Sports in the United States, as in other countries, are an important part of the national culture. However, the sporting culture of the U.S. is different from that of many other countries, especially those in Europe. For one, Americans prefer a different set of sports. Soccer is a minor sport in the U.S. compared to baseball, American football, basketball and ice hockey this gives the U.S. a huge adavantage as few other countries play its sports, especially American football and baseball. Secondly, sports are organized differently in the U.S. than in many other countries, with schools and colleges and universities playing an important role. World map showing the location of Europe. ... Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. ... A view of the playing field at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... A __ B -- C -- D -- E __ F -- G -- H -- I __ J -- K -- L -- M __ N -- O -- P -- Q __ R -- S -- T -- U __ V -- W -- X -- Y __ Z The alphabetical listing is based on Christina DeMellos pages at http://www. ...

Popular sports in the U.S.

Baseball

Baseball

Main article: History of baseball in the United States

Baseball has a huge following and is referred to as the "national pastime"; Major League Baseball teams play almost every day from April to October. Professional baseball began in the United States around 1865, and the National League was founded in 1876 as the first true major league. The World Series is the championship series of Major League Baseball, the culmination of the sport's postseason each October. It is played between the pennant winner of the American League and the pennant winner of the National League. The Series winner is determined through a best-of-seven playoff. Notable baseball players include Shoeless Joe Jackson, Babe Ruth, Sandy Koufax and Hank Aaron. Baseball and its sister, softball, are also popular participatory sports in the U.S. Image File history File links Busch_stadium. ... Image File history File links Busch_stadium. ... A view of the playing field at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. ... // 1886 baseball demonstration at Conner Prairie living history museum. ... A view of the playing field at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... American League The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League, is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada (until 2005 when the Montreal Expos moved to Washington) and the worlds oldest extant professional team sports league. ... Joseph Jefferson Shoeless Joe Jackson (July 16, 1888 – December 5, 1951) was a left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. ... For the band, see Babe Ruth (band). ... Sanford Koufax (IPA pronunciation: /kofæks/) (born Sanford Braun on December 30, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. ... Henry Louis Hank Aaron (born February 5, 1934 in Mobile, Alabama) is a retired American baseball player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. ... Softball is an activity that came from baseball, in which a ball, eleven to twelve inches (or rarely, 16 inches) (28 to 30. ...

