Seahawks punter Jon Ryan enjoying Pickles (his new baseball team) on the side – Los Angeles Times

As NFL training camps opened this month, the refrain once again was heard all over the land: Baseball used to be America’s pastime, but football is the nation’s favorite sport.

For all the time and money the commissioner’s office spends on studies and focus groups on how to make baseball more attractive to young fans, someone there ought to talk to a gregarious red-haired guy who did not grow up in America but developed such a love for minor-league ball that he bought a team of his own.

He is the punter for the Seattle Seahawks.

Jon Ryan is making his money playing in the NFL — and investing it in baseball.