American Football = Rugby with Padding, Helmets, and Time Outs for the Obese

[dorian gray]

jesus jaykeeley, what's your problem with ol' dorian? I think it's a fair assessment that you started an antagonistic thread and when you got antagonistic repsonses, you don't like it. Or is all this in jest? I can't tell. I does seem like you're being kind of a punk about it.
I guess the issue is that you don't understand why Americans don't (in your perception) care about the World Cup. Why don't YOU propose a reason rather than berating everyone else's ideas? Personally, I don't know. Soccer is fairly boring to us, for some reason, even those of us who played it for almost half their lives. Like Zod said, there's alot of other stuff going on right now. I find the NHL finals to be much more entertaining than a soccer match between two African countries I've never even heard of. Shit, I'd rather catch some of the rigged NBA finals than watch the World Cup.

 

[dorian gray]

Yeah well he was being a cunt. Read his posts.

eh? That's not very nice JaKeeley

 

[dorian gray]

Are you telling me that one of your buddies did a standing military press, for 35 minutes straight, with 230 pounds? And not even 230 pounds on a bar, but a 230 pound person (which is vastly more difficult to lift)? If so, he shattered the world record.

http://www.maxperformance.com/pops/press/press_3.html

Zod

Not to mention his arms, at 6'8" would be about a million feet long and not really conducive to lifting 100 lbs over his head, let alone 230.
Here's to good ol' grossly exagerrated anecdotes

 

[JayKeeley]

I guess the issue is that you don't understand why Americans don't (in your perception) care about the World Cup. Why don't YOU propose a reason rather than berating everyone else's ideas?

I think what you've totally missed is that this thread was spawned from the shit that was being thrown around in the world cup thread. Rather than demolish that thread further, I brought the "tit for tat" over here, haha.

Personally, I don't know. Soccer is fairly boring to us

NOTE: Not everyone in the world (non-American) likes "soccer" or watches the world cup either. Of course, as a game, it comes down to personal taste regardless of your nationality.

It's just that most people recognize it as being the world's biggest sport on a real global level. This is where the results count, where underdogs beat the elite -- not like when America beats some unknown country at hot dog eating and then makes a movie out of it.

 

[JayKeeley]

You're not really going to use this as the crux of your arguement, are you? Because if more equals better:

Brittany Spears "...Baby one more Time" = 28,000,000 copies sold worldwide
Agalloch "The Mantle" = 38 copies sold worldwide (22 of them to RC forum members)

Oh man, we are on totally different pages here. That's not what I'm saying at all. I was referring to the concept of the Americans being on the "outside looking in."

Think of it this way: Imagine a school with 3,000 kids in the playground. Everyone is playing together, except for 4 kids sitting alone in the corner, playing some game that they just made up because they're not good enough to join in with whatever anyone else is playing. Those kids would be on the "outside looking in".

Once again, I don't get why your tone suggests you feel insulted that we doesn't like soccer. I can assure you, there's nothing machiavellian about it. We haven't collectively chosen to be bored by soccer just to thumb our noses at the rest of the world.

No no no....my whole argument here is that the world keeps on turning in the exact way it has for the last sporting century.

What I'm suggesting is that the Americans make an effort to join the rest of the world, not the other way around. Think about that on a political level too and you're halfway there.

Regardless of what's being said in this thread, I'm not sure how anyone can dispute that Americans do indeed isolate themselves on several levels, very much on purpose.

 

[JayKeeley]

all the while the damn commentators can't stop talking about Posh Spice.

I agree with that, but realize that it's ONLY the American commentators. For some reason, ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC have come together to broadcast the entire World Cup live....but using their own commentators. Obviously these are idiots who know nothing about the sport (Dave O'Brian).

Why they don't just invite "soccer" scholars to the commentator's panel is beyond me. That's what everyone else does. Meanwhile, we're stuck with a couple of guys talking about stuff they know nothing about so they remain "off topic".

What I do is turn the sound off and listen to the commentary on the internet.

 

[lizard]

You guys are hilarious and I’m seeing so much wrongness in the 2 ½ pages since I visited yesterday, let me make some things clear, listen and learn:

You Americans need to realize that we are not the center of the universe just because we have the most bombs.

You Europeans need to realize that whether you like it or not, you are being assimilated into American culture, for better or worse. Look at how well most of you speak English. Look at McDonalds. Look at how you have grown competitive playing an American sport, basketball.

And the world is not just playing American basketball; increasingly, the world is playing another American invention/mutation, baseball.

But JayKeeley, if you think steroids are not a part of ALL competitive sports, even your vaunted rugby, think again. Where there is money and prestige, there are guys willing to do whatever it takes to remain in that spotlight.

And America WILL become a soccer power. As soon as Bruce Arena is fired. Soccer is huge in the suburbs and that's where the money is.

 

[JayKeeley]

You guys are hilarious and I’m seeing so much wrongness in the 2 ½ pages since I visited yesterday, let me make some things clear, listen and learn:

Actually, I thought my last 3 posts were pretty much bang on the money.

Look at how you have grown competitive playing an American sport, basketball.

And the world is not just playing American basketball; increasingly, the world is playing another American invention/mutation, baseball.

Wha...wait a minute...lizard, you gimp. I thought you were being serious there for a second.

And America WILL become a soccer power. As soon as Bruce Arena is fired. Soccer is huge in the suburbs and that's where the money is.

Bruce rules. When asked what he'll do differently against Italy on Saturday, he said, "wel,, we're going to try not to lose 3-0 again".

