POLL: What sport is the easiest to go pro?

[WhiteKnight]

Originally posted by: Dudd

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Football, without a doubt

How so? You can't teach yourself 4.3 speed, or make yourself grow to 6'5, 340 lbs. What's the average height in the US? 5'9, 5'10? Doug Flutie was that tall, and he looked like a midgit. I voted for golf, because while you can teach yourself a good swing, you can't teach yourself size and speed, a necessity in almost every other sport on the list. Mental toughness can be learned, physical prowess cannot.

I guess when I read the question I thought of it as the sport that requires the least training, disregarding genetics. In this case, I'd say football, as just about any huge guy can be taught rather easily to be another nameless linebacker. If we are taking size and everything into account, I'd agree that football is not the easiest as most people will never be big enough no matter how hard they try,

 

[Mallow]

I've heard good things about Cricket

Just think, no one could ever be like, "You sell out! Your only in it for the money! blah blah" Pretty cool if you ask me.

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: Mallow
I've heard good things about Cricket

Just think, no one could ever be like, "You sell out! Your only in it for the money! blah blah" Pretty cool if you ask me.

Haha.... professional cricket!

 

[jlind23]

Well if you are saying the PGA Tour, then you also have to remove the minor leagues and semi pro leagues in baseball. Because basically the Buy.com/Nike tour are designed for players on the cusp of becoming PGA Tour players. I don't think either Golf or baseball would be the easiest way to get to the pro's though. My vote would be for Hockey. It's a sport that both the average size guy and the smaller and larger can play. Various styles allow you to be a bruiser and not so great puck handler or fast and good with the puck, or if your coordination and hand eye is good enough you could try goalie. There is a relatively smaller pool of players working their way to the pro's. College is not necessary. So basically I think if your the average 10 year old and you want to go pro, pick up some skates and a stick and train your butt off for the next 8 years. Granted that still may not help, but in my opinion that's your best chance to make it to the pro's.

PS - I still believe all on the list are difficult. By the way Bowling and Pool are sports? Maybe I change my vote to lumberjacking.

 

[LakAttack]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight

Originally posted by: Dudd

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Football, without a doubt

How so? You can't teach yourself 4.3 speed, or make yourself grow to 6'5, 340 lbs. What's the average height in the US? 5'9, 5'10? Doug Flutie was that tall, and he looked like a midgit. I voted for golf, because while you can teach yourself a good swing, you can't teach yourself size and speed, a necessity in almost every other sport on the list. Mental toughness can be learned, physical prowess cannot.

I guess when I read the question I thought of it as the sport that requires the least training, disregarding genetics. In this case, I'd say football, as just about any huge guy can be taught rather easily to be another nameless linebacker. If we are taking size and everything into account, I'd agree that football is not the easiest as most people will never be big enough no matter how hard they try,

Wow. . . Are you from Europe? Easy to be a linebacker? Having played a little linebacker in my day, I can tell you that it is far from easy. There are about 120 guys good enough to play linebacker at the NFL level, and there are a few more than 120 guys with "linebacker size" in the world.

 

[Ynog]

None of these sports are easy to go Pro in.

Baseball has a huge minor league system. Thats not the pros.
Many players will never leave the minors. So its not that easy to get into the majors.

 

[mchammer187]

definitely baseball

 

[Jadow]

technically, any sport where you make money, you're a pro. Boxing would be easiest. You don't have to be any good, just get in the ring for 20 bucks, and you're a pro.

 

[BigJ]

what about Lacrosse?

 

[Ranger X]

WWE!

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: Dudd

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Football, without a doubt

How so? You can't teach yourself 4.3 speed, or make yourself grow to 6'5, 340 lbs. What's the average height in the US? 5'9, 5'10? Doug Flutie was that tall, and he looked like a midgit. I voted for golf, because while you can teach yourself a good swing, you can't teach yourself size and speed, a necessity in almost every other sport on the list. Mental toughness can be learned, physical prowess cannot.

True, you can't alter your genetics, but football is more about fundamentals than just being fast or being big. There's more to being an offensive lineman than being big/fat, and there's more to being a receiver than being fast. Look at some of the greatest receivers in football - Jerry Rice, Lynn Swann. Neither of them were/are extremely fast - it's their skills that made them great. With the numerous football leagues (NFL, Arena, Canadian, European) playing football in high school and college doesn't guarantee you a job but it's pretty close.

Oh, and tennis, baseball, and soccer have very little to nothing to do with size or speed.

 

[manly]

NCAA Division 1 basketball, followed by Division 1 football.

 

[Buttzilla]

ping pong baby!

 

[Entity]

In baseball, do you mean "pro" by the majors, or just a minor leaguer?

I remember an interview with Brian Jordan a while ago...when asked which sport he played was harder, and he responded that baseball was -- because of the mental aspect. He said he chose baseball over football because of the longevity of his career, but not because it was easier.

Rob

 

[LakAttack]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello:

With the numerous football leagues (NFL, Arena, Canadian, European) playing football in high school and college doesn't guarantee you a job but it's pretty close.

When you tally up the number of players in those 4 leagues, the number is under 3000. And that doesn't take into account that most NFL Europe players are on NFL rosters too. I think there are like 120 NCAA Div. IA schools. My former school, UGA has about 100 students on its football team, so there are about 12,000 Div. IA football players, and under 3000 jobs. And that doesn't take into account all of the Div. IAA, II, and III players. So to answer two questions, 1.) Playing college football is not even close to a guaranteed job, and 2.) yes I'm very bored.

 

[NeoV]

anyone who answered baseball is wrong..hitting a thrown baseball is about the hardest thing to do in sports. In terms of numbers, there may be more 'pro' (including minor league players) players in this sport than in others, but even if you took a young kid and trained him, there is no sure thing he'll ever have the hand/eye coordination to hit a ball...and pitching, well, you either have a good arm or you don't, and even if you have a good one there is no sure thing you'll be able to throw strikes.

remember that the question asked if you started to train as a youngster - saying nothing about size/frame, etc...Golf, in my opinion, would be the easiest if you were able to practice it every day - I think the biggest reason golf is hard for most people is because they don't get to play very often.

Look at the British open - this is supposed to be one of the 4 "major" tourney's, and the winner is a total unknown

I think golf takes, by far, the least amount of athletic ability of the sports listed here, and therefore would be the easiest for someone to train, from a young age, for a pro career.

 

[josphII]

boxing because just about anybody fits in a certain weight class and if your willing to stand there and get your ass pounded....

next would be golf because shorter or lite weight ppl just cant hack it in football, basketball, and even baseball

and for the record golf isnt even a real sport