Hardest Sport To Play - Big Three

korme · 10-16-2007, 03:53 PM

I sat up until about 5 am last night arguing that baseball is the hardest sport of the big three, while my best friend CLAIMED it was the easiest because you don't need to be athletic to play it. I say shenanigans.

Discuss.

MikeVic · 10-16-2007, 03:55 PM

I'd say football, soccer, or hockey.

Lathum · 10-16-2007, 03:57 PM

hockey

Greyroofoo · 10-16-2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum

hockey

+1

Pumpy Tudors · 10-16-2007, 03:59 PM

Reading is fundamental.

astrosfan64 · 10-16-2007, 04:00 PM

Hockey by far.

miami_fan · 10-16-2007, 04:04 PM

I can't skate. Hockey

Neon_Chaos · 10-16-2007, 04:05 PM

hockey.

skating + stick mashing = not fun

heybrad · 10-16-2007, 04:05 PM

Hockey... and it's not even close.

korme · 10-16-2007, 04:09 PM

Hey fuckheads, hockey isn't an option here

But thanks for ruining a potentially good discussion

MalcPow · 10-16-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Reading is fundamental.

For serious.

And I say baseball. I think there's a role that someone who doesn't really know what they're doing can play in those other sports to contribute. The skills required to actually contribute in baseball are more difficult to really gain a base level of competence in.

st.cronin · 10-16-2007, 04:20 PM

Definitely hockey. Of the three choices, I'd say football is the easiest, because there are so many different ways to make an impact on the field. Basketball and baseball both require a combination of skill/athleticism.

korme · 10-16-2007, 04:21 PM

That's what I was saying last night, MP. There can be no Bullet Bob Hayes or Michael Lewis in baseball, but hell if they can run fast, line 'em up and have them play throw and catch.

molson · 10-16-2007, 04:24 PM

Football varies a ton based on position. You could put some big Ukranian kid who has never heard of American football at a linebacker position at the high school level with minimal practice, and he could help out and cause some damage.

Same with basketball. You really don't need to be athletic or know too much about the game to help out with defense and rebounding.

Baseball I'd say is the toughest out of those three. Hitting a baseball is really difficult. Fielding is even tougher if you're inexperienced.

That's how I think of it - if you had some big goofy foreign guy who hasn't heard of any sport - you wouldn't put him on a baseball field. But you might try him in football or basketball.

JS19 · 10-16-2007, 04:26 PM

Baseball, not even close.

Travis · 10-16-2007, 04:27 PM

Baseball by a mile, even compared to hockey

Lathum · 10-16-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

Hey fuckheads, hockey isn't an option here

But thanks for ruining a potentially good discussion

yeah, but hockey is really hard.

all that skating and stickhandling while trying to not get your head knocked off.

Lathum · 10-16-2007, 04:30 PM

dola- I put baseball. allthough if it were on ice it would be even harder

Neon_Chaos · 10-16-2007, 04:33 PM

what's so hard about hitting a ball with a stick?

*ducks for cover*

SnowMan · 10-16-2007, 04:37 PM

He said stickhandling /giggle

Calis · 10-16-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

I sat up until about 5 am last night arguing that baseball is the hardest sport of the big three, while my best friend CLAIMED it was the easiest because you don't need to be athletic to play it. I say shenanigans.

Discuss.

I'd say baseball would the hardest as well, but I'd also say it was the one that called for the least amount of athleticism. So you're both right in a way, you're just more right.

molson · 10-16-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

Hey fuckheads, hockey isn't an option here

But thanks for ruining a potentially good discussion

You tell 'em.

Jerks.

Honolulu_Blue · 10-16-2007, 04:48 PM

Hockey.

KWhit · 10-16-2007, 04:51 PM

Hockey????

He said big three. Not big fifteen!

johnnyshaka · 10-16-2007, 04:51 PM

Funny, I've played both hockey and baseball ever since I can remember and wouldn't classify either of them as "hard" to play.

