American Football. Yuk. I tried to get in to this “sport” back in the 80’s when the SF 49ers (sounds like a sexual position) and the Chicago Bears (sounds like a “selective” mens club) were all conquering. I remember there was one player called the fridge or the teapot or something. Try a real sport like Rugby! Or even real football!

;-) Just trying to start a little cross Atlantic debate. Hit me back Se!

Hey, nice reposte young sir. First of all I want to avoid one of those moronic “debates” the internet is so good for where we reduce ourselves to throwing stupid insults (not that we ever would of course) by saying that I was just “yanking your chain”, but I think you got that. I actually do appreciate American football. I understand the tactcal aspects of it and have heard the comparison to chess before. I even enjoy watching it and take an interest in the outcome of the Superbowl, but I would put it in a similar category as cricket and baseball.

Let me explain…

I love cricket and I really like baseball. These sports are very similar in that to the uneducated it appears as though nothing is happening at all for long periods. And when something does happen it is not usually very spectacular (apart from hitting a 6, where you whack the ball out of the ground, or a home run, where you do the same thing). No, the real thrill of these sports is in the subtleties that take place throuh the course of the day, or 5 days in the case of Test Match cricket. Is the bowler getting any movement off the seam? Is it going to cloud over and affect the trajectory of the ball? Is the pitcher on form, how is his arm, what is the rbi of the upcoming batter? Is now a could time to bunt? And so on and so.

This is how I see gridiron. There is a lot going on and there are subleties but you have to know what you are looking for. Otherwise it just seems as though loads of big blokes in Dynasty style shoulder pads are running into each other. For this reason it will never have mass appeal unless you are in a country where you are brought up on it, just like cricket.

Now to football. There was a survey done of the entire planet and this game came out top. So there must be something to it. It IS the best game in the world, but why? I think it is because it is instantly accesible by all, this is because it is so simple. Two goals, two teams, no hands, go! What’s not to understand. Take your girlfriend who has never watched sport before and (as long as it’s not a turgid 0-0, which can happen) she will be thrilled, because anyone can understand it. Also, unlike American football where 5 seconds of action is then followed by 2 minutes of standing about, a goal in real football can be scored at any point in the game, by any player at any time. EVERY time your team has the ball they could score. When they get close to the goal it’s as exciting as when they score, until they hit the woodwork and miss, but dont worry because your team are fighting to get the ball back and when they do they could get a goal in 1 second.

As well as being simple it is also infinitely complex. Tactics, systems, the pitch, the weather. Do you go 4-4-2, or 4-3-3, play wingers or crowd the midfield? What about 3 at the back and wing-forwards? The debate is endless for the football nuts.

In American football the QB is highly skilled, the wide receivers are amazing athletes and can pluck a ball from the sky when it is dropping over their shoulder, juggle it, tippy toe their feet to get them both down and score the TD, but the rest of the team? They are just moveable walls! In real football everyone has to be skilled, show flair, score goals, play a part. There is no-where to hide. If your guys aren’t skillful you will lose. Type “best ever goals” into YouTube and you will see moments of artistry from all areas of the pitch, by all types of players. Even a well timed tackle can be a thing to behold.

Phew! Your go!

Good one. I accept there is more to a linebacker than being a wall. Good point well made. However, on the issue of fitness you are much mistaken. Big forwards (the guys that score most of the goals) are sought after in footbal as long as they are mobile and can jump and move with a certain grace. There is a reason that players are not 350lbs, its because they would be crap. A football player needs the stamina of a long distance runner, the speed of a sprinter, the leap of a basketball player, the reflexes of a racing driver and we havent even mentioned any actual soccer skills.

I take it you concede my other points?

Your turn, then we’ll ask Rain to judge the winner…as long as he picks me!

Hey Andrew nice post, I can see your points on “Soccer” but it’s not really my thing for those reasons. While exciting when someone gets in the scoring area I can understand the build-up in excitement, I like to see ACTION. Now I’m not going to even feign knowledge on the nuances of soccer, I don’t understand the schemes or strategies.

But as footballfan pointed out, NFL players are often 250-300 pounds and can run a 40 yards flat out in under 4.4 seconds, as well as plow over or around another physical specimen with the same comparible stats. That’s just your lineman, I don’t know what NFL games you watched but there is definitely not a 2mins break between snaps. It comes down to roughly 30 sec. (not including tv time outs and crap like that just the generals), and if a team is running a “hurry-up offense” there is NO Break or you can “substitute players in” further adding to the chess match.

I’ve played football at a college level (for a year anyway) and the game moves FAST, Qbs (which you do give credit too) have to be aware of almost EVERY single player on the field other than them (that’s 21 players), read defenses, have good techniques and not get get their heads knocked off.

Recievers don’t just catch they also have to block and run crisp routes, Running Backs have to be durable, able to pick out holes along the line and pick up blitzes, and on and on and on.