OT- Random thought....twitter and current UConn students

[UConnDan97]

-kid stands at the penalty kick mark on a soccer field. he gets ten tries to kick the ball in the goal.
-kid stands at the foul line and he gets ten tries to make a basket(foul shot)
-kid stands at the plate and he gets ten pitches to hit a base hit

u tell me which one is the hardest?
-soccer its just u vs the goalie
-bball its just aiming your shot at that age
-baseball you have to hit a moving ball with a bat, then hope fielders dont make th play on you depending on where you hit it.

the skill set in baseball is harder. its just a perception thing based on how a certain person was raised and what you grew up around. if baseball or fball or hockey were easy sports, even bball at the high levels, they wouldn't get paid a **** load to play in the pros. there is a reason lax will never be anything more than a fun to watch college sport that gives kids sships.

-anyone can pick up a bball and go to a local park and shoot hoops. you can go to the ice rink and free skate and day u want. fball and baseball you needs other players who are skilled at the sport.

First of all, why would you go to a penalty shot for a soccer kid? Penalty shots happen so infrequently that the analogy is horrible. The better analogy is kicking a moving soccer ball at a goal with a goalie in front of it while someone is chasing you, which happens every eighth or ninth play. Then, how does your math look?

Also, the pay in baseball has nothing to do with the skill level. It has to do with the fanbase. That's what the fans here will pay to watch games both live and on tv. In Europe, there are guys making soccer contracts that make A-Rod's deal look like a rookie draft pick! Is that because of the skill level, or because people will spend half their paycheck to see Ronaldo and Rooney?

 

[UConnDan97]

which brings me to another thing. baseball and fball are far more mental sports as far as scheme/plotting/situation then the others also.

Again, "Wrong."

Just because you don't understand what the mental game is in soccer doesn't mean that it isn't there. If there weren't a mental game, then why do you see the same managers getting paid ridiculous amounts of money abroad to coach it?? (Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Roberto Mancini, etc.)

 

[uconndennis]

First, I didn't like your math on that. Second, hitting a baseball is not one of the hardest things to do, actually. It is a misrepresented statement that I hear all the time. Let's hold aside the fact that I don't believe swinging a bat makes you an athlete any more than swinging an axe makes a lumberjack an athlete, since my personal definition of an athlete requires both strength and fitness. Having said that, almost every batter that steps to the plate in baseball hits the ball, which should in and of itself invalidate the statement. And if you are referring to "getting a hit" or "getting safely on base," the average pro is getting on base 1/4 of the time he is offered the opportunity through hitting and more so through the opportunity of walking or getting hit with a pitch.

There are a great many things that are harder in sports, such as a running back scoring a touchdown, a soccer player scoring a goal, a hockey player scoring a goal, etc. The baseball myth is just that; a myth.

That's why they call it the great American "pastime"....so you can "pass the time"...

nah....if i put you in a hoops pick up game, you could dribble and probably make a lay-up even if you never saw a basketball. If I put you in a batters box for and threw 75 mph, you'd cry. hitting a baseball is ridiculous. the fear alone of getting one in the ear makes it near impossible

 

[Dann]

every snap in fball there is a ton of stuff going on right? the d is doing this, the o that who is moving where and so on. we all know the deal. well in baseball the same thing is going on. the difference is most people can't handle the skills so they never learn the next level which is the situation. which outfield is shifting on the pitch, bunt defense and so much more shit. every pitch your trying to keep the batter off balance, its the same type of schemes to certain batters as defense blitz stuff. but kids don't learn that aspect of baseball until they have gotten good enough at the skill portion where they can then execute the next level. that's why baseball is harder but a lot argue it, its because they never saw how hard it was and don't understand it. if they did understand it, then they would be playing it. im done

 

[Dann]

ok im not done.

First of all, why would you go to a penalty shot for a soccer kid? Penalty shots happen so infrequently that the analogy is horrible. The better analogy is kicking a moving soccer ball at a goal with a goalie in front of it while someone is chasing you, which happens every eighth or ninth play. Then, how does your math look?

Also, the pay in baseball has nothing to do with the skill level. It has to do with the fanbase. That's what the fans here will pay to watch games both live and on tv. In Europe, there are guys making soccer contracts that make A-Rod's deal look like a rookie draft pick! Is that because of the skill level, or because people will spend half their paycheck to see Ronaldo and Rooney?

the reason i chose a penalty shot in soccer is because the first thing kids do is walk to a field, put the ball down and shoot at the goal. its the most basic form of playing soccer. just like standing on a court somewhere and shooting. you need more in baseball to be functionally playing it. that's the point.

 

[UConnDan97]

nah....if i put you in a hoops pick up game, you could dribble and probably make a lay-up even if you never saw a basketball. If I put you in a batters box for and threw 75 mph, you'd cry. hitting a baseball is ridiculous. the fear alone of getting one in the ear makes it near impossible

If you threw 75mph as a Little Leaguer over a 90ft distance, then you wouldn't have been playing in Little League for very long. No crying necessary. Again, people, I played the sport for a few years. I actually know what it's like to face pitchers, all the way up to varsity high school ball (where they found someone better, admittedly).

