European sports in America..

[protege]

I never got into Nascar either. I mean, 500 times in a freaking circle? Are you kidding me? I don't even think those fools could handle making a turn in the opposite direction

Seriously though, give me vintage sports car racing, F1, etc. Something where the cars take some *real* skill (not to mention a set of brass balls!) to handle--the 1930s "silver arrows from Mercedes, the Auto Unions, "Blower" Bentleys, Millers, Bugattis, etc. That's why guys like Sir Stirling Moss are still highly regarded...even though he no longer races, except in "historics" or exhibitions.

That's why I like the Pittsburgh Vintage GP so much. Well, that and it's free But, since I'm a local, I can usually get away with a quick blast through the course (public streets, BTW) the night before the race. All stop signs are removed, and there usually aren't any cops about. Meaning, you can slide around corners...much like the Alfas, MGs, Jags, and other cars will be doing the next morning. Great fun in a 'boring' Toyota

One form of racing I'd probably enjoy, is rallying. However, you don't see that on in the US much. The only events that are covered, usually don't see much newsprint. Too bad, since those guys are insane!

[Cat]

I do enjoy watching baseball (on TV....too expensive to actually go to a game {rip, Yankee Stadium}) esp if I am with friends in bar

Soccer, I played when I was a kid, and I can't get into watching it...though I do have friends who follow it (Big New England supporters....not sure who they like overseas)

Hate football....it is the constant stopping (and the Super Bowl Ads were lame this year) Plus, I just don't bloody get it at all.

NASCAR...ugh! My bf watches, I tried to get into it...sorry....its dull

Poker is not a sport, but can be fun to watch on TV...its more watching the players tried to bluff and use mind games...I have been known to get into it.

My favorite sport to watch..Equestrian....esp show jumping....I used to ride, and when I watch I tend to click at the horse and yell at the rider to change their stride (usually just while watching TV )

[AdminAssistant]

I think of American football as a 'roided up version of chess. It's just too darn slow for me to really care (baseball too....sooooo sloooooow).

I think I could get into soccer, I would probably enjoy it. There's enough action to keep me interested.

[Slytovhand]

You've never competitively played football, have you?

Yes, for many years when I was a youngster.


Oh... you mean American football....

BTW - anyone here seen that Asian version of volleyball - where they can't use the hands??

[Greenday]

Grid-iron... I'm lost... the only 'skill' I see being used is from the dude who throws the ball. At least in soccer, you've got to be very skilled to get anywhere - as well as very fit (ie... it's a 90 minute game - you're usually running for 90 minutes. None of this break every 2 minutes and change your entire team over...).

You've never competitively played football, have you? Name any position and I'll list the skills being used to play that position. Even and including kickers and punters.

Agreed. I think the constant stoppages are...pretty damn annoying. Especially in the final 5 minutes of the game. Why is it that those final 5 minutes are the *longest* part?

Because that's when timeouts become even more vital, thus they are usually saved for that specific time period. If you need to stop the clocked and the ballcarrier didn't get out of bounds, a timeout is your only option.

[Slytovhand]

I've followed the soccer since I was a wee kid, and supported Spurs in the EPL (English Premier League) for not much less. (though, the way they started out this year, I was thinking I'd need to change that worst start to a season since 1912...but, finally, we've started to kick butt... Chelsea )

Cricket bores me a bit too, though I don't mind a bit of the short version... and I don't mind teh 20/20 either (that's 20 overs only per team... basically a slog-fest).

Grid-iron... I'm lost... the only 'skill' I see being used is from the dude who throws the ball. At least in soccer, you've got to be very skilled to get anywhere - as well as very fit (ie... it's a 90 minute game - you're usually running for 90 minutes. None of this break every 2 minutes and change your entire team over...).

Now, I don't support AFL (Aussie Rules), but I'll give it to them... they do have to be fit.. and have some sort of skills... and tough. (for those who don't know what I'm talking about, much larger field than gridiron, NO padding or helmets! The only part of the body you can't hit is the head... while ppl are looking all that, in 4 quarters of 30 mins each...lots of points (depending on the game) lots of biffo. Oh, and you can climb up on the back of your opponent (or team mate for that matter) to catch the ball! Sort of like a more violent version of Rugby - but you score more points for kicking it through the goal (and no touchdowns...).

Oh, there's a new invention for us and the Irish... a combination of Aussie Rules and Gaelic Football... that's even more violent! There's an annual competition between us.


I like hockey (field), but I don't like the ice stuff... at least, not the way I've seen it played in America... it only seems to be about how you can take out your oppenent. Field hockey takes some nice skill...

But, speaking of skill... I think the one sport I adore watching (it could only be a dream or my next lifetime in the right body) is gymnastics! That stuff just amazes me!! Especially rings!

[protege]

Soccer isn't really my thing. I must admit I watched the Aussies in the World Cup (until we got robbed by some appalling refereeing) and enjoyed those matches, but when I don't have my national pride invested I don't get so into it. Any sport in which 22 men can run around for the better part of two hours and NOT SCORE AT ALL is not really my thing. Call me ADHD.

Pittsburgh once had an indoor soccer team (the Spirit). From what I understand it was more popular than the Penguins hockey team--an average of 8,000 to about 6,000 in those days. Sadly, the team went out of business around 1986...and interest in the sport dropped off. Now, we have the Riverhounds. The interest is there, but it seems it has trouble getting promoted. Locally, people are more interested in the Pirates baseball team, the Penguins, and the Steelers (football).

