Things You'd Change, Popular or Unpopular

[Tigers6884]

Hey, guys! Everyone's favorite member, Tigers6884, here celebrating my 500th post on this amazing website by starting a thread based on the Unpopular Opinions thread over in the Sports Logo Discussion forum. What are some of your unpopular opinions about the sports you enjoy? These may be about stadiums/ballparks, specific teams, the history of the sport, fan support of said sport, or just about anything other than logos and uniforms. Let's begin!

My first unpopular sports opinion is that I love playing baseball on artificial turf. While my cleats don't get the same feeling of digging into the field, but at the same time I won't trip over dips in the field that can sometimes occur on poorly kept natural fields. They also provide more predictable bounces with the baseball as it strikes the turf. And for someone like me who doesn't have the strongest throwing arm, it makes fielding much easier.

Another opinion that I have that not a lot of people also feel is that I hate the United States' bandwagon attempt to try to accept soccer as a popular sport in this country. I was happy when the U.S. lost in the World Cup so I can stop hearing about all of the stupid hipster-ish soccer “fans" there are in my country (no offense to some members who might legitimately know about and care for the sport). I'll stick to baseball, hockey, (and to minor degrees) football, and basketball. “Why are you so opinionated on this?", you might ask me. Well, it's because I don't want the U.S. start “liking" a sport just to impress the rest of the world. This is America. We broke off from Europe to discover our own interests.

So what do you feel strongly about, even though others may not feel the same way?

[AnPheitseog]

I honestly hate that rugby (union) isnt a major sport in the States, because it is a vastly superior game than what gridiron is in all aspects and the culture of the game allows for more role models than what gridiron provides.

I also believe that Canadian football is better than American and provides a much better viewing experience

To points, I enjoy watching sports where players get paid less, because they arent as cocky and as into themselves as compared to when they make it to the majors and cash in.

[Brave-Bird 08]

The way basketball games end is obnoxious. It's the only sport where committing a foul/penalty/violation can benefit you. If a game is close, it will always end with a flurry of intentional violations.

I think that's pure :censored:.

[Critical Thinker]

I find curling not only interesting, but exciting. The build-up and anticipation as the rock is thrown and the sweepers are sweeping always has me on the edge of my seat. I wish it was on TV more often than once every 4 years.

Not sure if this is unpopular or not, but I don't like instant replay in sports, especially in baseball. I like the element of human error. But specifically, baseball is fundamentally a gentlemen's game (back when it was first invented, the game was so 'gentlemanly' that pitchers would ask hitters where they wanted the pitch thrown!). The umpire was almost always a respected community member, and he was given a comfortable chair under an umbrella, and sometimes a fan on hot days. Because of this, his call was final, and that was that. Whatever he said was truth. One of the worst things about baseball today is managers coming out to argue calls. You just don't question the umpire, even when you know he's wrong. Baseball is just a game. Don't take it like it's anything more. Seriously- have some respect for the officiating crew: this isn't hockey. I don't mind replay as much in football or hockey, but keep it out of baseball completely.

The way basketball games end is obnoxious. It's the only sport where committing a foul/penalty/violation can benefit you. If a game is close, it will always end with a flurry of intentional violations.

I think that's pure .

Another opinion that I have that not a lot of people also feel is that I hate the United States' bandwagon attempt to try to accept soccer as a popular sport in this country. I was happy when the U.S. lost in the World Cup so I can stop hearing about all of the stupid hipster-ish soccer “fans" there are in my country (no offense to some members who might legitimately know about and care for the sport).

:notworthy:

[OnWis97]

Off the top of my head...

• Football:
  • The Super Bowl is the most over-rated sporting event that is not a golf major.
  • I prefer the running game in to the passing game.
  • I would do away with conference title games
• Basketball:
  • Basketball would be better without the 3-point shot.
  • I would do away with conference tournaments
• Hockey:
  • I don't like how the officials swallow the whistles late in games/OT. Officials can "decide" a game by not making a call as much as they can by making a call
  • Regular season ties are OK and much more in line with the integrity of the standings than a shootout.
• Baseball:
  • I hate the DH.

