Sports Talk, or: My Team Did WHAT Last Week?!?!?!

I'm in the FFFF (Frustrated Football Fan Foundation) also. I am still trying to fathom how the Giants dropped two games in a row in the FOURTH quarter. They were a two quarter team for both games, neither of which counted. I suppose my consolation is their win again Washington last night...

Sound of a lot of whooooooshhhh..... plop as that goes over the head of the rest of the worlld and leaves a greasy stain on the wall behind us?...

Two quarters makes on half?... erm, ok, what are you on about please?...

I've long thought that american football is like cricket for americans, something to talk about while the rest of the world just looks slightly baffled at the weird "sport" they invented.

Yes, two quarters make an half, four quarters/two halfs make a game.

We would be alluding American "hands good, feet bad" football as opposed to "feet good, hands bad" football, which us Yanks insist on calling soccer.

need more structured warm up time, maybe. that's sort of what I'm thinking about my high school. it seems to take them 15 minutes to get their act together after a break. like the beginning of the game, or halftime.

American football isn't all that difficult to understand. The main obstacles for Europeans (especially Brits) are mental ones.

First thing is the "foot" in football. That's what they call it. It doesn't mean their game is better or worse than what you call football. It's just different. Get over it.

Second thing is the whole "it's just rugby with a lot of padding". I call humbug! I've played both sports at about the same level and trust me, there's a reason for the padding! We've had that discussion before.

If you're willing to look past those two things for just 15 minutes and try to watch and figure out the game with an open mind, what you'll see is a lot of athletes who could have done well in almost any sport, but play this game because they love it. It's play-by-play tactics and full game strategy all at once with some amazing athletic performances that make it fun to watch. As one Danish commentator once remarked, "it's basically chess with a lot of muscle and incredible athleticism."

The basic rules are very simple and you'll grasp them within those first 15 minutes. If my 9-year old kid can do it, you can too. Some of the more in-depth rules might take a while to understand, but that's no different than some lifelong (European) football fans still not grasping the offside rule.

The only thing about American Football that I can relate to Europeans getting frustrated with is the length of a game because of all the stops and starts. It can easily take 3 hours to complete a game with only one hour of actual playing time. But once you understand and start to appreciate that clock management is a huge part of the full game strategy, there's a good chance you'll get over that as well.

Much like I've said before about handball*, if you've never watched a full game of American Football with an open mind, try it just once. You might like it if you check your prejudice at the door.


*I'm still amazed that handball isn't popular in the US. It's like a mix between basketball and hockey. It's a highly physical, fast paced, tactical, high scoring game with some amazing athletic performances. Looking at what kind of team sports Americans generally like, you'd think handball was more or less perfect for you guys. Especially in schools, because as long as you can run and you're able to control a ball, you don't have to be 6'4" and built like a brick house to play. Oh, and unlike other sports played by women in the US, women's handball is actually entertaining to watch, even if you're a man. The women easily get as physical as the men, but more often than not, their style of play is more about finesse, which makes for some really amazing goals from time to time.

With the US tradition for playing team sports in schools and setting up city and state leagues, if you started playing handball in schools all around the country tomorrow, you could have a respectable national league in 10-15 years, and within 25, you could be dominating both the World Championships and the Olympics.

Van Gaal knows.
What some of the players didnt like was his almost immediate "My way" approach, discipline.
He has led several teams to high positions.
I am a sort of Armchair Supporter of Manchester United, I hate the owner{s}, but like what the team can do.
But as Van Gall has announced he wont be with them after next season, I have to hope the next manager is good enough.
Giggs?... yeah, someday, I dont think he is ready yet.

As for where they are, thanks to Man CITY getting a 4-1 disgraceful drubbing down at Tottenham, beaten by a much better team on the day, I have to admit I am keen to meet the fans that usually have it all smug over their apparent "lead" over United...
Oh no you dont!.
Boo-Yah, get back down there, Man United, despite their frequent obituary from many sources, are far from "Dead".

They took a 3-0 lead over troubled sunderland, again, "Not good enough" to the critics, who were out to demand telephone-number scores against a team struggling to stay in the league...
Yeah, sunderland have trouble, but better be a fan of them than City, Who's glory days are OVER right of now....
I have to say that in fairness, because thats what they said about United the first time they dropped a point from head of the premier league.

The Truth. and irrespective of alignment, an un-biased view.
You cant predict anything before Christmas in the leagues, nothing at all, so why try?
The pundits provoked response when they predicted a two-horse race this year before a ball was kicked between Chelsea and Man-City, Neither of which are showing that promise.
All teams have been re-structured during the transfer window, it takes time for changes to settle in, and during the first few months, you get to play other teams with as much chance as you.
You cant predict a win EVERYTHING against equal sides?...

Its not even a three horse race, its the premier league, out of the 20 odd teams up there hoping for the top, 10 will be there with a real chance of that.
Man Utd?..
Will ALWAYS be in the top 10, mostly in the top 5.
Just not when Moyes is in charge.

University of Utah 62, University of Oregon 20

Yeah.

ouch.