American football

American football

Main article: History of American football

American football (known simply as "football" in the U.S. and sometimes as gridiron outside of the U.S.) attracts more television viewers than baseball; however, National Football League teams play only 16 regular-season games each year, so baseball, with its 162-game schedule, is the runaway leader in ticket sales. The 32-team National Football League (NFL) is the most popular and only major professional American football league. Its championship game, the Super Bowl, is watched by nearly half of US television households. Additional millions also watch college football throughout the autumn months, and some communities, particularly in rural areas, place great emphasis on their local high school football team. Among the sport's all time greatest players are Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, John Elway, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Brett Favre, Lawrence Taylor, Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith, Gale Sayers, "Mean" Joe Greene, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Terry Bradshaw, Bo Jackson, and O.J. Simpson. Arena football, a form of American football played in indoor arenas, has its own professional league, the Arena Football League, which attracts comparatively little attention, and is often considered a niche sport. Nonetheless, it is sometimes televised and several of its players have gone on to play in the NFL. Football players line up before the play during the annual Army-Navy college football game, public domain image from navy. ... Football players line up before the play during the annual Army-Navy college football game, public domain image from navy. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... American football is the most popular spectator sport in the United States. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Gridiron football is a term that refers to both American football and Canadian football. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... == The first NFL player was Wade Zane, he played for the L.A Rams The National Football League (NFL) is the largest and most prestigious professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ... == The first NFL player was Wade Zane, he played for the L.A Rams The National Football League (NFL) is the largest and most prestigious professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ... The winning Super Bowl team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy. ... A college football game between Colorado State University and the Air Force Academy. ... Note: The term football when used throughout this article refers exclusively to gridiron football. ... Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962 in Crawford, Mississippi) is a former football wide receiver in the NFL. Rice is widely regarded as among the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, consistently showing exceptional performance and strong work ethic on and off of the field. ... Joseph Clifford Montana, (born June 11, 1956, in the Pittsburgh area town of New Eagle, Pennsylvania, USA) was a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. ... John Albert Elway, Jr. ... Barry David Sanders (born July 16, 1968) is a Hall of Fame American football running back from the NFL who spent his entire professional career with the Detroit Lions. ... Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1954 – November 1, 1999) was an American football running back for the Chicago Bears. ... Brett Lorenzo Favre (born October 10, 1969, in Gulfport, Mississippi)[1] is the current starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). ... Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959, in Williamsburg, Virginia), nicknamed LT, is a retired Hall of Fame American football player who played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the NFLs New York Giants. ... Jim Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor and social activist. ... Emmitt James Smith III (born May 15, 1969 in Pensacola, Florida) is a former American football player, who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals. ... Gale Eugene Sayers (born May 30, 1943 in Wichita, Kansas), also known as The Kansas Comet, was a professional football player in the National Football League who spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears. ... Charles Edward Greene, known as Mean Joe Greene (born September 24, 1946 in Temple, Texas), was an American football Defensive Tackle in the NFL. // Before his NFL career, Greene had an outstanding college football career at North Texas State University (1966-1968), assisting the team to a 23-5-1... Franco Harris (born March 7, 1950) was an American football player. ... Lynn Curtis Swann (b. ... Terry Paxton Bradshaw (born September 2, 1948), is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Orenthal James Simpson (born July 9, 1947), commonly known as O. J. Simpson and also just by his initials O.J. and his nickname The Juice, is a retired American football player who achieved stardom at the collegiate and professional levels. ... Arena football is a sport invented by Jim Foster, a former executive of the United States Football League and the National Football League. ... The Arena Football League (AFL) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ...

Basketball

Basketball

Main articles: National Basketball Association and College basketball

Basketball, invented in Springfield, Massachusetts, by Canadian physical education teacher James Naismith, is another popular sport. The National Basketball Association, more popularly known as the NBA, is the world's premier men's professional basketball league and one of the major professional sports leagues of North America. In late April, the NBA Playoffs begin. Eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs. The Dream Team was the unofficial nickname of the United States men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Notable players include Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson,Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy,Vince Carter, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Oscar Robertson, Julius Irving, Walt Frazier, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Dominique Wilkins, Nate Archibald, and Patrick Ewing. Like football, basketball at both the college and high school levels is quite popular throughout the country. Every March, a 64-team, six-round, single-elimination tournament determines the national champions of college basketball. Most U.S. states also crown state champions among their high schools. More Americans play basketball than any other team sport, not including bowling, according to the National Sporting Goods Association. Download high resolution version (500x684, 93 KB)Caption: 040130-N-9693M-020 U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. ... Download high resolution version (500x684, 93 KB)Caption: 040130-N-9693M-020 U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005. ... “NBA” redirects here. ... College basketball most often refers to the American basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA. // The game of basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... James A. Naismith, B.A., M.A., M.D., D.D, (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939) was the inventor of the sport of basketball and the first to introduce the use of a helmet in American football. ... Current NBA Playoff logo. ... The Dream Team was the unofficial nickname of the United States mens basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. ... For other persons named Michael Jordan, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). ... Earvin Johnson, Jr. ... Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former NBA basketball player, widely considered one of the greatest players to ever play, and one of the best clutch performers in the history of sports. ... Wilton Norman Wilt Chamberlain (August 21, 1936–October 12, 1999), nicknamed Wilt the Stilt and The Big Dipper, was an American professional National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player for the Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; and also played for the Harlem Globetrotters. ... William Felton Bill Russell (born February 12, 1934) is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. A five-time winner of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award and a twelve-time All-Star, the 6 ft 9 in Russell was the... Robert Joseph Cousy (born August 9, 1928 in New York City, is an American former professional basketball player, who played point guard with the NBAs Boston Celtics from 1951 to 1963 and (briefly) with the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969-1970 season, being recognized as one of the greatest... Vincent Lamar Vince Carter (born January 26, 1977) is an American All-Star basketball player in the NBA. He currently a player and co-captain for the New Jersey Nets. ... Shaquille Rashaun ONeal (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq (pronounced shack), is one of the most famous professional basketball players, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association. ... Kobe Bryant (born August 23, 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. ... Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee), nicknamed The Big O, is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. ... Julius Erving (born February 22, 1950 in Roosevelt, New York), commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American basketball player who helped launch the modern style of play that emphasizes leaping ability and play above the rim. ... Walter Clyde Frazier (born March 29, 1945 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American former basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ... Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25, 1965 in Hamburg, Arkansas) is a former American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and is most remembered for leading the Chicago Bulls together with Michael Jordan to six championships and being one of the best all-around players... Dennis Keith Rodman (born May 13, 1961, in Trenton, New Jersey) is an American former professional basketball player best known for his defensive and rebounding ability, leading the National Basketball Association in rebounds per game for a record seven consecutive years and earning NBA All-Defensive First Team honors seven... Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. ... Clyde Austin Drexler (born June 22, 1962 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a former National Basketball Association shooting guard. ... Jacques Dominique Wilkins (born January 12, 1960, in Paris, France) is an American former professional basketball player in the NBA and Basketball Hall of Famer. ... Nathaniel (Nate) Tiny Archibald (born September 2, 1948 in New York City) is a former professional basketball player. ... Patrick Aloysius Ewing (born August 5, 1962) is a Jamaican-born American former NBA player. ...

