golf overtakes tennis for popularity in the US

[richied]

Not surprising! Tennis has little variety to keep the average joe immersed in watching tennis for extended periods of time. Obviously, the less people watching impacts the numbers who take up the game, especially the younger folk.

The US needs a slam champion and fast!!!!!!!

[90's Clay]

Thats not difficult to believe when the best players your country has produced in the last 10 plus years is Roddick, Isner, Querry and Blake

In golf we got a GOAT candidate in Tiger. In tennis, we haven't had anything since Sampras, Agassi, Chang and Courier which was damn near 15-20 years ago

[SLD76]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Thats not difficult to believe when the best players your country has produced in the last 10 plus years is Roddick, Isner, Querry and Blake

In golf we got a GOAT candidate in Tiger. In tennis, we haven't had anything since Sampras, Agassi, Chang and Courier

we dont agree that often but, you basically said what I was gonna say.

niche sports like golf and tennis are only ever really popular when there is a dominant american.

[FlashFlare11]

To be honest, I didn't know that tennis was even more popular than golf at any point here in the States. There are many people that play golf (more than they do tennis) and quite a few are into it as a professional sport. It's one of those that many are passively interested in.

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Thats not difficult to believe when the best players your country has produced in the last 10 plus years is Roddick, Isner, Querry and Blake

In golf we got a GOAT candidate in Tiger. In tennis, we haven't had anything since Sampras, Agassi, Chang and Courier which was damn near 15-20 years ago

This is true. Too bad people don't see past the names in the game because I cannot fathom golf being anywhere near as exciting to watch as tennis. Golf is one of the most boring sports on earth.

[90's Clay]

Originally Posted by FlashFlare11

To be honest, I didn't know that tennis was even more popular than golf at any point here in the States. There are many people that play golf (more than they do tennis) and quite a few are into it as a professional sport. It's one of those that many are passively interested in.

Tennis was mega popular here in the 80s-late 90s. I think moreso than Golf. Where I lived anyways, a good majority were into tennis in high school in the late 90s. Its become pretty extinct though since late 90s IMO

I think a lot of that was the greats retiring. I always said tennis DIED when Agassi and Sampras retired (at least as far the U.S is concerned). They were the last of the greats. We haven't had anything even close since ( and may never will again).

Why watch whatever is left of our american talent pool in tennis, when you can watch the genius of Tiger Woods

[pound cat]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Thats not difficult to believe when the best players your country has produced in the last 10 plus years is Roddick, Isner, Querry and Blake

In golf we got a GOAT candidate in Tiger. In tennis, we haven't had anything since Sampras, Agassi, Chang and Courier

People can relate to golf in that fans picture themselves being able to hit the little white ball into the hole and are likely to go and get some clubs and go and play golf...or mini-golf anyway.

Not many people can relate to watching incredibly fit athletes running at top speed making seemingly impossible shots from one side of a rectangle of to another.

Golf is everyman's game where age or fitness doesn't stop anyone from playing. Tennis is perceived as a loners's game of a select few (preferably rich) people. And it has a strange scoring system.

[Nathaniel_Near]

Originally Posted by richied

Not surprising! Tennis has little variety to keep the average joe immersed in watching tennis for extended periods of time. Obviously, the less people watching impacts the numbers who take up the game, especially the younger folk.

The US needs a slam champion and fast!!!!!!!

It's because Tiger Woods is doing a Nadal.

[SLD76]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

This is true. Too bad people don't see past the names in the game because I cannot fathom golf being anywhere near as exciting to watch as tennis. Golf is one of the most boring sports on earth.

quoted for truth.

truth be told Im not even sure its a real sport.

not saying it doesnt take skill to play but, I equivate sports with athletic exertion, so by that rational, golf aint even a sport.

[Nathaniel_Near]

Golf has to be the hardest sport I've ever tried out. I'm not surprised Wood's has had such serious knee injuries given the tremendous torque and force he generates through his legs and hips when driving through the ball.

[Mainad]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Thats not difficult to believe when the best players your country has produced in the last 10 plus years is Roddick, Isner, Querry and Blake

In golf we got a GOAT candidate in Tiger. In tennis, we haven't had anything since Sampras, Agassi, Chang and Courier which was damn near 15-20 years ago

I can't agree with lumping Roddick in with those others. Roddick won 32 titles including a Slam and 5 Masters, was world #1 and helped the US win its last Davis Cup! IMO prime Roddick or somebody on the present tour like him would have kept the US level of interest reasonably high. How did Chang, whom you cited, do much better?

