American Football.

I feel like it has the best pacing, great strategy and mental challenge, and entertaining physicality.

The pacing is a big one. It is a really exciting sport, but also one you don't need to give your full attention to. Soccer and hockey are constantly moving, but look away for a second and you might miss the ONE score that happens all game. You can have a zero to zero draw and it is still considered an exciting game. Basketball is just constant scoring and movement. Baseball is... baseball. But football there is generally a steady build up until the touchdown, watching as teams slowly make their way closer and closer to the goal. Or there is a big, exciting, breakout play. Usually there are several of those plays per game, each of great consequence. So it is easy to be glued to a game on the edge of your seat, but also I can tune out for a bit if I want. It's the perfect sport to watch while doing light office work, which I often do.

But this stop and start also means a lot of strategy goes into it. It is, in a real way, turn based strategy. You anticipate your opponents moves, consider your players strengths vs their players strengths, come up with a plan, then execute. But also the players have to be ready to adjust and improvise.

The physicality is just beautiful to me. Watching a RB run through a hole perfectly created by the line. A long spiraling pass with an incredible jumping catch. And, yes, as much as I think safety needs to be a continuing focus and compromises need to be made, the tackles are often fun to watch as well.

I do enjoy watching hockey, because I think the physicality of the game is fun and the sound of hockey might be the best sports ASMR. I like going to baseball games with friends, because the vibes are fun. I'll watch a soccer or basketball match if I'm bored and I care about the teams. But none of them are as exciting to me aa gridiron (or Canadian) football.