sure. but i didn't imagine MLB or any other sport would ever get remotely close to NFL revenues. NFL revenues dwarfed everyone. the NFL is arguably America's favorite entertainment venue, period.
The NBA will still surpass both over time as it's becoming more and more of a 'global' league. Meanwhile, MLB (and especially the NFL) will always be more regionally limited than the NBA is. Here are the global rankings: Soccer >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Basketball>>>>>Baseball>>>Football
Why do people say the NBA is more global than MLB? Baseball is one of the most globally transcendent sports in the world behind possibly only soccer.
Baseball is, at best, a fledgling sport in Europe and Australia, and is practically non existent in Africa. Hell, it got voted out of the Olympics for 2012. Of course, this thread isn't about global popularity, it's about popularity in America...
The NBA hasn't even come close to 'globalizing' the game just yet. Remember, the Dream Team was only in 1992 and it took a few more years after that for us to really start seeing its fruits. In terms of China, Yao Ming has only been around for a few years, so China is a new comer and you can already begin to see its impact on the NBA. I think the NBA is still in the very early stages of evolving into a global league. It will take a few more decades for them to get there. In terms of the local market, they're doing pretty well too, it's not like they're struggling or too far behind the other leagues. But I agree that Stern should do more to market the NBA locally as well and not just globally. But being the 'visionary' he is, Stern realizes that there's much bigger fish to fry, so he's concentrating his efforts on the global market. Becoming less reliant on the local market (as any MNC would tell you) is a good thing, it's a sound long-term strategy.
Baseball is only played in countries which are under or were once under American influence; that would be the USA, most of Central America and Japan/S. Korea, while basketball is played basically everywhere in the world. Basketball is as widespread as soccer, although it is not as popular. Baseball is a niche sport in international sport.
Yes, but it's the most popular sport in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. It is on par or nearly on par with soccer in Mexico, Central America, Western South American countries (except Brazil), and the Carribbean. The only reason baseball isn't an Olympic sport is because Europe doesn't play it, and Europe controls the Olympics. They'd put Cricket in if they could get enough countries interested.
