American football.....rugby for sissies?!?!?!

I've seen this and other diatribes against my favorite sport here in the threads many times and pretty much held my tongue. It would seem that those who never played the sport and most assuredly never wore a set of pads are the most vocal antagonists. I understand that it is human nature to attack and belittle things which we don't understand. However, with the progressive and enlightened views that prevail on this board, I would have expected more tolerance. Does cultural pluralism not extend to the sports people play and enjoy? Besides.....................how in the hell can y'all sit through 90 minutes of nil-nil footie? :D

i am not going to say american football players are pussies but i havent been able to enjoy football since the late 80's everybody is a showboat they make routine tackles then run up and down the field dancing, and they dance worse than barney most of the time too, i must tell you that hockey is my first love and i am from new york city in the United states of America so i do understand football, but i think a lot of the players nowdays really dont, watching football today is like looking at a 3 hour hip hop video

You make good points about some of today's players. It's all about "me" and all about "the Benjamin's". Like when running backs step out of bounds instead of fight for a few extra yards and call it a "business decision".

That being said, Emmitt Smith once described an NFL game as surviving a series a violent car crashes. And, I don't know if a million dollars a year would be enough for me to go across the middle and face those thinly disguised line backers playing free/strong safety.

like i said it is a tough sport and you have to be tough t play it i just hate that a guy gets mobbed by his team mates and does a dance when he pushes a guy out of bounds on a routine play and isnt winning what its all about? love of the game who is thinking about running out of bounds instead of taking some abuse for a crucial first down? the greats always played for the team walter payton, marcus allen, jim brown, johnny u montana, and most of thease guys didnt make a quarter of what a special teams player makes today

Two words: Foot Ball

Why complicate matters further?

aint it fut bol

Originally posted by Hank Wiseass© Two words: Foot Ball

Why complicate matters further?

Exactly! We use our FEET to carry the BALL. :D

since you're such a fan of american football...maybe you could tell me why it's called football?! for the life of me, i cannot understand why we call british football soccer and american football football.

i have little bias to both versions of football cuz i generally hate sports. never liked watching them one bit and it takes up good time for other tv shows on weekends.

Because Americans find the rest of the world to be irrelevant, sadly.

To slightly amend a quote from the depths of somewhere....

"Football (you know which I mean) is a gentleman's game played by thugs. Rugby is a thug's game played by gentlemen. American Football is an idiot's game played by idiots."

Rugby is a game played by gentlemen with odd shaped balls.

Originally posted by Benny's Cobweb Eyes To slightly amend a quote from the depths of somewhere...."Football (you know which I mean) is a gentleman's game played by thugs. Rugby is a thug's game played by gentlemen. American Football is an idiot's game played by idiots."

Love It

Any colourful quotes regarding aussie rules, derogative of course.

In case anyone cares (which you probably don't) the name Soccer comes from the term "Asocciation Football"

.. and its so much better than American Jokeball that i need say no more....

and don't get me started on Super Rounders....

well michael, i know people that have played both & base my comments on that having only played rugby myself of the two.

the england captain, martin johnson is a massive fan of american football & i believe he visited the 49ers spring training where he had a go at playing for them& loved the contact aspect but the 49ers were unwilling to try the 15 man game...

gues the reason we don't like it so much over here is cos it takes 2 hours to play, is too stop start, the teams change players at will & it seems more about statistics than anything

Originally posted by hibster well michael, i know people that have played both & base my comments on that having only played rugby myself of the two.the england captain, martin johnson is a massive fan of american football & i believe he visited the 49ers spring training where he had a go at playing for them& loved the contact aspect but the 49ers were unwilling to try the 15 man game...gues the reason we don't like it so much over here is cos it takes 2 hours to play, is too stop start, the teams change players at will & it seems more about statistics than anything

Hibster,

I would like to offer sincere thanks to you for actually giving me REASONS why those of you across the pond may not be fond of NFL/NCAA football.

Every fact you mentioned is relevant and I would propose that they are precisely why we, as Americans, enjoy NFL/NCAA football so much.

