The Fifth Sport

MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL. The four major American sports. They dominate Sports Center and the hearts of our nation. Baseball is the Great American Past Time. Football is the Great American Sport. America is a Basketball haven, and Hockey is something Canada would sue us for stealing if they weren't so darn nice. Point is, we have our main four sports and for years we have been happy with that. We have our niche sports for different people. Golf, Nascar, boxing, tennis. They gain popularity at different times but can't touch the draw of our Big 4.

Here's the problem.

The NFL is facing a huge issue with their CBA. The NBA may have a similar situation. This leaves a gaping hole in America's Big 4. If it were just one sport we might be able to deal, but missing half our sports is going to be rough.

And even when the Big 4 are back in power, I think we have room for a fifth sport. I think America can handle it, but handle what exactly?

There are a number of secondary sports in America that don't get the ESPN time some fans would prefer. I don't think they all warrant that fifth sport spot.

Soccer is great every four years but watching it all the time would take a lot of the excitement out of the World Cup. Lot's of people disagree and MLS is a booming league. It's possible I just don't think America could get on board. We are familiar enough with soccer to know its kinda eh.

Tennis just doesn't have the flare needed for a great spectator sport. It's still a great niche sport. Golf is along the same lines here. They both have huge followings but couldn't make it year round.

Nascar has enough fans. Probably too many. That's all I'm gunna say about that.

I think there are only two options for a new sport.

The first one is kind of a cop out. I (nay, we) need off season football.  I feel like the UFL could be a viable option but it only has 5 teams. A true off season football league hasn't been attempted since the USFL and Donald Trump felt the need to ruin that for everybody. But now I think he's too busy with reality TV shows and playing politics like its Parcheesi to care. Come on out UFL it's safe out here!

There's also the option of the AFL. It is already well established and has cool rules that remind me of the old NFL Street Video game. I feel like these games are going to get some air time if there happens to be no NFL season this year.

The other is (drum roll please) Lacrosse (you can all groan and boo now). I know, I know! Everybody's got a problem with lacrosse: It's boring!  It's hard to watch! False! It has the fast pace, anyone-can-score-at-anytime speed to it but with the high scoring potential sports like soccer and hockey don't offer. It has all the hard hits of football and the play doesn't end right after them! The plays are similar to basketball but more fine tuned and precise because every goal depends on the perfect play. Like hockey it can be a game based completely on finesse, with passes seemingly floating to each other right before a D-Pole slap checks the stick right out of an unknowing attackman's hands. People don't see this because they don't know. There isn't a world cup of Lacrosse like soccer. It's very possible many American's don't know what they're missing.

Lacrosse faces a similar problem to football in that they don't have enough teams. The NLL (indoor or box lacrosse) isn't real lacrosse. MLL (outdoor lacrosse) only has 6 teams. The 2012 seasons will bring in 2 more teams. After that 2 more are planned for the next two consecutive seasons. The MLL has sought out 19 other possible markets and the league is expected to have 16 before the end of the decade. Not too shabby. It may take a bit but I feel like if we gave it a chance, it could really take off. That's all I ask people. Give Lacrosse a chance. It's everywhere! Teen Wolf hung up his basketball shorts and is sporting some cool new Lax gloves. The new Beverly Hills 90210 shows its character playing lacrosse. Ray Lewis is switching sports to lacrosse! Okay, that's not true. But you sure would be interested in at least one game wouldn't you?

Just go youtube some lax videos and trick shots. Yeah that's all well and good but what about in game stuff? They can (and do) all happen in game! Tell me that's not sick!?

Point is I want more sports. I love sports and I want more. So I'm obviously partial to Lacrosse. But there are plenty more options. Post in the comments what you think and what you would make America's fifth sport.