I guess hockey is considered tough because you're on skates, something not a lot of people are comfortable with. True, that would complicate things but once you figure out how to skate it's a lot like basketball...obviously minus some of the violence.

Baseball, on the otherhand, is a very complex game that you probably couldn't explain to somebody in an afternoon at the ballpark. The physical challenges like hitting and catching are tough enough now add in the mental part of the game and understanding where you need to be positioned before and after the ball is put in play and you have a recipe for disaster. I've coached all levels of Little League for 10 years...it isn't easy.

I. J. Reilly · 10-16-2007, 04:54 PM

I voted for baseball; but on the assumption that for this pole pitchers aren’t being considered baseball players. Half the pitchers in the majors look like six year olds when they try to field their position.

pennywisesb · 10-16-2007, 05:06 PM

I voted baseball. I've seen some really "athletic" individuals look like real asses when it came down to fielding a fly ball or hit even a slow pitch softball. These same individuals started at both point guard for my high school basketball team and quarterback for the football team.

wishbone · 10-16-2007, 05:09 PM

Baseball would be the easiest to play because there is little chance of being physically negated, the average guy could play and possibly contribute (possibly due to pure luck). In football or basketball, the guy across from you can remove you from the game in a physical sense.

One of the interesting things about Major League Baseball in the last 10+ years is the number of non-english speakers to play, somehow they have been absorbed despite the language barriers that must exist. It can't be that hard if the concepts required to play are made clear using grunts and hand-motions.

14ers · 10-16-2007, 05:13 PM

The easiest would be Baseball.

If you are born with an arm that can throw 90 mph fast balls you are a major leaguer. Look at David Wells and tell me Baseball is hard!

Cringer · 10-16-2007, 05:15 PM

We should ask Drew Henson.

Logan · 10-16-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wishbone

One of the interesting things about Major League Baseball in the last 10+ years is the number of non-english speakers to play, somehow they have been absorbed despite the language barriers that must exist. It can't be that hard if the concepts required to play are made clear using grunts and hand-motions.

As opposed to football and basketball, where the concepts required to play are made clear by following geometrical patterns? And the "give me the ball" can be communicated by sticking your non-English speaking hand in the air?

MalcPow · 10-16-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 14ers

The easiest would be Baseball.

If you are born with an arm that can throw 90 mph fast balls you are a major leaguer. Look at David Wells and tell me Baseball is hard!

Basketball is the easiest! All you have to do is be seven feet tall and you're in the NBA!

Football is the easiest! All you have to do is have a 4.3 forty time and be good at running into people!

johnnyshaka · 10-16-2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 14ers

The easiest would be Baseball.

If you are born with an arm that can throw 90 mph fast balls you are a major leaguer. Look at David Wells and tell me Baseball is hard!

Ask Rick Ankiel how easy it is to be a ML pitcher.

Pick on David Wells all you want...he'd be the skinny guy at a buffet for NFL lineman.

Fidatelo · 10-16-2007, 07:21 PM

I find baseball the hardest to play, although its not really fair. In baseball you're on an island all the time, and every stupid mistake you make is glariingly obvious. In basketball or football you can hide your ineptitude a fair bit. Can't make a jump shot? Dish it off. Can't catch or throw? Be a full-back.

Butter · 10-16-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

Hey fuckheads, hockey isn't an option here

But thanks for ruining a potentially good discussion

This cracked me up.

It was like if you had asked of John, Paul, and George, who was the least talented of these 3 Beatles, and everyone said "Ringo".

I think baseball is the hardest.

st.cronin · 10-16-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

This cracked me up.

It was like if you had asked of John, Paul, and George, who was the least talented of these 3 Beatles, and everyone said "Ringo".

I think baseball is the hardest.

