Favorite Niche Sport?
 

So putting aside the Big 6, let's say they're NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, College Football, College Basketball...what is your favorite "niche" sport to follow?

I know some of you are big MMA fans, others Boxing (or maybe the same people like MMA and Boxing), there are NASCAR fans, golf fans, some soccer fans.

So I'm wondering, what (if any) niche sport do you like to follow, and why? Is it any of the above? Is it something else? F1 Racing? Cycling? Cricket? College Hockey?

As I've mentioned here I'm a fan of tennis and lately I've become really fascinated with horse racing and its rich history

What about you?

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

La Liga and the Premier League. Not sure though if that qualifies as a niche sport.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

In the USA, yeah I think it would be

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I would say Soccer for me, especially when either the US or Ecuador (my home country) play.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I love lacrosse. Not MLL so much, but the college game is so much fun. And of course I really enjoy watching and playing golf.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I'm a waning MMA fan. I guess not "waning" but I have definitely lost the diehard in me for it. MMA is going to suffer from one thing that seemingly makes it great..no one stays on top too long anymore. That makes it great for a while because it is never predictable and it keeps it exciting but in the long run people like a little more consistency I think and the fact that there are only a few guys who are really on the top dominate right now is hurting it's broader appeal.

I really got into college baseball this year. The new bat restrictions made the games faster are much more tactical and intense. I am sorta jonsing for a new season of that more than anything other than football.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

College Dodgeball...now with computer graphics!

[url=http://www.youtube.com/user/nationals2011]‪nationals2011的频道‬‏ - YouTube[/url]

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

lacrosse - the running and hitting are reminiscent of football. Great game.

soccer - especially at the highest levels. Called "The Beautiful Game" for a reason.

cricket - easier to get into if you are in a country where it is played. Like high-scoring baseball without the foul lines.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Sprint Car Racing

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=SmootSmack;811256]So putting aside the Big 6, let's say they're NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, College Football, College Basketball...what is your favorite "niche" sport to follow?

I know some of you are big MMA fans, others Boxing (or maybe the same people like MMA and Boxing), there are NASCAR fans, golf fans, some soccer fans.

So I'm wondering, what (if any) niche sport do you like to follow, and why? Is it any of the above? Is it something else? F1 Racing? Cycling? Cricket? College Hockey?

As I've mentioned here I'm a fan of tennis and lately I've become really fascinated with horse racing and its rich history

What about you?[/quote]

I like the horses, mainly because I live 5 minutes from the Saratoga Race Track. I used to work there summers when I was in college, great summer job.

You ever been there before? It's definitely worth the trip up from NYC.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I think I own all those Niche sport games. Ladder Golf, Horse Shoes, Corn Hole, Ping Pong, Darts, Bocce Ball, Lawn Darts (illegal), and a few more.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Preparing for the upcoming season....

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdmbkeJe6zo]‪Vanuatu Land Divers - Naghol / N'Gol‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

Oh, yea and Collegiate LaCrosse

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I am suprised that no one else has said Golf. Oh wait, GMScud mentioned it.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=Mattyk;811282]I like the horses, mainly because I live 5 minutes from the Saratoga Race Track. I used to work there summers when I was in college, great summer job.

You ever been there before? It's definitely worth the trip up from NYC.[/quote]

Really? No, never have. Maybe I'll check it out some time. Is horse racing fun to follow if you're not into gambling, or is it all about the bets? And how do you get into it?

A lot of people seem to like NCAA Lacrosse. I never quite got into lacrosse, but I know it has a passionate fan base.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Monster Trucks. (Monster Jam)

Laugh all you want, but I'm not a redneck and if you see them in person, you'd be impressed. Great family events too, even my wife enjoys seeing them. The drivers love kids and will take a ton of time to sign stuff and talk to you and your children. It's how all sports should be. My son actually got me into the sport when he was two years old. :D

Took my son to another show this weekend at the Buck Motorsports Park in Lancaster. We went to the Linc (yes, Eagles stadium) in Philly last month for a BIG show that will be on SPEED Channel soon.

