In this election year, most of us are being inundated with polls. Polls are often wonky, but they do give us a great view into the mind of an average America. If you’re sick of political polling, and it’s only May, Public Policy Polling has a remedy: sports polls! And they’ve unearthed some fascinating findings, including a stunning percentage of people who like the wave.
The most significant revelation from the polling comes in regards to the wave. 56% of fans approve of the wave being done at games. Are you kidding?
And finally, in a much surer sign that this country is going to hell than the nomination of Donald Trump, 56% of fans approve of doing the wave at sporting events to 18% who disapprove.
55% of respondents considered themselves NFL fans, highest in the poll. Next came MLB at 42%, then the NBA at 36%, NASCAR at 26%, the NHL at 22%, golf at 19%, and MLS at 14%. With the NFL numbers, there is a slight caveat. 60% of respondents over 45 said they are NFL fans, compared to only 48% below age 45.
Only 31% of respondents to this poll think this year’s Warriors could beat the ’96 Bulls, and 54% think those Bulls would have won (or to quote PPP, “Michael Jordan, the indisputable GOAT, would have led his team to victory”). 25% of the polled want the Dubs to win the NBA Title this year, though.
82% of fans polled support instant replay in baseball, compared to 11% that don’t. Most also do not support the DH in the NL, with 65% in support of pitchers hitting compared to 25% who don’t.
This year the margin in favor of pitchers hitting is even wider at 65/25. Of course this poll was fielding when Bartolo Colon went deep, so that could have created a spike of public opinion in favor of pitchers hitting.
That wouldn’t create a spike in public opinion, that’s just what everyone should believe.
When it comes to suspensions by leagues, 68% view domestic violence as more serious than PED abuse, while 21% believe performance enhancing drug use is the more serious issue.
On bat flips, the pollsters found a gigantic divide in opinion based on age, as expected. Young fans are 79% in favor of bat flips, and older respondents are 43% against them. Age is but a number…
Go here if you want to check out the rest of their polling.