[Unocal]

The NFC was not better every single year than the AFC during their streak of 13 straight Super Bowls.

[The Six]

I honestly hate that rugby (union) isnt a major sport in the States, because it is a vastly superior game than what gridiron is in all aspects and the culture of the game allows for more role models than what gridiron provides.

I also believe that Canadian football is better than American and provides a much better viewing experience

To points, I enjoy watching sports where players get paid less, because they arent as cocky and as into themselves as compared to when they make it to the majors and cash in.

On this note, Aussie Rules is the best kind of football. They basically took the best parts of all other kinds of "footballs" out there, and combined it for the best combo of action and strategy.

[tBBP]

My unpops:

-The NFL should chop its preseason down to three games, and regular season down to fifteen. There's your 18-game season. Furthermore, subdivide the regular season into thirds, with five games apiece, with league-wide byes after the fifth, tenth, and (for the teams who make the playoffs) last game of the season, a/ to make it fair across the board for all teams regarding when they go on bye, and to allow additional rest for players to heal up from injury if applicable. Oh, and two divisional games per third. Come postseason...three more games: conference semis, finals, then Super Bowl. 1, 2, 3, done. No wild cards, no off week before the SB. Allows for better competitive balance, ensures only the best teams from the regular season make the tournament (that's one thing MLB had right before this past season--if you can't win your division, you have no reason playing in the postseason)...and organizes everything nicely into thirds (because three is a magic number ). But of course this would "cost the league revenue" so I wouldn't expect them to go for it.

There's my one-fifth of a dime about that...feel free to add to it or rip it to shreds.

Additional unpops:

I'm like OnWis97...I may like aerial shows every here and now, but I prefer me some power rush offense, too. (I think that's probably how I got so hooked on Nevada's CFB team circa 2007...I saw it as an evolution of the power rush, with much more speed.)

Speaking of CFB...up until last season I preferred the college game to the NFL just because of all the hair-splitting rules--but now CFB is pulling even with the pros in that regard and to be honest, I'm almost to the point of being turned off to football entirely. (Who'd have seen that coming seven or eight years ago?)

Soccer is my second-favorite sport. My pro team is Philly; my national squad (aside from the U.S. of course) is Argentina. I don't follow the EPL, see no reason to follow the EPL, and it doesn't make me any less of a fan of the game if I don't, no matter what some might say.

I am also of the opinion that the NBA should do away with half its playoff field; shrink it to eight.

MLB should also chop its season down, to 150 games.

[OnWis97]

MLB should also chop its season down, to 150 games.

I'd go with 154...I think that's what they had prior to the 1961 expansion. The increase to 162 was to accommodate a balanced schedule. With longer playoffs and no double-headers, I think chopping eight games off (and going to a number with historical significance) would be valuable.

[AnPheitseog]

My unpops:

-The NFL should chop its preseason down to three games, and regular season down to fifteen. There's your 18-game season. Furthermore, subdivide the regular season into thirds, with five games apiece, with league-wide byes after the fifth, tenth, and (for the teams who make the playoffs) last game of the season, a/ to make it fair across the board for all teams regarding when they go on bye, and to allow additional rest for players to heal up from injury if applicable. Oh, and two divisional games per third. Come postseason...three more games: conference semis, finals, then Super Bowl. 1, 2, 3, done. No wild cards, no off week before the SB. Allows for better competitive balance, ensures only the best teams from the regular season make the tournament (that's one thing MLB had right before this past season--if you can't win your division, you have no reason playing in the postseason)...and organizes everything nicely into thirds (because three is a magic number ). But of course this would "cost the league revenue" so I wouldn't expect them to go for it.

There's my one-fifth of a dime about that...feel free to add to it or rip it to shreds.

