Soccer > Basketball

Begin your argument in round one.

I will start by rebutting your arguments and then continue by making some of my own.

1. Excitement

I agree with you that there is more scoring in basketball... It's a fact. But I think that's what makes soccer better. In basketball the same thing is happening throughout the game... A ball is put through a hoop over and over again each team hoping they can put the ball through they're hoop more times than the other team. Where as in soccer a goal is not come by often making the one or two goals scored much more exciting.

2. Entertainment for fans

As I said before scoring a goal as extremely exciting in soccer but that's not the only exciting thing. If you pay close attention you will notice the skillful footwork and the perfect passes starting opportunities to score. A goal can happen at any moment, fans can excitedly watch waiting patiently for the moment their team breaks away and puts the ball in the back of the net. And probably the most exciting the in sports is a part of soccer. A penalty shoutout. A shootout occurs when a winner is required and the game is tied at the end of 90 minutes.

3. Essentiality

I agree that sports create a constructive outlet for people... But your only considering one part of the world. In other countries where they're aren't basketball goals what are they going to do? If they have any kind of ball and any objects to mark the goals they can easily start a game of soccer.

Now I will begin my own arguments.

1. Soccer is played worldwide

Soccer is the most played sport in the world. That's a fact and can't be argued with. Basketball however isn't even the top sport in
the US.

2. Soccer gives you pride for your country

In the World Cup countries from all over the world come to compete for the title of world champions. Basically one month that completely revolves around soccer. Soccer unites the whole world, people from all the countries competing come to support their team. They come to the stadium wearing their countries colors, countries flags, faces painting excitedly cheering on their team. When does basketball bring this kind of global excitement? The Olympics? They aren't completely about basketball.

3. Soccer is more difficult

Because you use your hands everyday for nearly everything and all your feat do is help you walk it makes sense that it is easier I will start by rebutting your arguments and then continue by making some of my own.

1. Excitement

I agree with you that there is more scoring in basketball... It's a fact. But I think that's what makes soccer better. In basketball the same thing is happening throughout the game... A ball is put through a hoop over and over again each team hoping they can put the ball through they're hoop more times than the other team. Where as in soccer a goal is not come by often making the one or two goals scored much more exciting.

2. Entertainment for fans

As I said before scoring a goal as extremely exciting in soccer but that's not the only exciting thing. If you pay close attention you will notice the skillful footwork and the perfect passes starting opportunities to score. A goal can happen at any moment, fans can excitedly watch waiting patiently for the moment their team breaks away and puts the ball in the back of the net. And probably the most exciting the in sports is a part of soccer. A penalty shoutout.

3. Essentiality

I agree that sports create a constructive outlet for people... But your only considering one part of the world. In other countries where they're aren't basketball goals what are they going to do? If they have any kind of ball and any objects to mark the goals they can easily start a game of soccer.

Now I will begin my own arguments.

1. Soccer is played worldwide

Soccer is the most played sport in the world. That's a fact and can't be argued with. Basketball however isn't even the top sport in
the US.

2. Soccer gives you pride for your country

In the World Cup countries from all over the world come to compete for the title of world champions. Basically one month that completely revolves around soccer. Soccer unites the whole world, people from all the countries competing come to support their team. They come to the stadium wearing their countries colors, countries flags, faces painting excitedly cheering on their team. When does basketball bring this kind of global excitement? The Olympics? They aren't completely about basketball.

3. Soccer is more difficult

Because you use your hands everyday for nearly everything and all you feat do is help you walk it makes sense that it is easier to move a ball with your hands than with your feat. Shooting a basketball although takes plenty of practice can be mastered by learning correct form, where as shooting a soccer ball can be quite difficult, especially with a keeper standing in the goal blocking your shots.

Thank you for your arguments.

1. Excitement

I suppose this point is rather subjective. For me, the thrill of watching a person find creative ways to put a ball through a hoop is very exciting, such as these dunks below. Watch some of them, it's entertaining.
https://m.youtube.com...

Even in soccer, as you have admitted in your argument, people are waiting for that moment when their team scores. Scoring is arguably the most exciting moment of a soccer game as well. Some soccer goals are very interesting (though less so than dunks, in my subjective opinion). However, these moments occur far less often than in a basketball game. The culmination of excitement, the way that a team wins, is by scoring. Unfortunately, due to the enormous size of soccer fields, (at the very least, slightly over three times the size of a basketball court) [1] the amount of scoring is inhibited. This is not to say soccer is not exciting, this is to say, using an objective measure, basketball is more exciting.

2. Entertainment for Fans

Soccer is not unentertaining. However, it lacks the ability to create new and exciting facets of the sport in order to provide the multitude of entertainment that basketball can provide. All Star Weekend for the NBA demonstrates the wide range of activities basketball can provide for.

3. Essentiality

Yes, you are correct, sports in general do provide an outlet for people. But who are we to judge a sport as better for this than another? I was under the incorrect impression that we were mainly discussing the United States as you said soccer instead of futbol. Both sports help children in underprivileged areas throughout the world, and neither can be considered better here. My apologies. This argument really cannot show that basketball is better, but it does not show soccer is better either. Rather, they are both beneficial sports to their respective communities and cultures. If soccer is not better than basketball, you have not fulfilled your burden, and you lose.

Now I will rebut your arguments.

1. Basketball is played worldwide as well. It is also the third-most popular sport in the US, below football and baseball, and above soccer [2]. I will acknowledge, it is not as popular worldwide as soccer. However, a lot of this comes from European culture, and popularity does not guarantee quality. This is an appeal to popularity fallacy.

2. This argument is fairly fallacious. Here's why: The statement "Soccer gives you pride in your country" is a complete non-sequitur. Soccer does not give pride. Winning above all other nations gives pride. Winning a gold medal in the Olympics, like the United States Basketball team did, gives pride as well. This does not demonstrate that soccer is better. This point is also very similar to the above point, in that you assume just because soccer is more popular and has a world cup, it is better.

3. Soccer is actually less difficult. According to ESPN's scientific rankings of difficulty of sports, basketball is the fourth hardest sport in the world, while soccer is tenth [3].

In conclusion, my opponent has not proven soccer is better than basketball. To be fair, I do not believe my points (though valid) prove basketball is objectively, as a whole, better than soccer. However, they do prove it is an equal and different sport. If the sports are equal, the opponent has not fulfilled his burden, and I have won the debate. Vote con. Thank you all!

[1] http://www.fifa.com...
[2] http://sporteology.com...
[3] http://sports.espn.go.com...

My opponent has forfeited, and I extend my arguments.

You are correct that no sport can be proven better than the other thus technically you win. I herby forfeit you out smarted me.

I would like to thank my opponent for his participation in this debate. He, however, has conceded, and no further arguments need to be made. Vote con. Thank you all.