SPORTS in AMERICA

SPORTS in AMERICA: The four major leagues

NFL: National FOOTBALL Association

MLB: Major League BASEBALL

• Founded in 1920 and has 32 teams.
• The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and Super Bowl games account for many of the most-watched television programs in American history.
• Season: September to January
• The team with the most NFL championships is the Green Bay Packers with thirteen; the team with the most Super Bowl championships is the Pittsburgh Steelers with six.
• Highest paid 2015: Tony Romo $28 million

NHL: National HOCKEY Association

• The MLB was founded in 1869 and is composed of 30 teams.
• HIGHEST season ATTENDANCE of any sports league in the world with more than 74 MILLION spectators in 2013.
• Season: April to October.
• Championship game: The World Series.
• The New York Yankees have won the most World Series titles with 27 total wins. The closest second are the St. Louis Cardinals with 11 total wins.
• Highest paid 2015: Clayton Kershaw $32.6 million

REVIEW

NBA: National BASKETBALL Association

• FOUR 15-minute quarters
• On the field: 11 players from each team
• FOUR chances (downs) to move the ball 10 yards
• Objective: Touchdown (take ball to endzone)
• Touchdowns are SIX points
• After touchdown: pass into end-zone again for TWO points OR kick into goal post for ONE point
• FIELD-GOAL: kick through posts for THREE points
• SAFETY: if offense is tackled behind own goal line offense gets TWO points.
• Tie Breaker: 15 minutes OT

REVIEW

• NINE "innings"
• Each inning divided into 2 halves
• Top and Bottom
• Top: Visitors bat
• Bottom: Home bats
• On the field: NINE players from each side
• Objective: Score "RUNS" (1 run:1 point)
• THREE strikes (chances) before "out"
• FOUR balls before "walk"
• Ties result in extra innings until break

• Founded in 1917 and has 30 teams (23 in the US; 7 in Canada).
• Canada is known as the birthplace of hockey. The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Canada. Ice Hockey is extremely violent.
• Season: October to April.
• Championship game: The Stanley Cup.
• The team with the most wins is the Montreal Canadiens with 23 wins; the closest second is the Toronto Maple Leafs with 13.
• Highest paid in 2015: Jonathan Toews $10.5 million

• Founded in 1946 and has 30 teams.
• NBA players are the world's best paid athletes with the average being $5.5 million
• Championship game: The Playoffs.
• Season: October to June.
• The two teams with the most wins are the Boston Celtics with 17 and the LA Lakers with 16.
• Highest paid 2015: Kobe Bryant $25 million

REVIEW

• THREE 20 minute periods
• SIX players from each team on ice
• UNLIMITED substitutions
• Objective: score goals; ONE point per goal
• FACE-OFF: anytime the game is "stopped"
• PENALTIES, PENALTIES, PENALTIES...
• TWO-minute minor
• FIVE-minute major
• 10-minute misconduct
• GAME MISCONDUCT
• POWER PLAY
• SUDDEN DEATH OT/SHOOT OUT

REVIEW

• FOUR 12-min quarters
• FIVE players on court for each team
• 24 seconds to "shoot" the ball in the hoop
• Shots within the arc: TWO points
• Shots outside the arc: THREE points
• FREE throws: ONE point
• Tie breaker: FIVE additional minutes game time
• NO double dribbling. NO traveling. NO charging
• FOULS: PERSONAL. FLAGRANT. TECH.