We Care Because We Love Football the Most — Dave’s Diary

So what's the big deal about the deflated football story? Why are so many people talking about it? The answer might be because football, not baseball, is our national pastime.

Thirty-five percent of those who follow at least one sport say professional football is their favorite spectator sport. Coming in a distant second is baseball, which is favored by 16 percent. Baseball might be as American as Mom and apple pie, but it's football we love the most, according to a recent Harris Poll. Our favorite sports and the percentage who like them the best:

• Professional football: 35 percent
• Professional baseball: 16 percent
• College football: 11 percent
• Auto racing: 7 percent
• Men's professional basketball: 6 percent
• Hockey: 5 percent
• Men's college basketball: 3 percent
• Men's tennis: 2 percent
• Swimming: 2 percent
• Men's golf: 2 percent
• Men's soccer: 2 percent
• Boxing: 2 percent

We also like a good story. We like it when the high and mighty (Patriots) are taken down a peg. We like it when there is a good villian (Belichick) to boo. We like drama, even minor drama, and so the deflate-gate story rolls on,  like a car with a low tire, wobbly and uncertain if we'll get there.