RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid



Message

RealityLicks -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/28/2008 2:44:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent
the style of English football is a reflection of how we see ourselves - committed, loyal, fair - these are the traits we value, so providing these traits are exhibited in the match, we will be entertained. It's well documented that while the continental Europeans prefer to see flair, we prefer commitment.


I agree with this.  I think you could go further than splitting the game into flair vs commitment sides but broadly speaking you've hit the nail on the head.

As for the towns/loyalty thing: we've got five Prem sides in London and more than that number with decent-sized support.  What about appreciating the game as a neutral?

edited



RealityLicks -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/28/2008 2:47:31 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SugarMyChurro

Playing sports I can understand. I have participated in many such activities throughout my entire life. It's a great way to relieve stress, get some exercise and often to enjoy some competitive fun.

But watching almost any sport bores me to tears. I don't understand the desire to watch sports at all.


If you really enjoy a sport, you'll only increase your appreciation by watching professionals play.  Everything I enjoy doing, I'll remain a student of and a fan of the experts til my dying day.


edited to add:  kittinSol, you are no doubt aware that Albert Camus was a keen goalkeeper and watched every game he could get to?



DomKen -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/28/2008 2:59:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

We already have all that without soccer. I proudly watch my beloved Chicago Cubs year in and year out even though it's been a full century since they won the championship. And I get to do it at Wrigley Field which may be the best place in the whole world to spend a few hours with your clothes on.



Football will never in a million years take off in the United States.

In the same way, Gridiron will never make any inroads into our sporting psyche. It's just not us; not who what we are as a people.

The cheerleaders, the stoppages, the helmets etc are simply not what we want to see in a sport. There's a quote from a famous English football manager responding to a journalist which sums it up quite nicely, "if you want to be entertained, go to the fuckin' circus". Similarly, if you want women dancing around like divs, go to a lap dancing bar. In this country, it's a case of just get on the pitch and give it everything you have - no extras are required.

You're having a go at the wrong sport there. I was talking baseball.



LadyQuirk -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/28/2008 3:10:21 PM)

I have to say- I'd rather play than watch. But then, any sport worth watching is a sport worth losing some flesh and blood to. Once you've left some blood sweat tears and snot on a field and taken home some dirt in you in exchange- You're truly ready to watch.
And lets not forget the real entertainment at work. Hooligans and riots! Any game finishing up like that is sport worth attention.

Judging from the caliber women's soccer/ football has gotten to in this country (USA) I'd say the sport took off here some time ago. I played- badly- in high school. A very very long time ago. No strutting in body armour and constant stops and starts, just mix it up. Ice hockey is about the closest team sport I've seen worth the effort. Or rugby.



RealityLicks -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/28/2008 3:29:34 PM)

I totally agree but not simply to make a narrow jingoistic point about winning an individual game.  Football is by quite a long margin the world's most popular sport. You don't need much equipment, or the ability to speak the opposing team's language to play them.  Someone said that the Italians regard football as high art and opera as popular culture and I often think its a type of snobbery which prevents people from seeing that sport, like the arts and sciences is an integral part of any culture and so potentially central to making peaceful accomodations with each other. 



spinninsweetness -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/28/2008 3:29:41 PM)

There's nothing more beautiful than a well-played football game. Sadly few and far between, but still. It's the beautiful game.

Also what's a Brit? I keep seeing this one.... would the US equivelent be an Unite? Eh? I'm English, Brit annoys me.



RealityLicks -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/28/2008 3:36:34 PM)

A rose by another name, eh?  I know what you mean, spinnin,  but it's just a nickname - don't let it bother you, I doubt that's the intent.



LadyEllen -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/29/2008 2:31:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: spinninsweetness

Also what's a Brit? I keep seeing this one.... would the US equivelent be an Unite? Eh? I'm English, Brit annoys me.


Yes - but if we called ourselves Angles, there'd still be people getting bent out of shape by degrees on that account. Especially the more obtuse amongst us.

E



RealityLicks -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/29/2008 3:53:17 AM)

[sm=Groaner.gif]



Irishknight -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/29/2008 5:52:44 AM)

I thought soccer was about getting sloshed in a pub with a bad tv and yelling at how much the players sucked.  Then there is yelling about how much more the other team sucks.
In that respect, it parallels baseball.  To be honest, I can't stand to watch ANY sports on tv.  I can enjoy some in person. PLAYING them is where the fun is.  I have even played soccer in my younger days.  I wasn't very good and didn't understand all the rules but it was fun.  I would fall asleep if you put it on the tv in front of me.... unless I was at a bar.



RealityLicks -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/29/2008 6:20:10 AM)

quote:


I would fall asleep if you put it on the tv in front of me


I understand totally what you mean.  I feel the same way about porn.

On the other hand, if someone told me they were learning to play the saxaphone but fell asleep every time they saw John Coltrane play on TV, I'd think there was something wrong.



meatcleaver -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/29/2008 7:28:30 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RealityLicks

I totally agree but not simply to make a narrow jingoistic point about winning an individual game.  Football is by quite a long margin the world's most popular sport. You don't need much equipment, or the ability to speak the opposing team's language to play them.  Someone said that the Italians regard football as high art and opera as popular culture and I often think its a type of snobbery which prevents people from seeing that sport, like the arts and sciences is an integral part of any culture and so potentially central to making peaceful accomodations with each other. 


Football has a rich social history and played an important part in socialist history. It was one of the few places were the mass working class could gather and discuss politics without interference from the government's agents and it was were trade unions and the Labour Party gathered support. I find it sad that it is now being removed from its roots by big money and people like celebrities or middleclass politicians who support teams because it is the fashionable or it depicts them as one of the people.



seeksfemslave -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/29/2008 8:22:42 AM)

It has been said that soccer in the UK is played fairly. Couldnt agree less.
On average it is played in a vicious sneaky underhand way with lots of acting and petulance thrown in for good measure.

I marketed a soccer shirt, with handles attached,  for strikers to wear.
When a  a defender was tackling he could grab the handles to avoid breaking his nails when gripping the shirt as happens now.
My striker's elbow protecter designed to increase the force of the blow as he elbowed the tackling defender in the face also never caught on.
I still carnt understand why I didn't make my second million.



Irishknight -> RE: Twenty Two Amazing Americans (5/29/2008 10:27:23 AM)

got any of those shirts left? I thought of a good use for them .... or maybe a bad use ....



Page: <<   < prev  1 [2]

Valid CSS!




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy
0.03125