NationStates Jolt Archive

I've noticed every now and then that Europeans will bash American sports like Baseball and American Football, and that some Americans will capitalize on any opportunity to bash Soccer. Why? The sports you like are a matter of personal taste. You can't say that Tool is inherently better than Britney Spears because objectively they're both just a mess of sounds. You can only say that you like one more than the other. Popularity is no measure of quality because some of the most popular bands are less technically proficient than some obscure underground bands. With both music and sports all you can say for certain is what you prefer and what requires more skill to perform. Anyone who claims that one sport is superior to another is just arguing for argument's sake.

Chairman Mao liked Texas Barbecue. Of course he did. Everyone likes Texas Barbecue.

As far as sports go:
Certain people (often, but not always, Europeans who hold a political grudge against the US) run down gridiron football because the players wear paddins, without knowing that it was in danger of being banned due to the high death rate (and those bashers often turn around and say if "it's so dangerous, it shouldn't be allowed!" I will provide links to those exact sentiments if needed!)

Others complain about certain campions being named the "world champions" when "nobody else plays said sport", but ignore the leagues of said sports within their own countries (baseball, gridiron football, and ice hockey in particular.).

Finally, some denigrate US sports as bastardised forms of sports popular in their own countries, not realising said sports are all equally bastardised.

I do sometimes wonder why Americans (and Canadians, particularlky Canadians, in fact) are unaware that Hockey and Ice Hockey are two different games.

I do sometimes wonder why Americans (and Canadians, particularlky Canadians, in fact) are unaware that Hockey and Ice Hockey are two different games.
:confused:

:confused:
Hockey is played on grass, often by schoolgirls in gymslips. Ice Hockey is played on ice, more commonly by big lads in protective gear.

I do sometimes wonder why Americans (and Canadians, particularlky Canadians, in fact) are unaware that Hockey and Ice Hockey are two different games.

I wonder why mainly Americans, but sometimes also Canadians, call football, a sport played with your foot and a ball, "soccer," but a sport where you carry a thing that isn't even a ball around in your hands "football."

I wonder why mainly Americans, but sometimes also Canadians, call football, a sport played with your foot and a ball, "soccer," but a sport where you carry a thing that isn't even a ball around in your hands "football."
I often wonder that myself, being a football fan. I'm off to find out! Back in a bit!

Hockey is played on grass, often by schoolgirls in gymslips. Ice Hockey is played on ice, more commonly by big lads in protective gear.
Oh, I've always heard that sport called Field Hockey.

I wonder why mainly Americans, but sometimes also Canadians, call football, a sport played with your foot and a ball, "soccer," but a sport where you carry a thing that isn't even a ball around in your hands "football."
Don't they get to kick the ball after somebody's scored a try? (Or whatever they call it in American football.)

I often wonder that myself, being a football fan. I'm off to find out! Back in a bit!

Oh, I kind of have an idea about the answer (please post what you find, though), but I was just using it to show that use of language and nomenclature is not always the most logical of phenomena.

Hockey is played on grass, often by schoolgirls in gymslips. Ice Hockey is played on ice, more commonly by big lads in protective gear.

I was forced to play hockey. I am, entirely coincidentally, very good at dodging projectiles...

Hockey players are either evil or (like me) wussies.

On the subject of Football, it's a matter of taste the thing that gets me is that American Football gets called Football despite the fact you use your hands. Rugby Football is at least not trying to muscle in on a name already taken.

Oh, I've always heard that sport called Field Hockey.
That's probably the correct term and it's gone the way of calling tennis "lawn tennis" over here.

I wonder why mainly Americans, but sometimes also Canadians, call football, a sport played with your foot and a ball, "soccer," but a sport where you carry a thing that isn't even a ball around in your hands "football."

Well, technically, there's also 'Rugby Football', denoting that variant of (soccer-) Association Football that originated in Rugby school. American Football is, as far as I know, a variant that started with elements of both Rugby and Association Football and that originated in, you guessed it, America! In their colleges in the later 19th C., I think :)

Don't they get to kick the ball after somebody's scored a try? (Or whatever they call it in American football.)