Also, I don't want to give the impression that I believe it takes no skill to play baseball. Of course it does, otherwise everyone would get paid millions to do it for fun. But in the athletic comparison against a sport like basketball or soccer? Are you kidding me??

 

[UConnDan97]

ok im not done.



the reason i chose a penalty shot in soccer is because the first thing kids do is walk to a field, put the ball down and shoot at the goal. its the most basic form of playing soccer. just like standing on a court somewhere and shooting. you need more in baseball to be functionally playing it. that's the point.

That's because they didn't have friends to play with them that day. It's like hitting a tennis ball against a wall. But it's not really relevant in a game situation, is it.

 

[UConnDan97]

but kids don't learn that aspect of baseball until they have gotten good enough at the skill portion where they can then execute the next level.

That is true of EVERY sport out there. Every one. Don't pretend that the tactics in every sport don't get infinitely harder with increased skill level.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

That's because they didn't have friends to play with them that day. It's like hitting a tennis ball against a wall. But it's not really relevant in a game situation, is it.

I'll just end my piece with this question......who would look more lost if they switched sports and played for the other's respective teams: Curtis Granderson or David Beckham?

Can you imagine Beckham fielding a hot shot at 3B and making throw? Or better yet, at the plate against MLB pitching?

 

[UConnDan97]

I'll just end my piece with this question......who would look more lost if they switched sports and played for the other's respective teams: Curtis Granderson or David Beckham?

Can you imagine Beckham fielding a hot shot at 3B and making throw? Or better yet, at the plate against MLB pitching?

My answer is that they would both look equally lost. I can imagine Granderson (as athletic as he is....nice choice, by the way, and not CC Sabathia...) swinging his leg at a soccer ball and watching his toeball go out of bounds embarrassingly. I can also imagine Beckham getting a ground ball hit to him and pulling a Buckner (sorry, Red Sox fans). So yeah, equally lost, I'd say...

 

[johnhuskies95]

Second, hitting a baseball is not one of the hardest things to do, actually. It is a misrepresented statement that I hear all the time.

Easy for you to say while sitting at your desk.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

One last thing.....you clicked on a thread titled UConn students and twitter and expected compelling conversation? This is the BY. You must be in the wrong forum.

I'm not saying I expect compelling conversation. But saying "lol country sucks" is... pretty meh even for a college football message board.

 

[Dann]

if u can't throw back some evan williams and listen to some montgomery gentry, then i don't know what to think of u!

 

[CL82]

Just a couple of observations..

HFD you compared getting a hit in a live baseball game to taking an uncontested shot in basketball or a PK in soccer, not exactly apples to apples. If you are going to make a comparison either make it a live game experience in all sports or make it batting practice for baseball.

There's a reason why there are a lot 1-0 soccer games. It is very hard to score. Does that make it a more athletic game? Not necessarily, just a game which has been designed to make scoring difficult. I will say that soccer players tend to be able to do well in other sports, between excellent stamina, foot coordination and seeing passing and defensive angles. A lot of middle school soccer players move into other sports for high school and don't miss a beat. It is a great sport for young kids to play because, as noted above, it is an easy enough concept to explain to kids and yet is an extraordinarily difficult game to master. It's not as big a status sport in the US as some others but that is changing.

Basketball is, in my opinion one of the more difficult games to participate in as you move up the skill level. Having only five players on the court at time naturally culls the less gifted kids and since it is a very spectator friendly game (seats close to the action, played in the winter when there's less competing specator choices, fast paced and easy to understand for the casual viewer) it is fairly high status. That means that the competition to make the roster is high. That leads to some pretty decent athletes being chosen.

Baseball has a lot of good memories for me both playing and watching my son play but it is excruciatingly slow paced and the games are long. That makes it more of a challenge to draw in the casual fan but also to the kids playing it. When he finally reached the point that he felt he couldn't meet his commitments to both sports, my son chose soccer (to my silent disappointment at the time). Soccer is just a lot more fun to play, assuming that you are reasonably skilled.

For what it is worth, football is a very challenging game to play, physically and mentally. It is fun to watch but surprisingly hard for a casual fan to understand. (I'm amazed at how many women over the years have had trouble with the whole 4 downs to go ten yards concept. It seems easy enough. Never mind the more complicated aspects of the game.) In my opinion football players, somewhat position dependant, have to make the most the situational decisions of any sport based upon a wider area to scan and analyze. It has great culture but the concussion issue will have to be dealt with.

 

[JayRU09]

Golf is the hardest.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Fair point about baseball.

And more kids playing soccer than hockey isn't necessarily a new trend. Hockey costs a fortune.

Hockey and lacrosse seem to be "crossover" sports in southwestern FF county. A lot of football players also gravitate to lacrosse. Lacrosse, at least down here, is hurting baseball and track and field. "Zoo," please don't start. I get it. You don't like baseball.

 

[spsct]

Hockey is a time investment too. Practices can be a really weird hours.

