NFL Strangling MLB?

I'm a baseball guy.

I love the game. Love the history. Always ready with a retort to the old "baseball is borrring" arguments from those who don't love it. As much as I adore it, I have to admit that in this day and age it has lost the battle to the NFL.

I think people began to fall out of love with baseball once they started hearing strike talk back in the 1970s. Then, in 1994, when we lost the World Series, it dropped into the standing room only section of the sports arena. Fans who thought there was too much talk of money in baseball were now convinced. Players were no longer thought of in the same light. Even though football has had its own share of labor troubles, it has managed to escape the perception. The money in the NFL is just as good--often better--but the 'money grubbing athlete' syndrome hasn't stuck as much.

It's also become 'event' television in an era of reality shows and short attention spans. Baseball is like a soap opera. Miss a few days and you can pick up right where you left off and not feel out of the loop. The NFL requires our attention--only once a week--but every week--because the games and storylines are so good. The games are the ultimate reality show--and they're live. The Cowboys/Bills game was one of the best of the decade. The Yankees-Tribe playoff game on TBS didn't stand a chance once this baby got underway. They both lasted over three hours but the football game didn't seem nearly as long. If Buffalo can (almost) beat Dallas, there's hope for any team every week. We simply don't know who will win. We can safely guess New England and Indianapolis won't lose more than a couple of games, but we're interested in how they do it. How they stack up historically. If they'll clinch too early.

The playoff system keeps most teams at least in the hunt until the final couple of weeks. For Pittsburgh Pirates fans, the season effectively ended in late July. The NFL has even figured out ways to keep our attention when there are no games. Baseball has it's hot stove league but instead of trades once being the focus, it's now become about money (again). How much will ARod make? If you're in KC, Pittsburgh or Cincinnati you don't care because he's not coming to play for you. Football can make an event out of the draft in the middle of April. Fans are interested because they know that one or two good draft picks can make the difference just a few months down the road (Hello Trent Edwards).

I feel a little sad for my old friend baseball. I still watch. Still care. But the NFL is just more interesting.