What Should Be The Official State Sport Of Utah?
Utah is pretty big on official things. I mean I asked Google for a list of “Official Utah Things” and it came back with a pretty impressive list.
For example, we all know that the official State Bird of Utah is the California Gull. Many of you know the story. In 1848, pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley faced a devastating invasion of Mormon crickets, which threatened to destroy their crops. Just as the settlers feared starvation, large flocks of California Gulls arrived and devoured the crickets, helping to save the harvest. This event is often referred to as the "Miracle of the Gulls" and is commemorated by the Seagull Monument in Salt Lake City’s Temple Square.
The official State Flower is the Sego Lily. I'm not sure of the background on that. We also have a official State Tree, the Quaking Aspen, along with our official State Animal as the Rocky Mountain Elk. We can still hunt those, right?
We even have a State Reptile (Gila Monster), State Rock (Coal), State Vegetable (Spanish Sweet Onion), State Mineral (Copper), and a State Grass (Indian Ricegrass).
And did you know we even have a State Star (Dubhe-in the Big Dipper), a State Firearm (Browning M1911 Pistol), and even a State Cooking Pot (Dutch Oven).
So with all this, I must admit I'm puzzled by one thing we don't have here in Utah. It seems that we haven't gotten around to designating an official state sport.
Other states have them. California and Hawaii both have surfing as their state sports (righteous, dude!). Up in Alaska, Dog Mushing of the official state sport. And over in Colorado, the state sport is Pack Burro Racing. That one makes me nervous.
But here in Utah? Nada, as far as an official state sport. I think it's time to change that.
There are several good cases to be made. You'd have to consider Basketball, since the Utah Jazz are the biggest representative of a professional sports league in the state. Since we are the home of the annual HOLY WAR, would football be our best selection for an official state sport? And certainly, with a plethora of world class resorts here in the state, you would have to give high consideration to skiing as our official state sport.
But, I think I have what should be our official state sport. And, it's timely because its season is just about to begin. And, moreover, it's a sport that a majority of Utahns already participate in! Ladies and gentleman I humbly submit that Utah's Official State Sport should be Pothole Dodging.