Which Championship is Toughest to Win on the body?
This argument has been sliced and diced for many decades and it’s the aged old question of which championship is hardest to win on the body and why?
When you break down sports in general, you look at different aspects of the game, which could involve stamina, endurance, strength, body contact, creativity, strategy of the game, coaching and I could name about 10 other aspects, but these are the most important ones.
So, which “Big 4” sport championship is the hardest to win on the body?
Let’s break down each sport and see what challenges each face physically and mentally during a regular and playoff season.
Baseball. As far as scheduling goes, I must admit baseball players have the most demanding schedule, as they must compete in 162 regular season games and that doesn’t include the 20 or more games they play in spring training. Then, if the teams are fortunate enough to make the playoffs, they can play anywhere from 4 to 21 more playoff games. Now’ let’s look at the physical part of the game. Players’ only physical contact demand is on “choice” option plays such as stealing bases or sliding into the catcher at home plate. Or, there’s the non-voluntarily hit by pitch choice and players diving for baseball in the outfield or in dugouts. Nevertheless, the “collision” aspect of the game is not necessarily that demanding on the body. If anything, pitchers must have strength in their arms year after year to be able to pitch with velocity and endurance for a full season. As far as winning the World Series, I think it’s the easiest championship to win on the body in regards to physical and mental toughness.
Pro Football. The NFL is not a contact sports, it’s a collision sport at times! Nobody made the highlights more with bone crunching hits than Ronnie Lott. However, as far as the Super Bowl, as one of the toughest championships to win is debatable. Granted, NFL players play a grueling 16 game schedule, but they also receive a 6-day break between games and it’s not every player who is involved in the contact. Offensive and Defensive lineman do most of the contact, but they initiate the contact with 6 to 10 inches apart from each other. Running backs in my opinion take most of the bumps and bruises, as they have a 5 to 7 yard depth from the line of scrimmage and must meet the defenders head on running through their gaps. As for Wide Receivers, they get to touch the ball anywhere from 1 to 15 times a game, depending who they are. As for defensive players, they have the choice, as they are the punisher and not the one receiving the hits. Football can be tough mentally, as when you face a defense like the Ravens and knowing you have to deal with Ray Lewis for 60 minutes, that keeps you on your toes and your head on a swivel if you’re an offensive player. As far as the playoff format, you can win the Super Bowl in 3 games or as much as 4, but again you get 6 days off to recoup. I would say the Super Bowl is the 3rd toughest championship to win on the body.
Basketball. I think Pro basketball players are the best conditioned athletes and the size range from these athletes can go from 5’5 to 7’2, which is amazing considering players with such a size differential can compete against each other in this sport. NBA players play a grueling 82 game schedule and that’s allot of road meals. As far as the physical aspect of the game, it’s not a contact or collision sport like hockey or football, but there is some big elbows flying under the boards and going up for rebounds is an art. You need big time stamina in the game of basketball, as you haul your butt up and down the court and get little rest if you’re a star player like Kobe or Garnett. One of the biggest factors in the NBA is the mental part of the game. It’s amazing how a team can be a –10.0 to –14.0 point home favorite and be a +3.0 point underdog on the road against the same team. Mostly, because of the head factor and the way players respond to the crowd energy against them. As far as being the toughest championship on the body to win, I must say they are a close 2nd.
Hockey. Which brings me to the hardest championship on the body to win in sports. Good timing with the NHL Stanley Cup playing now too. Hockey is both a collision and contact sport. You have players skating at a very fast level and bringing their mass body weight into the player with their checks. Look at it this way, let’s say you are ten feet away from me and I took my 220 pounds and started running towards you with my shoulder ready to clock you. Now image that 220 lbs on skates with equipment and coming at you three times faster. I’m not Issac Newton, but that total mass weight can do some damage on a smaller body frame! Just like NBA players, NHL players play 82 regular season games and they need strength, stamina and endurance. However, I’m not going to make this all rosy for them, as players do get shifts, which means a first and second line players can play anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes a game, whereas 3rd and 4th line players can play 4 to 12 minutes. If you look at hockey and basketball, the endurance, stamina, and creativity of the game are very similar, but the only difference is the amount of contact being placed on the body. Therefore, I think the Stanley Cup is the toughest championship on the body to win.
I’m sure people will disagree, but I challenge them!
