American Sports

[Stumpy Tim]

I can't understand why anyone would like baseball - okay, you get beer & hot dogs brought to your seat, but there's nothing else going on.

I've been to two games - Toronto V Boston, and Chicago V someone else. Both games were appallingly dull and only made bearable by being there with friends.

I compare that to another game I thought was ridiculous - Ozzie Rules. Go to a game of Ozzie Rules & it's sheer entertainment.

 

[coach03]

I think their games are so stop / go as there is virtually instant success or failure. Remember, the Americans don't like a draw, they want to see a winner.
4 downs to go 10 yds or it's the other team's go; 3 outs in baseball and the inning changes; even basketball is more or less a case of you have a go then it's our turn. Ice Hockey is about the most fluid game they have (apart from soccer, obviously)
Having said that, I used to watch the American Football on Ch 4 a lot when they had really good programmes and went to a number of the American Bowl games at Wembley.
I was in USA when the baseball 'World' Series was on last year. The local team was in the series so that made it quite interesting and I must say I was hooked on it night after night ! (Go Marlins !)

 

[Vlad the Impala]

I've been to two games - Toronto V Boston, and Chicago V someone else. Both games were appallingly dull and only made bearable by being there with friends.

Okay, hands up everyone who HASN'T been to two Albion games that they could describe as appallingly dull. I know I have. Used to be true every time we played Swansea for a start. But we wouldn't make a judgement on those two games alone, would we?

What I don't get is why people think sports are dull just because they don't get it. Do you think Americans have an extra gene that makes them like boring things? Could it be you just don't understand it enough? I've been to loads of baseball games and unless a team is winning by more than 6 runs, it is never really boring - if you really appreciate what is happening.

 

[whitelion]

What I don't get is why people think sports are dull just because they don't get it. Do you think Americans have an extra gene that makes them like boring things? Could it be you just don't understand it enough?

I think that is a pretty good reason why some people find things (sports in this case) dull. I trained for a while with Brighton B52's and the rules are awesome (1800 approx). It can be enough to put anyone off. I guess you could ask an average American what he thinks of cricket, rugby etc. and you would get the same answer.

 

[Gwylan]

I love watching baseball. Channel 4 used to show the World Series but stopped showing it (they do like their little fads, don't they?). When I was in the US last year, I watched the climax to the World Series last year when the Yankees were soundly beaten by the Marlins: I was hooked to the TV. Nothing will ever replace cricket but baseball is a good substitute.

The original question though asks why do the Americans watch their own sports. I know that the sports have grown in popularity since the onset of TV but gridiron was popular well before the age of television. In a couple of Damon Runyon short stories, the lead characters are ticket touts, flogging tickets to big football matches. Those were written in the 20s/30s and games were already hard to get into, so it's not just about TV. Is it because the game's an American invention (the only home-grown sport, I believe) and they like supporting a 'national' game?

I think that, sooner or later, they'll get into football (real football I mean). It's just too big a game to keep out for too long. God knows how the game will change when the Americans get hold of it. Not for the better, I'm sure.

 

[whitelion]

Is it because the game's an American invention (the only home-grown sport, I believe) and they like supporting a 'national' game?

US football evolved from rugby.

http://wiwi.essortment.com/americanfootbal_rwff.htm

 

[ditchy]

I lived in the US as a youngster and really go into watching baseball, football and hockey and I have been back a number of times over they years. I watched a lot of games live in great atmospheric and quirky stadiums like Wrigley Field in Chicago, surrounded by quirky individuals who would not look out of place in the South Stand bleachers. I think that under all that razamatazz (aka juvenile crap), endless statistical analysis and too frequent stoppages there are some really good sports trying to get out. Fact is most people use the stoppages as an opportunity for a slash.

However, the only thing that I would wish to take to Falmer is the vendors that bring the ice cold beer and hot dogs to your seat.

on a cold wet sat feb afternoon !!

 

[chips and gravy]

A foreign language that few Brits bother to learn (nothing new there then!).

Baseball is a fantastic game that only needs to be learned to be enjoyed-in much the same way Americans need to learn the subtleties of Soccer.

Baseball is an absolutely fantastic day/afternoon/evening out. Never any trouble, warm summer evenings, great hotdogs, beer bought to your seat and all as part of three hours entertainment (sometimes less, sometimes more, depending on what's happened/happening during the game) for less than or around 10 bucks in the cheap seats...where's the problem in that? Especially when it's CDN dollars which makes it less than a fiver! Add to that the fact that baseball is a superb game which is no more stop/start than cricket is and you have one damn good value sport affordable to just about everyone. Unlike football in this country which is becoming increasingly more difficult for those less well off to attend.

