Superbowl

[Squidgy]

Fans of American football tend get very over protective when you mention what a pointless sport it is.

Is it me that just doesn't get American football? I really can't see the point in having 5 seconds of action then another 5 minutes analysing the 5 seconds (then the inevitable 5minutes worth of commercials. WTF is the point?!!

It's twaddle and most people who follow it over here have very geeky traits in my experience.

[DaveBWFC]

It's a shít game imo.

They should stop wearing helmets and padding and only be allowed to pass backwards.

It'd be a little more entertaining then.

Only a little though.

[CJ Bwfc]

American Football? American Rugby more like. A bit like our Rugby, but played by cowards, with weird rules that allow them to pass forward and not actually touchdown a touchdown.....

A Yank "Football" player wouldn't last 5 seconds on a Rugby League pitch! (RL being the real Rugby of course).

[largehat]

I try to watch the Superbowl every year. I still don't understand even half of what goes on. I mean, with a minute to go the New York Giants were losing and they scored a Touchdown to put them back in the lead, and they were a bit gutted because they wanted to use up more of the clock before scoring. Some fat guy reluctantly waddled over the line. They were concerned about New England having a full minute to go the length of the field and score a Touchdown themselves.

I wouldn't mind but there had only been about three other Touchdowns in the whole game. How negative can you get?

[LightningBolton]

I usually find the people who claim to like sports but then dismiss American football or rugby tend to have low intelligence & limited attention spans (you started it!).

American football has the largest rule book of any field sport so its understandable retards & those with the attention span of a 4 year old can't get to grips with it. Yet they're probably the same people who would claim Americans are generally dumb.

The old “they wear pads so they're soft argument” is ridiculous too. The pads are plastic on top, not merely foam padding all the way through like the ones they wear in rugby now. The reason they need so much protection is because its a dangerous sport which numerous people have died playing over the years. It also allows people to hit much harder as you feel almost invincible in it.

The padding's heavy & hard & it can hurt like hell/cause serious injury to be hit with a helmet even with padding on (although a direct hit with the helmet is now outlawed it still happens).  A crucial difference is that in rugby you can only be hit if you have the ball & so can prepare your body for the impact. In American Football you can be hit from any angle without expecting it which is much more dangerous & can be a real shock to the system.
They also often play on astro-turf which is much less forgiving than grass (how many goal-keepers dive properly or defenders do sliding tackles on astro-turf?).

I feel you can only truly appreciate a sport when you have played it competitively. Only then do you realise the skills & toughness involved but I doubt you'd have the balls to try it.

American Football is one of the most inclusive sports there is. There's a position for every size & skill. Its also, probably more of a tactical & team sport than any other as the result depends on the coach making the right calls & the entire squad carrying out their individual job well.

I admit more could be done to speed it up at times & it panders to advertising far too much but that doesn't stop it being a good game with some really exciting matches.

Ultimately any sport is pointless as it is only there for the enjoyment of the participants or the spectators. Or are you going to tell me football has some higher purpose?

Of course fans defend it when you call it that & by putting that passive-aggressive caveat in you feel you'll be able to dismiss any retorts to your post with  “I told you they get over protective & are geeky” but I bet you get the same if someone says football's pointless or that Bolton are pointless & shouldn't be in the premier league etc.

Just because you don't like/understand something don't put down/offend everyone who does. It says far more about you than them.


LargeHat. Its one of the most tactical sports there is. There was much more of a chance for the Patriots to score, and so win the match, with 1 minute left than 20 seconds so the Giants would have preferred to give them less time to do so. Like any sport it comes down to winning so at the time using up more of the clock would have made that more likely. (How many times did Jussi get booked for time-wasting to ensure a result?)

[Squidgy]

Just because you don't like/understand something don't put down/offend everyone who does. It says far more about you than them.

Like they're not wannabe Yanks?

I've always found that the only Brits that like the sport (ex-pats and the likes of those with family/parental influence not included as they sort of get sucked into it) generally get attracted to it in their teens as they think it's 'cool'. They were all the type of people who try too hard to be cool in my experience (and invariably failed).

I worked for American Airlines for over 6 years and travelled over there dozens of times, I still failed to see the attraction of the sport - must be my low intellect.

[LightningBolton]

I worked for American Airlines for over 6 years and travelled over there dozens of times, I still failed to see the attraction of the sport - must be my low intellect.