Ice Hockey

Main article: National Hockey League

Ice hockey, universally referred to as hockey, is less popular than baseball, basketball and football, but is still considered a major sport. The National Hockey League is the major professional league in North America, and 24 of its 30 teams are based in the United States; the other six are located in Canada. Always a cultural mainstay in some northern areas, hockey has gained tenuous footholds in regions like the Carolinas, Tampa Bay, Florida and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas in recent years, as the National Hockey League pursued a policy of expansion. It was speculated that the cancellation of the 2004-2005 NHL season could slow, or even reverse, the spread of hockey into new regions of the United States, but ticket sales in 2005-06 in non-traditional markets have generally equaled or exceeded pre-lockout numbers. Recreational ice hockey on a wide scale, as well as hockey at the high school and college levels, is generally confined to hockey country, specifically New England and the Great Lakes region, but recreational leagues do exist in large- and medium-sized metropolitan areas throughout the United States. Hockey legends include Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe (all of whom are Canadians, but Gretzky played a large part of his career for U.S.-based teams, and the others played solely for U.S.-based teams). “NHL” redirects here. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... “NHL” redirects here. ... The Carolina Hurricanes are a National Hockey League team in Raleigh, North Carolina. ... The Tampa Bay Lightning is a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. ... The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. ... “NHL” redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The modernized NHL shield logo was introduced for the 2005-06 season. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... Wayne Douglas Gretzky, OC (born January 26, 1961) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently part-owner and head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. ... Mario Lemieux (born October 5, 1965, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a retired professional ice hockey centre who played 17 seasons for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006. ... Robert Gordon Bobby Orr, OC (born March 20, 1948 in Parry Sound, Ontario) is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman, and is considered to be one of the greatest hockey players of all time. ... Gordon Gordie Howe, OC (born March 31, 1928 in Floral, Saskatchewan) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers in the NHL, and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the WHA. He is often referred to as Mr. ...