I absolutely concur with the points you make about going to matches live. I regularly enjoy trips to see the Mariners when I'm over to see my in-laws. However, watching it on television is awful - there are so many ad breaks

 

[Porky]

TV commercials are the reason for a hockey game, which consists of three twenty minute periods, takes three hours of TV time to complete.
I also agree with the complaint that they collect useless stats, altho I do notice that this matter seems to be creeping into the "Beautiful Game"

 

[SK1NT]

all shit to be honest! basket ball i could maybe bring myself to watch!

 

[Gwylan]

US football evolved from rugby.

http://wiwi.essortment.com/americanfootbal_rwff.htm

Yeah, but 'evolved' is the word. It's still an American game.

 

[tainan]

Ice hockey's the only one I can be bothered with. Tried watching the others but they bore me rigid - whether its due to ignorance or not, I don't really care.

 

[Bozza]

Being a Worthing lad, I've long been a fan of basketball as well as playing it. Having te Bears about when I was growing up was a big influence. I still believe Michael Jordan to be one of the greatest athletes of all time. I still watch basketball on TV if I notice it's on, but don't go out of my way to do so. Seen a few NBA games in the States and thoroughly enjoyed them. Despite all the stoppages, the entertainment inside the arena itself is non-stop. And there's beer too, of course. And proper cheerleaders...

Similarly I got into football (ie their football) from the channel 4 coverage when I was a lad. In addition, you could pick up AFRTS (Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) on AM which broadcast games to US troops across the globe. Many a Sunday night was spent tucked up in bed listening to some crackly commentary from some distant part of the US. Went to see a few American Bowls at Wembley - a pre-season game featuring two NFL teams and saw the London Monarchs a few times too. Again - beer, cheerleaders - wonderful stuff.

Of all their sports, it is probably baseball I enjoy most now however, despite never having made it to a live game. I've had several opportunities to see the Expos when working in Montreal but decided to give it a miss. Montreal is a hockey town and they have no time for baseball - games are played in front of very, very sparse crowds. It didn't strike me as the ideal place to see my first Major League game. When in the US for work recently, I was more than happy to spend the evening glued to the baseball on TV - there was a series featuring the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox (think Albion v Palace) and it was riveting stuff.

Things I don't like about US sports:

1. The whole franchise thing - pick a team up and move it elsewhere. The Montreal baseball team looks destined for Washington soon. Although after Wimbledon, it seems a case of pot, kettle, black for us to criticise now.

2. Player -> fan appreciation. From what I've seen at NBA games there is none at all. The players earn vast sums of money and tickets are not cheap. However, at the end of the game, they just trudge off, showing nothing to their paying pubic who worship them. Other sports may be different however.

 

[REDLAND]

The Americans invented what is today know as mountain biking, for that I love them dearly

 

[B.M.F]

I used to play for the B52 Juniors and when you play the game you will understand how hard American Football really is. I know people say it is for Poofs with all the padding but my argument to this would be that 15 people died in the 1st season and thus helmets etc were brought in. Also those so called protective pads are used as weapons during games and you practice hitting people where they have less padding. believe me when I say a shoulder pad rammed into the back of your thigh feckin hurts.

You can tell by me Avatar that I am a fan of Ice Hockey and is the only So Called American sport ( although the Canadian teams are the best ) I really watch nowadays. American footy is good but I can not stand Basketball or Baseball. I just can not get into either of them

 

[perth seagull]

I compare that to another game I thought was ridiculous - Ozzie Rules. Go to a game of Ozzie Rules & it's sheer entertainment.

I've been to a few Aussie Rules games (Fremantle Dockers) and I thought that it was dead boring! I got offered tickets to see a game between Fremantle and Collingwood next week but turned it down because I've already had enough of it!

The atmosphere at AFL games is extremely quiet compared to a football match (eg. 40,000 people at Subiaco Oval make less noise than 10,000 at a Perth Glory match) and while the sport does have its moments, it just drags on and on forever. 100 minutes plus breaks after each quarter and half time?! I can't handle sitting there for that long!

You should consider yourself lucky that you don't live in an AFL state!

 

[Vlad the Impala]

I enjoy Aussie Rules but the only game I've been to wasn't much fun. They played at the Oval about 12-15 years ago and both teams seemed to be wearing the same colours. It was hard work to tell one team's players from the others unless they were close up. If one team had worn a nice canary yellow, the enjoyment would have gone up x10.