giants v dolphins

[pumbaa]

From what i can gather american football is full of big homo-erotic black men. Then they play british bulldog for most the game, stopping for 5 minute breaks every 30 seconds as they swap the players round for some reason. When you score a touchdown then some sort of over-enthusiastic macho-celebration is necessary, otherwise you get no points.

Is that about it. I tried watching american football once, but i got so bored i actually started watching golf instead.

I think you've got it!

And whats wrong with watching golf???

[Bogus Dave]

Whats right with watching bloody golf more like  

[pumbaa]

Its great for insomnia  

Better than watching paint dry.

You don't have to do any walking.

You don't lose any balls.

Four sound reasons there!

[Bogus Dave]

Better than watching paint dry.

thats highley debatable

[redbullzeye]

It's like rugby union except you are allowed to take out people who don't have the ball.  Once you watch a couple of games the rules aren't that difficult to get your head round.  What gets me is the mind numbing time it takes to get the game over with.  I get really stressed with 90 minutes of football, let alone the 4 hours this game seems to take. And all those time outs WTF is that all about apart from selling more hotdogs?

[reeves4england]

For the people who don't get baseball...it really is quite simple!

You get three chances to hit the ball

If you hit it "out the ground" it's a home run, otherwise you have actually make an effort to get to a base

You're out if you miss the ball 3 times or get caught

Once 3 people are out you "change ends" so to speak

Okay I simplified it a little too much but that's the basic idea!

[pumbaa]

For the people who don't get baseball...it really is quite simple!

You get three chances to hit the ball

If you hit it "out the ground" it's a home run, otherwise you have actually make an effort to get to a base

You're out if you miss the ball 3 times or get caught

Once 3 people are out you "change ends" so to speak

Okay I simplified it a little too much but that's the basic idea!

That's if the ball is in the Strike Zone, which is determine by the referee. A bit like lbw in cricket if you like. Other than that, a damn good summary. Oh, and you can be out if you hit the ball, and the fielder at a base gets there before the batsman (again, like a run-out).

Its the one American sport that I thought I'd never like, but having been to a few games, its really quite an enjoyable experience.

[Simon Pieman]

I used to watch it on channel 5 when I couldn't sleep. Quite a cure for insomnia!

[Chubbs]

I like american sports, NHL, NFL MLB etc. though watching NFL or MLB live can get quite tedious.

[axs]

i can imagine going to some of these games could be quite a fun day out, but watching it on TV? just seems very dull to me.

[neville w]

i can imagine going to some of these games could be quite a fun day out, but watching it on TV? just seems very dull to me.

In my opinion, American football is much better on TV, as you get a shed load of analysis and replays. It's sometimes difficult to follow the ball at a live game (It's a long time since I went to a game so they may have big screen replays now)

Basketball is ok, It's shorter (unlike the players) and you feel closer to the action. It's a bit "I score, you score " though

I've only watched one game of baseball live, and I enjoyed it. You need a working knowledge of the rules to get the most out of any of these games.

[axs]

a few beers and a bit of atmosphere would do for me. understanding the game might make me pay attention.

[Ralphy]

I don't get American Football, whats a first down ?

And why do they shout out numbers?

[Fred Elliot]

and then "HIKE"

WTF ?

[neville w]

I don't get American Football, whats a first down ? - cheerleader initiation ceremony

And why do they shout out numbers?- on field bingo - when your numbers come up the first one to shout "HIKE" wins