As American as Mom, Apple Pie and Football?
Football continues to trump baseball as America's Favorite Sport

NEW YORK , N.Y. - January 16, 2014 - In September and October, it's an argument that happens year after year in sports bars nationwide. But, it might be that it's one that comes to an easy conclusion, as football continues to dominate over baseball as America's Favorite Sport. Over one-third (35%) of adults who follow at least one sport say professional football is their favorite sport, while just 14% say baseball is their favorite.

The gap between the two sports has grown from last year, when 34% said pro football was their favorite while 16% said baseball was their favorite sport. This is the second largest gap between the two sports in the almost 30 years this survey has been conducted. The highest gap was in 2011, when it was 23 points as 36% said professional football was their favorite sport and 13% said baseball was their favorite.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,311 adults surveyed online between December 11 and 17, 2013 by Harris Interactive.

Looking at how other sports fared, just over one in ten sports fans (11%) say college football is their favorite sport, while 7% say it is auto racing, 6% say men's professional basketball, 5% say hockey and 3% say it is men's college basketball. All other sports are favorites for 2% or less of sports fans.

There are some fluctuations in favorites over time. Since this question was first asked in 1985, professional football has gone up 11 points, from 24% of sports fans saying it was their favorite sport then to 35% saying so now. Baseball, on the other hand, has gone down 9 points, from 23% in 1985 to 14% today. Hockey has gone up 3 points while men's tennis, men's college basketball and horse racing have all gone down 3 points.

Some people favor a sport more than others

When it comes to the top sports, different groups are more likely to cite them as favorites. Those who live in rural areas (44%), people with a child under 18 (42%), and Easterners (39%) are more likely to say professional football is their favorite sport, while those with a post graduate degree (24%), Echo Boomers (31%), and Liberals (31%) are less likely to do so. When it comes to baseball, Hispanics (19%), those with a household income of $100,000 or more (18%), and suburbanites (18%) are more likely to cite it as their favorite sport; African Americans (7%), those who live in rural areas (8%) and Echo Boomers (10%) are least likely to say baseball is their favorite.

Looking at college football, those in the South (17%), those with a post graduate degree (17%) and college graduates (16%) are more likely to say this is their favorite, while Easterners (4%), Hispanics (7%) and Democrats (8%) are least likely to say college football is their favorite sport. When it comes to auto racing, it is more likely to be the favorite for those living in rural areas (12%), those in households with an income under $35,000 (12%), and those with a high school or less education (11%); auto racing is less likely to be the favorite for African Americans (1%), Hispanics (2%) and both post graduates and college graduates (3% each).

I'd prefer to look at this (contrived) way: According to the survey I am likeliest to be a Hispanic suburbanite who denies my black roots.

I don't even want to know what an "echo boomer" is.

The VAST majority of people who say football is their favorite sport actually mean watching football on TV is their favorite pastime. I realize some of you don't think there's any difference.

The VAST majority of people who say football is their favorite sport actually mean watching football on TV is their favorite pastime. I realize some of you don't think there's any difference.

The VAST majority of people who say baseball is their favorite sport actually mean watching baseball in person is their favorite pastime. I realize some of you don't think there's any difference.

Do you realize how insane that sounds?

You're missing the point. Baseball is much more personal. People watch a TV show and it's over. No real emotional connection.

You're missing the point. Baseball is much more personal. People watch a TV show and it's over. No real emotional connection.

What exactly are baseball fans doing after the game is over?

You're missing the point. Baseball is much more personal. People watch a TV show and it's over. No real emotional connection.

My facebook feed, and this board the past two days would disagree with you.

What exactly are baseball fans doing after the game is over?

You don't know anybody who watches football, do you?

Possibly the most ignorant statement ever uttered on this board.

But people do get emotionally attached to TV shows. Ask any woman who has watched a soap opera for many years. You might be surprised.

Let's think about that statement for a minute. If true, how popular could football really be? But in fact, I know lots of people who "watch" football. Most have aboutt the same amount of emotional investment as they have in which socks they put on. But they get pumped when their fantasy running back scores. If that's popularity, you win.

Strange that JORR only hangs with Bernstein types. I've never heard someone say all their friends who watch football are never emotionally invested.

Obviously not to the degree that they are invested in baseball. Just look at this board. There are countless threads with guys getting seriously angry about guys who have never played a major league game. There's no passion like that for football. Maybe in Texas, but I don't live there. My fantasy team is great though.

Why is it so important to you that baseball is considered more important or popular than football? It's just strange and comes off as insecure. You don't really see the soccer, basketball, or hockey guys caring that much how mainstream their sport is.

It's not important to me, but it's a fact. I don't want to get into a discussion of the semantics of the word "popular". The whole argument for the "popularity" of football is based upon TV eyes. And I'm not criticizing the NFL or its marketing strategy. It's been highly effective. But make no mistake, that's what football is- a carrier for advertising. The NFL is the apex of American consumerism. Within that narrow context, sure it's more popular than baseball. How could it not be? It's more popular than God or anything else. Ain't that America? It all based upon getting people to sit on their fat asses in front of televisions to be sold product between plays. You are the World's Most Powerful Fan.