Spot on.
I got into it when I was a young kid, way before I knew what cool was, around the same time I got in to football, rugby, cricket etc. & for the same reasons. I enjoyed watching & playing the sport (or do people get into cricket to be cool?!).

I take it you think anyone who enjoys any American sport is purely doing it to try & be cool or a wannabe yank?

If I was doing it to be a wannabe yank I'd like baseball & basketball too but I don't.

Why do you think its ok for Americans to enjoy the sport but not the British?

In all your forays over there as an Air Stewardess did you ever try & get involved in a proper kitted game?

Or were you typical Brit abroad, judging it without trying it. "Its crap this. Its not football, Where's me egg 'n' chips?!"

[DaveBWFC]

In all your forays over there as an Air Stewardess did you ever try & get involved in a proper kitted game?

He must've done that surely.

Doesn't everyone get involved in a proper kitted game of American Football when they're in America?

[Squidgy]

Spot on.
I got into it when I was a young kid, way before I knew what cool was, around the same time I got in to football, rugby, cricket etc. & for the same reasons. I enjoyed watching & playing the sport (or do people get into cricket to be cool?!).

I take it you think anyone who enjoys any American sport is purely doing it to try & be cool or a wannabe yank?

If I was doing it to be a wannabe yank I'd like baseball & basketball too but I don't.

Why do you think its ok for Americans to enjoy the sport but not the British?

In all your forays over there as an Air Stewardess did you ever try & get involved in a proper kitted game?

Or were you typical Brit abroad, judging it without trying it. "Its crap this. Its not football, Where's me egg 'n' chips?!"

I've been to a baseball match and an ice hockey match on my travels. Baseball was just like a very long game of glorified rounders and was only made bareable by the fact we were watching from an area with a bar. Ice hockey, however, was thoroughly enjoyable.

I've had opportunities to go to a NY Giants games (I have family in upstate NY who are big fans), just never bothered. I've been in bars when NFL games have been on (even the Superbowl on one occasion). The whole thing just doesn't appeal to me on any level, it's all packaging and no substance. If they allowed it to flow a little then it may be a different matter.

My only enjoyable experience of American rugby was eating in the same restaurant as the Dallas Cowboys post match. Much to the amusement of the staff we didn't have a clue who they were as we were clearly more intent on eyeing up the cheer leaders.

[CJ Bwfc]

Lightning, it's very hard to take your (most likely, very valid) points when your post reads as "if you don't like American Football, you're dumb". Just saying.

As for American Football being a tougher sport than Rugby, I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that. Rugby League is a very tough sport to play, players hardly ever wear any padding/protection (and it's a much better sport to watch as well, never understood why Union is the more popular!). Although, I can't really comment on Rugby Union as I gave it a go and frankly didn't like it.

[LightningBolton]

The whole thing just doesn't appeal to me on any level, it's all packaging and no substance. If they allowed it to flow a little then it may be a different matter.

That's my point.
I can understand people not liking the sport & am happy to debate the various merits of it etc. but I just don't see why there's any need to make sweeping derogatory statements about those that do like it.
Why is it ok to like ice hockey but not American football?

I agree with you CJ. I was trying to return the sentiments of the OP saying its pointless, people who like it are geeky etc. which I felt was unnecessary. I probably went too far but was trying to make a wider point.

I also wouldn't want to give the impression that I think its tougher than rugby. Its not at all. They are completely different but both are hard-nut aggressive sports that not everyone can handle playing.

I was just trying to address the common misconception that its a soft sport because they wear padding. Its simply not the case.

[texan dave II]

I

I agree with you CJ. I was trying to return the sentiments of the OP saying its pointless, people who like it are geeky etc. which I felt was unnecessary. I probably went too far but was trying to make a wider point.

I also wouldn't want to give the impression that I think its tougher than rugby. Its not at all. They are completely different but both are hard-nut aggressive sports that not everyone can handle playing.

Your point about not everyone being able to play is a bit off base
The kids here in America grow up playing American football and most can do at least ok
Put them on a real football pitch and they will be sucking wind in 15 minutes
American football is the same as most other American sports, designed to make money
How can you call a 23 stone fat guy an athlete

[Big_Sharps]

Its not the worst sport in the world is the best I can say about it and I watched nearly all of the last 2 quarters and due to the fact it was a close game made it quite interesting to watch.

