Baseball versus Hockey

Those of you who know me know that in the past 3 years or so I have been enraptured by the awesomeness that is the NHL.  I went from knowing almost nothing about the sport, to being able to know terms like pinching, forecheck, back check, wrist shot, slap shot, one timer, top shelf etc.  The game is breathtakingly exciting, many games are very close, and every shot on goal is like a mini heart attack of awesomeness.

So what happened to Baseball?  After all this is the sport I was raised with, and know inside and out.  I understand everything that is going on on the field and it is a great game, moving chess, so to speak...but it is so much different then hockey.   So let me compare the two:

Baseball is a beautiful game to watch, it is on the surface a leisurely game, and to some it can seem kind of boring.  But if you care to get to get into it, there are a thousand little things happening between every pitch thrown, every situation that arises involves the subtle routine of the players trying to out think each other, out guess each other.  It is unique in that it has no clock, all of its managers and coaches wear the same uniform as their players, and they play the game every single day.  162 games a year is a punishing schedule.  Ken Burns documentary summed it up very well in saying that baseball is a leisurely game that demands blinding speed.  The joy of baseball is in the anticipation.

Hockey on the other hand is hyper kinetic.  You never have to wait for action because its always happening at brilliant breathtaking speed.  Players propel themselves upwards of 15 MPH on razor sharp metal skates at such high levels of execration that nobody except the goal tenders are usually on the ice for more than about 2 minutes.   The action is so quick that to the un initiated its almost a shock. "I can't see the puck!"  Some may complain because of the speed happening in front of them.  The excitement and thrill of the NHL is the constant shots on goal, seeing the play develop, and if you are lucky enough to see Anze Kopitar in person you just might see something almost superhuman on any given night at Staples Center.  And lets not forget the hits:  The NHL is the most punishing sport in pro sports today, more so then the NFL.  And last but certainly not least is the fighting.  This is the only sport that self polices.  If somebody cheap shots your guy, well then it is the job of your goon to drop the gloves and fight him!

So what sport is my favorite?  Well that's easy, 6 months out of the year it's baseball, and the other 6?  Hockey.