I have a pretty woeful selection myself: NFL, NHL, and tennis. That’s it. I was thinking it might be a neat goal to see as many different sports (in a professional context) as I could.
(I think I was bored or drunk.)
The basic rule to meet the “professional” guideline is that it has to have a lot of spectators. I’m thinking more than 5000. You can’t count a college volleyball game with 100 people watching, half of them related to the players. It has to be the Beach Volleyball championship or some such item. And only one entry per sport. No double counting college football and the NFL. Bigger wins.
Football (Redskins, Rams)
Baseball (Orioles, Red Sox, Dodgers)
Basketball (Lakers, Bullets - before they became the Wizards)
Hockey (Caps)
Soccer (DC United and several games in Brazil)
Golf (Kemper Open, Greater Hartford Open)
I think that’s it…
Bonus points for people who can figure out where I’ve lived in my life
I have attended a few events (coincidentally, all racket sports – squash, real tennis, rackets, and pelota) that failed by an order of magnitude or more to meet the OP’s guidelines of >5000 spectators, although they were “professional sporting events” by any reasonable standards, i.e. the spectators paid to be there and the participants were paid to play.
That is in addition, of course, to many other types of events already mentioned.
Baseball
Football (real football, not soccer) [sorry, couldn’t resist]
Hockey
Basketball
Volleyball
Auto Racing (not a sport, in my opinion, but that’s another thread)
Fencing (maybe Nik mentioned it twice because he went to a pro fence-building contest…? )
American football- Bucs, Orlando Rage, and Orlando Predators (I say three different football leagues is pretty good)
Basketball
Equestrian (show jumping and racing even though I’m deathly allergic)
Pro wrestling (can I count that?)
Motorsports
Soccer/football
Cricket (England vs. India @ Lords in '87 I think… not a fun day out for a five-year old)
Karting (although I guess that goes under motorsports)
Rugby (although this was back when it was amateur only, so its iffy)
baseball (ugh)
hockey (on ice & field)
tennis
squash
rugby league
track/field
It should be noted that I’m fairly sure that quite a few of these had a crowd of smaller than 5k, but I’m also pretty sure there’s not a squash court in the world which 5000 people can see at one time…
Football (NFL and NCAA)
Baseball (MLB, AAA, and AA)
Basketball (NCAA and NBA)
Hockey (minor leagues only)
Nascar
Formula 1
AMA Superbike
Cart
IRL
Greyhound Racing
Boxing
I worked as a sports writer for a number of years. I went to sports that don’t even exist any more.
One of the weirdest has to be standing poll vault…Then there’s always curling, professional arm wrestling, and Rollerball (the first time through in the early 70s). I’ve also covered professonal hang gliding, professional women’s football and even pancake racing.
These are in addition to the regular sports that have been mentioned above. Being a sports journalist is a great profession but strange sometimes.
As a matter of fact, I just got back today from covering a professional mud race. I am hot, tired and muddy, and I still have to file my story.
Hockey - real hockey, ice hockey
Football
Baseball
Basketball
Horse Racing
Dog Racing
Jai-Ali
Soccer - real football
Cricket - play was called off shortly after Tea :dubious:
Boxing
Marathon
Drag Racing
NASCAR racing
Indy car racing
Midget racing - the cars not people
Powerboat racing
Big Wheel Trucks - yeeee haaa!!! :rolleyes:
Tennis
Bowling - zzzzz… :o
Pool / Billiards
Indoor Midget racing - once again, the cars
Arena Football
College Football
College Wrestling
College Gymnastics
College Track and Field
College Baseball
Minor League Baseball
Pro Football Training Camp
Bartenders Annual Footrace
