There’s an interesting story in The Times this morning about changes some stadiums are making to provide fans at a game an experience more similar to the ones they get when they watch from their couches at home. Handheld TVs for instant-replay access and Wi-fi connections are two of the more popular amenities, not to mention the massive video boards that are being constructed – the one at the new Yankee Stadium is monstrous.

Anyway, this article made me think about what sporting events are better in person and which ones are better to watch at home. Here’s a few lists for you:

Best sports in person:
1. Hockey
2. Basketball
3. Baseball
4. Football

Best on TV:
1. Football
2. Baseball
3. Hockey
4. Basketball

For what it’s worth, I’ve been fortunate enough to cover and/or attend a variety of marquee sporting events in my life and have pretty strong opinions on which were better in person and which were better on TV. Here they are:

Better in person: World Series, NHL Playoffs, NBA Finals, Final Four, Masters, U.S. Open (tennis), World Cup soccer
Better on TV: Super Bowl, BCS National Championship, U.S. Open (golf), Belmont Stakes, Indy 500, Daytona 500

Which sports do you think are worth tickets and which ones would you rather watch at home?

CARP SAYS:

Football is now a living room sport, especially its biggest game, which is a week-long corporate schmooze and an all-day TV show wrapped around a four-hour game. My greatest sports disappointments over the years have been Super Bowls I’ve covered. I mean, I’m glad I can say I was there in ‘86 and ‘08 when the Giants won—especially ‘08, in what was one of the best New York sports moments ever.

But, I can so clearly remember how comparatively quiet the stadiums have been for those games, because with so many corporate types and NFL types and network-star types in the house, there are far fewer than 50 percent rooting for either team. So it doesn’t sound anything like Giants Stadium. I also think back to the poor Giants fans being held up on the streets for tickets that they couldn’t afford—that’s another matter for another time.

I don’t think there’s any question that hockey is dozens of times better live than on TV. Baseball, too, although baseball still translates to television. Football is a great, great TV game with all the camera angles, replays and especially the live analysis of the better (some aren’t as competent) color commentators. Often at the stadium, the fans are completely in the dark, scratching their heads, or misunderstanding a ruling on the field. But a Phil Simms or Troy Aikman can usually explain it to those watching on TV.

Plus, there is no way I could ever stand out in those freezing temps or cold rain or snow for hours and hours. Just no way.

Basketball is quickly becoming that way for me, too, because of the constant arena noise. Bad enough during stoppages, they now bang on the volume button throughout play, too. It’s awful, and awfully expensive on top of that. I hate paying to attend an NBA game these days, although I love the college and high school games.

So, for me:

Best in person
1. Hockey
2. Baseball
3. Football
4. Basketball

Best on TV
1. Football
2. Baseball
3. Basketball
4. Hockey

I have also covered numerous big events, and while I have absolutely loved going to multiple U.S. Opens, and I can see how cool it is for the gallery to get up close to the great PGA players, the best way to watch any golf tournament is on television. Otherwise, you’re watching one shot at a time by one group at a time, while all hell is breaking loose everywhere else on the course.

11:35 a.m., Sam says:

Golf is absolutely a better TV sport, but everyone who loves golf should try to go to an event at least once, just to see how amazing some of these guys can play up close. The spin they get on shots? Wow.

That led me to an offshoot of this question: What’s the most impressive sporting achievement to see in person? Obviously TV can give us up-close angles and replays of anything, but there are still certain things that make me marvel when I see them live. For example:

– Hitting a baseball is supposed to be the hardest thing to do in sports. Yet, truthfully, it doesn’t LOOK that hard when you get to sit in the front row during batting practice. It just doesn’t. – Dunking, on the other hand, still fascinates me. Maybe it’s because I can sort of, kinda envision a scenario where I could do many other sports activities (like hitting a homer or throwing a pass), yet dunking will always – sadly – elude me and my limited vertical leap. Watching LeBron do trick dunks during pre-game lay-up lines is just fantastic.

Here’s my top three things to watch in person:

1. LeBron or Kobe doing a sick dunk.
2. Tiger or Phil Mickelson doing one of those full-swing flop shots where the ball almost goes backward.
3. A bang-bang collision at home plate.

As great as instant replay is, those three events are best seen in person.

 CARP SAYS:

 Ah, the old dunk discussion. I wrote a column about that last season: Why does the dunk still excite us? Don’t get me wrong. I love a good dunk. I just wondered why it still pulls us out of our seats. I mean, it really isn’t much of an accomplishment for LeBron or Kobe or any other NBA player or 6-4 high school or college player to dunk. It doesn’t take much effort. 

It is a lot easier than hitting a 94 mph fastball or making a four-foot putt under pressure. It’s less risky than a big hit in football or hockey, or a home-plate collision. Yet a good dunk still takes our breath away. Is it simply because we can’t do it? I don’t think that’s the answer, because even those who can do it get excited over seeing somebody else do it.

And, yes, it is better live than on TV. You talk about golf shots, you cannot appreciate some shots on TV because you can’t see the contour of the hole. Sometimes those guys are hitting shots to blind pins—they can’t seen the bottom of the flagstick—yet TV makes it look like a flat, nothing shot. Also, I still don’t understand how they spin the ball on those short chips without skulling it into the crowd.

I don’t buy the “hitting a baseball is the hardest thing” in sports. I think playing the quarterback position against the blitz is harder. Or going across the middle to catch a pass. I definitely think making a crucial golf shot, especially a short money putt, is harder. And on a local level, I wrote a column last week about how the toughest thing, and the toughest athlete is the high school wrestler—all alone on that foam island with no timeouts, no help, no teammates, nobody to blame, and nowhere to go.