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> Soccer definitely has the breadth of places played locked down. Nothing is likely to overtake that any time soon. > But basketball has a surprising advantage
by BoiledCabbage 9y ago
> Soccer definitely has the breadth of places played locked down. Nothing is likely to overtake that any time soon.
> But basketball has a surprising advantage in potential players in that China is mad about basketball. The last time I was there the enthusiasm I saw for the sport, especially with young players rivaled anything I’ve seen outside of my own basketball obsessed childhood home of Indiana.
> Which leads to another conclusion. If I were betting the most popular sport globally I’d probably bet on Ping Pong, just based on Chinese school children participation.
Basketball flat out isn't. Every single adult male in China could play it and it still wouldn't be the most popular sport in the world.
- kasey_junk 9y agoYour suggesting that there is a sport out there right now that more than 10% of the global population plays? Cause Soccer certainly isn’t played at that scale.
- querulous 9y agocurrently plays obv you're right, but played ever? i bet it's over 10%. youth soccer participation is over 50% in most of europe and north america and while it's hard to find statistics for africa and south america for organized play for casual play i would be shocked if it was lower than the organized play rate for north america