What's so Manly about American Football?

Sundae · 10-28-2009, 05:28 PM

Soz to reignite this, but hey - it's fun cultural discussion after all (Flint hasn't turned up yet).

Rugby comes top in manly field games. We don't count blood sports like cage fighting and extreme wrestling and all. I'm not a fan of either Rugby (sorry Merc) because it was a posh boys game and I never learned the rules. It was taught at my secondary school (12-18) but my male friends and my bro hated it with a passion - although they were not unsporting types.

Australian Rules second. I know even less about it, hence its second place - but what I know is vicious. In fact I'd put it in third place just out of spite, because of the Antipodean men I've heard say, "Rugby? That's a gay sport! You wanna watch..." etc etc etc. But I'm not that shallow.

Football third. It can be the roughest, toughest game in the world. No, really - it is the beautiful game and you would get it if you watched our local team on Boxing Day. Always a local derby, often on hard/ frozen ground. Personal insults shouted. Both teams castigated and wildly applauded in turn. Passion that could run a small town if it was tapped, usually for a result that doesn't affect either team. And supporters, like me, my bro, my SIL, stamping our feet in the winter chill, sun already setting, for a 0-1 match. And players launching themsleves into grazes and sliding into bruises and being whooped at for wearing leggings under their shorts.

I adore it.

Merkin Football fourth. Too much stop & start for me. Four seconds of play then stop. No better than cricket.

I think here are some things you have to be born into to appreciate. Some people cross over of course. My bro just spent a fair few pounds to see an American Football game in London. And he loves (real) football - aka soccer. And after all many Americans love Monty Python. But I bet you'd be diffident about Benidorm for example

So I'm being diplomatic.
But yeah, what is manly about American Football?

10-28-2009, 05:28 PM	#37
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Soz to reignite this, but hey - it's fun cultural discussion after all (Flint hasn't turned up yet). Rugby comes top in manly field games. We don't count blood sports like cage fighting and extreme wrestling and all. I'm not a fan of either Rugby (sorry Merc) because it was a posh boys game and I never learned the rules. It was taught at my secondary school (12-18) but my male friends and my bro hated it with a passion - although they were not unsporting types. Australian Rules second. I know even less about it, hence its second place - but what I know is vicious. In fact I'd put it in third place just out of spite, because of the Antipodean men I've heard say, "Rugby? That's a gay sport! You wanna watch..." etc etc etc. But I'm not that shallow. Football third. It can be the roughest, toughest game in the world. No, really - it is the beautiful game and you would get it if you watched our local team on Boxing Day. Always a local derby, often on hard/ frozen ground. Personal insults shouted. Both teams castigated and wildly applauded in turn. Passion that could run a small town if it was tapped, usually for a result that doesn't affect either team. And supporters, like me, my bro, my SIL, stamping our feet in the winter chill, sun already setting, for a 0-1 match. And players launching themsleves into grazes and sliding into bruises and being whooped at for wearing leggings under their shorts. I adore it. Merkin Football fourth. Too much stop & start for me. Four seconds of play then stop. No better than cricket. I think here are some things you have to be born into to appreciate. Some people cross over of course. My bro just spent a fair few pounds to see an American Football game in London. And he loves (real) football - aka soccer. And after all many Americans love Monty Python. But I bet you'd be diffident about Benidorm for example So I'm being diplomatic. But yeah, what is manly about American Football? __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac Last edited by Sundae; 10-28-2009 at 05:34 PM.

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