Quote:
Originally Posted by rubecube
CFL fans need to get over this whole "hype" idea as the reason people like the NFL better. It has nothing to do with hype and entirely to do with the content, which includes primarily the talent and the rules to a lesser degree.
However, I do agree that the CFL should maintain its current set of rules, with a few minor tweaks, because the reality is that the biggest issue for NFL fans is the talent discrepancy. The CFL's rules suit CFL players pretty well, and there aren't even that many that I find totally ridiculous (no yards and awarding a rouge on missed FGs are the only ones I'd change off the top of my head).
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There are lots of valid reasons why the NFL is so big compared to the CFL and "hype" is most certainly one of them. Also, it is important to distinguish between the Super Bowl and the NFL as a whole. I'm not denying the talent difference or discrediting it. I'm sure lots of hardcore NFL fans love it for the talent.
The Super Bowl doesn't get 163m viewers because of the talent. To suggest otherwise would be insane. The Super Bowl gets the viewership it does precisely because of two things: hype and gambling.
For the league as a whole it is a little more balanced than just hype and gambling. Football has pretty much replaced baseball as America's past time. The NFL has one of the most successful marketing teams in history too. Where the NFL was once college football's red headed step brother, it is now top dog. The NFL has been so successful with its brand that they've managed to retcon the early years of the league to give off the impression that the league and the early Super Bowls were much more legitimate than they actually were.
I like both leagues so I'm not going to suggest that hype is the only reason the NFL is the biggest sport in NA, but it sure as hell helps.
The Super Bowl is all hype. Nothing shows that better than the fact that this years Super Bowl's highest ratings came during the half time show.