2/10/2008 10:51:16 PM

NFL is #1 for me. Then MLB, then college bb, then college football. After that I could care less. I've tried to get into Nascar, but I just honestly can't. I don't know cars, I don't a chassis from Lassie. I know Nascar drivers have hot wives, just like most golfers do. But otherwise, it just doesn't hold me. I'd rather play golf than watch it. I'd rather play golf than watch Nascar and that's normally what I'm doing on Sundays. So, to me, since you went all political in your analysis, I'll throw out my theory that Harris=Bill Clinton, who loved to talk about his "pole" and what he did not (make that DID) have done to it. Both are liars as well.

Jimmy Dinsmore

2/11/2008 9:22:48 AM

I don't buy the hockey at all. But I do buy that Nascar is above college BB. I love both. I watch both. I have grown up with since Nascar since I was little. A product of growing up in the South.

But I think you have to remember that most fans are diehards of one or two sports, and they become the "casual" fan for other sports.

When it comes to college hoops, everyone can agree on March Madness. But how many of the casual fans, which is probably what most of this poll was made up of, will watch hoops throughout the season.

I am guilty of not really concentrating on college hoops action until mid-Jan most of the time, and I love the stuff.

Until that point, you have the NFL playoffs, and the holidays. Once those die down, mid Jan, I start paying attention to the hoops season.

Plus, I think most fans know that what a college hoops team looks like in Dec. will not be what they look like in March. Texas beat UCLA in Pauley Pavilion in Dec. After watching my beloved Horns religiously for the past month, there is no way we would pull that of right now.

The Madness only lasts for a couple of weeks. And I think most people see it as a "special event" type situation, where even non-college hoops fans will participate. But those who watch a whole season are few and far between.

Even with that, there is still no way hockey is over that, unless they had a large amount of Canadians in the poll.

Jeremy Fischer

2/11/2008 10:16:15 AM

When looking at a poll it is important to remember how it was conducted. Apparently this one was asked of people who are fans of more than one sport, which one sport was their favorite. They did not rank their top three or five sports. They only gave one answer.

I think there are a lot of people in the country that are huge racing fans and don't even follow other sports. That is the problem with the poll and the question. Many college basketball fans are also big football and baseball fans. And in this case bigger.

Personally I would rank college hoops behind baseball and football. And maybe golf. I had not seen a basketball game this year before catching the final minutes of the XU game on Sunday. And I only got to see that because the kids were napping and my wife went shopping.

The only type of racing I would have in my top ten would be horses. Maybe greyhounds too.

Jim Humbert

2/11/2008 1:14:55 PM

If they had interviewed Michael Vick he would've ranked Dog Fighting, and then football. Pedro would've ranked cockfighting and then baseball.

Jimmy Dinsmore

2/11/2008 7:27:34 PM

Who exactly were they polling is an interesting question. There is no way the NHL beat college hoops, just look at where the networks spend their money:

NHL
NBC - revenue share through 2006-07;
OLN, $135 million, two years plus options

NASCAR
Fox, NBC, six-year, $2.4 billion deal through 2006.
Includes TNT’s cable rights

NCAA
CBS, $6 billion deal through 2013; gives CBS rights to 66 championships, including men’s basketball

The NCAA contract is more than just men's basketball, but hoops is at the heart of it. The NHL can only get a revenue share from NBC and $135 million from OLN...are you kidding me? NASCAR is popular, but it is fading.

Dan Clasgens