USA, given its size, has several popular sports including football, MMA, tennis, baseball, etc. Sports hold a vital role in American culture. Throughout history, baseball has stood as the nation's national sport. Even though, in recent decades, American football has surged ahead, reigning as the most-watched sport on broadcasts.
National Game of USA
The United States doesn't have a designated official national sport by Congress. However, baseball has functioned as the quintessential American pastime for a significant span of time. Alongside football, basketball, and hockey, baseball maintains a strong following, collectively generating billions in annual revenue.
Why exactly did baseball earn its position as the unofficial American sport? The 1920s marked a pivotal time when the aftermath of World War I prompted global realignment, compelling the USA to redefine its global role and identity. At that juncture, baseball stood as the foremost sport in the nation, a distinction that could be argued for football today, leading to its identification as the de facto national sport.
Basketball surged into the mainstream American sports arena during the 1980s, while ice hockey and soccer followed suit around the turn of the 21st century. These sports collectively form what's known as the "Big Five." In the earlier half of the 20th century, boxing and collegiate football held substantial popularity alongside baseball. Golf, tennis, and collegiate basketball also enjoyed enduring popularity as spectator sports. Lately, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has shattered attendance and broadcast records for combat sports.
In terms of earnings, the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada are the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer (MLS). The NFL takes the lead, raking in a staggering $16 billion in revenue and clinching the title of the world's most profitable sports league.
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Worth noting is that around 14 U.S. states have formally recognized their own state sports (as of 2018). Some of these choices are intriguingly unique, including surfing (Hawai'i and California), dog mushing (Alaska), pack burro racing (Colorado), and rodeo (Wyoming, Texas, and South Dakota).
List of State Sports
State | Sport | Year Adopted | Designation |
Alaska | Dog mushing | 1972 | |
California | Surfing | 2018 | |
Colorado | Pack burro racing | 2012 | State summer sport |
Skiing and Snowboarding | 2008 | State winter sport | |
Delaware | Bicycling | 2014 | |
Hawaii | Surfing (He'e nalu) | 1998 | State individual sport |
Outrigger canoe paddling (Heihei wa'a) | 1986 | State team sport | |
Maryland | Jousting | 1962 | State sport |
Lacrosse | 2004 | State team sport | |
Massachusetts | Basketball | 2006 | Sport of the Commonwealth |
Volleyball | 2014 | Recreational and team sport of the Commonwealth | |
Michigan | American Football | 1972 | |
Minnesota | Ice hockey | 2009 | |
Missouri | Archery | 2022 | |
New Hampshire | Skiing | 1998 | |
New York | Baseball | 2021 | |
North Carolina | Stock car racing | 2011 | |
North Dakota | Curling | 2023 | |
South Dakota | Rodeo | 2003 | |
Texas | Rodeo | 1997 | |
Washington | Pickleball | 2022 | |
Wyoming | Rodeo | 2003 |
Drawing from the Olympic Games, World Championships, and other significant competitions across various sports, the United States stands out as the preeminent nation in a wide array of disciplines.
Domination is evident in baseball, basketball, athletics, swimming, lacrosse, beach volleyball, figure skating, tennis, golf, boxing, diving, shooting, rowing, and snowboarding. Moreover, the U.S. consistently ranks within the top five most accomplished countries of all time in sports like ice hockey, wrestling, gymnastics, volleyball, speed skating, alpine skiing, bobsleigh, equestrian events, sailing, cycling, weightlifting, and archery, among several others.
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