Come on, now. Ringo was a brilliant musician. The answer is clearly "Paul."

jeff061 · 10-16-2007, 07:52 PM

Baseball.

Didn't play football until high school, that was cake. Then again I only played because I was bigger than everyone and they were begging me too, so I just mauled people on the line.

astrosfan64 · 10-17-2007, 12:07 AM

In terms of international sports, I would venture to guess that Hockey isn't far behind if behind at all when compared to baseball and basketball for your question of the "Big 3"

Football is pretty much only an America sport.

BTW, the answer is still hockey.

RPI-Fan · 10-17-2007, 12:13 AM

Hockey is so far ahead of these three that even though it's not in the poll I still have to vote for it.

Crapshoot · 10-17-2007, 12:33 AM

Baseball - not even close. There's actual skill involved at a level far surpassing the other sports.

Schmidty · 10-17-2007, 12:34 AM

1. Hockey.

2. Baseball.

3. Basketball.

4. Soccer.

5 Football.

korme · 10-17-2007, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrosfan64

In terms of international sports, I would venture to guess that Hockey isn't far behind if behind at all when compared to baseball and basketball for your question of the "Big 3"

Football is pretty much only an America sport.

BTW, the answer is still hockey.

BTW, this entire post is asshattery.

Lathum · 10-17-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

BTW, this entire post is asshattery.

what can we say, hockey should have been an option

OldGiants · 10-17-2007, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

That's what I was saying last night, MP. There can be no Bullet Bob Hayes or Michael Lewis in baseball, but hell if they can run fast, line 'em up and have them play throw and catch.

Yeah, all you get is Bullet Bob Feller.

OldGiants · 10-17-2007, 08:00 AM

Ted Williams hit a baseball as well as any one and he insisted it was the hardest thing he ever did including knocking Commies out of the air with a jet fighter.

astrosfan64 · 10-17-2007, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

BTW, this entire post is asshattery.

Really?

Sport
2002 Estimates of Participants Worldwide
Number of Affiliated National Federations

Volleyball
998 Million

Basketball
400 Million

Table Tennis
300 Million

Soccer
242 Million

Badminton
200 Million

Tennis
60 Million

Baseball
60 Million

Dragon Boat Racing
50 Million

Team Handball
18 Million

Hockey
3 million

Judo
2.5 Million

Rugby
2 Million

Cycling
600,000

American Football didn't even make the list.

rkmsuf · 10-17-2007, 08:52 AM

Yeah Dragon Boat racing rules.

KWhit · 10-17-2007, 09:07 AM

Pocket pool didn't make the list either, but I bet it's played more often than anything.

Dr. Sak · 10-17-2007, 09:22 AM

Nascar...it is hard making all those left turns

MizzouRah · 10-17-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

1. Hockey.

2. Baseball.

3. Basketball.

4. Soccer.

5 Football.

I would agree that hockey is #1.

View Poll Results: Which is the most difficult sport to play, of the big three in the U.S.?
Baseball	47	61.84%
Basketball	4	5.26%
Football	25	32.89%
Voters: 76. You may not vote on this poll

10-16-2007, 03:59 PM	#5
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Reading is fundamental. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

10-16-2007, 04:04 PM	#7
miami_fan Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Land O Lakes FL	I can't skate. Hockey __________________ "Do not be indifferent in the face of historical lies. Do not be indifferent when you see the past being exploited for the needs of contemporary politics. Do not be indifferent when any minority suffers discrimination. For it's the essence of democracy that the majority wields the power, but at the same time, the rights of the minority must be respected." Marian Turski- former prisoner of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and death camp

10-16-2007, 04:05 PM	#8
Neon_Chaos Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Parañaque, Philippines	hockey. skating + stick mashing = not fun __________________ Come and see.

