The REAL National Pastime

Summary

The article humorously suggests that road construction is the real national pastime in the United States, drawing more spectators than any sporting event or concert.

Abstract

The article challenges the traditional view that baseball is America's national pastime, a title it has held since the early 1900s and possibly even earlier, as suggested by an 1856 publication. The author argues that over time, other sports like football have also laid claim to this title. However, the author asserts that none of these activities can compete with the number of spectators drawn to road construction, which is not a sport but an everyday spectacle for many, both in the U.S. and around the world. The piece concludes by providing a reference to an article by John Thorn that explores the origins of the term "national pastime."

Opinions

The author believes that the title of "national pastime" has been incorrectly attributed to baseball and other sports.
The author humorously points out that road construction, despite not being a sport, garners more consistent and involuntary spectatorship than any sporting event.
The author implies that the widespread interest in road construction, as a spectacle, extends beyond the United States to a global audience.
The author suggests that the perception of baseball as the national pastime is outdated, possibly dating back to the early 1900s or even 1856.

Another activity draws a huge number of spectators, far more than any sport, especially baseball

Photo by Jade Masri on Unsplash

When I was growing up, baseball was advertised as the national pastime. That probably carried over from the early 1900s and before. It has even been attributed to an 1856 publication.

Over my life, football and other sports have made the same claim. Other countries claim soccer or whatever fills their stadiums. All are wrong.

There is one activity, though not actually a sport, that has more spectators than all of the stadiums in the country, even if you include rock concerts. It is:

Road Construction!

People, some involuntarily, watch it more than anything else in the United States. Some every day.

Same with the rest of the world.

Seen summer or winter, rain or shine

The REAL National Pastime

Another activity draws a huge number of spectators, far more than any sport, especially baseball

References

Other articles in the same category

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