About 800,000 Americans forked out $79.99 to watch Tyson Fury beat Deontay Wilder into submission Saturday night in Las Vegas.
That’s about $64 million in legal receipts taken in from the pay-per-view. I was among those who considered the heavyweight fight must-see TV. But boxing is not and won’t ever be most favorite sport. I imagine most the 800,000 who paid to see the fight feel the same way.
Here are the sports I would pay the most to see, even if they were only available on pay-per-view.
SEC football: I have to admit how much I would pay to watch the full slate of SEC game every week. But it’s a lot more than $79.99.
Wimbledon: I particularly enjoy watching tennis because it’s played at odd times. There’s nothing better than waking up to Breakfast at Wimbledon. I would be less likely to pay to see the U.S. Open because it’s in direct competition with college and pro football.
Masters golf: Like tennis, there’s the advantage of time of day we can watch. Plus, since the death of Bob Ross (the guy who painted puffy clouds on public TV), there’s nothing better to assist in a good nap than a golf tournament.
Pro football: The NFL does a great job of teaching its fans the rhythm of the schedule. Sunday afternoon, then Sunday night, then Monday night and now Thursday nights are penciled in for NFL games. Without that predetermined schedule, I think my week would feel like chaos.
March Madness: Whatever I would have to pay in pay-per-view I can always win back in the office pool.
NBA playoffs: Even if the NBA isn’t your favorite sport there’s little doubt these are the best athletes in the world.
Baseball World Series: One of my problems with baseball is that we spend six months trying to get to the playoffs then the biggest games are played opposite football games I almost always care about more.