[SLD76]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel_Near

Golf has to be the hardest sport I've ever tried out. I'm not surprised Wood's has had such serious knee injuries given the tremendous torque and force he generates through his legs and hips when driving through the ball.

as I said, it takes skill to play, that doesnt mean its an athletic sport.

it takes skill to crochet, no one says thats a sport.

[SLD76]

Originally Posted by Mainad

I can't agree with lumping Roddick in with those others. Roddick won 32 titles including a Slam and 5 Masters, was world #1 and helped the US win its last Davis Cup! IMO prime Roddick or somebody on the present tour like him would have kept the US level of interest reasonably high. How did Chang, whom you cited, do much better?

Because chang didnt play in a vacuum, he played in the same generation led by Sampras and Agassi. He and courier contributed to tennis being popular in the US but Sampras and Agassi led the way.

Roddick was not near good enough or dominant enough to carry the mantle.

[Big_Dangerous]

Originally Posted by FlashFlare11

To be honest, I didn't know that tennis was even more popular than golf at any point here in the States. There are many people that play golf (more than they do tennis) and quite a few are into it as a professional sport. It's one of those that many are passively interested in.

And I don't know why, I freaking hate golf. It's the one game where the ball doesn't move as you hit it, so you'd think it would be easier yet it isn't. It's really only good if you like getting really frustrated.

[tennis_hack]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Tennis was mega popular here in the 80s-late 90s. I think moreso than Golf. Where I lived anyways, a good majority were into tennis in high school in the late 90s. Its become pretty extinct though since late 90s IMO

I think a lot of that was the greats retiring. I always said tennis DIED when Agassi and Sampras retired (at least as far the U.S is concerned). They were the last of the greats. We haven't had anything even close since ( and may never will again).

Why watch whatever is left of our american talent pool in tennis, when you can watch the genius of Tiger Woods

Because you can watch the talent of players who aren't American?

I don't get it - you turn off because no-one good is American? Do you watch tennis to enjoy good tennis matches, or do you watch it because you are desperate for America to prove its superiority over other nations?

[SLD76]

Originally Posted by tennis_hack

Because you can watch the talent of players who aren't American?

I don't get it - you turn off because no-one good is American? Do you watch tennis to enjoy good tennis matches, or do you watch it because you are desperate for America to prove its superiority over other nations?

I dont think he is speaking for himself, but for the casual viewers who lets face it, only tune in when there is an american to root for.

as I said, niche sports like golf and tennis are at their most popular when there is a dominant american.

[Nathaniel_Near]

Originally Posted by SLD76

as I said, it takes skill to play, that doesnt mean its an athletic sport.

it takes skill to crochet, no one says thats a sport.

I definitely think it's a sport. It's lower on the physical exertion part than a lot of other sports and higher on the skill difficulty than a number of other sports.


Now for people who say chess is a sport, this is far more contentious.

[Mainad]

Originally Posted by SLD76

Because chang didnt play in a vacuum, he played in the same generation led by Sampras and Agassi. He and courier contributed to tennis being popular in the US but Sampras and Agassi led the way.

But that's hardly Roddick's fault that, unlike Chang, he didn't have anyone to help him carry the flag for American tennis, is it? He was certainly no Sampras or Agassi but he did what he could and what he did was commendable. Isner, Querrey, Blake and co haven't done anything remotely to compare. They are not in the same league as Roddick, let alone the giants of the past.

[gavna]

Originally Posted by FlashFlare11

To be honest, I didn't know that tennis was even more popular than golf at any point here in the States. There are many people that play golf (more than they do tennis) and quite a few are into it as a professional sport. It's one of those that many are passively interested in.

Totally right......Tennis has NEVER been as popular as golf in the USA.

It's almost considered mainstream - in the business world golf outings and meetings are as common as lunch meetings.....so much so many firms limit
how often you can leave the office and play. NO ONE goes out for tennis outings - golf is just perfect for talking and discussing (and GAMBLING!).

[SLD76]

Originally Posted by Mainad

But that's hardly Roddick's fault that, unlike Chang, he didn't have anyone to help him carry the flag for American tennis, is it? He was certainly no Sampras or Agassi but he did what he could and what he did was commendable. Isner, Querrey, Blake and co haven't done anything remotely to compare. They are not in the same league as Roddick, let alone the giants of the past.

ok but im sorry, roddick just wasnt as good as sampras and agassi, end of story.



and fortunately or unfortunately roddick was the face of american tennis for the better part of 10 years.