American Entertainment

Miami Heat VS San Antonio Spurs


It's all about the spectacular.


Sport is a very integrated part of most children’s lives. As students, we are most than likely involved in one or more kinds of sports, competitive or not. Even play police & thief can be quite physically demanding. It’s interesting how the level of involvement in sports rises and drops as a person grows and moves on in life. For some, they grew out of it and eventually become disconnected with sports. For others, they may become more and more involved through high school or college. This is when playing sports become more elite and less welcoming. Does this have to be so? Can’t I play basketball even when I suck? Sure, but no one wants to watch you play!


D-Wade bites back!


J-O'Neil puts it in.


First quarter break cheerleaders




Why is being watched important? Because like everything else in this capitalist nation, nothing exists without the ability to generate revenue. Sports is meaningless unless it makes money, and the involvement of money means it has to be big, and big means more. So we have the big leagues like NFL, MLB, NBA and the NHL. As of March 2010, I can proudly say that I’ve experienced the complete package of being to all four major league games.


Oh damn, the best half-time show EVER!!!!!!





Heat struggles to fight back...



End, Heat sucked.



Money, muscle, hot girls, sports cars. This is what it's all about.

These major leagues in the United States are truly unique. Sure there are the crazy football (soccer) nuts over the pond, but that’s of a very different nature. I can’t really speak of, or compare these two because I have never been to an European or S.American football match, but from what I’ve been exposed to, the level of fanaticism is much higher over there. In the states, it’s all about fun. The more bang, the more buck. Going to a MLB baseball game is like going to the amusement park. For example, the Detroit Tiger’s stadium has amusement rides in the premise for kids. Going to a game like that is not all about the game. It’s the experience that attracts families where dads bring their sons, grab some hot dogs and lemonade, cheer for whatever team they like, feel like they are involved, go get a ride on the mini roller coaster and have an ice cream cone. It’s almost a half-day trip, and it’s about family, not the sport.


Florida Panthers VS Buffalo Saber (NHL)




I honest think that watching ice hockey is like watching a school of sardine moving around the ocean in a group. They just follow where the buck goes, and moves rapidly just like sardines. I know next to nothing about this sport, so everything looked random to me.

Of course, every team is different. Every sport is different too. Take NFL and NBA for example, both are much more about the sport than the sideline experience. The game duration is relatively shorter. The games are more action packed as well. Also, there is something very different about NFL and NBA, which are the cheerleaders. This is where the difference in crowd matters. In NHL and MLB, there is almost no presence of cheerleaders. People don’t go to the stadium to see the hot energetic girls dancing away. They either go to see players fight (ice hockey) or batters getting hit by the ball (that’s bad). Of all of the sports, I’d say NFL has the biggest sideline culture both in size and variety. Tail gating, BBQ and grill, superbowl advertisements and so on. Is it still about the sports? I don’t know but those athletes sure make a load of money.



Cheerleaders dancing on ICE!!!! Now that's something!
I really think they should have figure skating as cheerleaders instead.


Cameraman shooting a couple, waiting for the cue to appear on the big screen.


Fans


There's a mad cow too!

So what is this whole thing about? I think it about setting a stage that has all the spotlights, the excitement and charm that every Joe can climb onto and feel like being a part of it. Die hard fans…. No, they aren’t die hard about the sport. They are die hard for the franchise. There you go! The ultimate example of everything good turned into capitalistic venture. Some say that’s the reason why they prefer college sports…. Oh well, why not pay big bucks to go watch your neighbors play?



This makes it all worth it.

High school cheerleaders vs professional cheerleaders….. hmmm that’s a hard choice. Depends on whether you are going for the girls or for the dance.