CONVERSATION STARTERS

It's the eternal debate among sports fans: football or baseball? Most die-hard fans will always say both. But if they are forced to choose, football wins. 34% of those who follow at least one sport say professional football is their favorite spectator sport. Coming in a distant second is baseball, which is favored by 16%. Baseball may be as American as mom and apple pie, but it's football we love the most, according to this annual Harris Poll. Our favorite sports and the%age who like them the best:

• Professional football: 34%
• Professional baseball: 16%
• College football: 11%
• Auto racing: 8%
• Men's professional basketball: 7%
• Hockey: 5%
• Men's college basketball: 3%
• Men's tennis: 2%
• Swimming: 2%
• Men's golf: 2%
• Men's soccer: 2%