What is the most difficult job in all of sports?

Eel Snave · Post by **Eel Snave** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:51 pm

I vote catcher.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:59 pm

If you mean difficult in terms of physical work, I'll agree that a catcher is up there. So are Gaelic football players, rugby players, and offensive linemen. Catchers might get the edge becasue they also have to call the game and kind of direct the infield.

Eel Snave · Post by **Eel Snave** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:01 pm

I mean difficult in general. Mentally, physically.

Exodor · Post by **Exodor** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:02 pm

Football centers.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:02 pm

I'd say having to watch and pay attention to a baseball game, but that's me.

GuidoTKP · Post by **GuidoTKP** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:03 pm

NFL Quarterback. Given the speed of the game, the number of reads the QB has to make, and the decisions the QB has to make about how to respond to pressure, with the threat of being physically hurt if you make the wrong decisions about that pressure, make for one tough job.

GuidoTKP · Post by **GuidoTKP** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:04 pm

LordMortis wrote:I'd say having to watch and pay attention to a baseball game, but that's me.

Werd.

Biyobi · Post by **Biyobi** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:04 pm

Ricky Williams' agent.

docvego · Post by **docvego** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:07 pm

Locker Room Janitor

Debris · Post by **Debris** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:14 pm

Public relations agent for Barry Bonds

The Meal · Post by **The Meal** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:15 pm

Ice Hockey Goaltender.

~Neal

gellar · Post by **gellar** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:16 pm

The Meal wrote:Ice Hockey Goaltender.

Werd. I still believe you have to be slightly insane to play this position.

gellar

Trent Steel · Post by **Trent Steel** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:19 pm

Awesome question.

Answer: Lacrosse goalie.

I've played a lot of positions in a lot of sports and that is by far the most difficult (IMHO). You have a 6' x 6' net to defend and not much padding to speak of. The most difficult part about goaltending in lacrosse is the fact that the ball can come from any angle in the air or on the ground and bouncers are the worst. By comparison, hockey goalies and indoor lacrosse goalies have it easy with the smaller net and big bulky pads.

Also, the fact that a decent shot in lacrosse is routinely 100+ MPH doesn't help either.

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:24 pm

That's a tough question. How does one compare the demands of the NFL quarterback with the demands of an NHL goalie? Well, this year I guess we know which is harder.

Wouldn't it be easier to just pick the hardest position within a sport - without having to compare to other sports?

I know catching is murder on the knees and all, but I have a hard time comparing that to what an NFL lineman goes through.

I liked the description that John Madden gave last Monday Night. He was talking about his conversation when he was asking Marshall Faulk about his health. Marshall answered that the last time he was 100% was right before his first game in the NFL. Madden followed up by saying that if you play one down in the NFL, your body will never be 100% again.

I just don't know how to compare that kind of violence to being a MLB catcher.

A goalie I can understand, after seeing Trent's ode to Terry Sawchuck.

Trent Steel · Post by **Trent Steel** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:26 pm

RunningMn9 wrote:A goalie I can understand, after seeing Trent's ode to Terry Sawchuck.

Back in the day before facemasks, yeah ice-hockey goalies had it rough, but as I described above, today they've got nothing on lacrosse goalies.

And I've played both postitions.

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:29 pm

Trent Steel wrote:Back in the day before facemasks, yeah ice-hockey goalies had it rough, but as I described above, today they've got nothing on lacrosse goalies.

And I've played both postitions.

Hmm....I'm going to need to see you suit up for a game in the NFL along the trenches to make a valid comparison.

gellar · Post by **gellar** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:30 pm

Yeah I forgot about Lacrosse. I change my vote to that.

gellar

Trent Steel · Post by **Trent Steel** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:31 pm

RunningMn9 wrote:Hmm....I'm going to need to see you suit up for a game in the NFL along the trenches to make a valid comparison.

As far as the toughest sum-bitches go, I would give the nod to the offensive linemen of the NFL, but that is hardly the most difficult.