It's been said many times that our brand of football is a metaphor for war. We throw "bombs". We "march" down the field. The defense makes "last stands". I think that goes a long way towards the allure of the game. It's your home team doing battle against a mortal foe. It's interesting that you mentioned the SF 49ers. From 1982 until the middle 90's, they were one of the Dallas Cowboys biggest (out of conference) rivals. The entire week before game day was a very exciting time here in Dallas. Everyone wore the colors, people decorated their cars and eateries with "San Francisco" in the name changed to "Dallas" for the week......

Anyway, thanks again for a reasoned reply.

Michael

My problem with American Football is that it is so stop-start. I used to wait up to watch the Superbowl for a couple of years, and really did try to get into the game, but time and again I got frustrated by jargon, seemingly interminable "time-outs" (a reason why basketball is just as despised by me) and the whole TV presentation of it. Baseball's a different kettle of fish altogether, I have time for that.

Originally posted by Benny's Cobweb Eyes My problem with American Football is that it is so stop-start. I used to wait up to watch the Superbowl for a couple of years, and really did try to get into the game, but time and again I got frustrated by jargon, seemingly interminable "time-outs" (a reason why basketball is just as despised by me) and the whole TV presentation of it. Baseball's a different kettle of fish altogether, I have time for that.

The loved and hated "time out".............

BCE,

Each football team gets 3 per half (in addition to instant replay "challenges", but that's another story). That means, in theory, there could be a maximum of six play stoppages per half. The problem is the dreaded "television time out". TV TO after extra points. TV TO after kick offs. TV TO for the "two minute warning" at the end of BOTH halves. TV TO after a lengthy injury.

Look, I can see where a person raised on "footie" can be driven crazy by the amount of stoppages.

I too hate how the last 45 sec. of a basketball game can be stretched to 10 minutes (also with TV TO's !).

i base my feelings on american football not only because of the reason that i find the sport way too drawn out because of the constant stopping and starting (one game can be drawn out to fill 3-4 hours!), but because of what people i know have told me--people who have played BOTH rugby and american football. in all cases i have heard that rugby is more physically demanding, it's more of a workout, and more 'frightening' (because you're so exposed).

also, i have a friend from high school and college who was on the varsity football (american) team. he then started rowing (my sport), which he continued to do in college (as did i). i once asked him which sport he enjoyed more. he said to me, 'rowing, definitely. football is so EASY compared to rowing.' and rowing isn't even a contact sport!

having said that, nobody had better dis the denver broncos! i know it's hypocritical of me but, damn it, it's a colorado patriotic thing (my home state)! :p

Originally posted by AgentWood i base my feelings on american football not only because of the reason that i find the sport way too drawn out because of the constant stopping and starting (one game can be drawn out to fill 3-4 hours!), but because of what people i know have told me--people who have played BOTH rugby and american football. in all cases i have heard that rugby is more physically demanding, it's more of a workout, and more 'frightening' (because you're so exposed). also, i have a friend from high school and college who was on the varsity football (american) team. he then started rowing (my sport), which he continued to do in college (as did i). i once asked him which sport he enjoyed more. he said to me, 'rowing, definitely. football is so EASY compared to rowing.' and rowing isn't even a contact sport!having said that, nobody had better dis the denver broncos! i know it's hypocritical of me but, damn it, it's a colorado patriotic thing (my home state)! :p

Rowing is your sport!?!? How about that. I was on the crew at the University of Texas. I was either 7 seat or bow, depending on whether we were "German rigged".

The entire crew (men and women) was just a club sport when I was on the team (90-92). I was a heavy and roomed with a light.

Thanks to Title IX, the women's crew now has full varsity status.

Rowing IS much more taxing than football. I felt like the coaches were trying to make me into a marathon runner. And, if I never have to do another 2000m erg test, it will be too soon.

Do/did you row or are/were you a cox?

The warlike "allure" is part of the reason I can't stand "American football". What's to like about war ? But Rugby isn't much better, I mean what the hell is up with all the running around, tackling the guy with the ball, someone else getting it, and running some more ? I don't see a lot of room for intelligent teamwork, strategy, or individual prowess. At least they're not all padded up like in "American football". Football (aka Soccer) is the only sport I care for, and I think it's the only one that really translates well to a TV screen. Other sports either are too 3 dimensional to appreciate what is really happening on TV (especially basketball) and/or they have too much wasted time. I have no problem whatsoever watching a full 90 minute football (again, the real football) game ending without a score so long as there are some decent tries and good quality passing. The US has professional leagues now but the passing is so lousy I can't watch most of them. The US national teams are fine though, especially the women's team of course who are the reigning champions.

