Most grueling/grind in US pro sports?

[SeniorTom]

Of the four major US professional sports, which sport do you think it is the most difficult to make it through a season without suffering injury, fatigue, causing time off? Personally,
1) I have to go with NHL hockey because of the physicality that goes along with that game. The players are big and strong, and they go out to put a hurt on other players. The Stanley Cup po's are the epitome of toughness and physical grind.
2) NFL, the reason I don't put them first is because they only play 17 games as opposed to 82 games that are played in the NHL. The guys are very big and very fast and hit hard, and if they played more games they might take over first place in this poll.
3) MLB, mainly because they play 162 games and that is a tough schedule over the course of one season. It's strange how it doesn't take much to get injured on the professional level just by running, jumping, stretching, sliding, and swinging a bat.
4) NBA, not saying the NBA is not a grind, but at 80 games per season and not as much physical fighting as #1 & 2, I would have to rank them last out of the four leagues. I ranked baseball just a bit higher because of the number of games.

 

[SeniorTom]

 

[tomatoshooter]

Gotta agree with the NHL. The energy level, physicality, and multiple games per week over a long season has to be grueling. I'd rank NBA higher, probably level with NFL. The basketball players do a LOT of running and play several games per week. NFL has the most brutal contact but they play less games and only once a week. I do think basketball injuries are more common and less severe than the NFL. Baseball has a very long busy season but I don't think the game is typically that hard on the body.

 

[Joe_Jaguar]

NPR. Ban him.

 

[JPB2]

Of the four major US professional sports, which sport do you think it is the most difficult to make it through a season without suffering injury, fatigue, causing time off? Personally,
1) I have to go with NHL hockey because of the physicality that goes along with that game. The players are big and strong, and they go out to put a hurt on other players. The Stanley Cup po's are the epitome of toughness and physical grind.
2) NFL, the reason I don't put them first is because they only play 17 games as opposed to 82 games that are played in the NHL. The guys are very big and very fast and hit hard, and if they played more games they might take over first place in this poll.
3) MLB, mainly because they play 162 games and that is a tough schedule over the course of one season. It's strange how it doesn't take much to get injured on the professional level just by running, jumping, stretching, sliding, and swinging a bat.
4) NBA, not saying the NBA is not a grind, but at 80 games per season and not as much physical fighting as #1 & 2, I would have to rank them last out of the four leagues. I ranked baseball just a bit higher because of the number of games.

I was thinking of the NHL playoffs which are a long tough battle generally. Love seeing a team lift the Stanley Cup. But the answer has to be football. 17 regular season games is basically impossible humanly speaking. The injury rate is 100%. Guys will spend six figures of their own money on treatment, training etc.... in the off season. The different sports are hard on you in different ways. Basketball is easier than hockey in some ways, but a huge man running on a hard court is not good for joints. Skating is easier than running a court at 6’9” 300. If you just go overall length of career baseball probably easiest, football hardest I would guess. I’m not going to research the details though. How many NFL defensive players are older than 30?

 

[tim913]

Mika vs Earl!

 

[Justaneng]

NFL: Play once and then for the next 5 or so days it's similar to a 9-5 job before travelling again. Everyone playing is moving the whole time.

NBA/NHL: Play every few days for 82 games, with the occasional back to back, but indoors in a controlled climate. Everyone playing is moving the whole time.

MLB: 162 games, playing most days with the occasional off day, mostly outdoors where you're chilly in April and sweating your ass off in July. Could have days where you sit in the locker room for a 4 hour rain delay, just to have a game cancelled that you have to make up in August. Your average starting right fielder is standing there the whole time waiting for a grand total of 5-10 balls being hit in that direction over the course of about 3 hours, but still has to prepare himself 150 times per game in case something does happen.

My vote: MLB

 

[FunChamp]

MLB. The question was 'grind'. Spring training, 162 regular season, post season if eligible. Very few days off.

 

[JPB2]

MLB. The question was 'grind'. Spring training, 162 regular season, post season if eligible. Very few days off.

Train year round, get in a few car accident equivalents on Sundays starting in September. Spend one off day a week getting treatment. Get injured maybe halfway through. Decide whether you need surgery. Delay surgery until after the playoffs. Take three days off after your team loses after a round of playoffs. Get the surgery so you can rehab before OTAs. Go through rehab. Then training camp, which is not as bad as it used to be. Then start a 17 game season where you get hurt every game to one degree or another. Sounds like a grind to me. Baseball is no doubt a grind. And football looks good for a backup QB. But a lot of linemen, RBs and LBs probably look at baseball as a vacation. As far as no off days my guess is NFL coaches may be the worst. It wouldn’t shock me if some were at the office or watching film this minute in the “off season”

 

[evergruven]

tho most upper-echelon pros take november off (mostly to train), tennis is a year-round sport
it's also very demanding physically, and mentally, especially as an individual endeavor

 

[Black-Balled]

I got an air compressor the other day and I also noticed a long time ago that I lost my bb gun.

I do know where the bbs are though.