The Meal · Post by **The Meal** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:33 pm

gellar wrote:Yeah I forgot about Lacrosse. I change my vote to that.

gellar

I don't have enough experience with the sport to say one way or the other, but I'll defer to someone who's played 'em both.

~Neal

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:36 pm

Trent Steel wrote:As far as the toughest sum-bitches go, I would give the nod to the offensive linemen of the NFL, but that is hardly the most difficult.

Ahh...I see you're point. Stopping 100+mph Lacrosse shots is more difficult than pass blocking or run blocking.

I was thinking more from the perspective of the one place I don't want to be because of the violence of the job (in sports). And I keep coming up with offensive lineman (or a defensive lineman that has to play against the Broncos).

But those jobs are just brutal - they don't require the kind of skill one needs to stand in front of the aforementioned 100+mph lacrosse shot.

Trent Steel · Post by **Trent Steel** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:40 pm

RunningMn9 wrote:I was thinking more from the perspective of the one place I don't want to be because of the violence of the job (in sports). And I keep coming up with offensive lineman (or a defensive lineman that has to play against the Broncos).

But those jobs are just brutal - they don't require the kind of skill one needs to stand in front of the aforementioned 100+mph lacrosse shot.

That's why rugby players who say they're the toughest in the world make me laugh. Even my brother who played football and rugby knows that football players are the toughest.

GargoyleBoy · Post by **GargoyleBoy** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 5:03 pm

Towel manager.

ArmyOfOne · Post by **ArmyOfOne** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:01 pm

Neal is right. It's the Hockey Goalie. Alot of people ask me why the hell would I subject myself to having small chunks of vulcanized rubber being shot at me at 70+ mph. It's rather simple really. Chicks dig goalies.

It's not as bad as everyone thinks. I'd rather face slapshots all day than run around while some 220lb escaped mental patient chases me around the ice with a stick.

The mental game is the most difficult part of the job. There are different mind sets before, during, and after the game. Plus you always have to stay focused. Small mistakes usually end up on the scoreboard and that sucks.

Like one of my coaches used to say. "If you see a goalie make a remarkable save. It's because he was doing something wrong."

Tareeq · Post by **Tareeq** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:18 pm

Trent Steel wrote:Answer: Lacrosse goalie.

I've played a lot of positions in a lot of sports and that is by far the most difficult (IMHO). You have a 6' x 6' net to defend and not much padding to speak of. The most difficult part about goaltending in lacrosse is the fact that the ball can come from any angle in the air or on the ground and bouncers are the worst. By comparison, hockey goalies and indoor lacrosse goalies have it easy with the smaller net and big bulky pads.

Also, the fact that a decent shot in lacrosse is routinely 100+ MPH doesn't help either.

Pishtosh.

In jai alai the players fire rubber balls at each other at 180 mph. The goal is often to strike the other player, who must scoop up the ball and fire it back using a dangerous, razor-sharp wooden scoop attached to his wrist.

That's sport in the sense that jaguar wrestling is a sport.

Steron · Post by **Steron** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:23 pm

Jock washer.

Biyobi · Post by **Biyobi** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:27 pm

Sports safety equipment tester.

Crux · Post by **Crux** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:49 pm

Madden followed up by saying that if you play one down in the NFL, your body will never be 100% again.

That has to be one of the biggest pieces of hyperbole I've ever heard in my life.

Tareeq · Post by **Tareeq** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:54 pm

aussie77 wrote:
Madden followed up by saying that if you play one down in the NFL, your body will never be 100% again.
That has to be one of the biggest pieces of hyperbole I've ever heard in my life.

Perhaps he meant that the body will grow to 200%.

gellar · Post by **gellar** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:59 pm

Tareeq wrote:Pishtosh.

In jai alai the players fire rubber balls at each other at 180 mph. The goal is often to strike the other player, who must scoop up the ball and fire it back using a dangerous, razor-sharp wooden scoop attached to his wrist.

That's sport in the sense that jaguar wrestling is a sport.

