American Poll on Favorite Sports: NFL #1, MLB #2, NCAA Football #3, NASCAR #4

[alfred russel]

A poll is out on the most popular American sports:

NFL most popular for 30th year in row

Pro football is the most popular sport in America for at least the 30th straight year.

That's according to a survey taken this month by the Harris Poll, which has been asking adult fans, ages 18 and over, about their favorite sport since 1985.

In 2014, 35 percent of fans call the NFL their favorite sport, followed by Major League Baseball (14 percent), college football (11 percent), auto racing (7 percent), the NBA (6 percent), the NHL (5 percent) and college basketball (3 percent).

In 1985, the first year the poll was taken, the NFL bested MLB by just one percentage point (24 to 23 percent), but since then interest in baseball has fallen while the NFL has experienced a huge rise in popularity.

Nine percent fewer fans call baseball their favorite sport over the 30-year span, the biggest drop of any sport. The polling numbers suggest that the sport hasn't been able to recover from a popularity standpoint from 1994, when a strike forced the cancellation of the World Series.

One other significant drop was in professional golf. Throughout Tiger Woods' pro career, which began in 1996, no less four percent of the U.S. adult population called golf their favorite sport. But since 2010, the first year after Woods' extramarital affair scandal, only two percent of Americans have called it their favorite sport.

A sport's popularity varies greatly based on demographics. More people who live in rural areas on the East coast say they're fans of the NFL than the general U.S. population. Those with an annual household income of more than $100,000 are more likely to be baseball fans, while African Americans are less likely to enjoy the sport, the poll reveals. More southerners call college football their favorite sport, while those with a high school education or less tend to gravitate to auto racing.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10354114/harris-poll-nfl-most-popular-mlb-2nd

[jimmy olsen]

My three favorite sports are the NFL, MLB and NBA in that order.

[Neil]

I am going to vote, so fuck you.

[alfred russel]

I am going to vote, so fuck you.

I gave you an option. The "I am not an American" option.

You had your chance in the War of 1812 and you blew it. Now you are stuck in the ghetto of my poll with all the Euros. Deal with it.

[Eddie Teach]

College football is the only one I follow.

[Barrister]

There is the CFL, then the NHL, then a bunch of sports I don't care about.

So how should I vote?

[MadImmortalMan]

College football is the only one I follow.

Same here.

[Ed Anger]

There is the CFL, then the NHL, then a bunch of sports I don't care about.

So how should I vote?

NDP

[alfred russel]

There is the CFL, then the NHL, then a bunch of sports I don't care about.

So how should I vote?

That depends...are you American? If not then the "not american" option is for you.

Of course you might consider Canada simply a cultural extension of America and effectively a protectorate of the US. In that case, just vote for the NHL. Everyone will know the NHL votes are Canadians anyway.

[Neil]

I am going to vote, so fuck you.

I gave you an option. The "I am not an American" option.

You had your chance in the War of 1812 and you blew it. Now you are stuck in the ghetto of my poll with all the Euros. Deal with it.

I voted for a sport.  Looks like you failed.

[alfred russel]

MAH POLE'S INTEGRITY. 

[PDH]

Poll fails.  I follow college football, college basketball, NFL, and soccer

[Capetan Mihali]

I don't follow any sports, but favorite to watch would probably be ranked: NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAA basketball.

[Ed Anger]

I don't follow any sports, but favorite to watch would probably be ranked: NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAA basketball.

Eat more manly foods, and you'll be able to watch man sports.

[Admiral Yi]

NFL, then NCAA round ball, then college fooseball.  I can't even get it up to watch the NBA final anymore.