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Essay / The most popular in the world: football
Sports are played all over the world. They are played as a career, a hobby, at the collegiate level, or simply as part of an exercise routine. Most sports have gained popularity through mass media coverage across the world. There are more than 8,000 sports in the world, all of them are competitive and the most popular in the world. However, three sports are proclaimed the most popular in the world: Ultimate Frisbee, American football and fútbol (otherwise known as soccer). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayIn Isaac Saul's article, “The Greatest Sport in the World Is Not What You Think,” published in HuffPost, April 2014, Saul states that Ultimate Frisbee, although unknown, is a "magnificent sport" and "is on the verge of coming out of the shadows." He realizes it's a bit off, but notes that not only do ultimate frisbee players improve each year, but the sport continues to benefit from increased visibility on a daily basis. He supports his assertion with multiple reasons as to why it is not the “big four”; Football, basketball, hockey and baseball, which are one of the biggest sports in the world, are Ultimate Frisbee. Saul highlights the uniqueness of the sport and identifies the true athleticism required to successfully play the sport. Excessive amounts of football side runs and diving catches are made, similar to those of baseball outfielders. And many games take place in the air, comparable to basketball and football. Besides athletics, Ultimate also has a huge social aspect. Annual tournaments for all levels of play are held throughout the United States. Intramural leagues are a part of many college campuses, relationships are formed outside of work, and there is an emphasis on community outreach. In fact, in 2008, a nonprofit organization, Ultimate Peace, was created to bring Israelis and Palestinians together. The goal of this organization is to build friendships while playing Ultimate Frisbee. Although Saul's article focuses on his personal opinions, it fails to include staggering statistics about the sport of Ultimate Frisbee. Around the world, Ultimate is played in over 90 countries. The sport has its own governing body and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as eligible to compete in the 2024 Olympics. America founded its own professional league in 2012, consisting of 21 franchise teams. A recent article, “Ultimate Frisbee Sports Gaining Popularity…”. Published on 7news in April 2019, he said Ultimate “is now the fastest growing sport”. After a lot of research and reading, Ultimate seems to be considered the best sport you've never heard of. While I agree that Ultimate has made great strides, the staggering numbers and statistics do not compare to other sports. According to Wikipedia, “As of 2012, there were 5.1 million Ultimate players in the United States, but there are no known facts to determine how many people play worldwide.” The ability to view the game is very limited. Streaming is available on YouTube and various Facebook pages, but no major media coverage is available. Does the sport require great skills? Yes! Is it fun? Yes! Pickup games are easy; all you need is a field and a Frisbee, but calling it the greatest sport in the world is an overstatement.While baseball is known as America's pastime, football is America's sport, and it could perhaps be the greatest sport in the world. The National Football League (NFL) was established in 1920. It currently includes 32 teams located across the United States. In David Webber's article, “10 Reasons Why American Football is the Best Sport in the World,” Bleacher Report, September 14, 2011; Webber gives proven reasons why football is the most exciting sport in the world. Football has rivalries, Cinderella stories and of course, the end, it's all there; The Super Bowl! Rivalries tend to arise due to an event that caused tension between teams, coaches, or individual players. Rivalries get dirty and can bring out the worst in a player. More often than not, it brings out the best. When it comes to rivalries, all sports have them, but according to Webber, "no rivalry is more intense than that of football." Rivalries come with intrusive plays, an abundance of yellow flags, insane helmet-to-helmet hits, and the potential for punt battles on the sidelines. They may not be as historic as other sports, but the intensity is greater, making the game more exciting than any other sport. Who doesn't love a good fairy tale? In sports, a Cinderella story refers to an individual or team achieving sudden or unexpected recognition, and football is full of such stories. David Webber highlights some of the greatest Cinderella stories that every sports fan can relate to. One of those stories is that of quarterback Kurt Warner. Kurt was nicknamed "Cinderella's Man". His story is a true rags to riches story. Undrafted after college, he turned to arena football and failed. He was shopping when the St. Louis Rams gave him a chance in 1990; where he led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory and became the Super Bowl MVP. It was a miraculous season and a story that 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to make a feature film. The Super Bowl is the annual championship game between the top team from each NFL conference. Unlike other sports championships, which choose their champion from the best of seven games, the Super Bowl “is a game that does not define tomorrow.” It is the most watched event on American television. It is a shared cultural experience that is considered an unofficial holiday in the United States. More food is consumed on this day than on any other day. Due to Super Bowl viewership, air space is at an all-time high; therefore, companies develop advertisements like no other, many of which have become the most famous advertisements in history. Halftime shows are traditional and bring together the most famous artists in pop culture. That being said, what other sport can compete with this? Football has not remained without controversy. In 2017, a player named Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem, choosing to take a knee to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Soon after, an extraordinary number of players joined the protest. These acts of protest sparked mixed reactions from fans towards the President of the United States. The sport's viewership has declined and our country has become divided. How can American sports be the greatest sport in the world and be unpatriotic at the same time? When it comes to playing your first sport, it will most likely be football. Nowadays, the majority of.