Yeah, but that's a minor occurrence, like throwing in the ball when it falls outside of the field in football. Also, that sort of oval shaped thing they use doesn't strike me as a ball, not being round and all. ;)

I wonder why mainly Americans, but sometimes also Canadians, call football, a sport played with your foot and a ball, "soccer," but a sport where you carry a thing that isn't even a ball around in your hands "football."

It's because we saw that pansy-assed game y'all play and said, "Hey, we can make this better." Then we did and kept the name...just to mock you. :D

The only real main American sport is basketball anyway - baseball is almost identical to rounders, which originated in Ireland, and "American" football is almost identical to rugby, from England of course.

Anyway, personally my favourite sport is cricket, then football. I always detested both rounders and rugby as a kid, so doubt the slightly modified versions would appeal to me.

Anyway, personally my favourite sport is cricket, then football.

Cricket!?! Even as a Brit, man... I say that watching coastal erosion is slightly more entertaining than watching cricket! :p

From what I can tell (I may be wrong) the term "football" was used in the nineteenth century to describe all "ball sports" that didn't use a stick of some sort (hockey, lacrosse, cricket)

In America, our football was originally termed "gridiron football" and as it caught on, it was shortened to football, just like most terms are shortened up for ease of use.

And if I am not mistaken, the term "soccer" was first used in Europe, and was used to describe it when it caught on in America, to alleviate confusion, since "football" had already been widely used to describe "gridiron football"

So technically, European football and Gridiron football are both just different forms of football.

"American" football is almost identical to rugby

*Brands 'H' on Laenis' forehead*

HERETIC!!!

I can tell you this much. I'm sick to death of the "which one is more hardass" argument when discussing gridiron football and rugby. THEY ARE BOTH HARDASS! In different ways! If you've ever played either, you'd know that.

Different types of hits, different rules, different equipment. BOTH hurt like hell unless you weigh at least 250 lbs.

And if I am not mistaken, the term "soccer" was first used in Europe, and was used to describe it when it caught on in America, to alleviate confusion, since "football" had already been widely used to describe "gridiron football"

Surely not! I was under the impression that us Europeans objected to the use of the term soccer to describe football because soccer was a term invented by America. Since anything from America is better than anything from anywhere else, we recognise it's superiourity as a word but don't approve out of the typical jealousy of Europeans. Argh! I just wish I could be one of the American master race!

And if I am not mistaken, the term "soccer" was first used in Europe, and was used to describe it when it caught on in America, to alleviate confusion, since "football" had already been widely used to describe "gridiron football"[/QUOTE]

Correct. "Soccer" was in fact coined by an englishman. Asked if he was going to play football, he responded "No, I'm off for a game of Soccer."
This was during early victorian times, where rugby and football were just beginning to become two different sports.

I must admit, I am a fan of most American sports anyway, and that's from a die-hard Birmingham City fan. No jokes about that being the reason I watch american sport. And yes, I had a season ticket for the Birmingham Bulls at the tender age of 4 up until they went bankrupt when I was about 15, as well as going to away games. (We used to do the scoreboard at home games too when they played in Birmingham). Also, the London Monarchs and Scottish Claymores both had teams in the World Football League (Now called NFL Europe). I also watched the Solihull (Now Coventry - and winners of the EHL last season) Blaze play at Solihull Ice Rink and the NEC. My friend and I would often watch the Bullets basketball team, and apparently there was some baseball team but no-one heard of them after a fairly small ad campaign. So I don't think it's right for America to call their teams "World champions" anymore (eg, I hear the Cubans, Puerto Ricans and Japanese are quite good at baseball - a playoff like the world club championship in football?), but originally the sports weren't played elsewhere and the convention has stuck.

Surely not! I was under the impression that us Europeans objected to the use of the term soccer to describe football because soccer was a term invented by America. Since anything from America is better than anything from anywhere else, we recognise it's superiourity as a word but don't approve out of the typical jealousy of Europeans. Argh! I just wish I could be one of the American master race!
Come on over, I'll cook you a big juicy hamburger on the grill, we'll smoke some yummy homegrown, and play video games out on the back deck with a bonfire goin in the back yard and I'll do my best to Americanize you. But if you rip on my beer, it's only American of me to punch you in the face. ;)

I can tell you this much. I'm sick to death of the "which one is more hardass" argument when discussing gridiron football and rugby. THEY ARE BOTH HARDASS! In different ways! If you've ever played either, you'd know that.

