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Professional Sports in American Culture. Regular season Late-August – December Playoffs in Dec./January Star players Peyton Manning, Ladainian Tomlinson Business aspect 32 teams, 2 conferences: AFC & NFC Contracts are not guaranteed money Most popular teams
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Regular season Late-August – December Playoffs in Dec./January Star players Peyton Manning, Ladainian Tomlinson Business aspect 32 teams, 2 conferences: AFC & NFC Contracts are not guaranteed money Most popular teams Dallas Cowboys: “America’s Team” ; Oakland Raiders: “Bad Boys” Championship Super Bowl, first one in 1966 First Sunday in February National Football League (NFL)
Major League Baseball • Regular season • April – September • Playoffs in October • Star players • Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Johan Santana • Business aspect • National League (16 teams) & American League (14 teams)—slightly different rules. • Guaranteed contracts, free agency, waivers, arbitration, salary cap, luxury tax. • Most popular teams • New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs • Championship • World Series began in 1903 • Last week of October • First to win 4 out of 7 games • Yankees have won 26 times
National Basketball Association (NBA) • Regular season • November - April • Playoffs in April/May • Star players • LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal • Business aspect • 30 teams, 2 conferences: Eastern & Western Conferences • Contracts are guaranteed money • Most popular teams • Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls [Jordan’s team] • Championship • NBA Championship, Best 4-of-7 • June
National Hockey League (NHL) • Regular season • October – April • Playoffs in April/May • Star players • Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr • Business aspect • 30 teams, 2 conferences: Eastern & Western • 3 divisions in each conference • Most popular teams • Montreal Candiens, Detroit Red Wings • Championship • Stanley Cup, 1892 [held in June] • Montreal Canadiens, 24 titles • The cup travels throughout the year [lost in a poker game]
Other pro sports… • WNBA: Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes • NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon • Golf: Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods • Soccer: Pele, Freddy Adu, David Beckham • Boxing: Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali [Cassius Clay], George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson • Tennis: John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert Lloyd • Bowling, Arena Football, Lacrosse, etc.