What's not to like about a 5-ton truck with an 1600-1800 HP big block Ford or 572 Chevy engine? They sound amazing...like a muscle car but 5 times louder.

From the Philly show:

Check out the awesome save starting after the wheelie at about 0:20.
[YT]-cwN1MBnJrU[/YT]


After 1:00 gets good.
[YT]Af_rsS1fJvY[/YT]



From this weekend:

[YT]45l846hWOfo[/YT]



These guys have some driving skills to control a 10,000-pound vehicle like this.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=SmootSmack;811288]Really? No, never have. Maybe I'll check it out some time. Is horse racing fun to follow if you're not into gambling, or is it all about the bets? And how do you get into it?

A lot of people seem to like NCAA Lacrosse. I never quite got into lacrosse, but I know it has a passionate fan base.[/quote]

I'm not a huge gambler, you don't have to be to enjoy the track. Plus, Saratoga is all about the scene. You never know what celebrities you might see, there's great food & drinks, and just strolling around is a lot of fun. I bet a couple of bucks here and there, nothing major.

When I worked there I was much more in tune as to who the big trainers/jockeys/horses were. Now I just pick up a program and try to act like I know what I'm doing. But again for me it's more about just taking in the whole scene that's fun.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Growing up, I was heavy into anything that was a sport. Nowadays, the biggest niches I follow are NASCAR and Soccer. Soccer wise, I follow Premier League mostly, but I keep my eye on the major European leagues and the big tourneys (Champions League, Euro Cup, CONCACAF, World Cup), as well as DC United.

I'm a big Tony Stewart fan when it comes to NASCAR. I started following NASCAR when he made the jump from open wheel to stock cars. I prefer open wheel racing overall. I used to be big into Formula 1, back in the days of Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, but before Michael Schumacher got big.

When the Tour de France is on (like now), I'll sit and watch parts of each day if I can. It's even better if the tour goes through towns I've either been to, or have family in. I casually follow College Lacrosse since I went to a school where Lacrosse was king and everything else played 2nd fiddle. I keep an eye on MMA and Boxing, but won't go out of my way to order or watch unless I know the fight card is stacked.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I used to LOVE the Indy/CART series before the IRL started and ruined it. The races were on every weekend on ABC and I never missed one. Bobby Rahal was my favorite driver.

This was back in the Rahal/Mears/Unser Jr/Fittipaldi/Lyundyk/Mario Andretti days.

I've even taken a lap around Indy (in a tour bus) and toured the racing museum when I was 6 years old.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=Ruhskins;811262]I would say Soccer for me, especially when either the US or Ecuador (my home country) play.[/quote]


Hey Ruhskins, my wife is from Ecuador!

I would say soccer for me as well. I usually root for USA, Chile (my father's home country) and Ecuador thanks to my wife.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=Monkeydad;811292]Monster Trucks. (Monster Jam)

Laugh all you want, but I'm not a redneck and if you see them in person, you'd be impressed. Great family events too, even my wife enjoys seeing them. The drivers love kids and will take a ton of time to sign stuff and talk to you and your children. It's how all sports should be. My son actually got me into the sport when he was two years old. :D

Took my son to another show this weekend at the Buck Motorsports Park in Lancaster. We went to the Linc (yes, Eagles stadium) in Philly last month for a BIG show that will be on SPEED Channel soon.

What's not to like about a 5-ton truck with an 1600-1800 HP big block Ford or 572 Chevy engine? They sound amazing...like a muscle car but 5 times louder.

From the Philly show:

Check out the awesome save starting after the wheelie at about 0:20.
[YT]-cwN1MBnJrU[/YT]


After 1:00 gets good.
[YT]Af_rsS1fJvY[/YT]



From this weekend:

[YT]45l846hWOfo[/YT]



These guys have some driving skills to control a 10,000-pound vehicle like this.[/quote]

That is crazy I was there too! I sat near the Chicken Strips stand. My son went for the first time, he loved it but still loves baseball more.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Serious? At the Buck? I was by the Chicken Strips stand too, in front of the second pole down on that side.

When the announcer was going through the football teams and seeing what teams the crowd liked, my son and I were the only two Skins fans making noise anywhere close to us. :D

Seemed like the RAVENS won that poll actually, over the two PA teams...at least in my section. I was surrounded by Ravens fans.

