Superbowl

[Snooze]

Very much an idiot!

....and very much an ex- these days, unfortunately.

 

....but I still wouldn't have said that to them when they lined up if it wasn't for you being inbetween most of the big, scary ones and me, mate!

 

If anyone out there is ever tempted to even try the game - especially before criticising it out of hand - try going along to a local team during the pre-season training and giving it a go - most teams will be happy to have new guys try out, and it's a great game once you get the basics sorted (at least, that's what they tell me ).

[Supragal]

Very much an idiot!

....and very much an ex- these days, unfortunately.

 

....but I still wouldn't have said that to them when they lined up if it wasn't for you being inbetween most of the big, scary ones and me, mate!

 

If anyone out there is ever tempted to even try the game - especially before criticising it out of hand - try going along to a local team during the pre-season training and giving it a go - most teams will be happy to have new guys try out, and it's a great game once you get the basics sorted (at least, that's what they tell me ).

 

And where might one go to spectate such an event?

[Thorin]

Real men play Tiddlywinks.

[Snooze]

I would compare the NFL to Rugby in terms of toughness if they didn't have breathers every 15 seconds!

 

For the "breathers" bit, it's a bit of an odd comparison, because although each play in american football only lasts 10s or so (at most), everybody on the field is giving 100% (full speed sprinting, etc.) for those 10s. Then we all need a few seconds breather - it certainly never felt like quite long enough to me!

 

In comparison, whilst there is watchable action ALL the time in other sports like rugby, most players aren't playing flat out for periods much longer than 10s either, between which they're just jogging back into position, getting up from a collapsed maul, etc. - the only difference is that you don't notice them "taking a breather", because the action is somewhere else on the pitch.

 

That said, in my experience, because of the rolling substitutions in american football, there isn't the same need for overall fitness, and players focus instead on speed and strength. As such, I would say the average rugby player is slightly fitter, whereas the average american football player is slightly faster and/or stronger (apart from myself, who actually seemed to be less fit, slower and weaker than everyone in both sports! ).

 

The 10-seconds-of-everybody-at-100%-then-resting aspect of american football can also make it a poorer spectator experience in my opinion - from a spectators point of view, you really have to be watching it for the between-plays tactical aspects, or it feels very disjoint compared to a flowing game of rugby (union).

 

Essay over

[Snooze]

And where might one go to spectate such an event?

 

Nearest teams would probably be:

 

Farnham Knights - Scooter and my old team - premier league team which reached the national semis last year.

 

Southern Sundevils - strong division one team based in Portsmouth. Good coaching squad led them to second place in the 1st Div Southern Conference last season.

[Scooter]

Andover Thrashers play at Winchester Rugby club..........

 

 

.........Div 2 team.

[Supragal]

Anyone going to offer to come and watch with me? Come on....

[Snooze]

From a independent spectator's point of view, I'd probably recommend watching the Knights anyway - if they're still playing at Aldershot, there's at least a covered stand (so there's somewhere to sit out of the rain), which is rare for UK amateur teams.

 

I am always happy to go along to a few Knights games. It's been a while, but there's one or two familiar faces still there.

The British league does play over the Summer, though, Rosie - so we'll have to wait until the next season kicks off (March/April?). If I don't remember, remind me again nearer the time, and we'll sort something out....

[Supragal]

Damn, I'm quite impatient, but yay excellent