Football vs American Football

[Boobinator]

I know that if I would make a poll, it's like making a poll saying "are you American or European" and it would be the same result.

But this thread is for flaming the other, and arguing about which sport is the real football and best spectator sport.
Personally, I haven't really gotten into American football and never watched an entire game, but judging on forehand I think it seems a bit strange, with many strange rules. And basically having two meat walls running up on each other and some slick dude running past them.

I'm probably all wrong about this and don't know enough. Anyone care to explain it to me?

What I like about real football ("soccer" if you like) is the massive feeling when two top teams meet, and the constant tension. I know some people despise it for not having enough scoring and a lot of back-and-forth midfield playing, but I enjoy the inflation on goals meaning that when it actually scores it really matters. Although in all honesty, NHL hockey has a higher standard than most football, side for maybe Champion's League or the World Cup.

Okay enough from me. What's your opinion? Real football, or the American way?

 

[Jagger69]

This has already been debated ad nauseum here. If I have to explain the attraction of American football to you, what's the point? I mean, if you've never watched a game....

It either clicks or it doesn't. To each his own.

 

[marquis2]

Two very different games.If you take the best of both and combine them you get rugby which is on a different level altogether.

 

[TunnelOfLove]

I've seen only a little bit of American Football and it seems pretty intresting, but one thing puzzles me; Why is it called football? They kick ball only like 20 times per match and most of the time they carry it, so I think it should be called something else than football.

 

[titsrock]

Let's just close this thread. There's point. American Tackle Football was basically "American Rugby" back when it was started on College campuses "back in the day." It has evolved over the past 50 years with the invention of the forward pass in the 50s NFL. The "option" QB is basically a Rugby-style running play, which is the closest thing American Football has to its Rugby origins today. Professional American Football bears little resemblance to Rugby. It's its own sport entirely.

I don't like American Football as much as I used to because I don't like all the "planning" and "play-calling" and "matchup" bullshit. It takes away from the actual game play.

I prefer Soccer/World Football because it is a nonstop, freeflowing game where a TEAM HAS to be in sync in order to win.

World Football is much better game. It inspires nationalistic feelings, comraderie..etc.

I also like how quick the game is. It's over in about 2 1/2 hrs. American Football on television with all the times out, the ref challenges...the halftime show..it takes FOREVER for the game to be over. 4 hrs atleast.

 

[gunslingingbird]

I prefer real football. The kind with pads, helmets, and an oblong ball.

I've never understood peoples' delight in soccer. Having 22 people, or however many there are, on the field kicking a ball that looks like it was made from Dalmatian skin back and forth for 90 minutes is totally uninteresting to me.

Then there's all the fake injuries on the field. I've seen it happen where one guy is running after the ball, and some other guy bumps him on the shoulder, only to have the first guy fall on the ground and roll around on the grass for 5 minutes, clutching his leg, pretending to be in agonizing pain the whole time, and then just get up and walk away as if nothing had happened.

 

[dick van cock]

I've seen it happen where one guy is running after the ball, and some other guy bumps him on the shoulder, only to have the first guy fall on the ground and roll around on the grass for 5 minutes, clutching his leg, pretending to be in agonizing pain the whole time, and then just get up and walk away as if nothing had happened.

That's a different sport. They call it calcio. (an Italian specialty)

 

[tubuler]

I like both sports equally.

Although, why is it that so many soccer players fake injury so much? Everytime one of them gets bumped by another player they go diving onto the ground as if they had just been shot. It looks so pathetic. Then the trainer brings out a water bottle and squirts it onto the players knee and, presto, he's all better. I realize that the diving player is trying to fool the ref into booking an opposing player but it still seems quite dishonorable and classless. We see this diving phenomenon in Basketball as well. Although more so by European players (Dirk Nowitsky comes to mind).

American football players rarely if ever fake injury or dive. In fact, they are more likely to hide an injury and play through it than leave the game (or roll around on the ground crying like a bitch).

 

[gunslingingbird]

Although, why is it that so many soccer players fake injury so much? Everytime one of them gets bumped by another player they go diving onto the ground as if they had just been shot. It looks so pathetic. Then the trainer brings out a water bottle and squirts it onto the players knee and, presto, he's all better. I realize that the diving player is trying to fool the ref into booking an opposing player but it still seems quite dishonorable and classless. We see this diving phenomenon in Basketball as well. Although more so by European players (Dirk Nowitsky comes to mind).

American football players rarely if ever fake injury or dive. In fact, they are more likely to hide an injury and play through it than leave the game (or roll around on the ground crying like a bitch).

Thank you!!! Basically, it's the same as when a kid falls off his bike and gets a boo boo, and it only gets better after mommy kisses it.

 

[L3ggy]

They do it to get a free-kick.

 

[BlueBalls]

Why even bother asking?

 

[gunslingingbird]

Why even bother asking?

For the same reason someone would start a thread about which toilet paper people use. If you know the answer to that, you hold the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe.

 

[BlueBalls]

For the same reason someone would start a thread about which toilet paper people use. If you know the answer to that, you hold the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe.

The toilet paper thread maybe the greatest work of literature in modern history.