Ron Raymond
This argument has been sliced and diced for many decades and it’s the aged old question of which championship is hardest to win on the body and why?
When you break down sports in general, you look at different aspects of the game, which could involve stamina, endurance, strength, body contact, creativity, strategy of the game, coaching and I could name about 10 other aspects, but these are the most important ones.
So, which “Big 4” sport championship is the hardest to win on the body?
Let’s break down each sport and see what challenges each face physically and mentally during a regular and playoff season.
Baseball. As far as scheduling goes, I must admit baseball players have the most demanding schedule, as they must compete in 162 regular season games and that doesn’t include the 20 or more games they play in spring training. Then, if the teams are fortunate enough to make the playoffs, they can play anywhere from 4 to 21 more playoff games. Now’ let’s look at the physical part of the game. Players’ only physical contact demand is on “choice” option plays such as stealing bases or sliding into the catcher at home plate. Or, there’s the non-voluntarily hit by pitch choice and players diving for baseball in the outfield or in dugouts. Nevertheless, the “collision” aspect of the game is not necessarily that demanding on the body. If anything, pitchers must have strength in their arms year after year to be able to pitch with velocity and endurance for a full season. As far as winning the World Series, I think it’s the easiest championship to win on the body in regards to physical and mental toughness.
Pro Football. The NFL is not a contact sports, it’s a collision sport at times! Nobody made the highlights more with bone crunching hits than Ronnie Lott. However, as far as the Super Bowl, as one of the toughest championships to win is debatable. Granted, NFL players play a grueling 16 game schedule, but they also receive a 6-day break between games and it’s not every player who is involved in the contact. Offensive and Defensive lineman do most of the contact, but they initiate the contact with 6 to 10 inches apart from each other. Running backs in my opinion take most of the bumps and bruises, as they have a 5 to 7 yard depth from the line of scrimmage and must meet the defenders head on running through their gaps. As for Wide Receivers, they get to touch the ball anywhere from 1 to 15 times a game, depending who they are. As for defensive players, they have the choice, as they are the punisher and not the one receiving the hits. Football can be tough mentally, as when you face a defense like the Ravens and knowing you have to deal with Ray Lewis for 60 minutes, that keeps you on your toes and your head on a swivel if you’re an offensive player. As far as the playoff format, you can win the Super Bowl in 3 games or as much as 4, but again you get 6 days off to recoup. I would say the Super Bowl is the 3rd toughest championship to win on the body.
Basketball. I think Pro basketball players are the best conditioned athletes and the size range from these athletes can go from 5’5 to 7’2, which is amazing considering players with such a size differential can compete against each other in this sport. NBA players play a grueling 82 game schedule and that’s allot of road meals. As far as the physical aspect of the game, it’s not a contact or collision sport like hockey or football, but there is some big elbows flying under the boards and going up for rebounds is an art. You need big time stamina in the game of basketball, as you haul your butt up and down the court and get little rest if you’re a star player like Kobe or Garnett. One of the biggest factors in the NBA is the mental part of the game. It’s amazing how a team can be a –10.0 to –14.0 point home favorite and be a +3.0 point underdog on the road against the same team. Mostly, because of the head factor and the way players respond to the crowd energy against them. As far as being the toughest championship on the body to win, I must say they are a close 2nd.
Hockey. Which brings me to the hardest championship on the body to win in sports. Good timing with the NHL Stanley Cup playing now too. Hockey is both a collision and contact sport. You have players skating at a very fast level and bringing their mass body weight into the player with their checks. Look at it this way, let’s say you are ten feet away from me and I took my 220 pounds and started running towards you with my shoulder ready to clock you. Now image that 220 lbs on skates with equipment and coming at you three times faster. I’m not Issac Newton, but that total mass weight can do some damage on a smaller body frame! Just like NBA players, NHL players play 82 regular season games and they need strength, stamina and endurance. However, I’m not going to make this all rosy for them, as players do get shifts, which means a first and second line players can play anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes a game, whereas 3rd and 4th line players can play 4 to 12 minutes. If you look at hockey and basketball, the endurance, stamina, and creativity of the game are very similar, but the only difference is the amount of contact being placed on the body. Therefore, I think the Stanley Cup is the toughest championship on the body to win.
I’m sure people will disagree, but I challenge them!
Ron Raymond
