Marshal Murat makes a persuasive case for rugby.

I point out that the best u.s. football moments, whether to watch or play in, are when the prescribed "play" has failed, and the players have to wing it on their own - as in rugby.

A precisely-executed game plan is a thing of wonder to watch; but I admit, it becomes a deployment of logistics. It's when logisitcs and plans have failed, but players nevertheless stretch into finding a way to advance the ball, score a goal, that the game soars into the best part of human sports competition.

Brett Favre (or whoever) scrambling in the backfield, evading tackles and desperately seeking someone to pass to, after "Right-Blue-Twenty-Two!" failed, spotting a receiver 60 yards away, in the snow, who has shaken off his blocker, firing that pigskin side-arm, gunslinger-style - and connecting, is why we like the game, and put up with the lawyer-ref's on the field, and the inane commentary, and the tedious time-outs, and, and, and....