The Baseball 'World' Series?

Byrnzie

SatansFuton wrote:

I'm guessing Byrnzie doesn't watch a lot of sports, whatever the country there is a lot of flag waving and chest thumping. Ever watch a hockey game, lots of Canadian flags in the crowd, painted on people's faces, etc.

Ever watch an Italian Serie A game?



That's extreme flag waving.

I think Byrnzie only has a problem with people waving the American flag. I've never seen an American Flag at a baseball game except for the ones hung up at the stadium, though I'm sure there have been some. I don't have a problem with people waving their respective country's flags at games. Paint flags on your face, wave a flag, do whatever. It's about having fun right? It is still a game correct?

So a game of baseball isn't interrupted every 5 or 10 minutes by big screen advertisements, and patriotic singing, e.t.c.?

I watched a game of American football on t.v the other day and it took about 4 hours, though the combined total amount of actual play was probably about 20 minutes. Most of the time was spent looking at Chrysler advertisements.

By the way, I have no more problem with the American flag than I do with any other flag.

Byrnzie

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

Baseball may have a lot of ads, but so does the English Premier League. Every team has a shirt sponsor, and the most prominent item on a player's jersey is the name of the sponsoring company. Some lower division teams have sponsor names on both the front and back of their shirts.

So, when you spend money on a club's replica jersey, you become a walking billboard for the team's sponsor.

Most teams also align themselves with legal bookmakers, so betting on matches is actually encouraged by the teams, and, you can usually place your bet at the grounds.

True.

SatansFuton

Byrnzie wrote:

And why is it called 'football' when it's played with your hands? :think:

Except for kickers right?

The beginnings of American Football was very different from what it has evolved into. The game was originally sort of a mixture of rugby and soccer, and was often compared to European "mob football", which is not at all like European Football as we know it. In fact in the past football was a term that described any ball game played on foot, as opposed to games like polo which is played on a horse. The first use of the term football is a Scottish description of a game that more resembles Rugby or American football than Soccer/Football. Over time the American version of football evolved, the forward pass was introduced, lines of scrimmage, etc.

SatansFuton

Byrnzie wrote:

So a game of baseball isn't interrupted every 5 or 10 minutes by big screen advertisements, and patriotic singing, e.t.c.?

I watched a game of American football on t.v the other day and it took about 4 hours, though the combined total amount of actual play was probably about 20 minutes. Most of the time was spent looking at Chrysler advertisements.

By the way, I have no more problem with the American flag than I do with any other flag.

In a baseball game there is the national anthem at the beginning (as in most every sport everywhere) and sometimes (depending on the team) God Bless America in the 7th inning stretch, but if they don't sing that they sing Take Me Out To The Ball Game, so there's going to be a singing interruption regardless. Commercials only come between teams coming up to bat (not between batters on the same side) and if there is a pitching change while the pitcher comes out and warms up.

pjl44

Byrnzie wrote:

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

How about the Super Bowl? It's not a Bowl, it's a game. A bowl is something you eat soup or cereal out of. :? And many years it is far from super, although the quality has generally improved in the past decade or two.

And why is it called 'football' when it's played with your hands? :think:

Jason P

Drowned Out wrote:

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

Baseball may have a lot of ads, but so does the English Premier League.

You mean the Barclay's Premier League, right?

I don't know what it is with Euro sports, the hockey teams are even worse...they look like bloody nascar drivers or something

ads on your shins? :?

Looks like there is still room for a Fig Newtons ad on his face shield. Someone get Ricky Bobby on the blower.

But, at least with hockey, you have very few commercial breaks during the period. And it's the best sporting event to see in person.

Ads in gridiron football are out of control right now. I can't believe Rex Ryan got fined $75G for cursing a fan off-camera when I have to hear a two-minute ramble on erections lasting longer then four hours 5-6 times during each game. Makes me yearn for the good ol' days of Carrot Top screaming 1-800-CALL-ATT at me.

As for soccer, I can't comment because I don't watch that wussy crap. :twisted:

Johnny Abruzzo

This thread is pretty embarrassing for the ignorant comments both ways. The guy in China who understands nothing about baseball and the people here who understand nothing about soccer (football). I always think that baseball would be the hardest game to explain to a foreigner, but it is a beautiful sport and I believe the greatest in the world. "Always interrupted by singing" - I may put that as my new signature.

Although I have to say that Spain/Netherlands WC Final was a really awful game. I'd take almost any Super Bowl over that. The Italy/France game was pretty nice though.

