With a population of over 8 million people, New York has a wide variety of sports to offer. Whether you’re a fan of football, basketball, baseball, hockey or another sport, there’s something for everyone in each borough. A list of the four most popular Queens sports and their stories are presented on i-queens.
Baseball
Baseball is the most popular sport in Queens and New York. In 1962, the New York Mets professional team was founded in Flushing, Queens. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the National League. The New York Mets boast a huge fan base and their games draw thousands of spectators every year.
Baseball is deeply ingrained in the city’s culture and many people grew up playing the sport in school or in community leagues. Such famous baseball players as pitcher Dennis Sarfate, pitcher and coach Stefan Karsay, pitcher Matthew Daly and outfielder George Valera were born and raised in Queens. This sport continues to be a favorite pastime for locals of all ages.
The inventor of baseball is considered the hero of the Civil War in the USA, Abner Doubleday. Probably, he developed the game in the village of Cooperstown (New York) in 1839. However, the true history of the game is older, although not known for certain. Baseball is traditionally considered the national pastime in the US.
Basketball
Basketball is a game that has no analogues in the modern world. This sport develops strength, dexterity and speed. Queens has a number of indoor and outdoor basketball courts that host games year-round. The fields at Roy Wilkins Park, Frontera Park and Jacob Riis Park are popular. Famous basketball players such as Timothy Kempton, Kenneth Anderson, Doron Lamb and Darrell Gill were born in Queens.
The game was invented by PhD student James Naismith in 1891 in the city of Springfield (Massachusetts). His goal was to come up with a game that was easy enough to learn and challenging at the same time. Naismith wanted to make it possible for a large number of people to play indoors or outdoors. In addition, he wished to create a game with a lot of movement but without the roughness of football or rugby due to the risk of bruises and broken bones in small spaces.
Naismith asked the school janitor to find two square boxes to use as a gate. Instead, the man returned with two baskets of peaches. Naismith nailed them to the bottom rail of the gymnasium balcony, one at each end of the room. The first basketball baskets remained like that and their bottoms were not open until 1913. Only a few years later, the innovator decided to cut the bottom so that the ball would fall out from there. Then, Naismith compiled 13 original rules of the game. This is how basketball was created.
Initially, this game was played with a soccer ball. A real brown ball appeared in 1929. It became orange in the 1950s. In 1932, the International Basketball Federation was organized in Geneva, Switzerland, which marked the international spread of the game. It became an Olympic sport in 1936 in Berlin. The first basketball match among professionals took place in Toronto, Canada, in 1946. One of the most famous and skilled players in the world is Michael Jordan, a native of Brooklyn.
American Football
This is the most popular sport in the US. In North America, it is simply called football. According to the rules, the game requires 2 teams of 11 players. The task of the players is to move the ball around the field and earn points by crossing the opposing team’s goal line or by kicking the ball through their goalposts.
American football developed based on soccer and rugby. It differs from regular football as it allows players to touch, throw and carry the ball with their hands. The difference from rugby lies in the fact that each side can take turns controlling the ball.
The first match in the US was held in 1869. Walter Camp is called the ‘Father of American football’. In 1880, he came up with changes to the rules. The sport also developed at the same time in Canada as a 12-player game. However, soccer did not gain as much popularity there as hockey. American football has not been accepted in the rest of the world like other US sports, namely baseball or basketball.
In the 1960s, American football became the most popular sport in the US. The National Football League (NFL) is the only professional American football league. The Super Bowl (NFL championship final) is watched annually by the majority of locals, as well as residents of more than 200 other countries.
Football season in New York City is a big event and fans look forward to the games and parties that accompany them. It is an integral part of the sports culture of Queens and the entire city, including gambling and socializing at parties. Famous football players grew up in Queens, such as tight end Christopher Baker, striker Kevin Booth, defenders Jason Bromley, Christian Izien, Blessuan Austin, Dean Marlowe and others.
Hockey
New York is also known for its love of hockey. It’s no surprise given the number of professional hockey teams here. Ice hockey is primarily popular at the amateur level. Many youth and adult leagues are open to players of all skill levels.
The World Ice Arena is located on the territory of the aquatic center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Here, they offer programs for the whole family as well as for both recreation and hockey and figure skating activities. At the same time, real professionals represent hockey in Queens. Professional hockey team The New York Islanders play on Long Island. The team is based in the village of Elmont, which is near Queens. Its athletes compete in the National Hockey League.
The origin of hockey is associated with stick and ball games played in the Middle Ages or even in Ancient Greece and Egypt. Some believe that this game developed from the ancient Irish game of hurling but there is no exact record of the beginning of its history. According to another version, ice hockey developed from field hockey, which was played in northern Europe for hundreds of years.
The modern game of hockey originated in England in the middle of the 18th century. The game spread to London and to Eastern Canada in the 1850s, where it was played by British soldiers. The first hockey association was created in Great Britain in 1876. It drew up the official set of rules. They were later refined by McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 1879. In the USA, hockey developed as early as 1893.
Altogether, Queens has a rich sports culture that is deeply rooted in its identity. The popularity of the sport in the borough and New York in general is a testament to the love of competition, teamwork and athleticism. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just enjoy watching the occasional game, there’s no denying that sports are an integral part of local residents’ lives.