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| Choices, Choices: College vs. Professional Sports |
| Written by Denise I Smithson |
| Wednesday, 01 July 2009 07:59 |
|
Sports fans have always debated the merits of college athletics versus the competition of professional sports leagues; they probably always will. There are fans on either side of the divide, both convinced that their preference is backed by the facts. Others have different preferences for different sports, preferring professional football but college basketball, etc. Football and basketball are in fact the two sports which seem to spark the most passion in fans over this issue.
Sports fans have always debated the merits of college athletics versus the competition of professional sports leagues; they probably always will. There are fans on either side of the divide, both convinced that their preference is backed by the facts. Others have different preferences for different sports, preferring professional football but college basketball, etc. Football and basketball are in fact the two sports which seem to spark the most passion in fans over this issue. March Madness is one of the primary arguments made by college basketball devotees in favor of collegiate athletics. The March Madness tournament is something which gets the attention of NBA fans and even many who don't normally watch basketball at all; its appeal is hard to deny. The college tournament schedule includes dozens and dozens of games and there is always the chance of an upset in any given matchup. This generates a lot of excitement each spring and is one of the few events which it is socially acceptable to bet on. It's hard to find a workplace anywhere in the country that doesn't have a March Madness pool, regardless of local mores or even regulations on sports betting. Collegiate basketball proponents make the aversion that college basketball is simply a purer form of the sport. There are certainly plenty of college players who aspire to go on to professional careers, but the vast majority of college players are in it because they just love the game. Fans are as passionate about college basketball as are the players and team loyalties often last a lifetime, which is somewhat less common among NBA fans. On the other side of the equation, fans of pro basketball will argue that while that is great, the NBA is better. The quality of competition is much better and the basketball played is better. The athletes are more supreme and gifted, and it's the best of the best. There are no weak links in the NBA, and the top players and teams don't get to walk over weaker competition that doesn't belong. The seven game series which make up the NBA playoffs are pointed to by fans as a way of guaranteeing that the best team will emerge victorious. While it's hard to claim that the NBA playoffs offer more excitement than March Madness, they also make the point that regular season games are more compelling events. As far as football is concerned, the talk almost always comes back to the playoffs. NFL proponents point to the Bowl Championship Series, which they argue is inherently unfair. It is certainly true that the college playoffs don't offer the teams a chance to prove their merit through direct competition. Instead, the playoffs are put together through polling and computerized analysis. A team could be the best in the country and still have no chance to make it to the Rose Bowl unless they are ranked first or second by this curious system - making the college football playoffs something many fans skip (unless their alma mater happens to be in the running). College football fans counter this argument by saying that the format of the championship games means that the regular season is far more competitive and exciting for the fans. Teams can be eliminated from a shot at the championship by even one loss, making every game vitally important. In the NFL, they claim, the fact that a team can come back from a mediocre season actually makes the regular NFL season less interesting (something that NFL fans tend to find backwards thinking on the matter). The arguments for which is better, collegiate or professional sporting, will never be settled easily. Those who feel one way are likely to keep that point of way. The great thing is that you can choose to watch what you want and enjoy each league and level of competition for their differences and specific strengths. About the Author: When you want a question answered about sports, be sure to visit http://nothingbutsports.info. Here you will find sports trivia, tips, quotations, and resources about all kinds of sports activities. Visit us today at Nothing But Sports. |