Originally posted by Michael McDermott > Originally posted by AgentWood> i base my feelings on american football not only because of the reason that i find the sport way too drawn out because of the constant stopping and starting (one game can be drawn out to fill 3-4 hours!), but because of what people i know have told me--people who have played BOTH rugby and american football. in all cases i have heard that rugby is more physically demanding, it's more of a workout, and more 'frightening' (because you're so exposed). > > also, i have a friend from high school and college who was on the varsity football (american) team. he then started rowing (my sport), which he continued to do in college (as did i). i once asked him which sport he enjoyed more. he said to me, 'rowing, definitely. football is so EASY compared to rowing.' and rowing isn't even a contact sport!> > having said that, nobody had better dis the denver broncos! i know it's hypocritical of me but, damn it, it's a colorado patriotic thing (my home state)! :p

Rowing is your sport!?!? How about that. I was on the crew at the University of Texas. I was either 7 seat or bow, depending on whether we were "German rigged".

The entire crew (men and women) was just a club sport when I was on the team (90-92). I was a heavy and roomed with a light.

Thanks to Title IX, the women's crew now has full varsity status.

Rowing IS much more taxing than football. I felt like the coaches were trying to make me into a marathon runner. And, if I never have to do another 2000m erg test, it will be too soon.

Do/did you row or are/were you a cox?

right on!

i was a rower--a port. i rowed for five years. we were national champions in high school and at columbia, well...we were pretty good if you consider national rankings (in the top 20), the only problem was that most of the top teams in the US were in our league so we really sucked compared to them!

scarily enough, i haven't been in a boat since 1994, but lately i've started doing 45 minute erg pieces at the gym! i can't believe myself! sure feels good though. (my pair from high school died in the world trade center, so i think about doing it for her and it gives me motivation, you know)

Originally posted by teleharmonium The warlike "allure" is part of the reason I can't stand "American football". What's to like about war ? But Rugby isn't much better, I mean what the hell is up with all the running around, tackling the guy with the ball, someone else getting it, and running some more ? I don't see a lot of room for intelligent teamwork, strategy, or individual prowess. At least they're not all padded up like in "American football".Football (aka Soccer) is the only sport I care for, and I think it's the only one that really translates well to a TV screen. Other sports either are too 3 dimensional to appreciate what is really happening on TV (especially basketball) and/or they have too much wasted time. I have no problem whatsoever watching a full 90 minute football (again, the real football) game ending without a score so long as there are some decent tries and good quality passing. The US has professional leagues now but the passing is so lousy I can't watch most of them. The US national teams are fine though, especially the women's team of course who are the reigning champions.

where's the room for intelligent teamwork? you haven't really watched much of it have you? the whole question of finding space, of moving the ball quickly, the lightning fast back play compared to the force & unrelenting power of the forward game, the blending of the two, the recognising the opponenets weaknesses, both tactically & technically. there are many different types of game you can play, thebarbarians always play running rugby & look to spread it wide, the england grand slam team of the late 80's/early 90's looked to keep it tight & use the forwards. the england team of today puts players in differentpositinsto what you would expect, forwardson the wing, backs in rucks & so forth.

but of all the different game plans/styles you have you cannot play to get a 0-0 draw or even a score draw, whilst you may have a 0-0 draw (it has to have happened once somewhere) you cannot play for one.

that ismy biggest problem with football, that a team can get a goal & then just defend it to the end of the game.

just no elan to that.

Originally posted by Benny's Cobweb Eyes To slightly amend a quote from the depths of somewhere...."Football (you know which I mean) is a gentleman's game played by thugs. Rugby is a thug's game played by gentlemen. American Football is an idiot's game played by idiots."

surely it was football was a thugs game played by gents & rugby a gents game played by thugs? although thats not true any more.

"Rugby is for rozzers and toffs"

© Boy's Own fanzine.

well i aint in the police force & I am not suing peterborough for the use of their name so they're obviously wrong.