Comparing Sports (Favorites)

I may be somewhat bias as I write this sense I'm watching hockey on TV. But everyone who knows me and talks to me or asks me assumes that my favorite sport is either baseball or football. I see where that could be confusing. I've played baseball my entire life and the last few years I've spent coaching. And football? Well anyone who knows anything about me knows that if you get me started on the Green Bay Packers I can go all night. The surprise comes when I tell people that my favorite sport is hockey. If you don't like hockey I have one question for you...Have you watched the game?! By far the best sport in the universe. I love baseball and football. But even I'll admit the thing that gets to me is the downtime. That can be said for either baseball or football. I like a game with some flow to it. Much like basketball. Whats the difference between basketball and hockey? Game stoppages. When the ball goes out of bounds in basketball the clock stops. When there is a time out the game stops. Which completely disrupts any flow or rhythm that the game has gotten into. Hockey on the other hand never stops. No timeouts(until later in games) Even after a goal they are right back to it only seconds later. It really never stops.
Now take a look at the action on the ice. First of all, the things the guys (or girls) can do on skates is amazing. Soccer players normally get a lot of credit for the things they are able to do with their feet. (Soccer I may point out also has the flow of hockey without stopping-which I like) Hockey isn't really into the whole 'what happens with the feet' but its still amazing what they are able to do on top of frozen water. Whats best about hockey is that is has the flow of basketball or soccer but also the contact of a football game. If you are not used to watching hockey action put it on and you will be amazed at what is 'legal' in a game. Guys getting blown up...No big deal. Its the norm. ESPN always shows big hits during the NFL season...Well you could make an entire highlight film of big hits from one single hockey game.
Oh...Did I mention that dropping the gloves and fighting is one of the great traditions of the game? I think I've said enough.