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So who is staying up to watch this spectacle of sport!?
Ive got the Budweiser in and pretzels are ready!
I look forward to this every year! It truly is a great thing to watch and the half time show and commercials!
yep. Off for a nap shortly.
I'm in, but after yesterday's mammoth 14hour beer sesh, I doubt I'll be drinking anything stronger than cola.....
So let it be known this is the thread for tonight and tomorrow, THIS IS SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!
Never miss it. Day booked off work tomorrow so all set for a late night. Ravens to win but it will be close.
I'm in. Even bought the Bud. I'm not a fan of spectator sport generally, but American football is a) different enough to catch my attention (rather than the soul-destroyingly tedious media saturation our football gets) and b) it's deeply tactical and I really enjoy watching that.
Back in the 80s when we used to watch it at school (and play it), all my mates picked teams to support fairly arbitrarily and I ended up with Denver. So tonight I shall be maintaining a long-standing tradition of rooting for the AFC team whilst watching the NFC team romp to victory.
I'm a huge NHL fan, and rarely follow NFL, I wish the Stanley cup was played in the uk 🙁
I'm staying up but I've been unable to get the day off tomorrow so its going to be a rough one with work 🙁
Jamie, saw that on 9gaf, my reaction would get me banned if i typed it in
I'm a huge NHL fan, and rarely follow NFL, I wish the Stanley cup was played in the uk
I followed UK ice hockey for a while, a few years ago. I really enjoyed it, until the novelty wore off. I have a Manchester Storm replica shirt and everything.
I'm a huge NHL fan, and rarely follow NFL, I wish the Stanley cup was played in the uk
This however since the NHL Lockout I started watching NFL. I'm definitely going to try to watch it all.
pre game nap after top gear, tomorow booked off with ride planned after a lie in, beer and superbowl snacks ready 🙂
Ray Lewis to walk out and retire a super bowl winner for me.
Go Ravens
As above, would love see the Ravens win and Ray Lewis walk away from the sport a winner again. Can't wait.
I like Kaepernick, he's a properly unstable and untrustworthy QB.
Hope he plays a blinder and the 49ers win a shootout.
Anyone on this thread ever played? My position was either free safety, outside linebacker or occasionally a very small but mobile defensive end.
Anyone on this thread ever played? My position was either free safety, outside linebacker or occasionally a very small but mobile defensive end.
I played what was started as 'chucking a ball about' and evolved into what was essentially two-touch when I was at school. Generally got stuck as Tight End (ie, backup receiver / runner) in the shadow of primadonnas who just [i]had [/i]to be WR. I made a pretty reasonable cornerback though.
I'd also describe rugby as just balls, CFH. 😉
Hmmm. Played for Brighton B-52s juniors as cornerback/free safety/tight end, did one season playing for the seniors at cornerback but a separated sternun and badly broken wrist later the novelty had worn off. I was utterly obsessed with it as a teenager but haven't really watched it in years, prefer watching rugby union these days. Always tempted to watch the Superbowl but the thought of getting up for work puts me off. On paternity leave though so could risk the wrath of the wife this year......who's favourite to win then? Ravens didn't even exist when I were a lad, all this was fields, jumpers for goalposts etc
I'm guessing they are worried about Bane turning up...
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I remember a 70s American film about a sniper at a football game, can't remember what it was called but it was awesome!
Actually forget about a sniper, what was that zeppelin/Goodyear blimp terrorist book called, Black Sunday?
Ravens to win
CaptainFlashheart - Member
MTFU
I played rugby competitively for 9 years. Mainly no. 8 or as a dirty bastard centre that could run and tackle.
Anyone who thinks that American football is somehow less of a mans game because of the helmet and pads is a fool. The helmet and pads are weapons.
Tell you what flashy, go and have a little scrimmage with your local team. If you can still type after tell us how you got on.
That's the thing with American football, on the biggest hits both players have had a run up and are at full chat, then go head to head using the helmets as weapons as yossarian says. The worst ones are when one of them is looking behind him to catch the ball and nearly gets his head removed. I'm sure the biggest bits in AF are worse than in rugby. And no I don't have any scientific proof.
Anyone who thinks that American football is somehow less of a mans game because of the helmet and pads is a fool. The helmet and pads are weapons.
Don't take the bait.
[url= http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/04/health/football-brain-disease ]...but if CFH did want a bit of light-hearted reading.[/url]
Edit: Sorry, forgot the obligatory 😉
😐
I'll be watching it - have watched most Superbowls since the mid 80s and the days of the Fridge!
Won't be having any Bud though - it tastes and looks like p*ss!
Come on you Ravens!
For all the pads naysayers: Before pads and helmets were introduced, people were dying quite regularly in the game:
Direct fatality averages
Number/year Period
18.6 1931-1970
9.5 1971–1990
4.2 1991-2007
Apparently 40,000 concussions are suffered every year high high school players 😯
The modern helmet was introduced in the 50s. Before that they were little more than skullcaps.
I'll probably watch the first half and then the highlights tomorrow eve (8pm)
sorry about the poor music and intro.
The worst ones are when one of them is looking behind him to catch the ball and nearly gets his head removed. I'm sure the biggest bits in AF are worse than in rugby. And no I don't have any scientific proof.
I've hit people much, much harder playing American football. Usually qb's in the pocket looking the other way or receivers under a hanging ball. Mind you I've also been hammered by full backs or TE's heading through the line and dirty sods coming from the side on kick & punt returns. Great game to watch and play. So is rugby. I reckon most people who actually play either sport have a healthy respect for each other, it's only the sycophants who talk shite.