Additional unpops:

I'm like OnWis97...I may like aerial shows every here and now, but I prefer me some power rush offense, too. (I think that's probably how I got so hooked on Nevada's CFB team circa 2007...I saw it as an evolution of the power rush, with much more speed.)

Speaking of CFB...up until last season I preferred the college game to the NFL just because of all the hair-splitting rules--but now CFB is pulling even with the pros in that regard and to be honest, I'm almost to the point of being turned off to football entirely. (Who'd have seen that coming seven or eight years ago?)

Soccer is my second-favorite sport. My pro team is Philly; my national squad (aside from the U.S. of course) is Argentina. I don't follow the EPL, see no reason to follow the EPL, and it doesn't make me any less of a fan of the game if I don't, no matter what some might say.

I am also of the opinion that the NBA should do away with half its playoff field; shrink it to eight.

MLB should also chop its season down, to 150 games.

I watch Ligue 1(l'OM) and prefer it to the Premiership personally. I cheer for Chelsea in the Premiership, but, still i like Ligue 1 better.

[4_tattoos]

1. I feel that lacrosse should be a bigger deal than it actually is. When you really think about it lacrosse has elements of three more popular sports (football, soccer & hockey). I find it hard to believe that not many people are able to get in to it. But to be fair, I'm originally from Maryland so I may be a little biased.

I know women's sports in general isn't that popular, with that said I find women's volleyball to be far more enjoyable to watch than all other women's sports. Honestly when I was in High School I never went to any (boys) basketball games, but went to about 5 volleyball games each year. I'd honestly go out of my way to see a high level women's volleyball match in person.

I'm starting to enjoy FCS, Division 2 & Division 3 college football a lot more these days. I'm fully aware that FBS has better talent, but a lot of the shenanigans involved with FBS is starting to pull me away from it. I can honestly say that I did not watch the last 3 BCS Championship Games, but did watch the last 3 NCAA Division I FCS Championship games.

[4_tattoos]

Major League Baseball season needs to be shorter. NBA & NHL to a lesser extent as well. But 162 games in MLB is overkill IMHO.

While we're at it, MLB needs to go back to the previous playoff format. Five teams in just doesn't feel right to me.

I would not be totally against the idea of MLB going to 2 divisions per league (east and west). Somebody here made a very good post about how that could/should be done. Forgot which thread it was in though.

[RyanMcD29]

I actually like the MLB postseason format now. The pre-1995 format, especially with 26 teams for a great length of time, was extremely way too small. That, and I never agree with the "YOU WANNA COMPETE, YOU SHOULD'VE WON THE DIVISION" argument for any sport. Especially when it comes to college football playoff proposals, but it applies to MLB too to an extent. Two Wild Cards that decide one spot with the division champs is far from overkill to me.

[smzimbabwe]

Things I believe that are considered unpopular by others:

1. Wild Cards in any sports should not exist. As a S.F. Giants fan, when they won 103 games in 1993, I felt they in no way deserved a playoff spot since they finished 2nd in the division. I would actually prefer single table leagues as it was back before I was born in 1969.

2. I prefer women's basketball to men's basketball.

3. College football postseason was just fine and dandy when it was just getting invited to a bowl game.

4. I actually like European hockey jerseys with all the ads.

5. I don't always cheer for USA teams or athletes in sports like the olympics.

[DustDevil61]

A few from off the top of my head:

In general:

Less of an emphasis needs to be made on winning divisions/conferences. Too often a so-so team wins an awful division while a good team is left out of whatever league's playoffs due to the fact that the division the better team played in was log-jammed with good to great teams. Examples: the 48-win Golden State Warriors, the 2008 New England Patriots (11-5), 2007-08 Golden State Warriors (48-34), and 2013-14 Phoenix Suns (48-34). Another idea to at least curb this is to give seeding out based on record, not on winning a division.

