While we might be a country that loves sports, not every game gets the same level of enthusiasm that football & basketball do—those sports fill stadiums! However, there are other sports that most of us just can’t seem to warm up to, whether that’s because they’re too slow or simply not as exciting. Here are ten sports that often Americans love to hate and why. That’s not to say that we all dislike these sports but you’ll probably find more haters than fans in the States.
Featured Image Credit: Krakenimages.com /Depositphotos.com.
Cricket
Cricket is rather confusing for many Americans because the matches may drag on for up to five days—that’s a big ask for fans used to quicker games. The rules are also quite complex and the jargon like “wickets” & “overs” doesn’t make it any easier for us to understand it! All this makes cricket a sport that just doesn’t catch on with a lot of people in America and it’s unlikely to do so anytime soon, either.
Soccer
Even though lots of kids play soccer in school, it hasn’t completely won over the general American audience since most matches often have low scores & end in a tie. It’s not exactly thrilling for fans craving more action! Plus, the nonstop play without breaks doesn’t sit well with TV networks that are used to frequent commercial interruptions, making soccer a sport that many Americans don’t get into.
Curling
Curling is that sport at the Winter Olympics where players slide stones on ice while their teammates sweep with brooms and for many Americans, it seems odd & a bit boring. The game moves slowly, even for those who know the strategies involved—it’s also rather hard to follow. Curling gets some attention during the Olympics but most Americans lose interest once the games are over.
NASCAR
NASCAR does have some loyal fans but a lot of Americans don’t get the appeal because watching cars drive around the same track for hours seems rather monotonous. Worse still, there’s not a lot of variety in some races and that makes it rather boring for people who aren’t die-hard fans. Anyone looking for more excitement in their sports will probably avoid NASCAR entirely.
Golf
It’s no secret that golf is a slow-moving game and that’s why it doesn’t excite everyone—or most Americans, really. It’s a sport you have to play individually and the quiet, polite atmosphere is much too stuffy for some people, especially since there’s so much focus on rules & proper behavior. As such, it turns off people who prefer more energetic sports so they’ll stick to more fast-paced action and big thrills over golf.
Figure Skating
Figure skating is a mix of sport & art yet it doesn’t grab everyone’s attention and that’s mostly because the scoring is based on judges’ opinions. At times, it feels rather unfair or confusing to viewers because there aren’t always clear winners or easy-to-understand point systems. Lots of us don’t like the subjective nature of figure skating—and for some, the sport just isn’t as exciting as other competitions.
Synchronized Swimming
You certainly need a lot of talent for synchronized swimming but many Americans overlook it, which is probably because the sport combines swimming & dance. That doesn’t appeal to everyone, even though the athletes perform some rather impressive coordinated routines. Lots of us Americans find it hard to get into and, as a result, it usually doesn’t get as much attention as other sports.
Rugby
Rugby is rough and tough, yet equally as confusing for Americans because the rules are far more complicated than similar sports like football. It’s also not widely played in schools here, meaning that people aren’t familiar with it nor do they understand it. Rugby players also don’t wear as much protective gear as our footballers do—it’s much too risky to some viewers.
Badminton
Many people think of badminton as a simple backyard game rather than a serious sport, which is usually because many Americans play it casually at picnics or parties. As such, they don’t realize how competitive it gets sometimes—it’s quite fast-paced & requires a lot of skill! But this side of badminton isn’t well-known here so the sport doesn’t get much respect.
Horse Racing
Of course, horse racing has famous events like the Kentucky Derby that draw big crowds—but America’s overall interest is dropping as we’re more concerned about animal welfare issues related to the sport. There’s also the gambling side that puts some people off and the traditional image of horse racing doesn’t always fit with what modern sports fans are looking for. It doesn’t have the same appeal it once did, although there are still some die-hard fans.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us on MSN.
Read More:
