# What position would you like to play in your favorite team sports? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 20, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036 "2011-02-20T19:13:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/21 "2011-02-21T07:00:55Z")
NFL: What position would I NOT want to play? šŸ˜ƒ I probably would want to play at any position except maybe fullback, long snapper, and kicker, as theyā€™re rarely on the field. I want to be on the field as much as possible. Assuming my body size/speed stays the same, I probably couldnā€™t play any position at all, but maybe I would be closest as a defensive back. Basketball: I always loved the center/power forward position. I was never big enough, and my outside shot stank, but I liked the idea of being the wall around the basket and posting up on offense. Baseball: I played just about every position. The only one I really liked was first base. You get just enough action to stay awake, but not so much action you make mistakes. Track and field: I wanted to do either the pole vault or high jump. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/22 "2011-02-21T08:58:45Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > [slight hijack][ā€¦] Iā€™d be happy to discuss this in another thread. Not this one. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/23 "2011-02-21T09:49:40Z")
> [@PlanetCharlie](#): > > Outside of Sandy Koufax, name one decent Jewish athlete. Exactly. šŸ˜‰ Iā€™ll stick to just the big names in baseball: Lou Boudreau (his mother was Jewish) Mike Epstein Shawn Green (he holds the record for the most total bases in a nine-inning game) Hank Greenberg Ken Holtzman Al Rosen Steve Yeager (converted to Judaism) Kevin Youkilis Oh, and Iā€™d want to be a shortstop. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/24 "2011-02-21T13:00:36Z")
Baseball: Pitcher Soccer: Goalkeeper Football: Cheerleader:D ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/25 "2011-02-21T15:42:50Z")
**Jeff Lichtman** has already stolen my thunder with Shawn Green and Hank Greenberg. From the NBA, one possible Jew that had me shaking my head in disbelief at the news was [Amare Stoudemire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amar'e_Stoudemire). [No](http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?ID=182914), [really](http://twitter.com/Amareisreal). To the OP, since Iā€™m left-handed, Iā€™d wanted to be a pitcher, LOOGY if necessary (have you seen what those guys make?!). Catcherā€™s the most strategically interesting to me; you call the game, talk to everybody, and are usually required to hit from time to time. Football, kicker/punter, for the reasons **John DiFool** listed. Soccer, probably a left or center back. Center back, for many of the same reasons as I picked catcher for baseball. Stopping the other guy from scoring was always more interesting to me than trying to score. Probably because I was so inept at the latter. Basketball, at 6 foot, what else could I do put play point and shoot 3s? Skiing, downhiller. Edit: never mind skiing, just saw that the OP meant team sports. Whoops. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/26 "2011-02-21T16:27:01Z")
Pitcher or center fielder. As a kid, I found pitching stances and arm angles a lot of fun to play around with, while I got bored imitating swings. Weird, I know. I also love sprinting hard after fly balls, so out of the position players, Iā€™ve always most enjoyed playing the outfield. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/27 "2011-02-21T16:58:33Z")
Baseball: first base. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/28 "2011-02-21T17:59:16Z")
> [@PlanetCharlie](#): > > Outside of Sandy Koufax, name one decent Jewish athlete. Exactly. šŸ˜‰ Hockey: Michael Cammalleri ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/29 "2011-02-21T18:06:04Z")
Baseball ā€“ relief pitcher. I even picked out the [music to play](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECpe4rrUXX0) when I come in from the bullpen. Hockey ā€“ Goaltender Football ā€“ Punter ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/30 "2011-02-21T18:12:24Z")
Hockey: Defensemanā€“My unassuming nature would dictate that I play an important but generally un-flashy position. Plus, youā€™re expected to hit people. American Football: Strong Safetyā€“See above. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/31 "2011-02-21T18:38:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Outside of Sandy Koufax, name one decent Jewish athlete. Exactly. You know how people sometimes debate the reasons for black dominance in various sports? People used to ask the same question about why Jews dominated sports. ---
**Author:** ![ChicagoTom25](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@ChicagoTom25](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChicagoTom25)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/32 "2011-02-21T18:42:49Z")
Iā€™d love to be a pitcher in MLB. I would just love to have that rush of adrenaline running out onto the mound. Just one time, it would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/33 "2011-02-21T19:22:57Z")
[Famous Jews in Sports](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_athletes). Gogo Wikipedia, again. My god, thereā€™s a list for everything. NFL: Lyle Alzado, Sid Luckman Pro Wrestling: Bill Goldberg, Dean Malenko My new favorite Jewish athlete is figure skater Irina Slutskaya. Something about her just radiates charisma. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/34 "2011-02-21T20:37:15Z")
MLB: An NL pitcher so I could both pitch and bat. NFL: Free safety NBA: Shooting guard ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/35 "2011-02-21T21:28:49Z")
Baseball: Catcher Basketball: Center. There are a lot of 5ā€™10" centers around in the NBA, arenā€™t there? šŸ˜ƒ Football: Team owner. You could get hurt actually playing that game. Hockey: Goalie Golfer: Golfer. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/36 "2011-02-21T22:44:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > You know how people sometimes debate the reasons for black dominance in various sports? People used to ask the same question about why Jews dominated sports. Boxing in particular. Max Baer is probably the best remembered now, but Jews dominated boxing in the early 20th century. [Boxing: A Jewish Sport](http://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Sports/Sports_and_Judaism/America/Boxing.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/37 "2011-02-21T22:50:11Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Hockey: Michael Cammalleri Also hockey: Defenseman Mathieu Schneider On topic: Hockey. Center. Preferably a third/fourth line defensive minded role. I like scoring goals and all, but I feel better shutting people down.šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/38 "2011-02-22T01:33:50Z")
**Football:** If on offense Iā€™d be a tight end, if on defense Iā€™d be a linebacker. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/39 "2011-02-22T02:37:27Z")
Iā€™d play hockey. A goalie would be cool, because then I could be like, the Gandalf of the team. ā€œYOU CANNOT PASS, MOTHERFUCKER!!!ā€ If I wasnā€™t a goalie though, Iā€™d probably be a big time bruiser, agitator. I donā€™t think Iā€™d be on the Matt Cooke, Sean Avery level, but Iā€™d probably spend a lot of time in the penalty box. I get waaaaay too into the game. Iā€™m always screaming and swearing at the TV. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036/40 "2011-02-22T03:12:26Z")
Basketball - Shooting Guard. Iā€™ve always been a great shot but never had the ball handling skills to play point guard. But thereā€™s nothing quite like getting set up for the perfect shot and watching it go into the rim, nothing but net. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-position-would-you-like-to-play-in-your-favorite-team-sports/572036.md?page=3)