Major League Baseball:

Not only do I like the idea of interspersed Interleague Play throughout the season, I think each team needs to play every other team a game or two more. Only makes sense with a 162-game season--I'll do the exact math. I'd also shorten the season by a few games in order to expand the playoffs to a total of 12 teams. The current 10-team setup is a step in the right direction from the 8-team format, but it's still wonky as hell.

National Basketball Association:

Seed the top 16 teams in the league for the playoffs record-wise, regardless of conference. This last season showed how much of a discrepancy in quality one conference can have to the other, and it's only fair to include teams based on absolute quality, not relative quality.

[pats2000]

i think the nba is highly overrated. i mean i like i like the sort but dang whatelse espn is talking about for the last two days straight. i hate european soccer. the main disconnect i have with it is that its not our own, which is why i chose to watch the mls over bpl, ive always loved the mls and i enjoy it alot despite what people say, and we DONT need relegation, too many micromarket teams could make it in. mlb should cut the season down by a few games 154 would be ideal. i love baseball to death but i get fatigued watching it by time june rolls around. i like the dh rule alot, no pitcher should ever hit. most of the time they ground out or bunt anyway

[BBTV]

Another opinion that I have that not a lot of people also feel is that I hate the United States' bandwagon attempt to try to accept soccer as a popular sport in this country. I was happy when the U.S. lost in the World Cup so I can stop hearing about all of the stupid hipster-ish soccer “fans" there are in my country (no offense to some members who might legitimately know about and care for the sport). I'll stick to baseball, hockey, (and to minor degrees) football, and basketball. “Why are you so opinionated on this?", you might ask me. Well, it's because I don't want the U.S. start “liking" a sport just to impress the rest of the world. This is America. We broke off from Europe to discover our own interests.

Maybe it was that way where you live, but had you been in any of the bigger cities and saw the excitement (the majority of which was legitimate), you may not feel the same way about the people you are considering bandwagon fans or "hipster-ish soccer 'fans'" (whatever that even means.) I mean I don't get soccer, and wasn't in to it, but the excitement I saw in the city here was legit.

My "unpopular" opinion is that I support most, if not all athlete hold outs, and support the players in just about every dispute

[hailstateunis]

Not sure if this is unpopular or not, but I don't like instant replay in sports, especially in baseball. I like the element of human error. But specifically, baseball is fundamentally a gentlemen's game (back when it was first invented, the game was so 'gentlemanly' that pitchers would ask hitters where they wanted the pitch thrown!). The umpire was almost always a respected community member, and he was given a comfortable chair under an umbrella, and sometimes a fan on hot days. Because of this, his call was final, and that was that. Whatever he said was truth. One of the worst things about baseball today is managers coming out to argue calls. You just don't question the umpire, even when you know he's wrong. Baseball is just a game. Don't take it like it's anything more. Seriously- have some respect for the officiating crew: this isn't hockey. I don't mind replay as much in football or hockey, but keep it out of baseball completely.

So, you're saying coaches or managers shouldn't argue after a bad call because "it's just a game"? It's not just a game to everyone on the field- it's their job. The umpires know what they signed up for, and have gone through training to get to that level. If they make a bad call, they don't deverse any respect. I'm not nessecarily for replay in baseball- it does helps in a lot of cases- but I can certiantly understand what it takes away. But arguing is part of the game- one of the more exciting parts of it at that. The umpires do make mistakes quite frequently, and replay exposes that. If there was no arguing and no replay, the umpires could almost determine the outcome of the game themselves, and no one wants that.

[BBTV]

What good does arguing do other than express disappointment? I've never seen an umpire say "you know you're right, it was high. Ok, he's not out".

[hailstateunis]

What good does arguing do other than express disappointment? I've never seen an umpire say "you know you're right, it was high. Ok, he's not out".

Arguing balls and strikes gets you nowhere, obviously. The arguments that are usually successful (and worthwhile) are about plays in the field. And though not common, the umpires will sometimes huddle up reverse the call if another ump had a better angle.