You are beating me to every argument. Can't agree with your posts any more.

I wanted to play youth hockey, but my parents couldn't afford it and I had to get to the rink at ungodly hours. Just wasn't happening, no matter how much I lo0ved the game.

 

[JayRU09]

I also stopped playing Youth Hockey when my parents decided that waking up at 4:30AM to go drive down 84 on a Saturday morning pretty much ruined the idea of weekends.

 

[UConnDan97]

Easy for you to say while sitting at your desk.

It's actually easy for me to say no matter what I'm doing. It's easy because it's true...

 

[johnhuskies95]

It's actually easy for me to say no matter what I'm doing. It's easy because it's true...

What team did you play for in the big leagues?

 

[UConnDan97]

What team did you play for in the big leagues?

The same one you did. Which team did you play for in professional soccer or basketball? Yeah, I know, silly question, right? So why ask it...

 

[JayRU09]

My dad played pro ball and is a firm believer that golf is the hardest of the major sports in terms of skill.

 

[johnhuskies95]

The same one you did. Which team did you play for in professional soccer or basketball? Yeah, I know, silly question, right? So why ask it...

That's what I thought.

 

[UConnDan97]

I am realizing that I have just walked into perhaps the one of the more pointless discussions, and I don't see any way out of it. We have mixed up discussions between skill, athleticism, availability, and country music...

 

[UConnDan97]

That's what I thought.

No, that's what I thought!

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Golf is the hardest.

I always loved baseball and liked golf. I played baseball until the differences in my ability to play the two sports (the summer between my soph and junior years in HS) became pronounced. While that doesn't make me an expert, it does allow me to disagree with your assessment. I assume we are talking about good players capable of a good result and, in the baseball case, good pitching.

First and foremost, there is little to no fear factor in golf. Getting hit with a baseball hurts, a lot. Getting hit in the head does more than hurt. Standing in and hitting the ball hard after being "flipped" takes skill and an extra portion of courage. There is nothing like it in golf.

Golf is more forgiving. Again, assuming good players, an off-center hit in baseball is more than likely to end badly. Experience tells me that hitting a golf ball a little thin or a little fat or with a swing that's a little inside/outside the line of flight can, and often does, lead to something close to the hoped for result.

Hitting a round ball, thrown by a good pitcher, with a spherical bat is is the single most difficult athletic skill to master; especially when the good pitcher might decide to bounce one off your coconut.

 

[JayRU09]

I played baseball in high school, and I played golf every summer until I got to college. I was pretty darn good at both, and I grew up with someone in the household who was REALLY good at baseball and quite good at golf.

Golf is harder.

 

[rich1122]

I really don't like Country, but my wife does now so I will not turn it off in the car, but I forbid it in the house (well I convinced her that XM satellite has no Country Stations). Ha Ha

My viewing habits have changed immensely, especially toward baseball and golf. Five years ago I watched baseball every night - now almost never. I never missed a Red Sox Yankees series. I watched every inning. Golf, I watch the majors. I gave up on the NBA many years ago. After the Lebron James debacle never again.

I have supplanted them with Intl Soccer. Now I would never miss any time when Team USA plays. I watched the Euro Cup and most Saturday AM Premiere games games on ESPN. Man U. Vs. Man City Man that was great.

Can see why thought things are changing in habits for the kids.

 

[RedSoloCup]

soccer and bball are popular because they are easy to play as far as whats needed and skill wise at non high levels.
even at low levels like little league baseball is a skill sport much more so then others. thats why u see a ton of kids that dont make little league all star type teams all of a sudden go play lax the next year. in lax it takes some skill to shoot and pass but not even close the skill of baseball. you can be more of a pure ath in lax and be a player compared to baseball. thats the shift. its kids who can't hack 1 moving to the other. now parents are just filtering kids to lax(which is fine, to each there own) and the kid never develops great skills because of it(hand eye type stuff).

Can't agree on the lack of hand eye... tell me that coordination and timing are not needed when a player cuts across the crease to catch a ball in a 3"X9" net as it is fed in at high speed, dodge a defender and the fling that ball around anther two to get it to the net, never mind in the net? Running, not standing in a box with a moment to adjust to the pitch. I mean, the catcher is also not defending at the same time.

Besides, you get to body check people and hit them with the stick. Baseball frowns on that for some reason.

 

[IMind]

Hockey has always been kind of a class thing, too, even in cold weather locations. If you can't afford the equipment, you can't really play. Hence why you don't see it in as many urban areas. Whereas it's much easier for people, especially in developing countries, to just pick up a soccer ball and play.

In Canada at least the class thing doesn't really exist. Since everyone plays there's tons of equipment available on the cheap. Used stuff is everywhere... the cost of ice is much more of a factor here... it costs me a shitcrapload of money for my kid to play hockey... and most of that just goes to ice time. I can gear him up for 1/10th the cost of ice time for a year... Where it's cold (My wife is from Winnipeg,MB) enough the ice time is not factor... they just flood a friggen field... in the city they put up some boards.