Tag: baseball

Soccer Knocks Baseball Out of America’s Top Three Favorite Sports

Sorry, baseball. Your long run as America’s third favorite sport is officially over.

A new poll from The Economist shows soccer has moved ahead of baseball in the U.S. popularity rankings, marking a pretty big shift in how Americans say they feel about sports right now. Football is still the undisputed king, basketball remains comfortably in second place, but the real drama happens just below that.

According to the poll, American football is the clear favorite sport in the country, with 36 percent of respondents saying it’s their top choice. That’s not shocking. Sundays still belong to the NFL, not to mention Mondays and Thursdays. And Saturdays are all about college ball.

Basketball comes in second with 17 percent. Again, no surprise there. The NBA has massive star power, a strong social media presence, and games that fit nicely into highlight clips and group chats.

Here is where things get interesting.

Soccer now sits in third place, with 10 percent of Americans naming it their favorite sport. Baseball comes in just behind it at 9 percent. It is a slim margin, but enough to officially bump baseball out of the top three.

That shift feels symbolic. Baseball has long been tied to the idea of America’s pastime, even if that label has been debated for years. Meanwhile, soccer’s rise has been steady. Major League Soccer keeps expanding, international leagues are easier than ever to watch, and younger fans have grown up seeing soccer as a normal part of the sports landscape instead of something “foreign.”

Hockey lands in fifth place, with 4 percent of Americans calling it their favorite sport. After that, things get crowded. Tennis, boxing, and MMA all tie at 3 percent, followed by golf at 2 percent.

None of this means baseball is disappearing, of course.

It still has a massive history, loyal fans, and a long season that fills summer nights. But the poll does suggest that cultural momentum is shifting. Faster-paced sports, global stars, and constant access through streaming and social media are changing how people choose their favorites.

For soccer fans, this is a big moment. For baseball fans, it might sting a little. Either way, America’s sports pecking order is no longer as predictable as it once was.

Move Over, Dick Butkus — There’s a New MVP of NSFW Sports Names

Baseball just got a whole lot more memorable, thanks to the New York Mets and their newest addition to the bullpen: Dickey Lovelady.

Yes, that is his real name. And yes, Mets fans are already obsessed.

Technically, the left-handed reliever goes by Richard Lovelady, and that’s what you’ll see on his baseball card, and probably in the stat sheets. But according to a Mets beat reporter, he prefers to be called “Dickey” — especially if you run into him at the stadium or on the street. And the internet is having an absolute field day.

One fan joked that “Dickey Lovelady sounds like it’s straight out of a Seinfeld episode,” while another swore he had to be an “Austin Powers character.”

It’s the kind of name that would get rejected from a video game for being too suggestive. But in real life? It’s pitching for the Mets.

To be fair, Dick Butkus — the legendary Chicago Bears linebacker — has long held the title of “Most Inappropriate Sports Name That’s Actually Real.” But in 2025, it might finally be time to pass the torch. Or the glove.

Lovelady’s been bouncing around the minors for a few years, including a stint with the Minnesota Twins organization. Now, he’s landed in New York, where fans don’t always have a ton to celebrate. But even in a preseason without much hope, they’re taking this win.

Of course, if you were hoping to slide into DMs, you’re out of luck. The man is married and has a kid. Sorry, folks — this Lovelady’s already spoken for.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 12: Richard Lovelady #55 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 12, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

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