American sports, well... I've tried. NFL seems to be geared toward television advertising, with its constant stoppages. The spend more time stopped than playing, and it's infuriating.

Agreed. I think the constant stoppages are...pretty damn annoying. Especially in the final 5 minutes of the game. Why is it that those final 5 minutes are the *longest* part? It's bad enough that every play has to be analyzed from every possible angle, but to draw it out even further? There's something wrong when it takes half an hour or more to go over a few seconds of play

I tried watching baseball during the Olympics, and Jesus Christ was it dull. I don't understand how a baseball fan could call cricket boring.

You've never watched the Pittsburgh Pirates play then Seriously, our team sucks ass. We haven't seen a World Series since 1979, and haven't made it to the National League championship...since 1992. Most of the problem, is that the team keeps trading their better players for mediocre talent.

[Gibbo]

*dies laughing* Umm ... thanks Raps. Now I'm dead but wait!!! I'm alive again! YAY Me!!!

Anyways, my husband used to play rugby. He actually went to Virginia Tech and was on the team for a year (then he was asked to leave as his grades weren't up to snuff with all his partying - the rugby team there was a huuuuuuge party team). He was a prop for his team. He loved playing it. Now, if he were in better shape, I'd let him join the local adult male rugby team. Maybe if I used that incentive, he might actually start to diet ... hmmm ... just a thought ...

Anyways, I love baseball, for the record. It's the ONLY sport I understand, and the only sport I really only care to understand. (Besides, it's something my Dad & I can enjoy together without having my mom or sister intervene and we're not arguing).

I've always thought that rugby league and rugby union (in England we have two versions of rugby) could become big in the US if given a chance. There will be plenty of football players who either don't get a scholarship or make it in the NFL who would be coulf be persuaded to give them a try.

As for American sports I do like the NFL and NHL, but over here in England American sports, especially american football, aren't taken seriously. Most people here cannot get how a game can last for 3 hours (even though we have cricket, in which a game can last 5 days!) and don't understand the need to have overtime for every tied game. What people over here really don't like though is how teams can move from one city to another.

What's even taken less seriously than traditional American sports is American soccer. The MLS is seen as a retirement home for players looking for one last big pay day.

[IDrinkaRum]

... probably a version of my friends at a nightclub.

Rapscallion

*dies laughing* Umm ... thanks Raps. Now I'm dead but wait!!! I'm alive again! YAY Me!!!

Anyways, my husband used to play rugby. He actually went to Virginia Tech and was on the team for a year (then he was asked to leave as his grades weren't up to snuff with all his partying - the rugby team there was a huuuuuuge party team). He was a prop for his team. He loved playing it. Now, if he were in better shape, I'd let him join the local adult male rugby team. Maybe if I used that incentive, he might actually start to diet ... hmmm ... just a thought ...

Anyways, I love baseball, for the record. It's the ONLY sport I understand, and the only sport I really only care to understand. (Besides, it's something my Dad & I can enjoy together without having my mom or sister intervene and we're not arguing).

[Rapscallion]

Any sport in which 22 men can run around for the better part of two hours and NOT SCORE AT ALL is ...

... probably a version of my friends at a nightclub.

Rapscallion

[DexX]

I like rugby. Rugby is trench warfare in which nobody gets shot or has their toes rot off. It's an amazingly strategic team game, and each try (touchdown equivalent) is usually a full-team effort, coming at the end of a long strategic play.

Cricket is great when I'm in the mood for it, and I must amit I prefer limited overs to test cricket. It is too easy for nothing to happen in test, whereas the limited over matches really forced the batsmen to, you know, DO something. I saw a day-nighter at the MCG a few years back, and it was great fun.

Soccer isn't really my thing. I must admit I watched the Aussies in the World Cup (until we got robbed by some appalling refereeing) and enjoyed those matches, but when I don't have my national pride invested I don't get so into it. Any sport in which 22 men can run around for the better part of two hours and NOT SCORE AT ALL is not really my thing. Call me ADHD.

American sports, well... I've tried. NFL seems to be geared toward television advertising, with its constant stoppages. The spend more time stopped than playing, and it's infuriating. I don't mind basketball, but I won't go out of my to watch it. I tried watching baseball during the Olympics, and Jesus Christ was it dull. I don't understand how a baseball fan could call cricket boring.

[lordlundar]

Also much as I like NASCAR when did that become a "sport"?

Forget NASCAR, when did Poker get classified as a sport so ESPN can air the tournaments.?

And ArenaBoy, look at the bright side. Having an understanding of real football puts you up on the world stage. Those that bash you for it will never see that stage.

(note, I said understanding. You don't have to like it, but you have to have to acknowledge that it is a true world sport. Me? Hate real football, but then, I was always stuck in goal during school.)

[Seshat]

Bah. I done good for someone who hates spectator sport and hasn't watched or played either for over a decade. So there, nyaaah.

[crazylegs]

The safe zone near the wicket is called the crease, and the batsman has to put his foot in it each run.

Just as a semantic issue,

You only need to get your bat (whilst it is on the ground) inside the crease to prevent you from being run out.

[Greenday]

Baseball, pitcher throws the ball. Three strikes, you're out. You can hit a foul, which is when the ball is hit and it doesn't land in the field between 1st and 3rd base. That counts as a strike, unless it's the third strike. Also, four pitches out of the strike zone and a player walks, advancing to first base. Two players on the team that is up to bat can't be on the same base. You can get out by striking out, being tagged out while not on a base, if there's a force on you, you have to get on the base before an opposing player touches the base while holding the ball. Etc. etc.