A few days ago, someone commented - conveniently in the comments – that they would rather watch NASCAR than hockey. And, that got me to thinking; not about what I would rather watch, but more about what I would rather participate in on the professional level. So, I decided to lay out a few parameters in making my decision:
- There are often discussions about what professional events are sports and what aren’t. For example – golf. We can argue all day about whether golf is a sport and its participants are athletes or not. So, first, for the sake of this discussion, golf is a sport and it’s participants are athletes. The same goes for bass fishing, poker, racing, bull riding, etc.
- Second, pretend all of the successful athletes in each professional series get paid a buttload of money (not too far fetched of a fantasy, huh?). Since the NFL has a salary cap and MLB doesn’t, pro baseball players at the top of their sport make a killing in salary compared to pro football players similarly on top of their sport. So, for the sake of this exercise, pretend that any sport will provide for an incredible quality of living by playing in the sport’s top series.
For me, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to posterize someone on the hardcourt. I would love to play in an organized game or even just some pickup ball and dunk on top of someone. The rush would be fantastic!
The same goes for football; I’ve played many-a-game of pickup tackle football and it’s always exciting to run someone down for a tackle. But, I’ve never been able to play in pads so I’ve also never blown someone up on the field or really hit my opponent hard enough to cause a fumble or make him think twice about being near me.
Those examples aside, I know that if I was given the choice to have the ability to participate and be successful in any of the professional sports, I would choose racing stock cars in NASCAR. I don’t know that I can fully tell you why I would choose racing in the NASCAR circuit over the NBA or NFL, but I just know that would be my choice. Maybe there’s a subconscious realist inside my head that reminds me that I’m about 8 years removed from the height of my athleticism; and even then, I was still only 5′-10.5″ and 145 el beez soaking wet. But, that internal realist becomes an idealist when thinking of the possibility of getting behind the wheel of a 3400 lb stock car that’s churning out 750+ horsepower and capable of speeds around 200 mph. I know I could drive that car fast!
So, if given the choice, the athletic abilities, and the opportunity, what professional sport would you choose to participate in as a successful athlete? I’m sure I left some out, but here’s all of the pro series I could think of:
- NFL (football)
- MLB (baseball)
- NBA (basketball)
- NHL (hockey)
- NASCAR (strock stock car racing)
- PGA (Golf)
- Soccer (pick your league/level)
- ATP (tennis)
- Boxing (any weight class)
- MMA (mixed martial arts)
- PBR (bull riding)
- PBA (bowling)
- PBF (bass fishing)
- Other
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NASCAR!!! Git ‘R DUN!
WOOOOOO!! mizerle06(Quote)
simple, miz is a redneck
/miz is a redneck’d sae(Quote)
well played, sae. mizerle06(Quote)
Golf. sparty(Quote)
I really thought Miz would go with bass fishing. john(Quote)
If I were younger, NFL, WR:
That’s always the position I’ve played. “Blazing” speed (sprinter in HS track), great hands, used to be a decent leaper. Plus it would make up for not pursuing football in HS. Junior year, I joined the team, did 2-a-days, torched our best DB, then decided I didn’t feel like playing and quit.
Did get to blow someone up in college. We were playing tackle in the snow against another dorm. Laid out the kick returner twice.
But since I’m pushing 37, I’d get Yuri on the phone and play baseball. sae(Quote)
john – for serious, fishing is fun. but if I had to choose between being handsomely paid for fishing or being handsomely paid for turning left, I’m choosing racing. mizerle06(Quote)
If it’s about the money, MLB. Personal recognition: NBA.
But if it’s about fun, then an NFL safety. Fiesta Trio(Quote)
i’m not much for watching racing, but i’d love to take one of those cars for a spin sae(Quote)
Always thought it would be cool being a pro tennis player. Get to travel the world, no teammates to screw you up, seeing Ana Ivanovic routinely.
