Best Sport?

[dacdac]

In the US of A, football is without a doubt the most famous and watched sport. With the two teams battling it out, it comes down to endurance, strength, speed, and skill. It is not a sport that just anyone can pick up and play. It takes practice, every postition does. Every postition matters and only the best at each position become household names.
Then there are the stellar spots. The quaterback, leader of the offense, image of the team, calls the play, reads the defense, makes quick bullet passes to his receivers (or in Rex Grossman's case, the cornerbacks and safties.)The running back, plowing through a giant herd of men trying to bring him done, when he all of a sudden breaks through and sprints down the field in an electrifying run down field. Everone feels it when the ball is dropped by the wide receivers, the targets, the make it or break it players. Catch the ball and the game is yours. 2 yards off your route and the game is over. Perfection is needed at every postition for victory to be achieved.

But, my question is, is football the greatest sport? The role models, heroes, idols, stars, and experiences that have come from this great sport influence our daily lives all across the country. We talk about them, read about them, take pictures, get autographs, worship them.
So then why is it that almost every other country hates or doesn't like football? I am not stereotyping, i think sports like rugby are great too, but why is football not as widespread as soccer (futbol)?

I have heard people say it is too violent, yet bull fighting in Spain is seen as the greatest of things as the matador stabs the bull in the neck over and over before finally thrusting his sword into its spinal cord, spewing blood everwhere. That is less violent than football. People get tackled and hit, but not gored like in bull fighting, bones broken intentionally like in rugby, so what is the deal.
Why dont other countries apprectiate or play football?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Why dont other countries apprectiate or play football?

We have our own football. It is not named The Beautiful Game for nothing.

[Zalmoxis]

Yeah, European football is just more fun, to play and watch. I don't understand why Americans choose to call your game "football" when you mostly play with your hands.

[Samurai Waki]

I really don't care for either.

Rugby is where the action is at.

[AntiochusIII]

You people and your lack of appreciation for Curling!

[pevergreen]

Gah!

Name them properly

Soccer, Union, League, Grid Iron.

Which one?

[ajaxfetish]

Full Contact Chess. No contest.

Ajax

[sapi]

To answer the op:

beacuse gridiron is a very, very stupid sport.

It might just be me, but i don't think that sweaty men grappling each other should be the aim of a game. It really shows off the american obession with violence imo.

My ratings:
league > rugby > soccer (aus refuse to say football) > anything > gridiron

[pevergreen]

footy is AFL in aus.

[Lorenzo_H]

Basketball is the worlds most watched sport. I reckon its pretty good.

American Football is just plain the crappiest sport ever, second maybe to curling and polo.

Rugby is good, probably my favorite sport to play, though I mostly do Basketball.

Field Hockey is also great.

Soccer is the worlds most popular sport by far. Its the fastest growing sport in the US as well.

[English assassin]

Is this to watch?

I find cricket makes the fewest demands on the spectators.

Globally, I can't see anything touching football. (eg soccer for the heathens). if I refer to The World Cup we all know what I mean, and its not badminton.

A good rugby (union) international is probably the most exciting game to watch IMHO, although I suspect league has the edge as a game.

And who can forget the glory that is the Two Man Luge? (What IS it with luge? Why on earth would anyone choose luge over bobsleigh? )

[Kongamato]

I think people like the sports they grew up watching. They are a part of the culture of the area.

[InsaneApache]

The modern game was codified in England following the formation of the Football Association, whose 1863 Laws of the Game created the foundations for the way the sport is played today.

This is the true football. Coming to a stadium near you. News at eleven.

[Geoffrey S]

Personally my favourite sport to watch and to listen to is cricket. Matches are real happenings with in general very friendly crowds, and it's entertaining to watch due to the pleasant pace. Favourite sport to participate in is rowing, and in particular in a four.

But, my question is, is football the greatest sport? The role models, heroes, idols, stars, and experiences that have come from this great sport influence our daily lives all across the country. We talk about them, read about them, take pictures, get autographs, worship them. [/B]

In principle, all the above applies for soccer in Europe. Or should do, less so in recent years.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

I don't like sport - it's just too sporty. Even worse it drains your valuable energy so you can't think about important things such as being lazy, sleeping or resting

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Basketball is the worlds most watched sport.

Where on earth did you get this from? It's clearly association football.

Anyhow, the idea that any sport which is only played in one country could be the best is pretty ridiculous, as it precludes any form of international competition. Association football gets my vote. There is no other sport as graceful and pretty when played well. I believe some Russian chap said 'Football is the ballet of the masses', and I think that sums it up perfectly.

[scotchedpommes]

So then why is it that almost every other country hates or doesn't like football? I am not stereotyping, i think sports like rugby are great too, but why is football not as widespread as soccer (futbol)?

Football and the rugby codes have been established for longer here than the
American game, as has been mentioned. They are sports that are ingrained in
society here. In the case of football I would say its worldwide popularity was
helped by its simplicity, but that's debatable, isn't it? From personal opinion, I
will say that I don't hate American football, and I have been known to watch it,
mainly due to my brother having played it and consequently still following it
himself. But I can say, with outright certainty, that I will never feel the same
about the American game as I do about ours - whether I'm watching my local
team get mauled by the scum, or our country beat the best team in the world,
I know I can never have the same experiences watching the Superbowl.

[Lorenzo_H]

Where on earth did you get this from? It's clearly association football.

Anyhow, the idea that any sport which is only played in one country could be the best is pretty ridiculous, as it precludes any form of national competition. Association football gets my vote. There is no other sport as graceful and pretty when played well. I believe some Russian chap said 'Football is the ballet of the masses', and I think that sums it up perfectly.

