Baseball - America's Game?

The game of Baseball is known as "America's Pastime," "America's Sport," "As American as Baseball, Apple Pie and Chevy." Have you ever asked yourself the question, why? Is baseball really America's game, or one of the most successful media and public relation coup to ever be pulled off?

There are people, very knowledgeable people, who can provide statistics which clearly demonstrate that Football has supplanted baseball as America's number one sport.

Others bear witness to facts of Golf, through the amount of amateur players, revenue and name recognition, has a valid claim on the number one spot. Let's not forget America's frenzy to enter and become a valid competitor in the World's sport of "Futbol," soccer as we call it.

The adage "Figures don't lie and Liars figure," which means anyone can twist numbers around to substantiate whatever claim they want, probably explains the debate as well as any other hypothesis. It's not the numbers, fan attendance, revenue, television exposure or any other subjective manner of evaluating.

As they say on late night television talk shows, here's my top ten reasons baseball is, has been and always will be America's Sport.

1. Baseball originated in America as an American game. I know there's some petty arguing about the game having roots to the Old World and some pretty far fetched stretching to compare the sport to some obscure game which included a club and an object which was struck, but America made Baseball, period.

2. Baseball is not actually the story. The story of baseball is a collection of thousands of individual stories of struggle, fear, sacrifice and hard work of the players of the game.

3. Baseball is most likely the most color blind institute, including the court systems, in America. A person's value is determined by his talent, not skin color or nationality.

4. Baseball embroils the very nature Americans have about "Hard Work" being rewarded. Practice hard enough, long enough and you'll succeed.

5. Baseball encompasses America's contradictions. Americans are fiercely independent, yet form extremely strong bonds with one another when placed into a team situation. An opponent may be despised today, but instantly become a valued teammate when acquired by trade the next day.

6. Baseball and Marines have a lot in common. More or less just as Marines adapt, improvise and succeed, baseball also adheres to this creed. If a team lacks home run hitters, they create runs with their speed.

7. Baseball ethically can not and will not tolerate cheaters, as the sense of fair play and honesty are ingrained in the sport, much as it is in Americans themselves.

8. Baseball can create fierce loyalty in people. A Chicago fan can blast the Cubs team all he wants, but a St. Louis Cardinals fan, although saying the same thing, would end up with a fat lip.

9. Baseball holds history in high regard. The vaulted New York Yankees are on a slightly higher pedestal than all other teams because of their history and famous historic players.

10. Baseball is the Champion of the Underdog. Teams, or players, which overcome the odds against them and prevail are readily accepted as Champions, not as something or someone lucky.

These are my 10 reasons Baseball is America's sport. You probably have 10 different ones.

Jim Bain - Former Minor league baseball player, who since retiring has dedicated his life to teaching baseball to youth. Visit his exciting info packed website: http://www.Learn-Youth-Baseball-Coaching.com

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.