10-16-2007, 04:20 PM	#12
st.cronin General Manager Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Mexico	Definitely hockey. Of the three choices, I'd say football is the easiest, because there are so many different ways to make an impact on the field. Basketball and baseball both require a combination of skill/athleticism. __________________ co-commish: bb-bbcf.net knives out Last edited by st.cronin : 10-16-2007 at 04:22 PM.

10-16-2007, 03:55 PM	#2
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	I'd say football, soccer, or hockey.

10-16-2007, 03:57 PM	#3
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	hockey

10-16-2007, 04:00 PM	#6
astrosfan64 College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2004	Hockey by far.

10-16-2007, 04:05 PM	#9
heybrad Norm!!! Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Manassas, VA	Hockey... and it's not even close.

10-16-2007, 04:09 PM	#10
korme Go Reds Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bloodbuzz Ohio	Hey fuckheads, hockey isn't an option here But thanks for ruining a potentially good discussion

10-16-2007, 04:21 PM	#13
korme Go Reds Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bloodbuzz Ohio	That's what I was saying last night, MP. There can be no Bullet Bob Hayes or Michael Lewis in baseball, but hell if they can run fast, line 'em up and have them play throw and catch.

10-16-2007, 04:24 PM	#14
molson General Manager Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Mountains	Football varies a ton based on position. You could put some big Ukranian kid who has never heard of American football at a linebacker position at the high school level with minimal practice, and he could help out and cause some damage. Same with basketball. You really don't need to be athletic or know too much about the game to help out with defense and rebounding. Baseball I'd say is the toughest out of those three. Hitting a baseball is really difficult. Fielding is even tougher if you're inexperienced. That's how I think of it - if you had some big goofy foreign guy who hasn't heard of any sport - you wouldn't put him on a baseball field. But you might try him in football or basketball. Last edited by molson : 10-16-2007 at 04:25 PM.

10-16-2007, 04:26 PM	#15
JS19 College Prospect Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NY	Baseball, not even close.

10-16-2007, 04:27 PM	#16
Travis Pro Rookie Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Canada eh	Baseball by a mile, even compared to hockey __________________ "I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it." - Rogers Hornsby

10-16-2007, 04:30 PM	#18
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	dola- I put baseball. allthough if it were on ice it would be even harder

10-16-2007, 04:33 PM	#19
Neon_Chaos Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Parañaque, Philippines	what's so hard about hitting a ball with a stick? ducks for cover __________________ Come and see.

10-16-2007, 04:37 PM	#20
SnowMan High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Georgia via Alaska via Washington	He said stickhandling /giggle

10-16-2007, 04:48 PM	#23
Honolulu_Blue Hockey Boy Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Royal Oak, MI	Hockey. __________________ *Steve Yzerman*: 1,755 points in 1,514 regular season games. 185 points in 196 postseason games. A First-Team All-Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Selke Trophy winner, Masterton Trophy winner, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Olympic gold medallist, and a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. Longest serving captain of one team in the history of the NHL (19 seasons).

10-16-2007, 04:51 PM	#24
KWhit Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Conyers GA	Hockey???? He said big three. Not big fifteen!

10-16-2007, 04:51 PM	#25
johnnyshaka College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton, AB	Funny, I've played both hockey and baseball ever since I can remember and wouldn't classify either of them as "hard" to play. I guess hockey is considered tough because you're on skates, something not a lot of people are comfortable with. True, that would complicate things but once you figure out how to skate it's a lot like basketball...obviously minus some of the violence. Baseball, on the otherhand, is a very complex game that you probably couldn't explain to somebody in an afternoon at the ballpark. The physical challenges like hitting and catching are tough enough now add in the mental part of the game and understanding where you need to be positioned before and after the ball is put in play and you have a recipe for disaster. I've coached all levels of Little League for 10 years...it isn't easy.

10-16-2007, 04:54 PM	#26
I. J. Reilly College Prospect Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: An Oregonian deep in the heart of Texas.	I voted for baseball; but on the assumption that for this pole pitchers aren’t being considered baseball players. Half the pitchers in the majors look like six year olds when they try to field their position.

