There is a common misconception that the only popular sports in America are baseball, basketball, and football. While it may be true that these three are arguably the most popular, sports like Nascar, hockey, and soccer are growing in popularity and are widely viewed throughout the country. With the exception of Nascar, the other sports previously listed have many similarities. They all possess scoring systems using a ball or, in hockey's case, a puck. Once again with the exception of Nascar, each of the other sports are team-oriented. Professional sports in the USA are extremely profitable both for the individual athletes and the organizations as a whole.
Typical game days vary depending on the sport. Some sports like football, soccer, and golf are traditionally played during the day, while sports like baseball, basketball, and hockey are played at night. Regardless of the time of play, pre-gaming and tailgating are an integral part of a game day experience for fans. Success in sport can be measured in several different regards. However, it comes down to one thing for me: winning. Many fans consider an athlete successful if he puts up good statistics or breaks records. However, in my opinion those statistics and records mean nothing when not accompanied by a championship. One can argue that lack of championships for certain players could be a result of poor players surrounding him on his or her team. It's my belief that great players elevate the level of play of their teammates. The idea of championships as a measure of success amongst athletes is particularly evident in the NBA. When debating who is the best player of all time, fans always resort back to the amount of rings a player possesses. That's why Lebron James will never be considered the greatest of all time over Michael Jordan until he equals or eclipses Jordan's six championship rings. Maybe my opinion of winning as the only measure of success stems from my competitive nature and refusal to lose in anything.
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