Soccer

Main article: Soccer in the United States

Unlike in Europe, South America, and recently, Asia and Africa, soccer has historically had a small following in the United States, and was mostly popular in the more international cities of New York and Los Angeles, where there is a large immigrant population. Several attempts have been made to bring top-level competition to the United States, most recently Major League Soccer (MLS), which is expanding steadily and achieving success. Since the 1980s, soccer participation at the recreational and scholastic levels has grown significantly and has fueled enhanced interest in the men's and women's national teams, as well as MLS. Unlike most other team sports in the U.S., soccer is widely played by both men and women in the U.S., one factor in the pioneering success of the United States women's national soccer team. Youth soccer in small-town Indiana in 2005. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... New York, NY redirects here. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada. ... First international Unofficial: USA 0 - 1 Canada (Newark, NJ, USA; November 28, 1885) Official: Sweden 2 - 3 USA (Stockholm, Sweden; August 20, 1916) Biggest win USA 8 - 1 Cayman Islands (Mission Viejo, CA, USA; November 14, 1993) USA 7 - 0 El Salvador (Los Angeles, CA, USA; December 5, 1993) USA... First International Italy 1–0 USA (Jesolo, Italy; 18 August 1985) Largest win USA 12–0 Mexico (Port-au-Prince, Haiti; 18 April 1991) USA 12–0 Martinique (Port-au-Prince, Haiti; 20 April 1991) Worst defeat Norway 4–1 USA (Lagos, Portugal; 19 March 1998) Canada 3–0 USA... First International Italy 1–0 USA (Jesolo, Italy; 18 August 1985) Largest win USA 12–0 Mexico (Port-au-Prince, Haiti; 18 April 1991) USA 12–0 Martinique (Port-au-Prince, Haiti; 20 April 1991) Worst defeat Norway 4–1 USA (Lagos, Portugal; 19 March 1998) Canada 3–0 USA...

Motor sports

Motor sports are also widely popular in the United States, but Americans generally ignore major international series, such as Formula One and MotoGP, in favor of home-grown racing series. Historically, open wheel racing was the most popular nationwide, with the Indianapolis 500 being unquestionably the most widely followed race. However, an acrimonious split in the mid-1990s between the primary league, CART, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (the site of the Indy 500) led to the creation of a rival series, the Indy Racing League, and a dramatic decline in the popularity of open wheel racing in the U.S. The CART-IRL feud coincided with an enormous expansion of the NASCAR stock car series from its past as a mostly regional circuit mainly followed in the southeastern U.S. to a truly national circuit with a rapidly expanding nationwide fan base, generally harnessing a 10 million person audience on television, as well as sold-out crowds at many tracks that can hold as much as 500,000 spectators. Another one of the most popular forms of motorsports in the United States is the indigenous sport of drag racing. The largest drag racing organization, the National Hot Rod Association, boasts 80,000 members, more than 35,000 licensed competitors and nationwide television coverage ^[1]. Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Grand Prix motorcycle racing refers to the premier categories of motorcycle road racing. ... Open-wheel racing refers to a type of motor racing in which the wheels of the cars are not housed inside fenders, as in stock car or touring car racing, but rather out in the open at the end of readily-visible axles and suspension systems. ... Indy 500 redirects here. ... Nigel Mansell racing in a Champcar in 1993 Terminology Champcar, a shortened form of Championship Car, has been the name for a class of cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades. ... Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana (a separate town completely surrounded by Indianapolis) in the United States, is the second-oldest surviving automobile racing track in the world (after the Milwaukee Mile), having existed since 1909, and the original Speedway, the first racing facility historically to incorporate the word. ... The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. ... The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... This article is about the sport of stock car racing. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The National Hot Rod Association, known as the NHRA, was founded by Wally Parks in 1951 in the State of California to provide a governing body to organize and promote the sport of drag racing. ...

Individual sports

One of the most well known American golfers, Tiger Woods

Outside of team events, U.S. athletes compete in sports such as boxing, golf, tennis, and track and field events. Golf is very popular in the U.S. as a recreational activity, especially among business people. Tiger Woods is one of the most well-known and successful American golfers. Track and field gets little mainstream attention from Americans apart from competition in the Olympic Games, while professional boxing has decreased in popularity over the past several decades. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (386x650, 82 KB) Caption: 040303-N-5319A-009 Arabian Gulf (Mar. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (386x650, 82 KB) Caption: 040303-N-5319A-009 Arabian Gulf (Mar. ... Personal Information Birth December 30, 1975 ) (age 31) Cypress, California Height 6 ft 1 in (1. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also called prizefighting or pugilism is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three-minute intervals called... Golf is a sport in which individual players or teams hit a ball into a hole using various clubs, and also is one of the few ball games that does not use a fixed standard playing area. ... For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ... Athletics, also known as track and field or track and field athletics, is a collection of sport events. ... Personal Information Birth December 30, 1975 ) (age 31) Cypress, California Height 6 ft 1 in (1. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... Mike Tyson on the cover of Time Magazine in 1988. ...

