The "major" sports.

[Brian Fein]

Dave, I get defensive because you constantly claim that hockey decreases in popularity, but its all based on YOUR personal perception.  We've had these threads before.

For the sake of the conversation, I will end it here, but I can't believe someone would (a) call MMA a "sport" (by your own definitions, its not a sport any more than boxing) and (b) would consider that more people in the USA watch two guys beating the piss out of each other than would watch ice hockey.  I would wager that the number of NHL viewers are still powers-of-ten higher than the number of MMA viewers.

If the Panthers (one of the worst markets in the NHL) can draw 10,000 people on a Wednesday night, I can't understand how you continue to say hockey is losing popularity.

[Dave Gray]

Dave, I get defensive because you constantly claim that hockey decreases in popularity, but its all based on YOUR personal perception.  We've had these threads before.

It's not based on my opinion.  It's based on a lot of things -- TV ratings, coverage, etc.

For the sake of the conversation, I will end it here, but I can't believe someone would (a) call MMA a "sport" (by your own definitions, its not a sport any more than boxing)

I've always said that boxing is a sport.  ...the ultimate sport, really. 

and (b) would consider that more people in the USA watch two guys beating the piss out of each other than would watch ice hockey.  I would wager that the number of NHL viewers are still powers-of-ten higher than the number of MMA viewers.

I'm not saying that MMA is bigger.  I think it's pretty clearly not bigger.  It's more of a question of whether or not it can become bigger.

[ethurst2]

UFC has been around for almost 15 years so I would not call it a flash in the pan. Also for years it was very limited to where it could be sanctioned and televised from. I live in California and I know more professional and amatuer MMA fighters than I do true blue hockey fans, and the fan base for MMA is growing.
Ethurst a number of top teir fighters are/were former K1, wrestling champions, and have moved over so to call them fighters who could not make it to the next level is off base.

So correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't Brock Lesnar, the wrestler, switching over to MMA?

[bsmooth]

So correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't Brock Lesnar, the wrestler, switching over to MMA?

Yes the former colligiate champion has moved over and has been training for awhile to bring his striking skills up to par with his excellent ground skills.

[landlocked]

would consider that more people in the USA watch two guys beating the piss out of each other than would watch ice hockey. 

I thought that was why people watched ice hockey,Brian.

[BingeBag]

I live in the college side of Orlando by UCF. When a UFC pay-per-view comes on during the month, you can't even stand inside any of the numerous bars around here without showing up a hour and a half before.

[raptorsfan29]

Hockey is far from decreasing in popularity. in 2007 NHL attendance was 20,857,288
in 2008 NHL attendance was 21,289,579, a 432,291 increase from last year.

[run_to_win]

There are only 3 sports.

Football
Baseball
other

Football is the only one that matters.  Remember the year that both MLB and the NHL were on strike?  Those were the best Sportscenters ever!

Extreme makeover and the next best chef competition are both as much of a sport as poker. 

Isn't the Breeder's Cup now part of the NBA?  It used to be part of MLB back when Steve Garvey won it.

[Househead]

Actually, the only "major" sport on a global perspective is soccer.  Everything else is second tier.

[Brian Fein]

It's not based on my opinion.  It's based on a lot of things -- TV ratings, coverage, etc.

Cause and effect, Dave.  No one can watch hockey if it isn't on TV.  Its not the fans' fault that the only games on TV are on Versus channel.  I bet you can't even tell me what channel that is on your cable box, if you even GET that channel.  It doesn't get crappy ratings cause no one cares.  You perceive that no one cares cause they're not on TV.

Actually, the only "major" sport on a global perspective is soccer.  Everything else is second tier.

You are such a euro-hippy.  Shut your face.  No one watches soccer...

[StL FinFan]

I watch soccer...OMG I'm no one! 

[Househead]

2 billion people is apparantly "no one" to Brian   

[SportsChick]

Very few US born people watch soccer, however, world-wide is probably by far the most popular sport

[Dave Gray]

Cause and effect, Dave.  No one can watch hockey if it isn't on TV.  Its not the fans' fault that the only games on TV are on Versus channel.  I bet you can't even tell me what channel that is on your cable box, if you even GET that channel.  It doesn't get crappy ratings cause no one cares.  You perceive that no one cares cause they're not on TV.

Actually, I watched MMA on versus last night.  (Which is funny, because I never do that, but it just happened to be on.)

I see it the other way.  I figure that if there was a demand for hockey, and it got ratings, that it would be on a major network. 

[stinkfish]

Check this out. I live in Boston. Big baseball, and historic hockey town. You'd think that I'd be a fan. I wouldn't even miss hockey and baseball if both leagues went bankrupt and disbanded.