I have made mention in past articles that I am a world traveler, and in doing so, I’ve gotten to learn how other world cultures operate. This includes their sporting traditions as well. There are some American sports that won’t attract huge following, no matter how hard we impose them (*cough* NFL *cough*). The same goes for other countries' sports, due to their distinct foreignness, the average American sports fan typically won’t appreciate them.
1. Cricket
Currently the third most popular sport in the world, due to it being entrenched in the Indian subcontinent, Cricket is the centuries-old English sport, and the progenitor to baseball. Hell, it was the most popular sport in America in the early 19th century until the advent of baseball. Its main hindrance is the many variations of the sport based on how long the game goes. The shortest version lasts about three hours, the longest about four days. Not to mention the sports governing board doesn’t seem to care about promoting international cricket in this country at the moment.
2. Australian Football
This sport dominates Australia the same way the NFL rules over all other American sports. It’s annual championship game, the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final in Melbourne, is their equivalent to our Super Bowl, drawing in excess of 100,000 people. Its main hindrance would be field size. The sport itself was designed to give Australian cricket stadiums year-round use, so the playing field is a large oval. The game itself is a bizarre combination of soccer, rugby, and basketball. Needless to say, it’s one of the most Australian things you can see
3. Netball
This game is essentially European basketball. And not just for countries where basketball is a popular sport. This sport was originally invented as a variation of basketball for women at the turn of the 20th century. It is played mainly in countries that were former British colonies, and in the 21st century, male teams and mixed-gender teams were created, which is a huge deal in terms of general sporting. It’s hindrance in the U.S. would be that it’s too similar to basketball, and women players already have their own basketball league, the WNBA.
4. Bandy
A variation to the ice hockey we are familiar with, Bandy is played outdoors in a soccer-size stadium. The rules are also more similar to soccer, with cards given for penalties instead of a two-minute power play. This game is popular in European countries where ice hockey and other winter sports are popular; Mainly the countries of the former USSR. It’s hindrance here is that we already have ice hockey as a popular sport in this country, so there would be no need for another team sport that’s essentially the same thing.
5. Gaelic Football
A sport that’s distinctly Irish, the way Australian and American football are in their respective countries, Gaelic football is one of the world’s last remaining solely amateur sports. Gameplay is very similar to Australian football, except it’s even more like soccer, with a goaltender position and a soccer net to score points. Its championship final in Dublin draws over 80,000 people. Its appeal in Ireland lies in that every county has a representative team in the main competition. Obviously, the main deterrent keeping this sport from being popular in the U.S. is the strict amateurism involved, given that the only amateur sports we largely follow are NCAA ones, and I’m sure that won’t gain a large following in our current structure.