If you saw that kid in the black Jeremy Macklin jersey in front of the bleachers down by the trash fans who was dumping dirt on himself and his friends/brothers with a cup...I was about 4 rows up directly in front of that kid. :D


Great family events, right?

That Jeep that rolled over is from my town and we actually followed him up to the place on Rt 30. I was telling my son in the car "Look at that Jeep, I bet he's going to the Buck too"...then he came out and rolled over...ha.

This was our second time at the Buck...last year was his first show and that's when he became obsessed. We watch Monster Jam on SPEED together most mornings at 7 a.m.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=Monkeydad;811359]Serious? At the Buck? I was by the Chicken Strips stand too, in front of the second pole down on that side.

When the announcer was going through the football teams and seeing what teams the crowd liked, my son and I were the only two Skins fans making noise anywhere close to us. :D

Seemed like the RAVENS won that poll actually, over the two PA teams...at least in my section. I was surrounded by Ravens fans.

If you saw that kid in the black Jeremy Macklin jersey in front of the bleachers down by the trash fans who was dumping dirt on himself and his friends/brothers with a cup...I was about 4 rows up directly in front of that kid. :D


Great family events, right?

That Jeep that rolled over is from my town and we actually followed him up to the place on Rt 30. I was telling my son in the car "Look at that Jeep, I bet he's going to the Buck too"...then he came out and rolled over...ha.

This was our second time at the Buck...last year was his first show and that's when he became obsessed. We watch Monster Jam on SPEED together most mornings at 7 a.m.[/quote]



We were pretty high up almost to the railing. I think I saw that kid. I think it is a good family place. I hear little swearing and no alcohol allowed. I love the tuff trucks better then Monster Trucks. You should go for a Mud Bog as well; that is probably my favorite event there.

When they were doing the football team thing, which they do every night, we were in the bathroom and i was getting the cinder block stool for my son.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=Monkeydad;811292]Monster Trucks. (Monster Jam)

Laugh all you want, but I'm not a redneck and if you see them in person, you'd be impressed. Great family events too, even my wife enjoys seeing them. The drivers love kids and will take a ton of time to sign stuff and talk to you and your children. It's how all sports should be. My son actually got me into the sport when he was two years old. :D

Took my son to another show this weekend at the Buck Motorsports Park in Lancaster. We went to the Linc (yes, Eagles stadium) in Philly last month for a BIG show that will be on SPEED Channel soon.

What's not to like about a 5-ton truck with an 1600-1800 HP big block Ford or 572 Chevy engine? They sound amazing...like a muscle car but 5 times louder.

From the Philly show:

Check out the awesome save starting after the wheelie at about 0:20.
[YT]-cwN1MBnJrU[/YT]


After 1:00 gets good.
[YT]Af_rsS1fJvY[/YT]



From this weekend:

[YT]45l846hWOfo[/YT]



These guys have some driving skills to control a 10,000-pound vehicle like this.[/quote]


Monster trucks are very cool to watch. Grave Diggers shop is about 40min. from my office and you pass it on the way to Nags Head. I've stopped once but if your a big fan your kid would enjoy going. Years back a lady I work with went down to Va Beach to check out the monster trucks doing a show on the beach. Grave Digger was also giving out rides and she went for a ride and while doing a donut they flipped over.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I have a new favorite sport

[url=http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2vkSQN/www.midwestsportsfans.com/2011/07/video-sepak-takraw-visually-fascinating-sport/]Video: Sepak takraw is a visually fascinating sport...that wed all suck at - StumbleUpon[/url]

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

geeeeeez smoot, seems tough

idk about niche sports

I generally enjoy the curling during the winter olympics

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Horse Racing.
Del Mar racing begins tomorrow.

I love Santa Anita race track but Del Mar is the best place to enjoy the races!

[IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Del-Mar-Race-Track.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Interestingly enough, I dig niche sports featuring women. I'm all over the College Softball World Series, mostly for the dominant pitchers. There's so much involved with softball pitching- the movement, spin, etc... the distance is so much shorter than a baseball mound, so it's an interesting battle with the hitters.

