Always loved math. Always been a number cruncher. My parents will vouch for that.
Should have been an actuary. Could deal with statistics and probability, but didn't see much of a future in that career once calculus entered the equation.
As a sports writer, it's more about words and telling a story. Yet, numbers are still vital.
Take for example the argument delving into America's national pastime. With spring training hitting full stride, I thought about the tradition Major League Baseball offers as it enters year No. 143.
That's multiple lifetimes. Yet, the sport gets a bad rap in terms of television ratings combined with the increasing popularity of professional football.
I understand how Sundays in the fall are important to the American culture. Admit the adrenaline starts to flow as soon as the Pittsburgh Steelers step outside the tunnel.
Noticed a record 111.3 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Part of the experience for the general public are the advertisements and the halftime celebration.
Baseball relies on the game itself. It remains pure in that regard.
Game 7 between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers attracted 25.4 million viewers last year, but factor in the previous six games between the two teams and the figure of 95.7 million rivals the glamour the NFL provides for its champion.
Another factoid I found interesting concerned attendance figures. Granted baseball's regular season consists of nearly 2,000 more games than the NFL. But that's the nature of the beast. Baseball players don't need a full week to recuperate.
Major League Baseball packed in 73.5 million fans last year, and that's factoring in games late in the schedule which don't have an impact on the pennant races. Everyone's seen those empty seats behind the backstop on televised games in Houston, Miami or even Kansas City.
In comparison, American football attracted 17.2 million fans in 2011. Anyone see a major discrepancy?
Of course, both sports offer a multitude of choices regarding fantasy leagues.
Since leagues are forming at an alarming rate online for the upcoming baseball season, decided to purchase USA Today's Fantasy Baseball issue to try and get a leg up on the competition.
Not to give away any secrets, here are some observations:
Go figure.
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com
