NationStates Jolt Archive

I think American Football should be an Olympic Sport. I always wanted to see which player is better American Football players or Rugby players. I just think that maybe adding a popular sport to the line up of the Olympic Games would increase it's raiting.

Why would American football be an Olympic sport, when the US is pretty much the only country to even *have* the sport. What are the Americans going to do, compete against themselves?

I wouldn't mind seeing rugby in the Olympics again (it hasn't been an event since 1924), but rugby and American football are very different from each other. I seriously doubt that American football players would do well in rugby.

You are aware that not only Americans watch the Olympics?

You are aware that not only Americans watch the Olympics?

Yes, but I never met an American who actually watches it beside flipping through the channel.

To the second poster, the NFL does have an European division.

To the second poster, the NFL does have an European division.

Indeed; I looked it up after I posted. Germany has 5 teams and the Netherlands have one. With US and Canada, that's 4 countries world-wide, not nearly enough for an Olympic event.

I am not an american but i love American football. And if i am right rugby is also an olympic sport. So why not football?
Surely the goldmedal is reserved for Team USA in this case, but it will be interesting in my opinion.

The question is : how can it be payed, because footbal is an absolut professional commercial Sport

Is this for the Winter Olympics? Maybe they could play in the snow....it would make it more interesting at least....

I think that some other countries might play American Style football...but its such a weird game, and there are so MANY of them all standing about on the field. I have watched it once or twice with my other half who is Canadian, but I can't make head nor tail of it and it is possibly even more boring to watch than Cricket.....maybe we could have THAT as an Olympic sport...Cricket is played in quite a lot of countries. Maybe Cricket on Ice?... Or downhill Cricket?....Skeleton Cricket?....hmmmm

*wanders of considering further additions to the Olympic menu...Skydiving?....flower arranging?....darts?.....burger flipping?......Eating?

The olympics is poular enough without adding a sport that only one country really cares about.

Plus, no olympic sport should be that stop start...

Bring back rugby! (As long as it is Union not League).

I think American Football should be an Olympic Sport. I always wanted to see which player is better American Football players or Rugby players. I just think that maybe adding a popular sport to the line up of the Olympic Games would increase it's raiting.

OK. as long as the British can have snooker, the Japanese have Sumo and the Australians just about any sport they chose

Indeed; I looked it up after I posted. Germany has 5 teams and the Netherlands have one. With US and Canada, that's 4 countries world-wide, not nearly enough for an Olympic event.

But the sport is growing. All I'm asking is a rough contact sport on the Olympics. That would get me to watch it! SMASH KILL! umm, yea, contact sports.

The olympics is poular enough without adding a sport that only one country really cares about.

Plus, no olympic sport should be that stop start...

Bring back rugby! (As long as it is Union not League).

have you ever heard of NFL Europe ?

Surely the goldmedal is reserved for Team USA in this casedont be so sure, despite the NBA, the last olympic goldmedal in basketball was won by argentina, the us only came in as 2nd loser.

have you ever heard of NFL Europe ?
More people in Europe care about croquet than care about American Football.

have you ever heard of NFL Europe ?


I have...and its like Euro-Disney....

No one buys tickets.

...And if i am right rugby is also an olympic sport...

have you ever heard of NFL Europe ?

Read the thread. (It's not even over one page, yet!) I've already posted that:

- Rugby has not been an Olympic sport since 1924.

- NFL Europe consists of about 6 teams, whereof 5 are in Germany.

I think American Football should be an Olympic Sport. I always wanted to see which player is better American Football players or Rugby players. I just think that maybe adding a popular sport to the line up of the Olympic Games would increase it's raiting.
???? Wtf. How would making American Football an Olympic sport provide a comparison between the two sports. It's stupid. They are good at different things.. It's a completly different game.

have you ever heard of NFL Europe ?

It's hardly NFL 'Europe'. Currently it's pretty much NFL Germany.

I'm just intrested to see how other country would match up to American football players if they were given 4 years to prepare for the first Olympic American Football game. It would be intresting. Oh comon, don't tell me you wouldn't be intrested in seeing USA Vs. Japan in American Football.