In Los Angeles, female Roller Derby is ridiculously popular. It's nothing like that 70s tv stuff you used to watch... it's mostly 9-5 women (often looking like Suicide Girls) who actually hit each other fairly hard on a banked track.

And I know it may sound corny, but the Lingerie Football League is legit. These gals wear less pads than their male counterparts (obviously), but the players are super athletic... you can just tell by their body types. I'd say most of them are former D-1 athletes in other sports. And their tackling is no joke. I actually ordered the half time Lingerie Bowl over that horrid BEP concert.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

i've been wanting to check out a roller derby!

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I'd say my favorite niche sport is easily soccer. I started getting into it in 2006 (World Cup) and I've been hooked ever since. I primarily follow EPL, Serie A, and MLS. I try to watch as much La Liga as possible, but usually being on ESPN3 and not Fox Soccer makes that harder. I just really love the game, I'm may even be starting to like it more than the NFL...maybe not, but I DO like it a lot.

Also, I'm slowly getting into lacrosse. I can never see me really loving it, but the Chesapeake Bayhawks basically play across the street from my house (Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis), so I'll probably start attending some games from time to time.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Not to derail the thread but why is it harder on ESPN3? You can PM me if you prefer. I'm just curious.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I wouldn't blame what network the soccer games are on for their ratings, I'd blame the fact that IT'S SOCCER. :D

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

I know soccer is not the most exciting game around, but I don't understand people in this country bashing it when we have baseball (which is as exciting as watching grass grow).

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=Ruhskins;811683]I know soccer is not the most exciting game around, but I don't understand people in this country bashing it when we have baseball (which is as exciting as watching grass grow).[/quote]

True.

I actually got into the World Cup a bit last summer. I can see it's appeal.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

We watched a fair amount of curling during the last Olympics and thought it was pretty interesting. My daughter and I have a lot of fun playing Wii Curling.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=SmootSmack;811673]Not to derail the thread but why is it harder on ESPN3? You can PM me if you prefer. I'm just curious.[/quote]

I actually have a few reasons, but I will say that I do try to watch games on ESPN3 if I know they'll be on there. For instance, I won't miss a clasico, if I can help it, and the Xbox Live App(?) and Watch ESPN App have made it much easier for me to watch ESPN3. However, the 2 main reasons I watch ESPN3 less often are:

1. I don't always know what's going to be on ESPN3. I know there are like 1 million places I could check, but I don't always get around to it. At the same time, I usually check my channel menu to see what's going to be on Fox Soccer or hear about what game will be on ESPN/ESPN2 that weekend more easily through my normal TV viewing.

2. Now, the more complicated reason: I generally wake up much earlier than my wife, however, on the weekends, she doesn't really like it when I get up and leave her in the bed alone for the 2-3 hours more she's going to sleep. So, I end up watching FSC or ESPN because I don't usually have my laptop handy. Also, I don't have anyway to view ESPN3 broadcasts on the TV in my room. Then, once I've watched a game on FSC, I know what's coming up next, so I decide whether or not I intend to watch that game, if not, then I'll check out ESPN3 to see what's live that day and/or what great match I may have missed and (hopefully) haven't heard the result of.

Essentially, unless I'm in my living room, it's hard for me to think of ESPN3 as a way to watch sports. I find that I'm getting more used to thinking of it, but I'm still not quite there yet. It's generally a last resort for me unless I make a point to say, "I'm watching x game at y time this week."

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Golf, by far. Though I wouldn't call it a niche, it gets better TV ratings than the NHL. For me the best sporting events of the year go:

1) Any Redskins game
2) NFL Playoffs/Super Bowl
3) NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
4) The Masters
5) US Open
6) British Open
7) PGA

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Thanks for the feedback, jdlea.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

[quote=Ruhskins;811683]I know soccer is not the most exciting game around, but I don't understand people in this country bashing it when we have baseball (which is as exciting as watching grass grow).[/quote]

Both are just brutal to watch. But I can stomach a few minutes of baseball if i have money on it.

Re: Favorite Niche Sport?
 

Golf and bodybuilding.