When asked which of a list of popular U.S. professional sports they most associate with negative moral values, football (52 percent) is America’s top selection by a nearly two-to-one margin over basketball (28 percent), the next most cited sport. Boxing (25 percent) and wrestling (23 percent) round out the second tier.
The findings came from a Harris Poll of 2,016 adults surveyed online between Sept. 29 and Oct. 1.
Americans 55 and over (59 percent ages 55-64, 60 percent ages 65+) are more likely than those 18-54 (45 percent ages 18-34, 51 percent ages 35-44, 48 percent ages 45-54) to cite football as among the pro sports they most associate with negative moral values. Fifty-one percent of men and 53 percent of women pointed to pro football as the pro sport they most associate with negative moral values. Also, 51 percent of those who follow football and 53 percent of those who dont expressed the same sentiment.
Among other sports, 14 percent of U.S. adults selected baseball as one of the pro sports they most associate with negative moral values, while 13 percent point to hockey, 12 percent, mixed martial arts, and 9 percent, auto racing. Very few single out golf (3 percent), soccer (2 percent) or tennis (1 percent), while 16 percent say they dont associate any U.S. professional sports with negative moral values.
