Jets v Bengals

[4D]

How many of you follow a baseball/ice hockey/softball/ozzie rules/basketball/netball team too? 

[betty_swollox]

Go Broncos!

I'm also a Broncos follower. It's going to be a disappointing season (again!) I fear though. At least I get to watch them live for the first time ever and hopefull Tim Tebow will see a bit of play this season which will show enough promise to lead the team in future. Hopefully get over there next season for a game as well.

Anyone been watching Hard Knocks following the Jets training camp? Let me know if anyone needs the links to all the episodes.
A great show but I can't stop thinking about Rex Ryan's white teeth everytime he's on camera.

Reckon Jets will fail to even make the play offs this year with all the hype around them. Just don't think Sanchez is up to the NFL, he looks like another Leinart to me. Lets face it even last year their wins in the play off were purely down to the defense and a solid running game (and a few missed FG's by the Chargers). Loads on Revis' shoulders now but LT looks like a great addition from the preseason games. Also Donkey Sho

Think the AFC play offs will be Ravens, Dolphins, Colts, Chargers, Texans & Pats

NFC -Packers, Cowboys, Falcons, 49ers, Vikings & Saints.

Looking forward to staying up on Sunday night/Monday morning for the return of NFL on Channel 4.

[pumbaa]

How many of you follow a baseball/ice hockey/softball/ozzie rules/basketball/netball team too? 

Having lived in the US for 3 years (just outside Cincinnati), you kind of get immersed into the sporting culture whether you want to or not. Therefore, by virtue of location, I found myself following both the Bengals and the Reds (Baseball).

The sad part is I never managed to get tickets for a Bengals game in those three years (sold out, and black market tickets were in the order of $150 each for nosebleed seats) and the Reds were utter shit during my time there (have watched them about half a dozen times though), yet now they are leading the NL.....sodding typical.

i did manage to watch a number of High School 'football' games, which brings back a favorite memory - a bunch of 14 year old cheerleaders shrieking "Beavers are best" with great gusto. I felt dirty, but Mexico Red would have been in his element....... 

[tans]

Miami heat is my basketball team in response to 4d question

Lebron James - woo!

[Abrahammer]

Having lived in the US for 3 years (just outside Cincinnati), you kind of get immersed into the sporting culture whether you want to or not.

Spot on.

Went to Georgia State University in Atlanta and then carried on living there for 2 years after I finished.  I think sport is a bigger part of life in the US than it is over here, we essentially have 1 big sport that dominates the culture, media, etc they have 3 possibly 4, plus college sports which are huge in certain areas.

Anyway I follow all the Atlanta teams having watched them all live on various occasions while I was over there. I go back over every couple of years to catch up with friends over there and always try and catch some live sport.

[pumbaa]

Know Atlanta well, having spent those three years (plus 4 previously based back in UK) travelling I-75 between Ohio and ATL on business. Mainly the north west suburbs around Marietta, Cobb, Vinings etc.

I'd argue there are definitely 4 major sports, and some would argue a 5th (football/soccer) is beginning to take a foothold. You mention college sports, and arguably they are bigger than the professional leagues in terms of support. In Ohio, the main institution was Ohio State University, and I think they used to pull in crowds around 80k for their regular season games (compare that to the 65k capacity of Paul Brown Stadium for the Bengals....)

[Abrahammer]

My experience is that Hockey doesnt quite match up to the other 3 in terms of media coverage, its popularity in the south and the west coast is generally way behind the other big three.

Your right in that college sports are a whole different kettle of fish, some attendance numbers are massive as are TV ratings.  I personally found it hard to care about "students" playing sport, even if a lot of them are realistically only students in name.

[donkey]

Lets face it even last year their wins in the play off were purely down to the defense and a solid running game (and a few missed FG's by the Chargers). Loads on Revis' shoulders now but LT looks like a great addition from the preseason games. Also Donkey Sho

The Jets success will be down to the D and running game again, as I said before, we need to keep Sanchez down to a level figure on TD/INTs.

As for Tebow, he's an interesting player...could be a master of the game, or Pat White...should be fun finding out.

Oh, and don't know what you mean at the end...something about Shonn Greene, perhaps?

[betty_swollox]

Yeah just going to say Shonn Green should benefit from have Tomlinson taking most of the 3rd downs, although I reckon he'll play a much bigger role than that. As long as their O line stays healthy their running game should continue where it left off last season.
I said the Jets wont make the play offs but they do have so much going for them this season. When I think about it...Sanchez is the only doubt and I think you make a good point on him. Having said that the Jet's positives far outweight the negatives. Just they've got so much expectations with the signings of Taylor, Holmes and LT. Got a feeling Henne is going to have a great year for the Dolphins and the Patriots could be improved by some good draft signings so the AFC East is tough to call.
Didn't really like the Jets before I watched Hard Knocks this year, which has made me grow to like the team under Ryan.

