American football

Whilst living in the US for a while- as a 7 to 11 year old- i remembre a couple of things:

1. the 49ers breezing to the superbowl and winning in 95 (against the Chargers)
   
2. the patriots losing in 97 (to the Packers, who all my friends were supporting)- my last year in the states.
   
3. going to several 49ers games in my time there (i was a bay area boy)
   
   

And so, upon return to blighty- I decided I'd support 2 teams- one AFC (Patriots) and one NFC (49ers).
The two teams had mixed fortunes till this date, and so tonight I witnessed one of the saddest moments in my American Football history- the Pats not making 19-0.

Bollocks!

That is all- I just had to vent.

i just watch the post game riots. we had 2 when i was growing up round here

After such an old thread resurrection am I right in guessing that I'm the only one on here who has been keeping up with American Football this fall (college in particular)? I know there are some Americans on this forum. Anybody?

Texas vs Alabama in the National Championship game? BCS woes just like every year. Bowl Schedule is out and teams are starting to get prepared.

It's like the most exciting time of year and no one cares!

i try.
been shit at following it this year.
both my teams lost yesterday.
stanford are doing ok.

Stupid game.

To many rules.

Stupid game.

To many rules.

11 players offense, 11 players defense per team on the field.

45 players players altogether per team. Everyone with highly specialised roles.

I remember trying to get into it when I was a kid, theyd show it on TV at strange times. Way too complicated, I just always liked the way it looked and violence of it all. So much stopping & starting though!

Would rather play it given the chance.

YouTube- NFL Fantasy Files Deluxe Version

i try.
been shit at following it this year.
both my teams lost yesterday.
stanford are doing ok.

Yah, I don't watch too much Sunday football. Hard to since I lost Sky!

Stanford are doing really well! Aside from beating USC they're also quite good. I bet they give Oklahoma a good run on New Years Eve. Should be a quality game.

Yah, I don't watch too much Sunday football. Hard to since I lost Sky!

Stanford are doing really well! Aside from beating USC they're also quite good. I bet they give Oklahoma a good run on New Years Eve. Should be a quality game.

do you know anywhere i can watch it?

Stupid rules.

To many games.

Exactly. No one knows them all either, that way you can be disappointed by some obscure call every game without boring repititions.

Exactly. No one knows them all either, that way you can be disappointed by some obscure call every game without boring repititions.

I had this thought the other day whilst shitting on my epiphany loo:
American sports on the whole require more brainpower for the average fan than their english equivalents, with the exception being Cricket and Hockey on either side.

Real Football fans here enjoy the spectacle, and whilst many rugby fans understand the rules, the level of statistical knowledfe is awesome in Baseball and Football.
Hockey, not so much

My all time fav:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caeITRkDrtg

I had this thought the other day whilst shitting on my epiphany loo:
American sports on the whole require more brainpower for the average fan than their english equivalents, with the exception being Cricket and Hockey on either side.

Real Football fans here enjoy the spectacle, and whilst many rugby fans understand the rules, the level of statistical knowledfe is awesome in Baseball and Football.
Hockey, not so much

Yah, I tend to organize sports into three categories:

1.) Athleticism
2.) Strategy
3.) Skill

And I've said for a long time that American Football is one of the finest combinations of all three. Football has more athleticism and skill than american football across all the players, but I think it lacks in the strategy.

Yah, I tend to organize sports into three categories:

1.) Athleticism
2.) Strategy
3.) Skill

And I've said for a long time that American Football is one of the finest combinations of all three. Football has more athleticism and skill than american football across all the players, but I think it lacks in the strategy.

Hear, hear!

Yah, I tend to organize sports into three categories:

1.) Athleticism
2.) Strategy
3.) Skill

And I've said for a long time that American Football is one of the finest combinations of all three. Football has more athleticism and skill than american football across all the players, but I think it lacks in the strategy.

i think the stop and go play makes you THINK the skill and athleticism aren't up there. It's up there. WAY the fuck up there. Go see these matches in person and it's even more impressive. Gladiators.

some of the guys are 230 lbs and can run a 40 in 4.5 seconds, and catch a ball while sprinting along another atheltic equal who want to crush him. all while loking backwards. the plays are amazing, and when there's a beautiful run, it's well... beautiful.