Sorry mate but that is incorrect. I can't remember where I read it, but Basketball somehow is watched more than Soccer. Soccer is the more popular, but Basketball is watched more.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Well I agree with the opening post that American rugby has its moments. I just don't like the four minutes of commercials in between those nine seconds of them.

Association football is where it's at. Rugby union is fine too. I don't really care for individual sports.

[scotchedpommes]

I can't remember where I read it, but Basketball somehow is watched more than Soccer. Soccer is the more popular, but Basketball is watched more.

Are we basing this on Chinese viewing figures, then? I would guess the balance
is gradually shifting towards football even if that were the case.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Sorry mate but that is incorrect. I can't remember where I read it, but Basketball somehow is watched more than Soccer. Soccer is the more popular, but Basketball is watched more.

Billions of people watch the World Cup. Basketball doesn't even come close to that.

Until you produce some figures, I'm going to assume you are mistaken.

[Pannonian]

Are we basing this on Chinese viewing figures, then? I would guess the balance
is gradually shifting towards football even if that were the case.

Apart from football, I'd imagine cricket would be right up there in viewing figures, being by far the most popular sport in India.

[Marius Dynamite]

So then why is it that almost every other country hates or doesn't like football? I am not stereotyping, i think sports like rugby are great too, but why is football not as widespread as soccer (futbol)?

Many who live in sunny, hot countries - Brazil, Spain, Italy - prefer to get out and play, especially children. It's far easier for small kids at 9 or 10 to get a spherical ball and kick it about in their back garden or against a wall with other little friends using your shirt as goalposts. These children keep playing and grow up loving the sport. The better ones join youth teams and make their way into the top football/soccer clubs in their country. Other just keep playing in a local sports centre or grassy area with friends to keep fit. The soccer clubs are always looking for youth talent (ages 14+, sometimes younger) to be the next big thing for their team.

Consider American football if you live in a hot country. A little kid has to get out and run around. Is he going to mark out ten yards? Get 4 friends to referee the game? How far can he throw anyway? Could his little friend even catch the ball? Lets not go into the tackling side. Although you can get Tag football I guess. Basically Soccer is far simpler. That's partly the reason why Rugby is not as big as soccer. I love watching and playing Rugby once in a while though. Always a buzz.

But, my question is, is football the greatest sport? The role models, heroes, idols, stars, and experiences that have come from this great sport influence our daily lives all across the country. We talk about them, read about them, take pictures, get autographs, worship them.

It's EXACTLY the same thing I could say for soccer over here. Word for Word like you'll never believe :) .

Football is a little to stoppy starty aswell IMO. MyFootball/Soccer is free flowing and Beautiful. Hence the Beautiful game. When it does stop, it can produce the kind of awesome plays you talk about in American Football, and I leave you with this beautiful example...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLwV...elated&search=

(Skip to about 30 Secs and watch)

P.S. Kinda Ironic, that looks like A.Football scores on the bottom of the screen... This game must have been showing in America, all the way from my own city

[dacdac]

I dont know anyone in my entire school except for one exchange student that even watched a glimpse of the World Cup, while i didnt know one single kid, including the exchange student, who didnt watch the Superbowl. IMO, the whole more violent thing is a bunch of crap, rugby has way more violence in a match than football (gridiron, with the "pigskin").

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrM7HyptOKk

Now, do you see beauty and elegance such as that in American Football?

[scotchedpommes]

Marius, you should be commended on your choice of clip. Although
I do prefer it with the more enthusiastic, local commentary. [Or the
Japanese.] That was a sweet moment, yes. The degree to which I
went mental was... only surpassed by the dying minutes penalty save.

Such dramatic twists only further serve to make the sport great.

[GeneralHankerchief]

It looks like it's up to me to defend American football.

First of all, we don't give two hoots about beauty or elegance. We tune in to see power, awesomeness, and guts. Many of us look at American football as war. And our favorite team must win, or die. There's also something special about 250-pound men with at least 15 pounds of equipment on them running at ridiculous speeds.

We celebrate toughness and determination in athletes, and American football is home to people that demonstrate that. These people play hurt in almost every game of the season. Compare that to Euro football where people purposely take a dive just so they can fool the referee and take the defense out of the equation.

Here in America, we call that "acting."

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Compare that to Euro football where people purposely take a dive just so they can fool the referee and take the defense out of the equation.

That really gets much more attention then it deserves. Granted, it is a problem in some leagues, but I believe it is unfortunate one of the main arguements against football is one which is exaggerated far too much.



You say you compare football to war? That your favourite team must win or die?


Here it is life. You live with your club, you support them with all your heart. It is war. But also beauty, art, grace, and most of all, passion. I have been to various sporting venues to watch various sporting matches. I believe that that football is the most passionate sport I have ever watched. The players, the fans, the emotion. I have never watched an American Football match where I have seen the fans support their club with such emotion as they do in football. Real football.

[Pannonian]

It looks like it's up to me to defend American football.

First of all, we don't give two hoots about beauty or elegance. We tune in to see power, awesomeness, and guts. Many of us look at American football as war. And our favorite team must win, or die. There's also something special about 250-pound men with at least 15 pounds of equipment on them running at ridiculous speeds.

We celebrate toughness and determination in athletes, and American football is home to people that demonstrate that. These people play hurt in almost every game of the season.

So why don't you discard the protective gear and play proper rugby instead?

[GeneralHankerchief]

Here's why.