Ok, number one, the reason most foreigners don't like american football is because it is the most complex of sports and they don't take the time to learn it. The strategy goes so deep also. Just watch the show on espn, nfl matchup. They'll break down plays showing the defense, offense, and why the play worked for either side. Why do you think so many rookie qb's don't do well? Because they even don't understand all the workings of defensive strategy. If a team is coached well, understand the game, are calm, aware, etc. Then they can succeed. I can't imagine a sport that requires a coach more.
Most people think of american football in the simplest terms and if you were to do that it would be played like 1950's football. The hard hits, amazing catches, and beautiful runs are always a redeeming quality but football to be played right has to be played on all cyclinders. offensive line, rb, qb, wr(routes), d-line, cb's, safety's. It's the ultimate team sport and it still allows for players to take over a game based on skill. Everybody loves a sport hero, everybody loves a brilliant strategy. From week to week seeing the most skilled players in the world vs the best taught is just so exciting. It's completely unpredictable, and yet not based on luck as the Patriots have shown over their amazing streak.
Basketball on the other hand is moving away from strategy and more towards skill. Michael Jordan is the greatest sports hero I've ever seen, and yet everyone wanting to be him, don't understand that so many other things worked for the Bulls for Jordan to be what he was. Throughout basketball history though there has been amazing teams assembled, great strategies, etc. Assembling the team in fact part of the strategy. Most teams need a center, a shooting guard, a man at point to run the offense. I don't see it as a back and forth, whoever's up at the end is the lucky winner. There's a reason why the Bulls won 2 3-peats through the 90's. There's a reason why the Celtics and Lakers of the 80's were too much for the rest of the league. A good portion is smart players with a sense of the moment to put them over. The other bit is strategy.
Teamwork when applied can defeat any one player. It's been proven over and over. The best team in basketball should win. I enjoy college basketball even more because of being more reliant on strategy than individuals. But the nba has had their share of great teams. Just watch a tape of the Bulls vs. Suns in '93. Yes, Michael Jordan was great, but these two teams were in a complete struggle for control. You had to consistently operate like a team to win. Especially in the moments you needed the points the most. Example, Jordan, to Pippen, to Paxson, for 3 and the win. That took guts to decide to take the 3-point shot when 2 tied it. Tell me no strategy is used there. Plus, when a team you love is making a run during a game there's not many adreaneline rushes that match that seeing your team get right back in the game. It always seems like poetry in motion to me. When a player just feels it too and becomes unstoppable. There's a whole lot of great moments through a basketball game
Baseball meanwhile is popular in many countries for a reason. Like said, hitting a baseball is likely the hardest thing to do in proffessional sports. A player trains from when he was 5 or so to hit a baseball. Start on a tee, now toss the ball, now faster, faster. To even be able to hit a fastball is a major accomplishment. Like a master of swordplay or something. You have to know timing, you have to train your eye to know where and when the ball is coming. And most of all at a big league level on top of all that you have to play a chess match with the pitcher. A great pitcher can end a game before it starts or a great hitter could change a game with the swing of a bat or his very presence( Barry Bonds ). A great team meanwhile know when and how to hit a ball. Sacrifice flies, bunts to advance runners, groundballs to opposite sides.
Baserunning is an art also, defense is an integral part of a team. Every run counts and there's so many ways to score or prevent a score. I really really love baseball. Likely my favorite sport when the Cubs are playing well. Everything from the lineup of a team (moving around contact hitters, homerun hitters, clutch hitters) to aqquiring the players needed to effeciently play a 9 inning game is important. The Cubs weak spot, a bullpen and a goat. Thus we didnt make the playoffs. In no way were we the best team. And our hitting failed down the stretch likely due to lack of players playing well under presssure. But at the same time, as a fan being able to point that out as our flaws is satisfying. It's a sport where strategy, heroes, and everything else is just embraced by the fans. I'd pick it as my favorite sport. I have thought it was dull when I was younger but you just need to learn the game. It's really an amazing game.