Oh, Byrnzie, you overestimated the time of action in an American football game - it's about 12 minutes - not 20 minutes. The games usually take about 3-3.25 hours; college games take about 3.5 hours because the clock stops more often and halftime is longer. There is definitely more time spent watching Viagra commercials than watching actual action.

rival.

soccer finally clicked with me when i was in college. the games played in england and italy are AMAZING (not short changing other leagues/countries, but these two are the most televised in the US). soccer truly houses some of the best athletes in the world.

sure, ending a game in a tie sucks. a 1-0 ending could be boring, but the game as a WHOLE is incredible to watch. so much strategy involved, love the size of the field, lots of play making.

i would love to witness one of these gaves live, it would be an absolute blast (did see AC milan play inter milan in boston, which was just OK with a US crowd). within the past year or so, ESPN has started to televise some of the sunday games which is great to finally see in HD. the games look stunning. fox soccer channel not having HD is garbage.

Kat

Football game time is 60 minutes, four 15-minute quarters. The rest of it is all about TV and $ isn't it? I've watched a young family member's freshman league football game and it's great, the purest of the sport, whichever it is. He's done baseball and swimming too. It's the way to get away from all the commercial stuff and still enjoy sports and I was a huge football fan. I've become a budding soccer fan too because of the kids' games. It's a growing sport in the U.S.

Anyway, stay on the topic please...not the other members.

EdsonNascimento

rival. wrote:

soccer finally clicked with me when i was in college. the games played in england and italy are AMAZING (not short changing other leagues/countries, but these two are the most televised in the US). soccer truly houses some of the best athletes in the world.

sure, ending a game in a tie sucks. a 1-0 ending could be boring, but the game as a WHOLE is incredible to watch. so much strategy involved, love the size of the field, lots of play making.

i would love to witness one of these gaves live, it would be an absolute blast (did see AC milan play inter milan in boston, which was just OK with a US crowd). within the past year or so, ESPN has started to televise some of the sunday games which is great to finally see in HD. the games look stunning. fox soccer channel not having HD is garbage.

This is why soccer doesn't "catch on" (really a misconception) with the "normal" US fan:

Soccer is first and foremost a players' game.

Every other American sport is a coach's game.

Even hockey (which is NORTH American, not US) has players off the ice more than they are on it (though, at least the game flows with very little stoppage). Basketball the coaches call out every play - on offense and D. In Baseball - there's freaking hand signals from the dugout to the 3rd base coach or catcher on every pitch. It's all so silly. And we won't even get started on Handegg where every position has its own coach.

Soccer is 90 minutes, very little substitution (especially at top levels) and no time outs. Coach's can yell all they want. They don't get to sit down other than at half time to share their thoughts on how to attack or defend. They don't get to re-set lines or call plays (except maybe set plays, and even then at the highest levels, they never look to the sidelines). Every other sport not only has that it ENCOURAGES it. And most folks like to think of themselves as experts in everything. Soccer doesn't allow for that. Go to any youth soccer game, and you'll see all the fat parents that have clearly never touched a soccer ball yelling at their little Ronaldos when their kids already know more about the game then they do.

Nittany1bn

Byrnzie wrote:

MayDay Malone wrote:

If Americans cared about soccer, then the World Cup would be the Super Bowl.

But we don't.

So we get the World Series, and you can have the (Third) World Cup.

The football World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the World. The fact that many Americans don't care for it makes zero difference to the rest of us.

Still, the U.S team isn't too bad these days. They're better than China (not that that's hard to achieve). But I suppose it will never take off there, for various reasons, one being that in most U.S sports every period of 'play' lasts about 10 seconds - baseball, American football, basketball. Maybe it's an attention span thing.

actually the world cup is very important here, it's just the only important soccer (futbol) tourney most americans care about, because all of our best athletes play other sports.

Byrnzie

pjl44 wrote:

And why is it called 'football' when it's played with your hands? :think:

[/quote]



That makes slightly more sense. Although eggs break, so...

Byrnzie

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

Although I have to say that Spain/Netherlands WC Final was a really awful game. I'd take almost any Super Bowl over that. The Italy/France game was pretty nice though.

I agree with you here. The last World cup was rubbish. Apart from one or two games it was the worst football World Cup, or even tournament, that I've ever seen.

Trust me, it's not always like that.

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

Oh, Byrnzie, you overestimated the time of action in an American football game - it's about 12 minutes - not 20 minutes. The games usually take about 3-3.25 hours; college games take about 3.5 hours because the clock stops more often and halftime is longer. There is definitely more time spent watching Viagra commercials than watching actual action.

I watched the game between the 49'rs and the Ravens. All I can say is thank God for the fast forward button on the remote. And also, what was up with Smith? He got taken down more times than Johhny Knoxville in the Jackass movie.

rival.

I've only been to two professional football games.

both giants games in december that ended with something like a 10-3 score. not only did i freeze my ass off but it was the most boring sporting event i've ever been to. if it was higher scoring, i obviously would have enjoyed it more.

watching baseball live is one of the best things to do. pick a nice summer afternoon or summer night and hang out in the bleachers drinking beer with a bunch of friends. they go hand and hand.

even if your team loses, you still had a great day.