Outdoors sports

Hunting and fishing are very popular in the U.S., especially in rural areas. Other popular outdoors activities in the country include cycling, hiking, mountain climbing and kayaking. In winter, many Americans head to mountainous areas for skiing and snowboarding.They love their outdoor sports “Hunter” redirects here. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping, or gathering. ... Police officer on a bicycle Cycling is a recreation, a sport and a means of transport across land. ... Two hikers in the Mount Hood National Forest Eagle Creek hiking Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. ... Mountaineering is an umbrella term that can variously be used to describe the actions of climbing, hillwalking and scrambling. ... Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. ... Alpine skier carving a turn on piste Members of the U.S. Air Force skiing (and snowboarding) at Keystone Resorts 14th Annual SnoFest Downhill Ski Racing This article is about snow skiing. ... Snowboarder in a half-pipe Snowboarder trail entry Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a snow-covered slope on a snowboard that is attached to ones feet using a boot/binding interface. ...

Other popular sports

• Cheerleading — Cheerleading is a dynamic athletic activity in which young girls and boys cheer and pep up their football, basketball, and volleyball teams. Cheerleading involves coordinated routines containing jumps, tosses, dance moves and intricate, sometimes complicated cheers. There are an estimated 3.5 million cheerleaders at various levels in the United States.
• Equestrian competition - despite lacking the national popularity seen in Europe, America usually performs extremely well in international equestrian competition. In recent years, they have become favorites for a medal in show jumping, eventing, and dressage both at the Olympics and the Equestrian World Championships, and many times the United States finishes near the top of the medal count.
• Lacrosse — A team sport of Iroquois Indian origin, quite popular in mid-Atlantic states but increasing in popularity nationwide.
• Wrestling - Though not a popular sport on a national level (except perhaps during the Olympics), high school/collegiate wrestling is frequently one of the most popular participatory sports for young men in the United States. Wrestling is commonly referred to as "amateur wrestling" in America to distinguish it from professional wrestling, a scripted form of athletic entertainment with a considerable following. See WWE.
• Martial arts competitions
• Shooting sports
• Surfing
• Volleyball
• Ultimate was initially popular with high school and college students, and many now continue to play in adult recreational leagues.
• Curling is popular in northern states, possibly due to climate, proximity to Canada, or Scanadanvian hertiage.
• Fencing

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A young rider at a horse show in Australia. ... Show jumping is a form of competition in which horses are jumped over a course of fences, low walls, and other obstacles (e. ... Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises dressage, cross-country and show-jumping. ... An upper-level dressage competitor performing an extended trot Dressage (a French term meaning training) is a path and destination of competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from amateur to the Olympics. ... The World Equestrian Games are the world championship for Equestrianism, administrered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee, also known as the League of Peace and Power, Five Nations, or Six Nations) is a group of First Nations/Native Americans. ... The Mid-Atlantic region of the United States of America, located in the northeastern section of the country, includes the following states and district: Delaware Maryland New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Washington, D.C. West Virginia Virginia These areas provided the young United States with heavy industry and served as... Ancient Greek wrestlers (Pankratiasts) Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two competitors competing for a physical advantage. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of proficiency (accuracy and speed) using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns (see Archery for more information on shooting sports that make use of bows and arrows). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Volleyball is an Olympic sport in which two teams separated by a high net use their hands, arms or (rarely) other parts of their bodies to hit a ball back and forth over the net. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Curling is a game played on ice with granite stones Curling is a precision sport similar to bowls or bocce, but played on ice with polished heavy stones rather than plastic balls. ... Fencing advertisement for the 1900 Summer Olympic Games This article is about the sport, which is distinguished from stage fencing and academic fencing (mensur). ...

