The number of Americans who invest "serious effort" into playing hockey, or basketball, or NFL football is quite small. Doesn't mean those aren't popular sports

The number of Americans who invest "serious effort" into playing hockey, or basketball, or NFL football is quite small. Doesn't mean those aren't popular sports here in the US. In fact, I'm CERTAIN that hip-hop, yoga, or jogging all have a bigger hobby base in the US than hockey, or basketball, or NFL football. If by "hobby" and "serious effort" you mean personally engages in activity twice a week or more. That doesn't make any of them necessarily more "popular" than hockey, or basketball, or NFL football. Just because it isn't played daily, doesn't mean it isn't a pass time. Martial arts tournaments are enormously popular. It's arguably even worse in China. Because football is being propped up by the government. Which means even where the government is, let's say, "subtly to strongly urging" people to interact with football, they are still choosing to interact with basketball, martial arts, ping pong, etc instead. Without the government backing, football would fade quickly. Not so for table tennis, or basketball, or boxing. (Which all maintain their popularity with no government intervention.)