4 Majors?! How About No!

The other day while having a sports discussion with one of my closest friends a question was posed to me that made stop and think a bit longer than usual.  My friend asked me why what is considered the four most popular sports in the United States is still referred to as the Four Majors when there really are only three major sports in the U.S?

The four major sports leagues in America have long been known as Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League.  However, upon thinking about the question posed by my friend I have come to conclusion that there is only three sports that currently matter in American society: baseball, football, and basketball.

That's right you guess it NOBODY cares about hockey!

I couldn't tell you the last time I watched a hockey game in its entirety and I consider myself a fan of the New York Rangers.  Hell, I couldn't even tell you where to find a nationally televised NHL game.  I do know that since their most recent lockout the NHL is now on the Versus Network but I have no idea what channel that is on my cable package nor do I know what days of the week they broadcast games.  

So maybe now you are thinking this guy just doesn't like hockey or you can label me a hockey hater.  It is true that I do not care much for the sport at all and I think it is a bit boring along with the fact that fighting appears to be at least a third of most NHL highlights on SportsCenter is just simply stupid.  However, it is clear that I am not the only one that does not care about hockey. 

Who else doesn't care about hockey? 

THE MEDIA!!

That's right the media coverage of hockey is no longer the same since the most recent lockout.  A prime example is the New York Daily News and the New York Post's most recent coverage of the New York Rangers Game 3 Quarterfinal Round matchup against the Washington Capitals. On Tuesday Morning after the Rangers playing their first post-season home game  and suffering their first loss of the opening round series after being up 2 games to none were shockingly not the back page story.  It was shocking considering they were the only professional sports team in town playing a game that night.  The Mets had an off-day and the Yankees game against the Athletics had been rained out.  However, both papers had back page stories on the two local baseball teams who had not played a game the day before.  

If one of the original franchises in your sports can't make the back pages of two of the largest papers in the largest media market in the country after a home playoff game then your sport is in trouble.  I know that New York is a baseball town but it speaks volumes when sports editors don't even consider a Rangers home playoff loss a major story.  If it is the post-season and your hockey team is not a major story in a major market then it is clear your sport simply is no longer major!!