Cricket, rugby union and other "international" sports

See also: Rugby union in the United States

Sports such as rugby union, common in other English-speaking nations, are not as well known in the United States. Many amateur cricket leagues have been formed by Indian, Pakistani, and Caribbean immigrants, and as a result, the sport has made limited inroads into the mainstream sports community. Rugby is played recreationally, professionally and in colleges, though it is not governed by the NCAA (see College rugby). There are an estimated 60,000 registered players, [2], almost a quarter of whom are women. More recently the national side has been competing at the Rugby World Cup. Australian rules football, governed by the USAFL is also a developing sport with regular international competition against Canada. Rugby union in the United States is a growing national sport. ... A rugby union scrum. ... West Indian redirects here. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often said NC-Double-A) is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletics programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... College rugby is played throughout the United States of America. ... First international Australia 12 - 8 United States (September 16, 1912) Largest win Barbados 0 - 91 United States (July 1, 2006) Worst defeat England 106 - 8 United States (August 21, 1999) World Cup Appearances 4 (First in 1987) Best result One win in 1987 and 2003 USA Rugbys national team... For the world cup that is contested in rugby league, see Rugby League World Cup. ... High marking is a key skill and spectator attribute of Aussie Rules Precise field and goal kicking using the oval shaped ball is the key skill in Aussie Rules Football Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply football or footy is a code of football... The United States Australian Football League (also known informally as the USAFL or US Footy) is an Australian rules football league that was conceived in 1996 and organized in 1997. ...

The organization of American sports

Amateur sports

A college football game between California and UCLA

The extent in America to which sports are associated with secondary and tertiary education is unique among nations. Millions of students participate in athletics programs operated by high schools and colleges. So-called student-athletes often receive scholarships to colleges in recognition of their athletic potential. Though student athletes may be held to significantly lower academic requirements than non-athletes at some universities, a minimum standard does exist. ImageMetadata File history File links College_Football. ... ImageMetadata File history File links College_Football. ... A college football game between Colorado State University and the Air Force Academy. ... Sather tower (the Campanile) looking out over the San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais. ... Binomial name Ucla xenogrammus Holleman, 1993 The largemouth triplefin, Ucla xenogrammus, is a fish of the family Tripterygiidae and only member of the genus Ucla, found in the Pacific Ocean from Viet Nam, the Philippines, Palau and the Caroline Islands to Papua New Guinea, Australia (including Christmas Island), and the... An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on their ability to play in a sport. ...

High school and college sports fill the developmental role that in many other countries would be the place of youth teams associated with clubs. Professional teams draft top student athletes when they finish their education. Baseball and ice hockey operate minor league systems for players who have finished education but are not ready or good enough for the major leagues. A (sports) draft is the process by which professional sports teams select players not contracted to any team, often from colleges or amateur ranks. ... Minor leagues in the sense intended in this article are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. ...

Especially in basketball and football, high school and particularly college sports are followed with a fervor equaling or exceeding that felt for professional sports; college football games can draw six-digit crowds and, for upper-tier schools, sports are a significant source of revenue. A college football game between Colorado State University and the Air Force Academy. ...

Professional sports

See also: Major professional sports league

There is no system of promotion and relegation in American professional sports. Major sports leagues operate as associations of franchises. The same 30-32 teams play in the league each year unless they move to another city or the league chooses to expand with new franchises. The term major professional sports league is used to describe the most important and well regarded leagues in the biggest professional sports in a country or region. ... In many sports leagues around the world (with North American and Australian professional leagues being the most notable exceptions), relegation (or demotion) means the mandated transfer of the least successful team(s) of a higher division into a lower division at the end of the season. ... Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. ...

All American sports leagues use the same type of schedule. After the regular season, the 8-16 teams with the best records enter a playoff tournament leading to a championship series or game. American sports, except for soccer, have no equivalent to the cup competitions that run concurrently with leagues in European sports. Even in the case of soccer, most casual soccer fans are unaware of the existence of a cup competition. Also, major-league professional teams in the U.S. never play teams from other organizations in meaningful games, although NBA teams have played European teams in preseason exhibitions on a semi-regular basis. A playoff in sports (North American professional sports in particular) is a game or series of games played after the regular season is over with the goal of determining a league champion. ... The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is an American soccer competition open to all United States Soccer Federation(USSF) affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams all the way up to the top professional clubs of Major League Soccer. ... The Euroleague (EL) is a high-calibre professional basketball league with teams from thirteen different European countries. ...

