Why do you Americans watch your football?

There are no soccer players who can run a sub 10.20/20.40 long jump over 25 feet, run the 110hh in sub 14.00 or bench press 400 pounds.

Yes, they do have superior cardio but so does a 110 pound Kenyan distance runner.

Have a track meet between MLB/NBA/Soccer/Rugby/NFL..........WINNER NFL.

Probably because they bet on games. The rest because of the players' great bodies.

notfromhere wrote:

11 minutes of actual play over the space of 3 hours 12 minutes...........I am completely mystified by you?

https://qz.com/150577/an-average-nfl-game-more-than-100-commercials-and-just-11-minutes-of-play/

It's a cultural thing.

Americans complain about the lack of scoring in "soccer". But, if you give each goal 7 points instead of 1, well then, a 3-2 soccer game is 21-14.

Football also lets you score when you fail- field goals. They should be eliminated. Talk about participation ribbons.

Oh, I'm sorry you didn't actually score, let's let the smallest guy on the team get 3 points for you.

Bad Wigins wrote:

But the strategic possibilities are vastly greater due to the forward pass and more liberal rules regarding tackling and blocking.

Nah, American Handball (because it is not football!) may be a bit like backgammon, while Football is chess.

WhyRegisterHere? wrote:

Oh Christ, are you a soccer fan then? Ugggh. Phukk off 'mate'. I'll take my football and baseball, along with my American culture, 1,000 times over anything you have to offer. Rest of the world can kiss my ass.s

This guy sums it up well.

It's basically because, although incredibly tedious, watching (American) Football and Baseball are deemed things people should do in order to be accepted as a masculine American male.

It's an insecurity thing. If you're not a huge football fan, guys like this are scared that other manly men will think they're a bit feminine.

They did a poll, and it came out that 57% of guys who got all shouty and aggressive at a football game would rather be at home watching Teen Mom on tv.

Elvin wrote:

I actually kind of like the fact that the action is sporadic because that allows me to put the game on in the background and only pay attention intermittently. I rarely sit down and give a televised sporting event my undivided attention for 3 hours straight, but I frequently put a game on and watch a few minutes at a time while I'm doing other things. Football is perfect for this kind of watching.

That's how I watch football - as background noise why I'm working on something, reading a book, or cleaning the house. If I just sat down and watched the game with nothing else to do for 3 hours, I'd be bored. The last time I attended a game in person, I was bored out of my skull because of all the down time, and so were lots of other people, judging by how much time they spent playing with their phones.

notfromhere wrote:

11 minutes of actual play over the space of 3 hours 12 minutes...........I am completely mystified by you?

https://qz.com/150577/an-average-nfl-game-more-than-100-commercials-and-just-11-minutes-of-play/

Football is a stupid, ridiculous made up GAME, hopefully to be discarded on the ash heap of history within the next three decades. And yes, I am an American.

Because we enjoy it.

George Will did have a get take on football (Will loves baseball): It combines two of the worst aspects of American culture, violence and committee meetings.

People complain about football (my first take is: then don't watch) and then talk so glowingly of soccer: I have watched World Cup games and EPL games and see a lot of time where the ball might be kicked back and forth far from the goal. Is that really any different?

Alas, football has a lot of strategy to it. I really like that aspect of it.

The key is to watch several games by switching from channel to channel...

Bad Wigins wrote:

Football is complex beyond the comprehension of the average Euro soccer-rugby fan.

The rules aren't complex, just watch a few games and it will be obvious. But the strategic possibilities are vastly greater due to the forward pass and more liberal rules regarding tackling and blocking.

I would sort of disagree on the rules not being complex...the head coach at Oregon may have screwed them out of a win by not knowing the rules.

A successful product needs to match the audience's attention span.

Here's Super Bowl 52 in 18 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW1xbhW2PEE

I preferred the 3-4 hour version that built up a lot of drama and emotion.

The huddles are part of the game. The viewer doesn't know what plays are being called but we speculate along with the announcers.

And there are breaks and a halftime.

That allows for a lot of full speed plays to happen that couldn't happen if they played non-stop.

We are one tough nation. Even our cheer leaders get crushed by football players and they spring up and keep cheering.

Soccer players are way too soft while playing soccer, barely get touched and you call 911, the swat team and a surgeon.

Plus. how can you not like the funny commercials put on by the games.

Luv2Run wrote:

Okay!!! wrote:

That's how I watch football - as background noise why I'm working on something, reading a book, or cleaning the house. If I just sat down and watched the game with nothing else to do for 3 hours, I'd be bored. The last time I attended a game in person, I was bored out of my skull because of all the down time, and so were lots of other people, judging by how much time they spent playing with their phones.

The key is to watch several games by switching from channel to channel...

This. I keep reading that the NFL is concerned that attendance is down because people prefer watching games on TV. I think you've nailed a big reason why that is; you can switch to another game on TV but in a stadium you're stuck watching all the down time.

I also think there is a certain appeal to the breaks between individual plays. It makes each one of them an event whereas in sports like hockey and soccer it's easier to see the flow as just people running or skating back and forth.

I love all sports, but American football is far and away my favorite. Action, replay, strategy. To me there is zero downtime. During what you call downtime I am playing coach thinking about what play I would call next and wondering what the real coaches will do. How will the other team react? Even low scoring games can be exciting because there is always the march down the field, getting closer and closer to scoring position. Turnovers can happen anytime. There can be great comebacks. Trick plays. 80 yard scores. It's so exciting. Once you know all the rules and start to understand how important strategy is, it's hard not to love football. And if you're just a lug, there's always dudes slamming into each other in super slow motion high def replay.

Cultural differences: Americans love to watch ads. Europeans could never understand.

American Football: Power

Basketball: Athleticism

Soccer: Finesse/Precision

Baseball: Strategy

Golf: Accuracy

Racing: Reaction

Surfing: Experience

Culture leads people into a specific direction based on its highlighted skills. Americans love power and athleticism...our cars, sports, capitalism, etc etc.

Europeeans like finesse/precision. Your sports are like your cars. Very well tuned for specifics.

Hope that helps

Wolf's Bane wrote:

Jesus Flopping Christ, its a game people watch for entertainment, not your fracking religion, why the flip do you even fricking care.

Idk man the tribalism is brings out in the mouth breathers make it seem like religion sometimes.

bcvbvcb wrote:

Cultural differences: Americans love to watch ads. Europeans could never understand.

In America they stop games for advertising. In Europe they just put advertising on the jersey.

Mainly americans need a lot of time to eat a lot. Its the perfect activity to watch for fat americans