Is Pro Football Losing Popularity?

Pro football is not as popular as it was a year ago, even though it remains the most popular sport among American adults who follow more than one sport, according to a recent survey by Harris Interactive. In 2006, 29 percent of adults named football as their favorite sport, down from 33 percent in 2005. Baseball is second at 14 percent (unchanged from 2005), college football at 13 percent (also unchanged since 2005) and auto racing at 9 percent. Pro basketball was the favorite sport of 7 percent of respondents, an increase of three percentage points.

Since 1985 when Harris first posed this question, football has maintained its popularity consistently. But other sports have not fared so well. Baseball has dropped nine percentage points from 23 percent to 14 percent. Horse racing and men’s tennis also lost popularity, while auto racing and college football both gained.

While these results are too surprising, I'm curious to know the differences in popularity rates between men and women, and how these rates may have changed over the years.

By the way, if you're interested in participating in online Harris Poll surveys, you can become a member and register at http://go.hpolsurveys.com/HarrisPoll.

Former Bear QB to Coach at Stanford

Remember Jim Harbaugh? He was a first-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 1987 and had a fairly successful 15-year career in the NFL, although in Chicago he had mixed results. Since leaving the NFL, coaching has become his new career. His biggest career challenge may lie ahead as the new football coach at Stanford, a team that has struggled over the last few seasons. The Cardinals finished 1-11 this year and has won only 16 games over the last five seasons.

Harbaugh has spent the last three seasons at the University of San Diego, leading the Division 1-AA team to a 29-6 record over that period.

29-6. That’s impressive. Too bad he didn’t have that kind of record as the Bears’ QB. Here’s wishing him luck in the Pac-10, where he will need a lot of luck to rebuild a very bad team to compete with divisional rivals USC and California.

Alive and Kicking

Does the name Katie Hnida ring a bell? She was the place kicker at the University in Colorado in 2000 who brought allegations of harassment against her fellow players and coaches. She also claimed she was raped by one of her teammates. The Colorado football scandal made headlines across the country, including Sports Illustrated. When she left the university after one season, Hnida had a successful college football career at New Mexico – without mishap –
where she became the first woman to score in a Division I football game.

Six years later, Hnida is touring the country to share her story. She is the author of a new book Still Kicking: My Journey as the First Woman to Play Division I College Football. She is hoping that her success at New Mexico will inspire other young women to try to make it in a man’s sport.

No Benching for Grossman

Bears' fans aren't happy unless they're discussing a quarterback controversy -- real or imagined. I'm probably in the minority when I say that Rex Grossman should not be benched after his dismal performance Sunday against the New England Patriots. What purpose does that serve? Grossman learns nothing by being benched, only that he'll need to look over his shoulder every now and then if he fumbles or throws an interception. Instead, coach Lovie Smith is putting trust in his quarterback, as is the offensive line. I think it's better to review the mistakes, correct them, then get back on the field for the next game. That's the only way young players will learn.

Understandably, fans are concerned about Grossman's ability to lead this team to a Superbowl victory. I'm not worried about the Superbowl; that's several months away. There are still four more games in the Bears' regular season, plenty of time to iron out whatever issues the team has. And really, this is a team problem, not just Grossman's. Lovie Smith is wise to admit that the entire team is at fault for Sunday's loss to the Patriots. He admitted that he made some bad play calls, and both the offense and defense had lapses.

Let's give some credit to the Patriots' defense (as well as other Bears' opponents) who have pressured Rex Grossman into forcing turnovers. They've looked at the game films and know that the young QB gets flustered under pressure, and they know he can be forced into making plays he shouldn't. It is up to the Bears' coaching staff to make adjustments so the offensive line can protect Grossman better and give him more time to make plays. When Grossman has time to throw downfield, the Bears can be electrifying to watch. But among Bear fans. Let's hope the former, and not the latter, is the team we see in the playoffs.

Buckeyes Win Battle of the Unbeatens

In a battle of the unbeatens that lived up to its billing, the Ohio State Buckeyes outlasted the Michigan Wolverines, 42-39, in Columbus, Ohio yesterday and finished their regular season with a perfect 12-0 record. OSU proved to be the better of the top two teams, not only of the Big Ten, but also in the nation, despite a strong performance by the Wolverines under very trying circumstances. The team lost its biggest supporter and longtime coach Bo Schemblecher on Friday after he collapsed outside a TV studio where he was scheduled to tape his weekly TV show. He was rushed to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

With USC’s victory over California last night, the debate about who should face the Buckeyes for the national championship game will be hotly debated over the next few weeks. USC still has two more games remaining on its schedule including one against Notre Dame. If they run the table, USC will face OSU. If the Trojans lose one of those two games, look for a rematch between the Wolverines and Buckeyes for the national title.

Paterno injured on sidelines

Penn State coach Joe Paterno suffered a knee injury yesterday when he was knocked over by one of his own players who ran into the sidelines after a play ended. To make matters worse, Penn State also lost the game to the Wisconsin Badgers, 13-3. Paterno will turn 80 next month.

With all the pro, collegiate and high school games played across the country, I’m surprised this kind of thing doesn’t happen more often.

Got Something to Crow About?

Fans attending the South Carolina Gamecocks’ football games are going to hear fewer rooster crows from their mascot during the rest of this season. The SEC is cracking down on the number of times the rooster can crow during SC’s home games. While it will still be permissible during timeouts, halftime and before or after the game, the rooster will have to shut its beak before third-down plays and other critical moments during the game.

Losing Control

By now, you’ve seen replays of the brawl between the Miami Hurricanes and Florida International University (FIU) during Saturday’s game in which the ‘Canes won 35-0. It’s unclear how the brawl started and why it escalated so quickly. The two teams and their respective leagues are suspending 31 players who were involved in the melee. Some of the suspensions are for an indefinite period of time. Two FIU players have been dismissed from the team.

I understand that in the heat of battle, things happen. But there comes a point when a player must control his aggression on the field. Celebrating in the end zone is a no-no, and taunting the crowd afterward is an even bigger no-no. So is swinging your helmet at an opponent’s head. So is stomping a player lying on the ground or lifting him and slamming him to the ground. This brawl was an embarrassment, not only for the players but for their universities, their fans and for college sports. Each player should be harshly disciplined. I’d suggest kicking them off their respective football teams, but then I don’t think Miami or FIU would have enough players to play out the rest of the season.

In addition, the coaching staff and players should be required to participate in separate mandatory behavior management sessions covering topics such as anger management and how to respond appropriately to trash talk and trash behavior.

What is sad is that this kind of behavior isn’t confined to the college or amateur ranks. It has also gravitated toward the professional teams, just as it did several weeks ago when defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth from the Tennessee Titans stomped on Dallas Cowboys' center Andre Gurode, who needed 31 stitches on his face.

Yes, football is an aggressive sport. But it doesn’t have to be a violent one.