More people in Europe care about croquet than care about American Football.
i don´t believe it .... in germany there are 3-4 teams which are playing very good. Surely most of the players are americans , but it doesn´t matter. because in olympic games there are no professionals allowed

It's hardly NFL 'Europe'. Currently it's pretty much NFL Germany.but germany also has its own american football league.
http://www.g-f-l.org/

???? Wtf. How would making American Football an Olympic sport provide a comparison between the two sports. It's stupid. They are good at different things.. It's a completly different game.

Yea, but if it did become an Olympic Sport, you can bet that countries that have Rugby will be recruting the Rugby players for American Football. They are not the same game, but they are similiar.

I'm just intrested to see how other country would match up to American football players if they were given 4 years to prepare for the first Olympic American Football game. It would be intresting. Oh comon, don't tell me you wouldn't be intrested in seeing USA Vs. Japan in American Football.


So that I can watch 350 lbs negroes smash small asian men?

No thanks.

So that I can watch 350 lbs negroes smash small asian men?

No thanks.

You apparently do not have a twisted sense of humor.

Yea, but if it did become an Olympic Sport, you can bet that countries that have Rugby will be recruting the Rugby players for American Football. They are not the same game, but they are similiar.
Theyre totally different. The only thing the same is shape of the ball.

You apparently do not have a twisted sense of humor.


Sure I do...I voted for Nader once!

Sure I do...I voted for Nader once!

LOL, ok so you do. But comon, if the rest of the olympics team were given 4 years to prepare. Don't tell me they wouldn't be able to make a team that would be enough to take on NFL's best American players.

Although I don't see anyone being able to stop Steve Smith.

Yea, but if it did become an Olympic Sport, you can bet that countries that have Rugby will be recruting the Rugby players for American Football. They are not the same game, but they are similiar.
No. I know for a fact New Zealand wouldn't. Why would we bother? We're the best in the World for rugby. Anyway, rugby sevens is a much more likely sport to become an Olympic sport. It's already in the Commonwealth Games.

Theyre totally different. The only thing the same is shape of the ball.

Ahh, intresting, I know nothing about Rugby, but hearing the common Rugby Vs. American Football arguement, I just assumed they were similiar. My bad.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why Germany is about the only country in Europe to have American Football? Is it due to all the american soldiers that are (were?) stationed over there? Cold war and all that.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why Germany is about the only country in Europe to have American Football? Is it due to all the american soldiers that are (were?) stationed over there? Cold war and all that.

There were more NFL Europe teams but they all folded. And as far as I'm aware for the majority of teams that folded it wasn't their own choice.

Ahh, intresting, I know nothing about Rugby, but hearing the common Rugby Vs. American Football arguement, I just assumed they were similiar. My bad.
If you watched some rugby you would understand it's very hard to compare the two sports.

First things first, if this is ever going to fly, we need to change the name.

"Let Pig-Skin be an Olympic Sport!"

There, better.

Yeah, rugby sevens is the most likely of the sports to make the olympics. It's already in the commonwealth games, loads of countries have teams that compete in the international tournaments, and the top 6-7 countries are all competitive with each other.

Yeah, rugby sevens is the most likely of the sports to make the olympics. It's already in the commonwealth games, loads of countries have teams that compete in the international tournaments, and the top 6-7 countries are all competitive with each other.
You don't need much to play rugby, right? Just some shoes, a field, and a ball, am I correct?

You don't need much to play rugby, right? Just some shoes, a field, and a ball, am I correct?

Some posts at each end and lines on the ground would help. Otherwise you're right if you're playing nude rugby.

I am not an american but i love American football. And if i am right rugby is also an olympic sport. So why not football?


Quite simple. Not enough countries play it. Rugby is played by a great many nations (hence the Rugby world cup)

You don't need much to play rugby, right? Just some shoes, a field, and a ball, am I correct?
Yea.. Pretty much I guess. A mouth-guard helps and sprigged boots.

And yea, as Monkey said, some rugby posts/lines on the field.

Some posts at each end and lines on the ground would help. Otherwise you're right if you're playing nude rugby.
I like it nude! ;) *shudders*

That would make more sense though to more Rugby teams than American Football. Football (err...Pig-Skin) is the most training intensive sport. Every player practices, on average 15 hours for every game. In the summer, that's dubble the training time. That's in High School, though, and not College or NFL.