10-16-2007, 05:06 PM	#27
pennywisesb College Benchwarmer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California	I voted baseball. I've seen some really "athletic" individuals look like real asses when it came down to fielding a fly ball or hit even a slow pitch softball. These same individuals started at both point guard for my high school basketball team and quarterback for the football team. __________________ Myspace Profile

10-16-2007, 05:09 PM	#28
wishbone High School JV Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hillsboro OR	Baseball would be the easiest to play because there is little chance of being physically negated, the average guy could play and possibly contribute (possibly due to pure luck). In football or basketball, the guy across from you can remove you from the game in a physical sense. One of the interesting things about Major League Baseball in the last 10+ years is the number of non-english speakers to play, somehow they have been absorbed despite the language barriers that must exist. It can't be that hard if the concepts required to play are made clear using grunts and hand-motions.

10-16-2007, 05:13 PM	#29
14ers High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2006	The easiest would be Baseball. If you are born with an arm that can throw 90 mph fast balls you are a major leaguer. Look at David Wells and tell me Baseball is hard! __________________ I like the company I keep when I am alone. 'The Blonde Bomber'

10-16-2007, 05:15 PM	#30
Cringer Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Edinburg,TX	We should ask Drew Henson. __________________ You Stole Fizzy Lifting drinks! You bumped into the ceiling which now has to be washed and steralized, so you get NOTHING! You lose!

10-16-2007, 07:21 PM	#34
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	I find baseball the hardest to play, although its not really fair. In baseball you're on an island all the time, and every stupid mistake you make is glariingly obvious. In basketball or football you can hide your ineptitude a fair bit. Can't make a jump shot? Dish it off. Can't catch or throw? Be a full-back. __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

10-16-2007, 07:52 PM	#37
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Baseball. Didn't play football until high school, that was cake. Then again I only played because I was bigger than everyone and they were begging me too, so I just mauled people on the line. __________________ Last edited by jeff061 : 10-16-2007 at 07:52 PM.

10-17-2007, 12:07 AM	#38
astrosfan64 College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2004	In terms of international sports, I would venture to guess that Hockey isn't far behind if behind at all when compared to baseball and basketball for your question of the "Big 3" Football is pretty much only an America sport. BTW, the answer is still hockey. Last edited by astrosfan64 : 10-17-2007 at 12:08 AM.

10-17-2007, 12:13 AM	#39
RPI-Fan Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Troy, NY	Hockey is so far ahead of these three that even though it's not in the poll I still have to vote for it. __________________ Quis custodiets ipsos custodes?

10-17-2007, 12:33 AM	#40
Crapshoot Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003	Baseball - not even close. There's actual skill involved at a level far surpassing the other sports.

10-17-2007, 12:34 AM	#41
Schmidty Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Early, TX	1. Hockey. 2. Baseball. 3. Basketball. 4. Soccer. 5 Football.

10-17-2007, 08:00 AM	#45
OldGiants College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Location, Location, Location	Ted Williams hit a baseball as well as any one and he insisted it was the hardest thing he ever did including knocking Commies out of the air with a jet fighter. __________________ "The case of Great Britain is the most astonishing in this matter of inequality of rights in world soccer championships. The way they explained it to me as a child, God is one but He's three: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I could never understand it. And I still don't understand why Great Britain is one but she's four....while [others] continue to be no more than one despite the diverse nationalities that make them up." Eduardo Galeano, SOCCER IN SUN AND SHADOW

10-17-2007, 08:52 AM	#47
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	Yeah Dragon Boat racing rules. __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales

10-17-2007, 09:07 AM	#48
KWhit Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Conyers GA	Pocket pool didn't make the list either, but I bet it's played more often than anything.

10-17-2007, 09:22 AM	#49
Dr. Sak Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Stuck in Yinzerville, PA	Nascar...it is hard making all those left turns