Anyone ever see the Jackass episode where Johnny Knoxville had the jai alai players chuck oranges at him? That was both funny and scary at the same time.

gellar

CSL · Post by **CSL** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 7:00 pm

Gonna have to go with Hockey Goalie as well.

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 3:14 pm

aussie77 wrote:That has to be one of the biggest pieces of hyperbole I've ever heard in my life.

Have you ever played a down in the NFL as a RB or lineman? Have you ever talked to an ex-NFL player about it?

I've never done the first, but I've done the second. They (he) offered similar sentiments. And by he I mean Jeff Nixon, a safety for the Bills back in the 80s. He lived in my development and we would harass him for autographs all the time. Cool guy, but gimpy knees ended his career early after only 4 years. So perhaps he's biased.

You just can't put your body through that kind of violence without doing harm to your joints (which are largely unprotected).

Crux · Post by **Crux** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 5:07 pm

RunningMn9 wrote:You just can't put your body through that kind of violence without doing harm to your joints (which are largely unprotected).

That I agree with, but it is also true of other sports. However it is gross exaggeration to say playing a single down in the NFL irreparably damages your body such that it never recovers. A year or two, depending on your position and I will grant you might get injuries or damage to body parts that may never properly heal. But barring a freak incident, to say that happens in a single down is just plain old fashioned bullshit.

Incendiary Lemon · Post by **Incendiary Lemon** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 5:21 pm

Trent Steel wrote:The most difficult part about goaltending in lacrosse is the fact that the ball can come from any angle in the air or on the ground and bouncers are the worst.

You can do everything right setting up for the shot and the ball bounces just a little higher or a bit lower or perhaps it spits left on you.

and then the next shot cracks a rib - its the indignity of the whole affair.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 5:22 pm

Soccer Dad

DD · Post by DD » Sat Dec 04, 2004 6:24 pm

The Meal wrote:Ice Hockey Goaltender.

~Neal

Yup. No doubt about it.

Eel Snave · Post by **Eel Snave** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 7:22 pm

gellar wrote:
Tareeq wrote:Pishtosh.

In jai alai the players fire rubber balls at each other at 180 mph. The goal is often to strike the other player, who must scoop up the ball and fire it back using a dangerous, razor-sharp wooden scoop attached to his wrist.

That's sport in the sense that jaguar wrestling is a sport.
Anyone ever see the Jackass episode where Johnny Knoxville had the jai alai players chuck oranges at him? That was both funny and scary at the same time.

gellar

I was dissapointed nobody got seriously injured.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 10:10 pm

Javelin catcher on the track team.

Koz · Post by **Koz** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 11:34 pm

Archery target.

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 3:04 am

aussie77 wrote:But barring a freak incident, to say that happens in a single down is just plain old fashioned bullshit.

I don't think you appreciate what goes on in a single down of football. The kind of stress we are talking does NOT occur in baseball, soccer, basketball, etc. Admittedly, I've never collided at full speed with a 270-lb NFL linebacker, or had to tackle a 240-lb NFL running back with a full head of steam.

But you might be right, Championship Hopscotch might be a similar experience.

Crux · Post by **Crux** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 8:59 am

RunningMn9 wrote:
aussie77 wrote:But barring a freak incident, to say that happens in a single down is just plain old fashioned bullshit.
I don't think you appreciate what goes on in a single down of football. The kind of stress we are talking does NOT occur in baseball, soccer, basketball, etc. Admittedly, I've never collided at full speed with a 270-lb NFL linebacker, or had to tackle a 240-lb NFL running back with a full head of steam.

But you might be right, Championship Hopscotch might be a similar experience.

Or alternatively either form of Rugby, where they don't typically wear padding or helmets. Then we could look at boxing, lacrosse, hocky, or any other contact sport in existence. Again, a single down will cause *no* permanent harm barring a freak injury. To pretend it does is just bullshit. Personally I'd love to hear some details as to what kind of permanent harm this single down would potentially do. I could use a good laugh.