International competition is not as important in American sports as it is in the sporting culture of most other countries. Olympic ice-hockey and basketball tournaments do generate attention. The first international baseball tournament with top-level players, the World Baseball Classic, generated positive reviews after its inaugural tournament in 2006. The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... The World Baseball Classic, sometimes abbreviated WBC, is an international baseball tournament, first held in March 2006. ...

Government regulation

No American government agency is charged with overseeing sports. The U.S. Congress has chartered the United States Olympic Committee to govern American participation in the Olympic Movement and promote amateur sports. Congress has also involved itself in several aspects of sports, notably gender equity in college athletics, illegal drugs in pro sports, sports broadcasting and the application of antitrust law to sports leagues. Congress in Joint Session. ... For USOC in telephony, see Universal Service Ordering Code. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, now known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in honor of its principal author, but more commonly known simply as Title IX, is a 76-word United States law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states: No person... Doping drugs on display at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland In sports, doping refers to the use of performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, particularly those that are forbidden by the organizations that regulate competitions. ... Broadcast/cable networks of selected major sports and sporting events: // United States Major League Baseball ESPN: Sunday and Monday night game, Wednesday tripleheader; additional games during the season, such as on holidays and Opening Day; Division Series games (deal reduces to 3 games/week and no playoffs after 2006 season... This article is about anti-competitive business behavior. ...

Sports media in the United States

Sports have been a major part of American broadcasting since the early days of radio. Today, television networks pay millions of dollars for the rights to broadcast sporting events. Contracts between leagues and broadcasters stipulate how often games must be interrupted for commercials. Because of all of the advertisements, broadcasting contracts are very lucrative and account for the biggest chunk of pro teams' revenues. Broadcasters also covet the television contracts for the major sports leagues (especially in the case of the NFL) in order to amplify their ability to promote their programming to the audience, especially young and middle-aged adult males. Teams do not cover their fields and uniforms with sponsors' logos as European teams often do. A television network is a distribution network for television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many television stations. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ...

The advent of cable and satellite television has greatly expanded sports offerings on American TV. ESPN, the first all-sports cable network in the U.S., went on the air in 1979. It has been followed by several sister networks and competitors. Coaxial cable is often used to transmit cable television into the house. ... Sky Digital mini-dish Astros mini-dish. Special dish for up to 16 satellite positions (Ku-band) Satellite dish antenna for C-Band Satellite Dishes installed on a apartment complex A satellite dish is a type of parabolic antenna designed with the specific purpose of transmitting signals to and... {{Infobox Network | network_name = ESPN| network_logo = | country =  United States| network_type = Cable Television Network| available = National| owner = The Walt Disney Company (80%) Hearst Corporation (20%)| key_people = George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. ...

Despite the size of the sports market in the U.S., the country does not have a national daily sports newspaper. This is because the contiguous 48 states spread across four time zones, and games on the West Coast may not end until early morning in the East. This makes it difficult to distribute a national newspaper with the scores of late games in time for morning delivery. However, there are many American sports magazines, the best-known being Sports Illustrated. A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... The first issue of Sports Illustrated, August 16, 1954, showing Milwaukee Braves star Eddie Mathews at bat in Milwaukee County Stadium. ...

References

External link

• "Arts, Entertainment and Recreation," Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2006 ed., U.S. Census Bureau (PDF file).

See also

• Major U.S. Professional Sports League
• United States at the Olympics
• Harris Poll of Most Popular American Sports
• Major League Baseball
• National Football League
• National Basketball Association
• National Collegiate Athletic Association
• National Hockey League
• Major League Soccer
• United States of America Cricket Association
• Australian Football Association of North America
• USA Rugby (union)
• NASCAR

A satellite composite image of North America. ... Flag of the United States The United States of America (USA) has sent athletes to every Summer Olympic Games, except the 1980 Summer Olympics which it boycotted. ...

US related topics