As for Tebow, I couldn't see where he was going to fit in at Denver and why we traded up to get him. But now I've seen more of him I think it's a great signing. Tebow and Orton couldn't be more different, so I'd like to see us operate a system where we can change between the two ocassionally, while still keeping defenses guessing. Tebow is a different level to Pat White though mate.

[Nomoreheroes]

I'm also a Broncos follower. It's going to be a disappointing season (again!) I fear though. At least I get to watch them live for the first time ever and hopefull Tim Tebow will see a bit of play this season which will show enough promise to lead the team in future. Hopefully get over there next season for a game as well.

Anyone been watching Hard Knocks following the Jets training camp? Let me know if anyone needs the links to all the episodes.
A great show but I can't stop thinking about Rex Ryan's white teeth everytime he's on camera.

Reckon Jets will fail to even make the play offs this year with all the hype around them. Just don't think Sanchez is up to the NFL, he looks like another Leinart to me. Lets face it even last year their wins in the play off were purely down to the defense and a solid running game (and a few missed FG's by the Chargers). Loads on Revis' shoulders now but LT looks like a great addition from the preseason games. Also Donkey Sho

Think the AFC play offs will be Ravens, Dolphins, Colts, Chargers, Texans & Pats

NFC -Packers, Cowboys, Falcons, 49ers, Vikings & Saints.

Looking forward to staying up on Sunday night/Monday morning for the return of NFL on Channel 4.

Wouldn't disagree with that. One up on you though as I used to live in Denver and have watched a couple of games at Invesco Field - Best being a 50 yard line seat to watch the Broncos beat the the Superbowl champ Pats.

[betty_swollox]

Wouldn't disagree with that. One up on you though as I used to live in Denver and have watched a couple of games at Invesco Field - Best being a 50 yard line seat to watch the Broncos beat the the Superbowl champ Pats.

Was that the 2005 season when Denver beat the Pats in the play offs? But then lost to Pitsburgh in the AFC championship game at Mile Hile?
Hopefully get over there in the 2011 season, just have to make do with Wembley this season. Could be the second time in a year I watch my team lose under the Wembley arch. Just hope someone's repaired the divort from Charlie's miss, as I don't want Tebow going over on it.

[Nomoreheroes]

My experience is that Hockey doesnt quite match up to the other 3 in terms of media coverage, its popularity in the south and the west coast is generally way behind the other big three.

Your right in that college sports are a whole different kettle of fish, some attendance numbers are massive as are TV ratings.  I personally found it hard to care about "students" playing sport, even if a lot of them are realistically only students in name.

I'd agree to a degree. When you go to northern North American cities you see that they are passionate about hockey. The sport has only relatively recently expanded to some parts of the West coast and the South. If you think about it, climate has played a significant part in the game. In Canada and Northern USA, hockey is an integral part of the culture.

The Avs are big in Colorado, as the franchise moved from being the Quebec Nordiques just as a poor team came good following several well placed drafts. A Stanley Cup winning team always draws a crowd! I spent a few years in DC in the 90s, so the Caps are my team. Used to go lots, as my mate was the seating manager at their old rink. They were poor back then.

Didn't like NBA much. Got into the Washington Bullets (before they changed to being the Wizards) slightly, but could take it or leave it.

Baseball is brilliant though! Have a nice souvenier Cal Ripken baseball from when he broke the iron man record. Like the Orioles, but recently became a much bigger Rockies fan.

Didn't follow college sports much. Have seen Navy and Air Force play American Football a couple of times.

[Nomoreheroes]

Was that the 2005 season when Denver beat the Pats in the play offs? But then lost to Pitsburgh in the AFC championship game at Mile Hile?
Hopefully get over there in the 2011 season, just have to make do with Wembley this season. Could be the second time in a year I watch my team lose under the Wembley arch. Just hope someone's repaired the divort from Charlie's miss, as I don't want Tebow going over on it.

Yes, it was the regular season victory. Broncos raced into a lead and sat back. Brady lifted the Pats and nearly got them back into the game. Great game and great atmosphere in the tailgate party in the 'Broncos Bus' beforehand too!

[donkey]

As for Tebow, I couldn't see where he was going to fit in at Denver and why we traded up to get him. But now I've seen more of him I think it's a great signing. Tebow and Orton couldn't be more different, so I'd like to see us operate a system where we can change between the two ocassionally, while still keeping defenses guessing. Tebow is a different level to Pat White though mate.

You may well be right, but he's yet to take a snap in the NFL.  I agree that he is, right now, a better prospect than White (and he has a team!).  He is a player with a skill set that intrigues me...any chance of him and Orton lining up together in the back field with the centre snapping to either of them, that would be cool to watch (if a nightmare to play against).