I already know the secrets of the universe, but I cant tell anyone because the person who told me said that if I told anyone he would come back from the dead (he was killed feeding his rabbits, they turned on him a bit out his jugular and he bled to death wilst the rabbits violated him in many disgusting ways) and twist my testicles off and set his rabbits on me so sorry, id like to keep my nuts and not be violated in any sort of way, unless im willing and ive paid enough to do so.

 

[Marlo Manson]

I apologize but I can't stand european football (soccer in the USA) very boring, way too much insignificant play, not enough scoring, just extremely boring IMO!! that said I don't really care for american football either.. I like the college game better than the professional game which is (the NFL) but college football is flawed cuz the way they determine a national champion until they figure out or find the right playoff system in college football to finally determine who without any doubt deseves to be champion there will always be the flaw of NO authentic champion!! so all in all I think both american and european football are vastly over rated.. and I can understand the desparity on both sides of the ball!! :hatsoff:

 

[E-Ann-Hilden]

This is an argument that cant be won. In the U.S. Football rules sports, at least money and fan wise. In the rest of the world it is another case. It is just what you grew up on and what you are a fan of now.

Even today in the U.S. soccer (football) is very popular with younger people, but it does not somehow translate into fandom in later years.

Also soccer (football) has quite a up hill battle in the 24 hour sport center the U.S. has become, too much competition from NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR, PGA, NHL, etc...

Funny but I much prefer F1 rather than NASCAR, but F1 is still a afterthought to many Americans. Same way as soccer (football) is.... A worldwide sport, but not a big American one.

I actually prefer College Football, but I am a NFL ticket owner too.

 

[tubuler]

This is an argument that cant be won. In the U.S. Football rules sports, at least money and fan wise. In the rest of the world it is another case. It is just what you grew up on and what you are a fan of now.

Even today in the U.S. soccer (football) is very popular with younger people, but it does not somehow translate into fandom in later years.

Also soccer (football) has quite a up hill battle in the 24 hour sport center the U.S. has become, too much competition from NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR, PGA, NHL, etc...

Funny but I much prefer F1 rather than NASCAR, but F1 is still a afterthought to many Americans. Same way as soccer (football) is.... A worldwide sport, but not a big American one.

I actually prefer College Football, but I am a NFL ticket owner too.

You live in Detroit right? What do they sell Lions season tickets for these days? A few aluminum cans? The change underneath your couch cushions? A few bills of Monopoly money?

 

[dave_rhino]

Bunch of guys in padding running about for a bit and then stopping... What is with all the stopping? Where is the flow? They are barely even athletes.

Soccer may be boring and they might fake injuries a lot, but at least they can handle 90 minutes of running after the ball.

Funny but I much prefer F1 rather than NASCAR, but F1 is still a afterthought to many Americans. Same way as soccer (football) is.... A worldwide sport, but not a big American one.

Probably should save it for the NASCAR vs F1 thread, but while we are on the subject, anyone can drive around in a big circle. I don't see how NASCAR is interesting or challenging. I went to see it once, and it was possibly the most boring sporting event I have ever witnessed. It makes Curling look like interesting.

 

[gunslingingbird]

The toilet paper thread maybe the greatest work of literature in modern history.

I already know the secrets of the universe, but I cant tell anyone because the person who told me said that if I told anyone he would come back from the dead (he was killed feeding his rabbits, they turned on him a bit out his jugular and he bled to death wilst the rabbits violated him in many disgusting ways) and twist my testicles off and set his rabbits on me so sorry, id like to keep my nuts and not be violated in any sort of way, unless im willing and ive paid enough to do so.

:rofl2:

I apologize but I can't stand european football (soccer in the USA) very boring, way too much insignificant play, not enough scoring, just extremely boring IMO!! that said I don't really care for american football either.. I like the college game better than the professional game which is (the NFL) but college football is flawed cuz the way they determine a national champion until they figure out or find the right playoff system in college football to finally determine who without any doubt deseves to be champion there will always be the flaw of NO authentic champion!! so all in all I think both american and european football are vastly over rated.. and I can understand the desparity on both sides of the ball!! :hatsoff:

I agree. College football is definitely more authentic than NFL football. The problem is that, to have one champion, there would have to be one league. With Division I being split into 20 conferences, that's nearly impossible. Even if they tried doing some sort of a playoff scenario like the NCAA basketball does with March Madness, it would be too cumbersome and implausible. Even if there were only 32 teams competing in the playoffs, less than 20% of the schools with a football program, the playoffs would still take over a month.

There definitely should be a different way to determine a champion than the current one based on objective favoritism and nepotism.

 

[BlueBalls]

Theres only one thing that can change this debate!


And its this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkysjcs5vFU

 

[stainedblueyes]

Let's just close this thread. There's point. American Tackle Football was basically "American Rugby" back when it was started on College campuses "back in the day." It has evolved over the past 50 years with the invention of the forward pass in the 50s NFL. The "option" QB is basically a Rugby-style running play, which is the closest thing American Football has to its Rugby origins today. Professional American Football bears little resemblance to Rugby. It's its own sport entirely.

As a life long Rugby fan (national sport baby) and a passive fan of NFL I've sadly had to bear witness to oh-so-many debates over the two, but never have I seen it so accurately summed up in a single paragraph, well done to you sir. Now if only the Neanderthal cretins that adorn the Rugby forums could read.