Why do certain cities like certain sports?


Why don't people go to baseball games in Florida?

Less than a week until opening night and I couldn't be more excited.  I figure once the season starts I won't get to rant anymore about some of my general sports ideas, so now is the time to do it.  Today's entry is about the mystery of why certain cities identify with certain sports, even though logic says it doesn't make sense.

Let's start off with Boston. I will never understand why the Red Sox are the #1 team in Boston, and by such a large margin. My bias of baseball aside, it is freaking cold there 8 months out of the year. Hell, basketball was invented in Massachusetts, yet the Sooxxx are the most talked about team 12 months out of the year. I could understand if they were one of the most storied franchises ever, but the fact is before 5 years ago they hadn't won anything since World War I. In that time span the Celtics,(who should be the #1 team) have won 17 titles and play in the state where basketball was invented. On the opposite end you have the Florida Marlins who can barely get half of there seats filled in a game, in a state where you can play baseball year round.


In L.A, basketball reigns supreme. This makes more sense because they have one of the most storied franchises in history. But still, shouldn't you be playing baseball in LA? Why would anyone even go inside if you lived there? I was there for four days in July and I felt like I was in the movie Groundhog Day. It is 75 and sunny all the time!

Why did Texas and the south in general become the hot bed for football? Why are people obsessed with basketball in the midwest states like Kentucky and Indiana, though it's most popular teams lay on the coasts? I guess it's like anything else, it starts somewhere gains popularity, then everyone kind of follows the lead. I remember asking my friend Jim why the Red Sox were so popular in Boston.  He said, "because it is what we grew up with." I guess that is in essence the reason why anyone follows anything. You grow up loving or believing in a certain something and never stop to think why you do.

I would be interested to hear other people's thoughts on this topic.  Have a great Friday everyone!