I think the differences between the games of baseball and basketball (both of which I enjoy playing and watching), as well as the differences inthe public's conceptions of them, are indicative of a few of the zillions upon zillions of problems I have with modern American society and, generally, the world around me.
Baseball is a slow-paced game of individual versus individual, of well-manicured grass, of complicated statistics, and of no time limits. Basketball is a high-paced game of one-on-one action, loud hip-hop music, and the shot clock. Baseball games (although this is unfortunately starting to change) are about the action on the field; usually a simple organ suffices for the non-sports-related entertainment. Basketball games are filled with off-the-court stimuli, from the thumping music to the dancing cheerleaders to the lazer-show player introductions. In short, baseball is Old America, and basketball is New America.
I hate New America, and yet I enjoy basketball. But at least I rightly enjoy baseball a heck of a lot more.