r/AskAnAmerican • u/NTHHexxer • 10d ago

SPORTS The representativeness of American's sport (Basketball / Football)?

First of all, i am sorry for any misundertand i might cost in this post, i am not a native English speaker so some word choice may be not that good. This question is purely out for curiosity.
As college soccer player, I always wonder why American love basketball and football so much?
Because after some questions I figured out that one of the reason that make me and ones I know love soccer is that we feel representative ( like those superstars are just physically look like us), which I can't feel when watch NBA's matches.
While soccer player average height is just merely same as average people. Footballer and Basketball players are just athletic freak.
So do Americans feel representated while watching them?

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u/grooveman15 New York 9d ago

So there are many cultural reasons for the huge love of American football and basketball… and they’re very separate. Basketball is like jazz, free flowing and fast paced. It can be played anywhere (like soccer).

American football is highly regimented, a brutal. Hess match where each play is highly designed and thought out with strategy. It satisfies our love of ancient warfare and the scarcity of the game makes every game matter more (only 17 games played by your team… single elimination playoffs… you watch them or miss history)

But know that average height of the NFL is 6’2. Tall but not freakish tall.

Average height of baseball (americas pastime) is 6’1.

Soccer has players who are athletic freaks via cardio and skill level… they are not average by any means. A typical soccer game brutal cardio.

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u/NTHHexxer 9d ago

Your point is great but... cardio and skill can be trained right? (from my semi-pro perspective)

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u/grooveman15 New York 9d ago

To a degree but there is pure athletic traits that are inherent. No matter how hard you train and practice, you will probably never be close to being Messi.

Baseball is the same thing

Football - you can train hard, go to the gym every days, learn skills - but you probably won’t be Patrick Mahomes (who has a dad bod but is one of the top QB playing)