Otherwise racing… cause driving fast and left is cool. Geoff(Quote)
Hmmmm…I think I’d go with MLB just barely over the NBA. Although if I get to choose my team too, it would be hard to pass up playing with sports icon Paul Pierce. john(Quote)
20 years ago – Baseball
10 years ago – Hockey
Now – Golf HawkEye19(Quote)
Geoff- agree. tennis it is.
/Ivanovic is always a tipping pt for me. sparty(Quote)
As far as fun playing the game assuming salary was the same and I was young and ahletic enough to play – football.
As our football coach in HS said, tackling someone or knocking them on their ass is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. …and if you sack the QB, I will let you come in your cup. Our coach was a riot.
I realized that after my senior year I would never play real football (pads and full contact again) since I was too small to play in college. I played rugby for years which was fun but I loved football.
I loved when you were able to read a play on defense. When you saw the lineman with his weight back to you knew it was going to be a pass. When you read the screen pass and were able to get to the RB as he caught the pass. There are a number of plays I look back to in HS. Once was driving the other teams RB back on two consecutive plays on the goal line.
Another was a play were a receiver ran by me, I turned around and as the ball sailed over my head I thought Oh shit, I just got burned and the coach is going to kill me. I caught up to this guy who had about a foot height advantage on me and grabbed him around the middle from behind and dragged him down. I was embarassed when I got up and surprisingly a couple of my teammates came over to slap my hand. Turns out I stripped him of the ball and it was incomplete. Whew. The comradery, getting all suited up and just being able to lay the smack down on someone was great.
Baseball, as much as I love the sport, is pretty boring to play unless you are the pitcher or catcher. Golf is for old men. Hockey would be cool but I never played it, but I did like to go ice skating so maybe I would put it second. Rugby is also a great sport but not a major sport here. Tennis players seem to get the best looking women so that has to be up there as well. cycledan(Quote)
I’d love to do MLB or NBA because there isn’t as much danger as there is in football. Besides, I have had 5 concussions already and I don’t like them so the NFL is clearly out. Because you’d probably want the recognition it has to be NBA or MLB.
I think I take NBA because of a few things:
1. MLB is hard to make money playing because you have to spend years in the minors and maybe years in college. When you get to the majors, you don’t even go free agent for 6 full seasons of playing time. NBA is a lot quicker.
2. MLB is a lot more work. Playing every day and all the training they go through? I don’t think so.
3. NBA takes more talent. I’d rather have the athletic ability of an NBA’er. I mean come on. Those guys are the best all around athletes in the world. guyinthecorner(Quote)
The problem with NASCAR is that you don’t get any time off during the week and you have a really, really short offseason. I’d go with F1 if I had to choose a car racing league. I like the idea of making right and left turns. john(Quote)
Good call on F1, john. Forgot about that series. HawkEye19(Quote)
unless we are talking about Michael Phelps. who smokes weed better than an NBA’er. sparty(Quote)
Top Fuel or Funny Car drag racer. The money may not be as great as a lot of other sports, but it’s over in a few seconds, and you want to talk about horsepower and going fast!!! knightro(Quote)
My choices:
-NFL (WR or Safety): Never played anything more than a pick-up game, but I know it would be fun.
-Golf: If I was good at golf, I could make great money and not hafta exert too much energy…plus you can easily drink while playing.
-F1 Racing: Rights + Lefts > Only Lefts
-Soccer: Don’t care where I’d play, just love to play. rekcalsa(Quote)
YES! Fiesta Trio(Quote)
I was going to pick bowling, but I’m not sure I’d want to gain 50 lbs, grow a moustache, recede my hair line and play in front of a crowd of senior citizens. john(Quote)
Interesting discussion… I would give anything to go back to my younger days and stop myself from playing soccer in the baseball offseason – which directly led to the beginning of my injury history that caused me to stop playing most sports altogether.
I’ve always been enamored with football, and I usually played as a QB/RB/TE type depending on the situations.