Lots of equipment is needed to play. Lots of time strength training is required. Players are drilled in a pseudo military fasion until we do the plays without thinking. If one looks at the game, the players have an objective, what we usually say "their job" and they must carry it out. If one fails, the whole play falls through. The Coach plays "General". He's not a friendly one.

All in all, I don't see that appealing to a lot of other people than Americans. After all, drilling some big fatso that's two feet taller than you are into the ground ("pancaking") is very enjoyable. Chop-blocking (taking out someone's knees with your entire body in a bull-like fasion) is exhillerating. Running down the field for the ball and literally running through people, and then over them, is something that I can't find words for. But, then again, I'm a line-man, and not some whimpy back-fielder. :p

Chop-blocking (taking out someone's knees with your entire body in a bull-like fasion) is exhillerating.
In rugby, you can kind of do that too. It's called grass cutting. It's when you dive at ones knees or ankles, usually a person bigger than you. It brings them down pretty damn well if executed correctly. However, it's not done quite as crazily as in American Football.

In rugby, you can kind of do that too. It's called grass cutting. It's when you dive at ones knees or ankles, usually a person bigger than you. It brings them down pretty damn well if executed correctly. However, it's not done quite as crazily as in American Football.
"Chop-blocking" is just the West Michigan term for it! I know there's others. We actually "encrypt" our signals and change names so we can't be scouted by other teams every three weeks, on average. :p

In rugby, you can kind of do that too. It's called grass cutting. It's when you dive at ones knees or ankles, usually a person bigger than you. It brings them down pretty damn well if executed correctly. However, it's not done quite as crazily as in American Football.


With the giant shoulder pads gridiron players wear, tackling tecnique is quite a bit different. In both rugby codes the rules state that you have to use your arms when tackling (IE you can't just drop your shoulder into them to knock them over) and in union at least, you also generally want to attempt to take them down in such a way as to be able to get back on your feet and contest the ball. In rugby, you also have to be careful about your head when making a tackle. I've gone head first into someones hip when trying to tackle them from the side, and it wasn't fun.

Yea. Being an openside flanker I'm usually pretty good with my tackling skills and the ability to get in a position where I'm on my feet quickly.

A clarification on NFL Europe:

Only the games are played in Europe. At the end of every NFL season, NFL teams allocated 5 players (I think) from their own rosters to the NFL Europe player pool. The NFL Europe teams then select the players for their rosters from this pool of players. Therefore, it's not really a "European" league.

However, here are a few reasons why American football should be an Olympic sport:

Equestrian (it's the HORSE that does most of the work)
Table tennis?
Synchronized swimming
Archery
Shooting
Yachting (no one's sure if sailors are athletes)
Ballroom dancing (may have been discontinued, but it was a recognized "sport")
Water motorsports (albeit only in 1908)

These are some of the current/former "sports" in the Olympics, and if they're recognized, may as well recognize American football.

Heck, no one's complaining about basketball, and only 3 times has the US failed to get gold (even before we started using NBA players).

Table tennis?
Dude. Table tennis is the shit. I love it. Those Asains, damn.

The Olympic commitee refused to include Rugby 7's to be included which seems to me far more deserving than American Football.

Out of curiosity is there a version of US football played with less guys (like rugby 7's)?

You want to improve the ratings of the Olympics?

Bring back nudity. :)

However, here are a few reasons why American football should be an Olympic sport:

Equestrian (it's the HORSE that does most of the work)
Table tennis?
Synchronized swimming
Archery
Shooting
Yachting (no one's sure if sailors are athletes)
Ballroom dancing (may have been discontinued, but it was a recognized "sport")
Water motorsports (albeit only in 1908)

If you include Amercian Football you might as well include chess, checkers, freestyle frisbee, paintball, laser gaming, dodgeball, circus gymnastics, and online games and pink flying hippo's.


You need inter country competition for a sport to be viable to enter the Olympic Games. If you've got 4 countries in which it is played over the world, this condition is not met.


Yes, I agree sports like synchronized swimming are quite lame, more a form of art then a sport, but at least there's more than 10 countries vying for the gold medal. This is not the case with American Football.:rolleyes: