goes to show, the appetite for football is NOT insatiable.  XFL should be doomed, since it is run by trumpers.  then again, the XFL may MAGA. 

You were probably in your 50's when the USFL was going on, right Wob?  I'm reading Jeff Pearlman's book about it right.  Hell of a read.  I think that league actually had a chance if it wasn't for you know who and if they didn't have a tremendous amount of bad luck with other things. 

goes to show, the appetite for football is NOT insatiable.  XFL should be doomed, since it is run by trumpers.  then again, the XFL may MAGA. 

You were probably in your 50's when the USFL was going on, right Wob?  I'm reading Jeff Pearlman's book about it right.  Hell of a read.  I think that league actually had a chance if it wasn't for you know who and if they didn't have a tremendous amount of bad luck with other things. 

Really good 30 for 30 on that as well, if you haven't seen it.  Called "Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?" 

goes to show, the appetite for football is NOT insatiable.  XFL should be doomed, since it is run by trumpers.  then again, the XFL may MAGA. 

You were probably in your 50's when the USFL was going on, right Wob?  I'm reading Jeff Pearlman's book about it right.  Hell of a read.  I think that league actually had a chance if it wasn't for you know who and if they didn't have a tremendous amount of bad luck with other things. 

I just finished that book.  I thought it was just ok not great.  it kind of jumped around from the business aspects to funny on-field/locker room stories.  With the talent the league had it did have a chance to succeed.  Just some boneheaded owners and then baffoon ruined it on some pipe dream of getting into the NFL.  Its very interesting to hear them talk about how Trump would just blurt out ideas with no clue on how to get his idea done...and he still does the same shit today. 

Americans don't like to watch second-tier pro sports.  I don't understand why people keep investing in 2nd rate pro football leagues.  It's why soccer will never reach NFL / NBA / MLB / NHL level status ... the US MLS clubs have inferior players, thus no one (outside of soccer nuts) can tell you who won the last title in MLS because no one cares. 

Americans don't like to watch second-tier pro sports.  I don't understand why people keep investing in 2nd rate pro football leagues.  It's why soccer will never reach NFL / NBA / MLB / NHL level status ... the US MLS clubs have inferior players, thus no one (outside of soccer nuts) can tell you who won the last title in MLS because no one cares. 

What percentage of people, outside of hockey fans, can tell you who won the Stanley Cup last year? 

Americans don't like to watch second-tier pro sports.  I don't understand why people keep investing in 2nd rate pro football leagues.  It's why soccer will never reach NFL / NBA / MLB / NHL level status ... the US MLS clubs have inferior players, thus no one (outside of soccer nuts) can tell you who won the last title in MLS because no one cares. 

What percentage of people, outside of hockey fans, can tell you who won the Stanley Cup last year? 

I know it's the Capitals just because of Ovechkin got a lot of coverage after it last year.  But any other year, I'd have no idea.  That said, I would still lump the NHL in with the big three....but as a distant, distant fourth. 

Americans don't like to watch second-tier pro sports.  I don't understand why people keep investing in 2nd rate pro football leagues.  It's why soccer will never reach NFL / NBA / MLB / NHL level status ... the US MLS clubs have inferior players, thus no one (outside of soccer nuts) can tell you who won the last title in MLS because no one cares. 

What percentage of people, outside of hockey fans, can tell you who won the Stanley Cup last year? 

I would think a majority of US sports fans could give the name of five NHL teams.  Whereas a small minority could name five MLS teams. 

Off the top of my head ... DC United.  Seattle Sounders.  LA Galaxy.  And that’s it.  How long has MLS existed? 

They started playing in 1996, so relatively recently.  And thanks for the mention of the most important MLS team, Go Sounders!  I'm a soccer, hockey (we get a team in 2022!)  and football.  Don't care about baseball.  And didn't even realize that NBA still existed (we don't have NBA coverage on Seattle news because "fuck the NBA".).  So personally, I'll stick to the 2nd tier sports.  Much more excitement, and much less bullshit attitudes from the celebrity prima donna athletes.  We just got a Major League Rugby team in Seattle last year and those guys are a blast to watch (and we won the cup).  They don't get paid shit, they work their asses off, but they love what they do and they appreciate the fans.  And people can actually afford to attend the events.  I've got season tickets to the Sounders and am 2nd row in Century Link Field right behind the players' bench.  Could never do that with football, basketball or baseball.  But we still sell >40,000 tickets each game. 

Off the top of my head ... DC United.  Seattle Sounders.  LA Galaxy.  And that’s it.  How long has MLS existed? 

