It's the Superbowl this afternoon.
I've done my best to try and trudge through this Wikipedia entry on the subject of American Football...but my eyelids kept drooping. I understand that as sports go it's both enjoyable to watch (well, I'm going with the majority here) and a bit stop-start, but there's something about dissecting a sport into textbook-style explanation which takes all the fun out of it.
So I'm sticking with my current level of understanding, which can be summed up with what will be my most oft-quoted response this afternoon:
"So it's a bit like Rugby League, then?"
I am heart-rent in my discovery earlier today that the Six Nations is a couple of games along and I had no idea.
Humph.
The essential problem with American Football is that it's not rugby when you get down to it.
You can watch rugby in NY. I hear the faithful do.
Alle le rouge ...
I tried to explain to someone the difference between football and rugby once, and in the end it came down to, "well, it's like football, except the rugby players wear shorts and t-shirts and aren't total pansies like American football players are." And I caught the Rugby World Cup in China last year, so you HAVE to be able to catch some sort of rugby in the US.
I went to an American "Football" game in Michigan. It lasted five hours (I kid you not) and was excruciatingly boring. My companion explained what was going on, but even then it was difficult to fathom. They never run for more than a few seconds at a time. The marching band playing in formation at half-time was the best bit.
My mates in NY watched the world cup. Their is always a (irish) bar screening it.
If you know it's happening, I don't think it's hard to catch, but I suppose I'm just insulated. I forgot it was that time again, and there was no news, papers or anything to give me any kind of clue that the Six Nations was on.
Hence the Humph.
Well now you know ... England plays France this weekend.
Speaking of sport. We pasted you guys in the cricket yesterday.
I take refuge in my Americo-centric media.
I stick my tongue out at you, sir.
All round bad weekend to be English fan ..
I'm sure France will be DUST.
Or MUD.
Depending on the weather.
Ahhh American football. A simple idea (4 goes at moving the ball 10 yards, or more) spoiled by adverts and the whole 'two teams' per team thing.
Can you imagine the FA Cup final stopping whilst the 'defensive' team came on. Ridiculous. And what is WITH all those pads and helmets. Big jessies.
ANYWAY.
I'm not talking about the rugby.
I'm sorry? There's two teams per team? Aw, now I'm really confused...
Olly - there are numerous...and I mean numerous times in the game where substitutions are unlimited. They can practically change the entire team over depending on the situation of the game.
The discovery which raised my eyebrow was that they also have separate coaches for different strategic plays, and/or sections of the game. Specialists, if you will.
Perhaps it makes more sense the more alcohol and greasy food you consume? It certainly made Australian Rules football more clear to me :)
My sense is that nothing makes a guy more nostalgic than watching alien sports on television. I know from first-hand vicarious soccer experience, that Nevada Smith on 14th Street is the finest puddle from across the pond!
Oh, can I just add (for the benefit of the people without much Rugby knowledge) that the Six Nations is most definitely NOT Rugby League!!!
It is the proper version of Rugby - Rugby Union!
just felt that needed clearing up!
I'd love to see our Union boys (or the League ones.. cos even though they don't play the proper rules, they're still pretty hard core) take on some pansy American Football team without all their poofy padding and faffy rests every 30 seconds...
I don't usually rant.. but over here we occasionally have short advert breaks in our SPORTING matches (ie. maybe one at half time)... rather than occasional short breaks in an entire afternoon of adverts to watch a couple of minutes of SPORT.
ok ok.. rant over.. back to the proper game:
Stuart, as you probably heard, England lost their first game against Wales at the weekend (although to be fair, we didn't deserve to win). The pairing of relatively inexperienced Noon and Tait in centre didn't really work.. and generally the team didn't create enough chances against a solidly playing Welsh side.
I think Andy Robinson has learnt a couple of lessons from that game though and is likely to start with a slightly different line-up against France. For instance I'd like to see Olly Barkley on from the beginning this time!
Remember though, we haven't got a full strength team this year - six first team players are out with injury at the moment!
I think Ireland are going to be the main contenders for the trophy this year.. although two of Ireland's star players (O'Driscoll and D'Arcy) picked up hamstring injuries in the the Italy game so might not be playing in the next one against Scotland.
I don't think you can write England off yet though.. it is only the beginning of the tournament!! I believe their defeat to Wales will kick them into shape and we'll come back to beat France this weekend!
Swiiiiiing loooooow... sweeeeeet chaaaariioooot! : )
Cheers for that, Adam.
I will turn to you instead of the BBC in future.
I only mentioned Rugby League because it is closer to American Football than Union, but yes, I didn't clarify that.
As a tit-for-tat bonus, that should have confused a lot of Americans.
I think I've just scored myself some tickets to the Lions vs. All Blacks at the milenium stadium to add to the Edgebaston tickets for the Ashes, all I need is for Everton to win the league and I'm laughing. wooo.
I watched the 9th Quarter minus 23 seconds time out (or something) of the Superbowl. Very strange. I didn't know Macca played american football?