运动在美国

In many parts of the world， there are four seasons： spring， summer， fall and winter. In the U.S.， there are only three： football， basketball and baseball. Thats not completely true， but almost. In every season， Americans have a ball. If you want to know what season it is， just look at what people are playing. For many Americans， sports do not just occupy the sidelines. They take center court.

Besides “the big three” sports， Americans play a variety of other sports. In warm weather， people enjoy water sports. Lovers of surfing， sailing and scuba diving flock to the ocean. Swimmers and water skiers also revel in the wet stuff. Fishermen try their luck in ponds， lakes and rivers. In winter sportsmen delight in freezing fun. From the first snowfall， skiers hit the slopes. Frozen ponds and ice rinks become playgrounds for skating and hockey players. People play indoor sports whatever the weather. Racquetball， weightlifting and bowling are year-round activities.

Besides “the big three” sports， Americans play a variety of other sports. In warm weather， people enjoy water sports. Lovers of surfing， sailing and scuba diving flock to the ocean. Swimmers and water skiers also revel in the wet stuff. Fishermen try their luck in ponds， lakes and rivers. In winter sportsmen delight in freezing fun. From the first snowfall， skiers hit the slopes. Frozen ponds and ice rinks become playgrounds for skating and hockey. People play indoor sports whatever the weather. Racquetball， weightlifting and bowling are year-round activities.

For many people in the U.S.， sports are not just for fun. Theyre almost a religion. Thousands of sports fans buy expensive tickets to watch their favorite teams and athletes play in person. Other fans watch the games at home， glued to their TV sets. The most devoted sports buffs never miss a game. Many a wife becomes a “sports widow” during her husbands favorite season. Americas devotion to athletics has created a new class of wealthy people： professional athletes. Sports stars often receive million-dollar salaries. Some even make big money appearing in advertisements for soft drinks， shoes and even toiletries.

Not all Americans worship sports， but athletics are an important part of their culture. Throughout their school life， Americans learn to play many sports. All students take physical education classes in school. Some try out for the school teams， while others join intramural sports leagues. Athletic events at universities attract scores of fans and benefit the whole community. Many people also enjoy non-competitive activities like hiking， biking， horseback riding， camping or hunting. To communicate with American sports nuts， it helps if you can talk sports.

Sports in America represent the international heritage of the people who play. Many sports were imported from other countries. European immigrants brought tennis， golf， bowling and boxing to America. Football and baseball came from other Old World games. Only basketball has a truly American origin. Even today some formerly “foreign” sports like soccer are gaining American fans. In 1994 the U.S. hosted the World Cup for the first time ever.

Not only do Americans import sports， but they export sports fever， as well. Satellites broadcast games to sports fans around the globe. The U.S. professional baseball championship has begun to live up to its name. The names of American superstars have become household words the world over.

Who knows？ Sports seasons may even change world weather patterns.

世界上的许多地方，一年有四季：春、夏、秋、冬。美国却只有三季：足球季、篮球季和棒球季。这并非完全正确，但也差得不远了。每一个季节，美国人都有乐趣。若你想知道是哪一季，看看人们正在打什么球就行了。对于多数美国人而言，运动并非只是小消遣，它是生活中重要的一部分。

除了这三大运动，美国人还做许多其他的运动。天热时，他们喜欢水上运动。冲浪、驾帆船和潜水的爱好者群集于海中。游泳和滑水者也纵情于水中。渔夫在池塘、湖泊和河里试试他们的运气。冬季，运动爱好者在冰天雪地里也玩得很开心。下雪的头一天，滑雪者便登上雪坡。结了冰的池塘和溜冰场成了溜冰和冰上曲棍球运动者的场地。不论什么样的天气，人们都参与户内运动。回力球、举重和保龄球都是全年性的活动。

对许多美国人而言，运动不只是为了好玩，它几乎成了一种宗教，数以千计的运动迷会为了能亲眼目睹他们喜爱的球队或运动员比赛而出高价购买门票。其他的球迷则守在家里寸步不离地收看电视转播。那些最热衷的运动迷，从不错过任何一场比赛。当先生们最热衷的运动季到来的时候，他们的太太都变成了“运动寡妇”。美国人对运动的投入形成了一个新的富有阶级：职业运动员。运动明星通常会收到数百万美元的薪水。其中有些人为饮料、鞋，甚至个人化妆用品拍广告而赚了一大笔钱。

并非所有的美国人都崇拜运动，但运动的确是他们文化当中极为重要的一部分。在他们的学校生活当中，美国人学习许多运动，所有的学生都必须在学校修体育课。有些人参加校队的选拔；有的则加入校内的运动联盟。大学中举办的运动比赛通常吸引众多的运动迷，并且造福整个社区。许多人也喜欢参加一些非竞争性的活动，如远足、骑单车、骑马、露营或打猎。要和美国运动迷沟通，最好是能畅谈运动。

美国的许多运动是从外国引进的。欧洲移民把网球、高尔夫、保龄球和拳击带进了美国。足球和棒球则源自其他的欧洲传统比赛。只有篮球是真正源自美国本土的运动。即使在今日，一些原本是外来的运动，如英式足球，也吸引了许多美国运动迷。在1994年，美国首次举办世界杯足球赛。

美国人不只是“进口”运动，他们也“出口”对运动的狂热。他们为全球的运动迷进行卫星转播；美国职业棒球锦标赛也已渐趋名符其实；一些美国的超级明星已经成为全世界都家喻户晓的人。

运动季甚至可能会改变全世界的气象模式。谁知道呢！