Actually, I also like the fact that he called out Landon Donovon for playing like shit.

 

[General Zod]

Think of it this way: Imagine a school with 3,000 kids in the playground. Everyone is playing together, except for 4 kids sitting alone in the corner, playing some game that they just made up because they're not good enough to join in with whatever anyone else is playing. Those kids would be on the "outside looking in".

OK. Sticking with that analogy, two points:

1. Those 4 kids are playing their game, because they genuinely like their game better. Games are about having fun. Why should they play a game that doesn't interest them? Because it has a wider audience (perhaps I'm still missing the point)?

2. It has nothing to to with "good enough". America's best athletes don't play soccer. I have no doubt, that if soccer was our national pasttime, we'd be one of the dominant forces in the World Cup.

What I'm suggesting is that the Americans make an effort to join the rest of the world, not the other way around. Think about that on a political level too and you're halfway there.

If we're talking sports alone, we have joined. I think everyone agrees America's soccer team has been improving over the years. That said, I'm still curious to understand (because apparently, I still don't), what, in your eyes, this "effort" would consist of?

Regardless of what's being said in this thread, I'm not sure how anyone can dispute that Americans do indeed isolate themselves on several levels, very much on purpose.

Americans or America? In my opinion, America is a little too interested in what goes on around the world. As for Americans, we are poorly informed when it comes to world events. It's a shame how a corrupt political system, a subsequently poor educational system, and news for profit has dubmed down this country.

Zod

 

[General Zod]

And the world is not just playing American basketball; increasingly, the world is playing another American invention/mutation, baseball.

True. Baseball is extremely popular in many South American and Asian countries. The following are member countries of the Internation Baseball Federation:

American Samoa
Argentina
ARG
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
AUS
Austria
AUT
Bahamas
Belarus
Belgium
BEL
Bolivia
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
IVB
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Canada
CAN
Chile
CHI
China
CHN
Colombia
COL
Cook Islands
COK
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
CZE
Denmark
Rep.Dominicana
Ecuador
El Salvador
España
ESP
Estonia
Fiji Islands
Finland
FIN
France
Georgia
Germany
GER
Ghana
Czech Republic
GRE
Great Britain
GBR
Guam
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
HKG
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italia
ITA
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
JPN
Kazakhstan
Kenya
"Korea, D.P.R. "
Korea
KOR
Lesotho
Liberia
Lithuania
LTU
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Myanmar
Namibia
Netherland Antilles
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
NCA
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
PAN
Papua New Guinea
Perú
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Romania
Russia
Samoa
San Marino
Serbia Montenegro
Singapore
Slovakia
SVK
Slovenia
South Africa
RSA
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Chinese Taipei
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad Tobago
Tunisia
TUN
Turkey
Uganda
U.S.A.
USA
U.S. Virgin Islands
ISV
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Sadly, England lacks a baseball team. It's a shame. If only they would make an effort to join the rest of the world.

Zod

 

[Doom]

It's a shame how a corrupt political system, a subsequently poor educational system, and news for profit has dubmed down this country.

lol

 

[Doom]

Sadly, England lacks a baseball team. It's a shame. If only they would make an effort to join the rest of the world.

Zod

Great Britain is on that list. And that just goes to show how pointless that list is! We may be a member of that federation, but I have never met a single person in the UK who plays baseball!

 

[lizard]

but you will

see, soccer is always touted as a game which requires only a field, and a ball. but baseball requires little more. look at how some of the latin players grow up not even owning shoes until they sign their first minor league contract.

as for americans being insular, that is true only to an extent. I know people here in central ohio who feel if it happens outside the state it doesn't matter. but at the same time, the United States is a huge country, with distinct regional differences, and for every european who mocks us for mostly only knowing our own shit, well, unless you're in New England, you have to drive hours just to get to another state. just knowing the brief history of each state involves alot of fucking knowledge.

 

[Crimson Velvet]

You're not really going to use this as the crux of your arguement, are you? Because if more equals better:

Brittany Spears "...Baby one more Time" = 28,000,000 copies sold worldwide
Agalloch "The Mantle" = 38 copies sold worldwide (22 of them to RC forum members)

That analogy could have worked, if it wasn't for the fact that 20,000,000 of said 28,000,000 are the same americans that enjoys your dumb-ass sports.

The following are member countries of the Internation Baseball Federation:

Norway

Really? Strange then, that I, in my thirty years of watching television, have never seen a baseball game... I guess that list isn't really a good pointer to where baseball is actually popular.

 

[lizard]

the point is tho, baseball is growing around the world. it is really immaterial whether anyone finds it interesting, only that there are at least 18 norwegians who like it

 

[JayKeeley]

Great Britain is on that list.

And that just goes to show how pointless that list is! We may be a member of that federation, but I have never met a single person in the UK who plays baseball!

You probably have, but they might have referred to it as "Rounders".

 

[lizard]

rounders - baseball
football - soccer

see, everything comes full circle

 

[General Zod]

lol

LOL. The internet really needs a spell checker.

Zod

 

[General Zod]

Great Britain is on that list.

Wow... this morning is off to a really bad start.:zombie:

Zod

 

[General Zod]

That analogy could have worked, if it wasn't for the fact that 20,000,000 of said 28,000,000 are the same americans that enjoys your dumb-ass sports.

Actually, we only bought half:

Worldwide sales: 28 million, US 14x Platinum RIAA.

Zod