Different types of hits, different rules, different equipment. BOTH hurt like hell unless you weigh at least 250 lbs.

Hey, I've played both! I agree with the old saw that rugby is a (heavy) contact sport, while American football is a collision sport; mess up in either one, and you can be crippled or worse. You need the same attitude of controlled aggression for both.

Plus, it depends what position you play - I was a prop/lineman when I was younger and heavier, so to me there wasn't a huge difference between the sports anyway :p

I wonder why mainly Americans, but sometimes also Canadians, call football, a sport played with your foot and a ball, "soccer," but a sport where you carry a thing that isn't even a ball around in your hands "football."

Probably to contradict fascist Europeans such as yourself.

Hockey is played on grass, often by schoolgirls in gymslips. Ice Hockey is played on ice, more commonly by big lads in protective gear.
Yeah, but here we call ice hockey hockey and the other hockey field hockey. I'm aware that there are two sports, we had to play field hockey in gym class and I hated it because we had no protective gear and there were some bitchy girls in my class who just hacked everyone's legs whenever they had the ball. However, since hockey on ice is more popular here than hockey on grass, ice hockey gets abbreviated while field hockey doesn't.

Also, why is hockey being discussed in a thread about american sports versus soccer. Ice hockey is canadian. (unless we're taking american to mean the continents rather than the one country...)

Probably to contradict fascist Europeans such as yourself.

You obviously have no idea what a fascist is if you would call me one. Back to school with you.

It's really just a matter of taste and the result of cultural differences. I've got nothing against soccer, I enjoy playing pickup games with my friends, but I just cannot stand to watch the sport on television. I've also got a tough time with Ice Hockey and Basketball, so I might be hostile to constant movement sports. On the other hand, I'm horrible at baseball, but I enjoy playing it and watching it, espescially when you get down to the end of the game and it's close. The tension, the feeling of expectation, and the excitement and dread at what could happen are amazing. Same goes with (Am.) Football, when the play clock stops, you know that something, anything could happen, and the feeling of waiting on the edge is palpable. It's big fun.

But like I said, it's a taste thing. I was raised by parents who liked Baseball, football and basketball, and I never watched soccer (although I did play it as a youngin).

Also, why is hockey being discussed in a thread about american sports versus soccer. Ice hockey is canadian. (unless we're taking american to mean the continents rather than the one country...)
A good point well made, though I'm told Ice Hockey is big in the 'States as well.

You obviously have no idea what a fascist is if you would call me one. Back to school with you.
Admit the truth Fass, you're a "Fasschizzle!"

The only real main American sport is basketball anyway - baseball is almost identical to rounders, which originated in Ireland, and "American" football is almost identical to rugby, from England of course.

Basketball, more specifically, was invented in Canada, which is part of America. Unless you meant America as in the United States of America, in which case, it is not... yet :)

American sports are so much better!

A good point well made, though I'm told Ice Hockey is big in the 'States as well.
It doesn't compete with football or baseball or even basketball I don't think. Plus given the number of canadian players in teh NHL versus the american players in the NHL... it's Canada's game.

It doesn't compete with football or baseball or even basketball I don't think. Plus given the number of canadian players in teh NHL versus the american players in the NHL... it's Canada's game.
Right, I never knew that. Always thought it was a big deal in the 'States as well. Thanks for setting me straight on that.

Right, I never knew that. Always thought it was a big deal in the 'States as well. Thanks for setting me straight on that.
It depends which states you're talking about. Most of my friends here in NJ are hockey fans.

Admit the truth Fass, you're a "Fasschizzle!"

Nizzle, ma' fizzle. Sizzle.

I can tell you this much. I'm sick to death of the "which one is more hardass" argument when discussing gridiron football and rugby. THEY ARE BOTH HARDASS! In different ways! If you've ever played either, you'd know that.

Different types of hits, different rules, different equipment. BOTH hurt like hell unless you weigh at least 250 lbs.

Yeah right. I weighed 260 and I was in constant pain when I played football.

It depends which states you're talking about. Most of my friends here in NJ are hockey fans.
It would be a bigger deal there than it is in Texas or Arizona, I'd imagine.