Watch carefully, and you'll see no greater display of pure athleticism than in good football.

and the strategy... unmatched.

i think the stop and go play makes you THINK the skill and athleticism aren't up there. It's up there. WAY the fuck up there. Go see these matches in person and it's even more impressive. Gladiators.

Sorry, I should have qualified my statements with a mention that I used to average about 4-5 live games a year until I moved to England. I've watched it played and understand the rules. I agree with you too, their athleticism, strategy, and skill puts them in a class above the rest (some could make a good case for Rugby by my criteria too).

However, even though there are some skill positions, and there are some amazing athletes, if you line those players up against the best football players in the world they would be outclassed in base athletics. Same would go for cyclists or runners. And the skill levels don't compare to sports like golf or formula one.

That said, I'd still argue that these players have the best combination of all three.

do you know anywhere i can watch it?

I missed this earlier, sorry: Anywhere with ESPN America will show it (my house included). If it's playing live then it would be a good warm-up to an evening out for NYE. Should come on around 8-9pm on the 31st. Places like Bodeans, The Maple Leaf, and one spot over near Trafalgar Square all have ESPN America. Not sure if they'll be showing the games though.

Bodeans is a great option if you've got some cash to spend and like BBQ.

Sorry, I should have qualified my statements with a mention that I used to average about 4-5 live games a year until I moved to England. I've watched it played and understand the rules. I agree with you too, their athleticism, strategy, and skill puts them in a class above the rest (some could make a good case for Rugby by my criteria too).

However, even though there are some skill positions, and there are some amazing athletes, if you line those players up against the best football players in the world they would be outclassed in base athletics. Same would go for cyclists or runners. And the skill levels don't compare to sports like golf or formula one.

That said, I'd still argue that these players have the best combination of all three.

i agree with what you're saying, especially now that you mention golf which is almost pure skill.

Thing is, I've never been able to stomach watching soccer. Too much uneventful passing and turn overs for too few goals. I suppose i'm classic ahhhmerican. I did play soccer as a kid for many years. I also played hockey for a long time and still follow the sport.

For watching sports, give me basketball, pigskin football and baseball. (i know right?)

The most rugby I've watched is in a Ralph Lauren commercial . I don't even know if they have a net or what the concept of the sport is. sad.

For playing, give me non-team sports.... biking (all forms), skiing, running,

Not sure if it is the world's toughest or most demanding sport (I guess boxing takes the cake, there), but if ice hockey players are not included when you are discussing gladiators, I take offense.

Take, for instance, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Laperriere:

*On November 27th Laperrière was hit with a slapshot in the mouth while killing a penalty at the end of the first period. He would sit out the 2nd period receiving between 50 and 100 stitches but return for the third period. He also played the night after. Laperrière reportedly lost 7 teeth resulting from the incident.
*
NHL is full of players that have played with injuries to help their team. They might not be the smartest professional athletes, but they sure make them tough.

are you on NSMB?

are you on NSMB?

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSMB[/ame]?

haha i guess not.

http://bb.nsmb.com/
[ame="http://bb.nsmb.com/member.php?u=22949"]North Shore Mountain Biking Forums - View Profile: SkunkworkS@@AMEPARAM@@View Profile: SkunkworkS@@AMEPARAM@@SkunkworkS[/ame]

I had this thought the other day whilst shitting on my epiphany loo:
American sports on the whole require more brainpower for the average fan than their english equivalents, with the exception being Cricket and Hockey on either side.

Real Football fans here enjoy the spectacle, and whilst many rugby fans understand the rules, the level of statistical knowledfe is awesome in Baseball and Football.
Hockey, not so much

The philosophy of baseball: http://bostonreview.net/BR33.2/rawls.php

(John Rawls on baseball).

haha i guess not.

http://bb.nsmb.com/
North Shore Mountain Biking Forums - View Profile: SkunkworkS

*Biography
**I ride bicycles and go to school

*Still, nicely put.

you don't see this many people showin' up to soccer games. just sayin'.

that's a lotta humans!

(and penn state football is the best)