ForumGarden

Or not :wah:

Following on from the opinion thread where we digressed to horse racing and some new members here stated an opinion, we could discuss the 2nd biggest sport In the UK.

What Interests me more Is actually why we have a particular sport as a passion. What started It?

What turned It from a passing Interest to something you can't live without?

I know how It happened for me but I'm Interested In how others started. Was It parental Influence? School ? Accident?

I can't live without National Hunt... It's the air that I breathe ( no Infringement on copyright to The Holly's )

Mine is American Football.

One of my mother's aunts was a high school teacher, and she invited me to a game when I was around 8 or 9. Her school was playing for the State Championship.

I got caught up in all the excitement even though I had not the slightest idea what the game was really about.

The next year, I went to all the school's games, and learned about the game, itself.

I was hooked. I was never terribly adept on the field, but I was a great spectator.

I always attend the games at the local high school, wherever we live. And my spectatorship must have its benefits. Over the last 30 years or so, whatever High school I have been cheering on has almost always made the state champion series, and very often won the championship.

I'm not really into any sports, but a point of interest I heard on 5 Live last night, from one of their American reporters, is that 'Soccer' is currently the 2nd most popular sport in the U.S. I must admit I found that hard to believe, but I can understand how it could build up such a following, what with the World Cup, and all that giving the perfect excuse to slouch around in front of the T.V. with all their mates & a generous stock of 6 packs from morning to night.

They were saying that it's growing in popularity in the U.S., but that in order to continue to grow it would have to be given a more 'cool' name, as 'Soccer' is considered to be something for kids, and 'Football' would obviously be confused with 'American Football'. Maybe 'FIFA Rules Football'?

FourPart;1459020 wrote: I'm not really into any sports, but a point of interest I heard on 5 Live last night, from one of their American reporters, is that 'Soccer' is currently the 2nd most popular sport in the U.S. I must admit I found that hard to believe, but I can understand how it could build up such a following, what with the World Cup, and all that giving the perfect excuse to slouch around in front of the T.V. with all their mates & a generous stock of 6 packs from morning to night.

They were saying that it's growing in popularity in the U.S., but that in order to continue to grow it would have to be given a more 'cool' name, as 'Soccer' is considered to be something for kids, and 'Football' would obviously be confused with 'American Football'. Maybe 'FIFA Rules Football'?


Soccer is popular here as a participatory sport. It falls behind quickly as a spectator sport, though attendance is increasing rapidly. One problem is TV. Soccer/Futbol is difficult to watch on TV, so a lot of sports fans stick to easily televised games.

When I was a kid, Soccer was not popular, but I liked to play. in the navy we often got to play when a ship from another country pulled into port. I was a fair fullback, and not entirely inept as a goalie.

The newest generations are taking up the sport early, and there are a lot of local leagues to participate in. Many children prefer it to American football these days. I think by the next decade, the US will present a quite formidable team to the World Cup. And one of my grandkids may be on the team. He is only twelve, but already proving to be a quick study of the game.

Since we are on the subject, it's only right to bring up what was probably the best match of the World Cup so far - Belgium v USA.

Although they lost in extra time, the US can be extraordinarily proud of their teams performance through the whole of the competition and especially last night's match.

Wonderful game. I'm impressed. The US has come of age as far as football's concerned. It's up there with the big boys.

Oh! And its refreshing to see your boys, like us, don't dive and roll 6 times.

Oh! And Anne Coulter. What in God's name is that all about ? Hideous creature

Ann Coulter gets red-carded - Sarah Smith - POLITICO.com

Snowfire;1459042 wrote: Since we are on the subject, it's only right to bring up what was probably the best match of the World Cup so far - Belgium v USA.

Although they lost in extra time, the US can be extraordinarily proud of their teams performance through the whole of the competition and especially last night's match.

Wonderful game. I'm impressed. The US has come of age as far as football's concerned. It's up there with the big boys.

Oh! And its refreshing to see your boys, like us, don't dive and roll 6 times.


Thanks. Yup, we are pretty proud of their effort and sportsmanship.



Snowfire;1459042 wrote: Oh! And Anne Coulter. What in God's name is that all about ? Hideous creature

Ann Coulter gets red-carded - Sarah Smith - POLITICO.com


AH! She gives "dumb blonds" a bad name.

I don't play/follow any sports anymore.

I used to be quite fast at school (running) and tennis. I used to play tennis, but I got bored when the girls didn't hit the ball hard enough.. I like to wack the ball as hard as I can :wah: I thought of playing again but then it is very expensive here..

LarsMac;1459012 wrote: Mine is American Football.

One of my mother's aunts was a high school teacher, and she invited me to a game when I was around 8 or 9. Her school was playing for the State Championship.

I got caught up in all the excitement even though I had not the slightest idea what the game was really about.

The next year, I went to all the school's games, and learned about the game, itself.

I was hooked. I was never terribly adept on the field, but I was a great spectator.

I always attend the games at the local high school, wherever we live. And my spectatorship must have its benefits. Over the last 30 years or so, whatever High school I have been cheering on has almost always made the state champion series, and very often won the championship. Is that the Super Bowl thingy ?

I do watch that when It's on.

Oscar Namechange;1459057 wrote: Is that the Super Bowl thingy ?

I do watch that when It's on.


Yup, the Superbowl thingy. That's the one.

Last year's version was pretty dismal in this part of the world.

LarsMac;1459063 wrote: Yup, the Superbowl thingy. That's the one.

Last year's version was pretty dismal in this part of the world. I watch the final here In England each year. We even get Into the moment eating Hot Dogs while we watch. I enjoy It which Is bizzarre because I haven't a bloody clue as to whats happening, what they are supposed to do, when they are supposed to do It etc etc Neither has my husband but we like the whole razzamatazz of It.

Oscar Namechange;1459065 wrote: I watch the final here In England each year. We even get Into the moment eating Hot Dogs while we watch. I enjoy It which Is bizzarre because I haven't a bloody clue as to whats happening, what they are supposed to do, when they are supposed to do It etc etc Neither has my husband but we like the whole razzamatazz of It.


Yeah. It is a lot of fun. I am sure that I would have enjoyed it much more had I understood less about what was going on. Or had I been a Seattle Fan.

[sigh]

I'm not going to bang on endlessly about National Hunt horse racing but I shall make one short post... my contribution.

National Hunt Is very different to Flat racing In that the equine athletes depend on staying power and stamina and of course good jumping ability.

So my short contribution Is a tribute to the one dubbed ' The Tank' Denman.

Having seen thousands and thousands of horse races since a child, this one race for me was the greatest feat of Steeple chasing National Hunt I have ever seen In my life and I doubt I'll ever see again.

He had already won the Hennessy Gold Cup once and was looking for the title again. It's a Grade 3 National Hunt Chase Incorporating 21 obstacles over 3 miles, 2 and a half furlongs.

Due to a blistering season, Denman was scored a rating of 174, this meant that he entered the race carrying the maximum top weight handicap that can be given. He was under the massive burden of 11 stone 12 lbs.... the average weight of the rest of the runners was 7 stone 6 lbs.

It was also the year that saw the highest calibre of entrants. Denman was up against 19 of them, Grand National winners, Gold Cup winners, young Irish challengers, Irish Grand National winner, former winner of the Hennessy...

They said he'd never do It, they said he couldn't do It....

And It's these moments that us National Hunt devotee's wait for... something so spectacular... they make history

It's a long race but as I said... the greatest feat of National Hunt I've seen In all my days.

Newbury - Hennessy Gold Cup 2009 - YouTube