# Which sport would you choose? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 25, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920 "2012-04-25T16:58:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/1 "2012-04-25T16:58:56Z")
I was just reading something about Brandon Weeden and the reason he’s so old is because he spent a few years pursuing a baseball career, which got me thinking… The situation is: You’re 21 years old, just graduated college, and a world-class athlete. In college, you were magically able to compete at a high level in football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. All four pro leagues have come calling; you’re being courted by the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL and are expected to be a first-round choice in the draft of any of them. You are enthusiastic and passionate about all 4 sports, but the time has come for you to choose one, and only one, and commit to that. Note that success in the pros is of course not at all guaranteed. You weigh the pros and cons of each league as you see them, and you choose… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/2 "2012-04-25T17:04:33Z")
Baseball, cause I’m a lazy shit. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/3 "2012-04-25T17:15:39Z")
I’d go play soccer in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/4 "2012-04-25T17:32:45Z")
Baseball, no doubt – it give the best balance of “Paid like zeros on the end of check mean nothing” and “be able to walk in 30 years”. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/5 "2012-04-25T17:41:16Z")
Regarding the four major US leagues, some stats to consider: Average career length: NFL: 3.5 years MLB: 5.6 years (non-pitchers) NBA: 4.8 years NHL: 5.5 years Median salary: NFL: $770,000 MLB: $1.15 million NBA: $2.33 million NHL: $1.7 million Minimum salary (based on average career length): NFL: if you are drafted today and play 3 years, in that 3rd year you will earn at least $645,000 MLB: in 2017 the minimum will be $500,000 NBA: as a 4-year vet going into 2017 the minimum would be $1,139,123 NHL: assuming it rises 10% each year, in 2017 the minimum would be about $890,000 (currently $525,000) ---
**Author:** ![Stormcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@Stormcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stormcrow)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/6 "2012-04-25T17:49:56Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Baseball, no doubt – it give the best balance of “Paid like zeros on the end of check mean nothing” and “be able to walk in 30 years”. My choice as well, and for the same reasons - although my decision might be impacted by whether I am drafted as a hitter or a pitcher. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/7 "2012-04-25T17:50:14Z")
Either baseball or basketball, since those have much lower rates of injury than football or hockey. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/8 "2012-04-25T17:50:45Z")
The highest average salary, actually, is in\*\* basketball\*\*, and it’s not even close, and I don’t see that basketball players get hurt any more severely than baseball players. So I’m changing my vote to basketball. I assumed baseball players got paid more but when I looked it up I was shocked; the average NBA salary is more than 50% higher. In retrospect I shouldn’t have been; the NBA simply doesn’t have as many guys amongst whom to spread the money around. On top of that, the NBA is no more risky. Now, baseball draftees are signed independent of any salary limitations, so if you’re goinbg to go really high in the draft your compensation could be extremely lucrative; last year 19 draftees were paid $2 million or more. The #21 pick TURNED DOWN a $4 million offer because he expects to get more if he’s redrafted. NBA players don’t get signing bonuses - but they do get huge scale contracts, comparable in value to MLB signing bonuses. The rookie’s contract is determined by his position in the draft, and the salaries are very handsome. Furthermore, if you’re drafted by an NBA team it’s virtually certain you’re going to be in the NBA, probably right away or close to it. MLB draft picks are comparatively more doubtful; players out of college are generally not ready for the major leagues, with very few exceptions, and it’s not unusual for a high draft pick to simply never make it to the majors. So I’m going NBA. More money, safer money, more assurance of getting to the big time. ---
**Author:** ![Blkshp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blkshp/32/7135_2.png) [@Blkshp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blkshp)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/9 "2012-04-25T18:03:49Z")
Of course it would depend on how high I might be drafted in each - assuming that is equal I would probably take basketball since the economics are better and the likelihood of playing right away is greater. In reality, if I could play any sport professionally at the major league level, it would be baseball just cause I love it. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/10 "2012-04-25T18:51:45Z")
I’m a baseball fan, and you can have a far longer career in it than in basketball or football. The fact I can’t skate eliminates hockey. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/11 "2012-04-25T18:56:37Z")
Baseball. I love baseball. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/12 "2012-04-25T18:57:34Z")
Hockey, because it’s the best game in the world. I’d be a goalie, so I could get an awesome mask. I’d also take my husband’s name, which is that of an actual creature, for the mask. It would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/13 "2012-04-25T19:02:34Z")
Ideally, I’d choose baseball, but in terms of my actual physical gifts, hockey would be a better choice (despite the increased chance of injuries), if I had a chance to start learning how to skate when I was a young kid, as opposed to my mid-30’s. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/14 "2012-04-25T19:22:49Z")
> [@](#): > > The fact I can’t skate eliminates hockey. Isn’t that kind of missing the point? I mean, I assume that you’re lacking in skill sets required for _any_ professional sport. But the OP is positing the contrafactual that you are skilled. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/15 "2012-04-25T19:30:27Z")
Baseball. I loved playing it when I was a kid, likelihood of severe injury is lower, money is great, and it’s a little less hectic than basketball. Sure, they have red eye flights, but then you get to some city for a few days, rather than 1 night in Portland, 1 night in Sacramento, 1 night in Utah, back home for 3 nights, then to Miami, then to New York, then back home. Plus, you get week-long, or even 2-week long homestands to really enjoy being home. You’re outside in the summer for the most part, and spring training sounds a lot better than spending the summer free, and then going to training camp back home where it’s turning colder and days are getting shorter. Football was fun to play, but the game would be brutal, training camp sounds horrible, the pay’s not (relatively) good, and the chance of injury is way too high. Plus 12 hours of film session doesn’t sound good. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/16 "2012-04-25T20:32:57Z")
Baseball, because any other choice is really stupid. Factor in severity of injuries and potential length of career and baseball wins hands down. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/17 "2012-04-25T20:41:15Z")
Baseball. You’d be much more likely to be healthy at age 50, and alive at age 75. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/18 "2012-04-25T20:52:56Z")
Keep in mind that only 10% of all players drafted from colleges make the Major Leagues. For first or second round picks, it is 50%, but that includes fall call-ups who make the Major League minimum for a few weeks or pitchers who get a callup when someone gets hurt and sits in the bullpen for a couple of days. Virtually everyone who gets drafted in the NBA makes the team, and first rounders get guaranteed salaries (for three years, IIRC.) I’m not sure what the numbers are in the NHL or NFL. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/19 "2012-04-26T00:09:04Z")
I picked hockey. There are various pro leagues outside of the NHL where I can play if I can’t stay in the NHL for years. The rosters are larger as well. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920/20 "2012-04-26T00:12:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Baseball, because any other choice is really stupid. Factor in severity of injuries and potential length of career and baseball wins hands down. I’m sorry, but how does it beat basketball? It terms of money and injuries it simply does not. And folks saying they love baseball didn’t read the OP carefully. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sport-would-you-choose/619920.md?page=2)