But it seems to me that golfers have it made. They have a sport they can play at a high level for 50 years, make gazillions of dollars (if they’re good enough) or just millions upon millions if they’re mediocre (see Baddeley, Aaron and his endorsement deals), plus they get to play golf all day everyday.
I’d be OK with that.
And no, I didn’t pick poker, mostly because I’ve already done that at a high level professionally, and this is a fantasy post. Big D(Quote)
My pick would be a soccer striker in the English Premier League and for the national team in the World Cup. I find it exhilarating enough schooling a defender and scoring in my city league, and can’t imagine getting millions to do it on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
/back to lurking henry8minus1(Quote)
World Cup hero > Superbowl hero Fiesta Trio(Quote)
5′ 10.5″? Did you get measured at the combine for your precise half-inch measurements?
And it’s gotta be the NBA. Summers off.
Although “strock car racing” sounds interesting… clown(Quote)
clown, I gotta squeeze every half inch I can get out of the tape measure. mizerle06(Quote)
golf…no questions asked
/obvious’d mikeychx(Quote)
I’d go with soccer or golf.
Soccer in England. that would just be awesome. the high level of competition and the women would be awesome
golf too. it’s fun and you can play at a top level for a long time = butt load of $ jb(Quote)
I’d try to make a butt load of money in my 20’s, then retire at 30 and play golf (Celebrity Pro-AMs) Fiesta Trio(Quote)
1) Baseball because it’s always been my favorite to play
2) Golf (current hobby)
3) Tennis (current hobby)
4) Hockey (I’ve always thought it’d be cool to play)
5) Basketball (a hobby that went away as I left PSU) Johnny(Quote)
1. NFL: defensive safety – ala ed reed
2. Soccer: defensive midfield –
3. NBA: defensive-oriented guard that can score and do the little things – ala Shane Battier / Rajon Rondo
4. NHL: defenseman / enforcer
5. Professional Poker Player jpmanahan(Quote)
I agree on Battier. I’d rather be a Battier than a Kobe / LeBron type. Fiesta Trio(Quote)
If we were going for positions
In baseballI’d like to be a lead off type (speedy/ onbase minded) center fielder or a 2nd baseman with a slick glove
In Hockey a playmaking center a la Mario Lemieux
In Hoops definetely a Battier type Johnny(Quote)
JOhnny~ So, you’d like to be Grady Sizemore??
I’d like to be a golfer. Baseball would be a close second. Football if I could be Ronnie Lott. Jen(Quote)
Middle Relief Pitcher
Coach: “We need you to get one-three guys out, possibly throwing 15 pitches in what will probably be a no pressure situation in the middle innings of a baseball game. Then you can go back to sitting on your ass.”
Me: “And I will get paid millions to do this in the outdoors throughout the spring and summer, once a night?”
Coach: “Yes.”
Me: (trying not to act like I’m stealing something) “Um, ok.” GvilleBrave(Quote)
Brave~ Have you ever seen when the camera pans to the bullpen? Those guys are sitting there cracking jokes, blowing bubbles with gum and putting it on each other’s heads…so easy.
However, you’re the dog if you are supposed to get that third out when the starter loaded the bases but you serve up a meatball out over the plate and give up the grand salami. Jen(Quote)
Yeah, but you’re usually forgotten the very next night when someone else becomes the hero or dog.
Just got to try to not be the dog on too many nights and you’re golden. GvilleBrave(Quote)
here i thought Jen would want to be Bernie Kosar sae(Quote)
/reality
Tiger up 1 thru 3
/back to fantasy sae(Quote)
sae~ Have you ever heard Bernie on TV? He sounds wasted. I’ll pass. I don’t like his curly mullet. Jen(Quote)
golf…no doubt. spencer096(Quote)
The ASP
Surfing
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2370/1997232852_6100a33329.jpg the nug(Quote)
I would choose soccer. I always think it’s tremendous fun playing soccer, not so much watching it. When you actually score it’s a rush. knightwhosaysni(Quote)
Basketball would be a close 2nd though. knightwhosaysni(Quote)