. A buddy of mine from Norway took up golf 3 years ago and is totally hooked. He used to make fun of me for playing and I finally talked him into going with me, now he can't get enough - watches all the PGA events on TV now as well, lol.

He is not good at all, but he is getting better. When he first started he was afraid of playing with me (I'm not great, but not bad - about a 9 handicap) but I always told him as long as he plays fast I'm fine with it. He probably hits 3x as many shots as me, but keeps up just fine. You don't need to be good to play fast - some of the better players I play with are SLOW and I won't play with them anymore as it drives me nuts.

That's a good point. Didn't really think of it like that. I've never had anyone complain, it was just my own feeling.

I have trouble getting air on my shots off the tee as well as my second shot, even if I am lucky to get fairway...

After that, I can actually hold my own, especially for someone who doesn't play. I lived in a house a few years ago, for about a year and a half, that had a really long backyard. We'd set up one of those recycling buckets at the far end, and a piece of carpet at the other, and just hit balls for hours at a time.

that sounds awesome. i wanna check that out.

1. this is awesome.
2. the commentator has to be on something.

I'd watch that.






If there was nothing else on TV .....

I like the x games.

skiing and short track speed skating

I used to skateboard when I was in high school and always loved watching the X-Games. The skill it takes to pull of those most of those stunts is just off the charts. Anyone else who's skate boarded knows how hard some of the tricks are.

I'm not a huge X-Games guy, but skateboarding is awesome to watch

http://columbuscurling.com/


I've been kicking around the idea of joining the Columbus Curling Club and seeing what its all about.. looks like fun, they keep a fridge stocked with beer and the facility is only 15 mins from me.

I've played competitive table tennis, bowling and darts. I even fenced back in college, but now I am primarily a darter and travel to some tournaments within a couple hundred miles from home.

My older son has played soccer since he was 4. Club soccer since 3rd grade, and now also high school. I knew little of the sport before that but have grown to really enjoy watching it. Not just his games, but college and professional as well. I think it is a great game.

I golf with my younger son, he is a beginner and I am not good, so it works for now.

Billiards, if that counts as a sport. I also enjoy watching lacrosse.

I have been looking for a new exersize regimen lately....I do have a bastard sword.......

Yes to Darts. Was once really into it. Still play, but not like I did in my 20s and 30s. My one team took 4th in a Level 1 tournament in Vegas and we really should have won the stupid thing. We beat the two teams in the finals during our round robin sessions a day earlier.

I play golf pretty well so I enjoy watching that. I enjoy watching soccer, either international soccer with the US against another country or college soccer. I haven't developed an affinity for any of the MLS teams.

I will watch darn near anything if Maryland is playing, college lacrosse is a fun sport to watch. Even if you've never played it, if you have an understanding of soccer rules and hockey rules, you can catch on pretty quick.

Lucas Oil truck and tractor pulls.

I was flipping thru the channels one day when I caught the tractor pulling and started to watch it when lo and behold they announced that they were showing it from Greenville, Ohio. Being that you used to live in Troy,OH Pit I'm sure you know where that's at.

Sure do! Lots of nice small towns around the area. I really like Eaton the best because of the pork festival. lol

i need a link for tractor pulling plz.

This one isn't played in this country that I know of, but it is fun to watch. Irish Hurling. A perfect excuse to go out and smack someone with a stick. It was more fun before they started wearing helmets.

thought there couldn't be anything more redneck than NASCAR.

i was wrong.

How is that "redneck"?

You've obviously never seen bog racing.

i haven't. never even heard of it. what is it?

It's tractor pulling. come on now. redneck isn't a bad word, it's just country as all hell.

Racing in a bog.

Oh I think it's redneck as hell!



I have said many times that I grew up in a farming community. I'm really not all that sure why I like it so much, but I do.

That's why I really don't fit a mold. I'm pretty progressive on social issues, conservative on immigration, the 2nd amendment and some other issues, and still have some redneck from my youth.

A regular hodgepodge of contradiction!

ohhhhhhhhh...that.

my friends took me to an event like that in Oklahoma.

They just called it mudding.

I'm really into F1, DTM (racing), and just about any other circuit racing that isn't on an oval. I have no interest in Indy and NASCAR. I've also always enjoyed MMA. I started watching when the UFC began, when Pride was around (I miss those Vale Tudo rules with soccer kicks and face stomps), through Strikeforce and Dream. MMA is a fascinating sport. Unfortunately, I've fallen off a bit over the past few years because it's becoming too much like boxing where there's a weight class for seemingly every pound. The fighting pool is becoming too shallow, we don't have as many opportunities for those super fights. I am thinking of getting the Werdum vs. Velasquez fight this upcoming Saturday, though.

Anybody remember Jim Brown as a commentator for UFC 1? He was horrendous. "Technique, technique, technique."

For me, the World Cup was exciting, but that only happens every 4 years...