They started playing in 1996, so relatively recently.  And thanks for the mention of the most important MLS team, Go Sounders!  I'm a soccer, hockey (we get a team in 2022!)  and football.  Don't care about baseball.  And didn't even realize that NBA still existed (we don't have NBA coverage on Seattle news because "fuck the NBA".).  So personally, I'll stick to the 2nd tier sports.  Much more excitement, and much less bullshit attitudes from the celebrity prima donna athletes.  We just got a Major League Rugby team in Seattle last year and those guys are a blast to watch (and we won the cup).  They don't get paid shit, they work their asses off, but they love what they do and they appreciate the fans.  And people can actually afford to attend the events.  I've got season tickets to the Sounders and am 2nd row in Century Link Field right behind the players' bench.  Could never do that with football, basketball or baseball.  But we still sell >40,000 tickets each game. 

Americans don't like to watch second-tier pro sports.  I don't understand why people keep investing in 2nd rate pro football leagues.  It's why soccer will never reach NFL / NBA / MLB / NHL level status ... the US MLS clubs have inferior players, thus no one (outside of soccer nuts) can tell you who won the last title in MLS because no one cares. 

What percentage of people, outside of hockey fans, can tell you who won the Stanley Cup last year? 

I would think a majority of US sports fans could give the name of five NHL teams.  Whereas a small minority could name five MLS teams. 

What’s the percentage of people who know who is the reigning Stanley Cup champion though?  Before ledbetterman said the Caps, I actually thought it was that Las Vegas team at first. 

Build a bonfire, build a bonfirePut the Timbers on the topThrow the Whitecaps in the middleAnd we'll burn the fuckin' lot! 

For some reason I know the Seattle Sounders fight song (Timbers = Portland, Whitecaps = Vancouver), but I know they didn't win the Cup last year.  Atlanta did, in their 2nd year of existence. 

<sung to the tune of Oh, My Darling Clementine>Hell, yeah!  Nice one!  And yes, Atlanta came into the league on fire and won it all their 2nd year.  They may be fizzling this year, though.  Although they're now setting the attendance records and have great fan support. 

goes to show, the appetite for football is NOT insatiable.  XFL should be doomed, since it is run by trumpers.  then again, the XFL may MAGA. 

You were probably in your 50's when the USFL was going on, right Wob?  I'm reading Jeff Pearlman's book about it right.  Hell of a read.  I think that league actually had a chance if it wasn't for you know who and if they didn't have a tremendous amount of bad luck with other things. 

Good to hear.....that book is next on my list.  Pearlman is awesome....I've enjoyed all of his books and especially the books on the 86 Mets and the 90s Cowboys.  Check those out if you haven't already...

Americans don't like to watch second-tier pro sports.  I don't understand why people keep investing in 2nd rate pro football leagues.  It's why soccer will never reach NFL / NBA / MLB / NHL level status ... the US MLS clubs have inferior players, thus no one (outside of soccer nuts) can tell you who won the last title in MLS because no one cares. 

What percentage of people, outside of hockey fans, can tell you who won the Stanley Cup last year? 

I would think a majority of US sports fans could give the name of five NHL teams.  Whereas a small minority could name five MLS teams. 

What’s the percentage of people who know who is the reigning Stanley Cup champion though?  Before ledbetterman said the Caps, I actually thought it was that Las Vegas team at first. 

That's a tough question in today's info overload environment ... considering it took me about sixty seconds to remember the red sox won the last world series, I'm guessing very few can.  There is a line of demarcation that coincides with snowfall that will either send that percentage up or down. 

In basketball, teams are forced to keep playing.  If they aren't matching possessions, then they are getting drilled.  The last ten minutes will reveal the winner, but the turnover in the second quarter had as much to do with the loss as the shot missed at the buzzer. 

March Madness is as exciting as it gets.  No seven game series that benefits the better team: it's survival of the fittest. 

Baseball is not meant to be 'sit on the edge of your seats' (although come playoffs... every pitch is nerve wracking).  Having said that, I'll take it over a hockey game any day of the week. 

In basketball, teams are forced to keep playing.  If they aren't matching possessions, then they are getting drilled.  The last ten minutes will reveal the winner, but the turnover in the second quarter had as much to do with the loss as the shot missed at the buzzer. 

March Madness is as exciting as it gets.  No seven game series that benefits the better team: it's survival of the fittest. 

Baseball is not meant to be 'sit on the edge of your seats' (although come playoffs... every pitch is nerve wracking).  Having said that, I'll take it over a hockey game any day of the week.