What makes minor league sports unique

by Walter L. Johnson II
April 3, 2002 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)

If you've ever been a fan of minor league sports, lived in a town that's hosted such a franchise, or just love sports in general, you are probably asking yourself a lot of questions, such as: "Why did this team get such and such a nickname," or "Why is the stadium or arena so empty some nights," or even, "What caused that league to shut down?"

What makes minor league sports so unique? Baseball, for example, has the magic of a dirt infield, fresh green grass, a historic design, and of course, signs of local business painted on the outfield fence. Not to mention young men playing simply for the love of the game. And don't forget about the hot dogs, peanuts, and cracker jacks, too.

It's also about the far-flung leagues you can find throughout North America, like the National Lacrosse League, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, the Major Indoor Soccer League, the National Women's Football League, the National Indoor Football League, United States Professional Volleyball and so forth.

The team nicknames that many a minor league sports franchise carries also provides for a uniqueness even most major league sports don't have. The following list of nicknames is one to end all lists of nicknames: Savannah Sand Gnats, Tallahassee Thunder, Lansing Lugnuts, Detroit Dogs, Florida Firecats, Long Island Ducks, and even the Tri-City Diesel, just to name a few.

To a lesser extent, minor league sports also give us sports fans leagues they may have heard about, but are under-exposed, so-called "mid-major" professional sports like Arena Football, Major League Soccer, the Women's National Basketball Association, and even NFL Europe. While the media exposure, including TV, is very limited, that doesn't stop these leagues from finding a spot on the ESPN2 sports ticker that runs 24/7.

The minor leagues also have some of the weirdest rules in the sports business. For example, if a player scores a goal in the MISL, it is usually worth two. If the shot comes from beyond the 45-foot arc, it's a three-pointer, just like in basketball, with shootout goals being worth one point. Speaking of shootouts, in some hockey leagues, like the ECHL, for example, if the game isn't settled in regulation, they have a shootout, with one player from each team attempting a penalty shot until one team scores or comes up empty. Another quirky rule can be found in the newly-reincarnated ABA, where players can't foul out of a game. After the offending player's sixth foul, however, the shooter gets an extra free throw in addition to the foul shots he's already entitled to. And, yes, the new ABA does have the classic red, white, and blue ball carried over from the 1960's and 70's. And of course, in Arena Football, punting is not allowed, but the kicker can attempt a field goal basically from one end of the field to the other. Any missed attempts bouncing off the net can potentially be run back for a touchdown.

Finally, the biggest thing that makes minor league sports unique is fun, fun, fun. After all, most sports fans in minor league cities and towns probably haven't been to at least one game without seeing some kind of promotion, such as "holler if you're hungry." When the now-defunct Albany (Ga.) Polecats (now the Delmarva Shorebirds) of the South Atlantic League called the Peach State home between 1992 and 1995, they had such a promotion. The fans who screamed the loudest won themselves a free pizza from Domino's. On the other hand, if you weren't as fortunate to get the free food, you could still get some, only you'd have to pay for it yourself.

Still, many people enjoy minor league sports not so much to see some future stars play on an even bigger stage, but simply for the fun of the game, and the thrill of sport itself. That's what makes minor league sports so unique.

Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from April 3, 2002

• What makes minor league sports unique - OSC Original by Walter L. Johnson II

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.