The Future Of Sports: Year 2012

What does the future hold for the world of sports? Will the recession and state of turmoil cause the sports we all love and adore to falter? Will the next two and a half years become influential building blocks that will help sports as a whole thrive for years to come or destroy it's very existence?

I will highlight the future of five sports and explain how each has changed from 2009 to 2012. It's a scary time to be a professional athlete, will this mindset ever change?

The NFL Continues To Thrive

Football in the Land of the Brave has always thrived, and will continue to do so in the year 2012. Following in the footsteps of the Dallas cowboys, many teams have started to remodel the sports complexes that house their respective NFL team.

The Playoff System is the very same in 2012 as it was in 2009, with the top team in each division earning the right to a playoff spot, as well as a wild-card team in each conference.

Although several teams have started the rebuilding process, the Manning Brothers are still the talk of the NFL world. With Eli still leading the New York Giants and with Peyton the general of the Indianapolis Colts, the brothers met each other in Super Bowl XLIV, with Peyton's Colts prevailing.

Tom Brady and Terrell Owens both made statement comeback years in 2010, and each are valid 2012 All-Stars. Also making a huge statement during the 2012 season were: Steve Smith (CAR), Larry Fitzgerald (ARZ), Adrian Peterson (MINN), and Michael Turner, who completed his second stint with the San Diego Chargers during 2012.

All and all, the NFL has continued to thrive. Larger crowds and larger arenas have made the NFL one of the largest sports markets in the world, and is continuing to rise today. Look out world, because the NFL is coming.

At the beginning of the 2014 season, many believe the NFL will be the largest sports market in the world. The NFL excelled expectations and triumphed over the recession.

The MLB Is Slowly Rising In Stock

The beginning of the 2012 season saw the Boston Red Sox open their new ball park, a new and improved Fenway Park. Although many fans never believed that the Red Sox would move away from their old stadium, the General Managers followed in the footsteps of their biggest rivals, the New York Yankees, and remodelled their ballpark.

Though the Red Sox didn't in fact move their ballpark, the remodelled Fenway Park provides 500 additional fans the opportunity to watch a game.

The New York Yankees followed up their World Series in 2011 with the AL East title in 2012. The Red Sox earned the AL Wild-Card, and after very difficult series wins, the Yankees and Red Sox met in the 2012 ALCS.

It was a classic, as Alex Rodriguez was up to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, Game Seven of the ALCS, two outs, bases loaded and down by three. Jonathan Papelbon was the pitcher, and after battling from 0-2 down to 3-2, Alex Rodriguez hit the sixth pitch of the at-bat into the right field seats of Yankee Stadium.

Following up their ALCS win against the Red Sox, the Yankees went on to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2012 World Series.

Although controversy over drug-testing ruled the 2009 and 2010 baseball seasons, memories of the allegations are now lost, and the sport has been redefined as a whole. There are still several years left in the rebuilding of the MLB, but overall the league is rising in stock.

The NBA Is Still The "Class Act"

Fresh off of his fourth championship ring in 2009, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers celebrated in style. Parading through the streets of L.A., the Lakers were on top of the NBA world. It is now the year 2012, and nothing has changed.

Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom were both resigned during the offseason of 2009, and each have been role players during the Laker's championship run from 2009-2012. That's right, four in a row.

Kobe Bryant opened the 2010 season out for blood. As the catalyst of an up-and-coming Lakers team, Bryant led his Laker's to four consecutive championships.

The four-year run is one of the greatest in all of sports, and is one reason why Bryant has now been considered one of the Top Five NBA players all-time in a special by ESPN.

The NBA has also been on a role since 2009. Ratings are higher than ever, and much of it has to do with the championship series between the Cavaliers and Lakers over the past few years.

Time after time, LeBron and Kobe have faced off, forming one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sports. Outstanding plays and consistent players are at a high rate in the NBA of 2012.

David Stern has done his best to promote the NBA throughout the world, and now in the year 2012 , the NBA is the largest sports market in the world. Although the NFL is catching up to the high-flying basketball world, the "class act" of all sports is the NBA.

The NHL Is Decreasing In Value

The main story throughout the NHL of 2012 is the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings.

Young stars in the league such as Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have ruled the league, each winning the MVP title twice since 2009.

Although the rivalry between the Penguins and Red Wings has gained popularity, such as the rivalry between Ovechkin and Crosby, ratings have dropped dramatically. Teams are having trouble slowing down the leagues best, and thus the top teams from 2009 have continued success throughout the past few years.

Trouble drawing viewers, as well as the slowly decreasing ticket-sales, has caused the NHL to decrease in value. The future for the sport is up in the rafters, but for the time being, it still exists. The Stanley Cup is the main attraction for the sport, and thus is the reason the NHL is still around to this day.

The NHL was the hardest sports market hit by the recession.

The Tennis World Is As Popular As Ever

Although many critics believed that the William's sisters would retire in their mid-20's, they both are still the two to beat in 2012. Since the beginning of the 2009 Wimbledon, the sister's have combined to make 10 Grand Slam Finals and have won 7 Grand Slams.

Venus holds the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Wimbledon titles, where Serena has combined to win the 2009 US Open, 2010 Australian Open, 2010 US Open and 2011 French Open.

Each year, the sisters have continued to speculate about how much longer they could play. Just recently, however, the two held a press conference and told the general public that they will both retire after the 2012 London Olympics.

It will be a fitting end to two wonderful careers.

Also having very successful careers in tennis since the beginning of the 2010 season are: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, up-and-coming Juan Del Potro, and Andy Murray compile the top four men's spots.

Yes, Federer is still around. Matter of fact, he just recently noted that he feels he could "play tennis for the rest of my life."

Tennis is as popular as ever, and Serena Williams is the queen. Number one for two and a half years, Serena has absorbed the attention and has thus thrived.

There are many reasons that tennis has thrived, and most of the props go to the newcomers in the tennis world, many of whom have had great careers so far.

Tennis is as popular as ever, so become a fan today. 2012 is the start of one of the greatest tennis seasons ever, so turn on your television and begin to be amazed.