[LightningBolton]

Your point about not everyone being able to play is a bit off base
The kids here in America grow up playing American football and most can do at least ok
Put them on a real football pitch and they will be sucking wind in 15 minutes
American football is the same as most other American sports, designed to make money
How can you call a 23 stone fat guy an athlete

I didn't say not everyone is able to play. Any kid can play any sport but not everyone's the type of person who can properly get into a sport like rugby or American football and enjoy it. You have to be able to get the adrenalin pumping & reach a certain level of aggression to give/take big hits & be fully involved in a game.

Its the same with goalkeeping. Anyone can stand in net & flinch out the way of shots but not everyone has the mentality to dive to tip a shot round the post or throw themselves in front of a shot blasted from two yards away. It doesn't make them better people its just horses for courses.

As for being athletes, it depends how you define an athlete. I wouldn't necessarily call them that but I'd say big linemen are no more or less athletes than shot putters, weightlifters or wrestlers etc. are.

[texan dave II]

I didn't say not everyone is able to play. Any kid can play any sport but not everyone's the type of person who can properly get into a sport like rugby or American football and enjoy it. You have to be able to get the adrenalin pumping & reach a certain level of aggression to give/take big hits & be fully involved in a game.

Its the same with goalkeeping. Anyone can stand in net & flinch out the way of shots but not everyone has the mentality to dive to tip a shot round the post or throw themselves in front of a shot blasted from two yards away. It doesn't make them better people its just horses for courses.

As for being athletes, it depends how you define an athlete. I wouldn't necessarily call them that but I'd say big linemen are no more or less athletes than shot putters, weightlifters or wrestlers etc. are.

IMHO American football is crap
Its a twisted Americanized drama glamour grabbing load of
Idea was stolen from Rugby a real sport with real athletes

[Squidgy]

Idea was stolen from Rugby a real sport with real athletes

Good point well made.

[exile in bolton]

I usually find the people who claim to like sports but then dismiss American football or rugby tend to have low intelligence & limited attention spans (you started it!).

American football has the largest rule book of any field sport so its understandable retards & those with the attention span of a 4 year old can't get to grips with it. Yet they're probably the same people who would claim Americans are generally dumb.

The old “they wear pads so they're soft argument” is ridiculous too. The pads are plastic on top, not merely foam padding all the way through like the ones they wear in rugby now. The reason they need so much protection is because its a dangerous sport which numerous people have died playing over the years. It also allows people to hit much harder as you feel almost invincible in it.

The padding's heavy & hard & it can hurt like hell/cause serious injury to be hit with a helmet even with padding on (although a direct hit with the helmet is now outlawed it still happens).  A crucial difference is that in rugby you can only be hit if you have the ball & so can prepare your body for the impact. In American Football you can be hit from any angle without expecting it which is much more dangerous & can be a real shock to the system.
They also often play on astro-turf which is much less forgiving than grass (how many goal-keepers dive properly or defenders do sliding tackles on astro-turf?).

I feel you can only truly appreciate a sport when you have played it competitively. Only then do you realise the skills & toughness involved but I doubt you'd have the balls to try it.

American Football is one of the most inclusive sports there is. There's a position for every size & skill. Its also, probably more of a tactical & team sport than any other as the result depends on the coach making the right calls & the entire squad carrying out their individual job well.

I admit more could be done to speed it up at times & it panders to advertising far too much but that doesn't stop it being a good game with some really exciting matches.

Ultimately any sport is pointless as it is only there for the enjoyment of the participants or the spectators. Or are you going to tell me football has some higher purpose?

Of course fans defend it when you call it that & by putting that passive-aggressive caveat in you feel you'll be able to dismiss any retorts to your post with  “I told you they get over protective & are geeky” but I bet you get the same if someone says football's pointless or that Bolton are pointless & shouldn't be in the premier league etc.

Just because you don't like/understand something don't put down/offend everyone who does. It says far more about you than them.


LargeHat. Its one of the most tactical sports there is. There was much more of a chance for the Patriots to score, and so win the match, with 1 minute left than 20 seconds so the Giants would have preferred to give them less time to do so. Like any sport it comes down to winning so at the time using up more of the clock would have made that more likely. (How many times did Jussi get booked for time-wasting to ensure a result?)

That says it all for me the more you complicate something the more boring it gets,people who I know
who follow this sport tend to be anoraks and have no interest in our game.I have tried watching it
but its far too stop/start it never really seems to get going.