Soccer vs. Wrestling

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

My goal (pun intended) with this post isn't to rile up soccer fans or wrestling fans, but instead to bring about awareness for both professions.  It all stems from a conversation I had with some co-workers earlier today.  Each side was arguing over the global reach of their respective sport. (Yes, I know there are those who will argue the use of the word "sport" when talking about wrestling, but work with me here.)

Team USA
Photo courtesy: The Telegraph

I actually did some research for this post and I think that if you're a fan of either, this will be good information for you.  I am not a sports fan in general. But I respect athletes who go out there and perform, whether on the field, on the ice, or on the court.  It should come as no surprise, I have tremendous respect for the men and women who step through the ropes of a wrestling ring.

I think in general, Americans do not fully understand the reach that soccer has globally.  According a CNN report,  FIFA is working with more than 700 television, radio, and Internet outlets on providing coverage of the 2014 World Cup.  In this country alone, more than 11 million people tuned in for the USA vs. Ghana match.  That number went up to more than 18 million who watched USA tied Portugal on ESPN.  I can't find worldwide stats, but some more examples: 14.2 million people watched the England-Italy match in the UK.  That's just in the United Kingdom.  Thirty-five point one million fans watched in Japan as that country's team lost to the Ivory Coast.  That's more than double the next highest sporting event on Japanese television.  Very impressive.

WWE Stars Daniel Bryan & John Cena
Photo courtesy: WWE

The point was I trying to make with my colleagues is that the WWE is more than just a wrestling company in North America.  The Superstars and Divas perform all over the world.  According to their website, WWE has offices in several cities, including London, Mumbai, and Tokyo.  The programming is broadcasted in 150 countries, 30 different languages, and reaches 650 million homes worldwide.

Facebook numbers

These are just a few examples of the global reach of each.  I'm impressed with the numbers for both.  Something else to consider these days is the reach via social media.  As of June 25, 2014, there are 33.2 million likes on the official FIFA Facebook page.  Compare that to the WWE's Facebook page with just over 20.2 million likes.  It's a different story with Twitter though.  The WWE's page has 4.41 million followers with FIFA's account garnering 2.29 million.

Twitter followers

I guess the point of it all is that both of these forms of entertainment are wildly popular around the world.  Until recently, I hadn't taken into account the popularity of soccer.  I hope soccer fans consider the worldwide appeal of the WWE and wrestling as well.  It's big business in places like Japan, Mexico, and Europe.  Plus, the only time our guys bite one another is when it's in the script.  I'm looking at you Luis Suarez.  

If You Can't Be an Athlete, Be an Athletic Supporter

Halloween: My only time to be a star

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

When I was a kid, I tried to get involved in sports.  I played two seasons of outdoor soccer, a season of indoor, and a season of baseball.  I hung up my cleats before reaching middle school, knowing that I was not an athlete.  The final realization came in 6^th grade when I tried out for the basketball team and didn’t make it.  Really the only thing I had going for me was being tall, which was the reason I tried out.

Bowling Buddies 1985

So I turned to bowling.  Every Saturday my parents would take me to White Oak Lanes in House Springs, a 10-minute drive from my childhood home.  I wasn’t the best bowler either, but there was something rewarding about it.  Even though we were a team, I didn’t feel the pressure to perform that came with the other sports I had done.  I even earned a few trophies along the way.

As I got older I wished that I could wrestle, but again my skills or lack there have got in the way.  Plus, I have a bleeding disorder called Von Willebrands, which means I’m a free bleeder.  Because the doctors’ were always concerned I’d have a bleeding episode, I was prohibited from any contact sports, so during the wrestling unit in PE in junior high, I sat and watched.

Fast forward to adulthood.  I have three kids, each blessed with a different athletic abilities.  Our oldest is the golfer.  Our youngest is the gymnast.  But it’s our middle kid who actually inspired this blog.  He plays baseball and does it pretty well.  He’s also pretty good at basketball.

Heading to first base

I was watching him at a baseball practice recently.  The coach was hitting the ball to the boys and they had to field it and throw it in to the other coach.  I sat and watched for several minutes, trying to see what the coaches saw as they critiqued the way each kid caught the ball and threw it back.  Perhaps it’s my inability to understand sports and lack of participation, but other than the obvious blunders, I was clueless. The coach was noting when they lead off with the wrong foot, or how they’d let the ball hop too many times before reaching it.  I’m in awe and have a whole new appreciation for what coaches do.

Coach Kevin
2008

I was an assistant coach in his early baseball days.  All that required was making sure the ball sat on the tee and the kids ran to the bases in the right order.  Pretty easy stuff.  Now there are all kinds of analysis and critiquing going on.  I feel like if I practice with him, I’m undoing what he’s learning.  I also coached several years of soccer, but in reality it was more like herding cats and making sure they kicked the ball anywhere remotely close to the net.  This of course makes me feel bad because I’ve just never had a passion for sports like he does. 

As I sit here writing several paragraphs, I’m not sure what the point of all this is.  I guess I wish I were like other dads who have that ability to nurture an athletic gift.  But the reality is, I’ll be the dad in the stands, cheering (silently, because it embarrasses him) and being grateful to those who do coach and help kids put their talents to good use.