Martin Johnson is a huge American Football fan
Martin Johnson is a huge American Football fan
Indeed. He's about 6'7".
*cough*
Wow I love the snax tables makes my can of pepsi and banoffee pie look a bit tame 😀
Ravens didn't even exist when I were a lad
Yeah they did, they were just called the Cleveland Browns.
after the Colts upped sticks and galloped for Indianapolis
I play, got in to gb youth, but stopped playing gb when I went to uni. Played uni American football, won the cup in my final year. I didn't play last season because I was in Africa, but going to start next season for one of the London teams probably. I played nose tackle
Martin Johnson is a huge American Football fan
Indeed. He's about 6'7".*cough*
I believe this may be your coat sir...
Yeah they did, they were just called the Cleveland Browns
Shows how out of touch I am. So Cleveland doesn't have a team anymore then? Always seemed like one of those places where there was nothing to do except follow football.
I was always a huge LA Rams fan who if memory serves started out in Cleveland
As I understand it,
The Browns moved to Baltimore and renamed. Cleveland created a new team from draft picks to replace them, but there's a period - three years - they'd to wait before they could do that.
Disclaimer: last time I followed it with any sort of attention was mid-90s, so this may be fiction.
Cougar is spot on.
The Cleveland Browns are currently a team, just not the same Cleveland Browns of old. They were reformed in 99.
Doing my best to keep the eyelids open for the game, was watching in America this time last year, much easier to stay awake at 3 in the afternoon with a keg next to you!
Picked the Jags as 'my' team back in the day when I first started following NFL as they were newly formed, looking forward to first pick in the draft next year!
On the subject of the franchise/teams moving though this has always amused me!
Oh, and I'm in for the Niners tonight...
I'm stuck in the us due to a delayed flight so watching in an airport bar. Can you make some suggestions of comments to throw in at the right time so I can appear knowledgeable. A couple more beers and I won't be filtering the comments - could be fun!
"handball!"
Hyundai hot sauce
Oh dear the national anthem is coming up. Where is the vomit smiley.
Walter Payton - now there was a player.
Nice idea, but not the Sidey Sidey dance!
That'll be the "Star Strangled Banner" by Alicia Keys 🙂
Jeez, I've only got a 4 hour delay. They'll barely have started at this rate.
The ref is seriously camp 
I tried to watch this last year and got bored with how slow it is compared to normal footy, but I'll give it another go.
Can someone explain why the winners and finalists seem a lot more varied than other sports. Why is there not a United or Barca of American footy?
I believe it's because of the draft system: Basically the worst teams each season get the first choice of the best young talent from the colleges, which means they have a chance of doing much better in the following seasons.
I tried to watch this last year and got bored with how slow it is compared to normal footy, but I'll give it another go.
That's a bit of a feature of live games. Edited matches are considerably faster.
Can someone explain why the winners and finalists seem a lot more varied than other sports. Why is there not a United or Barca of American footy?
Primarily the draft system. At the end of the season, the worst teams that year get the first pick of new players coming out of college, so the best new players go to the teams that most need them.
Primarily the draft system. At the end of the season, the worst teams that year get the first pick of new players coming out of college, so the best new players go to the teams that most need them.
Guess it keeps the sport fun for the fans, although it must be annoying for coaches with certain styles of play etc. I like the way everyone stands pitchside with these Herculean guys charging around! **** that!
TOUCHDOWN!
Primarily the draft system. At the end of the season, the worst teams that year get the first pick of new players coming out of college, so the best new players go to the teams that most need them.
I wonder if the Americans realise how socialst the national game of the home of capitalism is? 😀
I believe it's because of the draft system: Basically the worst teams each season get the first choice of the best young talent from the colleges, which means they have a chance of doing much better in the following seasons.
That is correct. There is also a salary cap, so each team can only spend a certain (very, very large) amount on players salaries and bonuses. So no team can keep all of the best players that they would like to, unless those players are willing to be paid less than they would be on another team. The NFL really has done a good job of creating "parity" where all of the teams have a reasonable chance of being successful.
You do still get dynasties, such as the Chicago Bears in the nineties, 49ers, Dallas and the Dolphins in the eighties, Indianpolis in the 2000s (some of the decades my be slightly off there) but they don't last that long; usually 3-4 years.
I stand to be corrected by those more knowledgeable on the subject.
I wonder if the Americans realise how socialst the national game of the home of capitalism is?
That very thought has crossed my mind too.
Can I just say, its a bunch of shite that the BBC are not broadcasting this in HD.
Wahooo it's so goddamn... American! Where's my oreos?
Try channel 187 on virgin at least for HD
Few bellies on some of those lads.
I'm on Virgin, it's in HD on BBC HD channel 187. Didn't even know it existed until about 15 minutes ago!
169 on Sky.
Ok. I'm an idiot. Was looking at BBC1 HD.
Apologies, Auntie.
It's too bbc. I don't want british commentators! I want the crazy shouty yank ones. I want all the american adverts every 15mins. I want the full experience! Pass me aerosol cheese!
*wow* what a shot.
I've run out of snacks 🙁
Start on beer?
Start?
I started at 4pm, while watching soccer. 8)
If I had to watch that I'd probably start drinking too.
Hey now!
It's all good in the hood.
Football > Football.
We;ll have to agree to differ.
got some corona(ok it's mexican) Gonna have some blueberry Ice cream with melted nutella on top. Seems the american thing to do.
We;ll have to agree to differ.
Hell no!
Pistols at dawn!
...oh, am I the only one using the 5Live audio?
Edit: Heh. Rumble!
FIGHT!!
Woof!







