Why baseball is improving and the NFL is getting worse

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by jason54858

Oh no, don't get me wrong I see the issues (you addressed them very well in your post). I just don't see the "decline". TV ratings are up, stadiums are filled, and young kids appear to be very interested in the game. Can MLB make the claim? Do me a favor, (guess we can start tommorrow) compare the World Series TV ratings of Game 1, 2, 3, 4, and whatever other game that comes after that to any NFL regular season primetime game. I promise you the NFL will trumph the ratings of any World Series game this year.

Everybody knows the Super Bowl is a lot more popular than the MLB playoffs. The issue I have is your focus on "ratings." That is exactly the problem. Sure, the NFL has increased its popularity to a shitty fanbase that roots for their team for 3 hours but can't name more than 2 players on the team. Or fantasy football players. But at what expense?

Your points are all fixable issues (head trauma, officiating, the "commissioner issue"). Now granted, it won't come overnight, and some issues will (mainly the head trauma dilima) take a lot of PR to bring back the fans that were lost back into the fold. The league is a GOOD commissioner away of bringing this game back on track IMO.

I somewhat agree. But we're getting close to a tipping point where some of Goodell's damage could become irreparable. He keeps adding overseas games and is pushing for an overseas franchise. He wants even more playoff games. He's institutionalized that shitty, shitty decision to have Thursday night football. A new commissioner will have to convince owners to renege on these things which are destroying the game, but making them a lot of money. And the CTE issue is a dam waiting to burst. Just a matter of when.

What the NFL has over all of the other leagues IN THIS COUNTRY (not around the world of course) is the popularity it has within many of the different cultures across the county. Old white guys love it, young black kids love it, middle aged hispnic guys love it, the only league that MIGHT be able to make this claim is the NBA (with the kids anyway). Who will surpass the NFL in this county? the NBA? MLB? The NHL? European soccer?

Fair point. But I don't think anyone is predicting the NFL gets surpassed. I think the NFL will make a shit ton of money commercializing the game to a mass audience. The MLB on the other hand, so far is protecting the integrity of the game and making the game fun for authentic fans