Football as WAR

TarJak · 09-18-07, 02:31 AM

I think this concept is universal to most of the "contact" football games. A similar article on rugby being likened to war:

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/ne...d=2005931.html

I agree with everything that you say, but its certainly not exclusive to American Football which is actually a branch of the rugby family which in turn is actually a branch of soccer although Rugby had already split from soccer when Americal football was devised.

Both games have significant stress on the gaining of territory and tactical manuvouring to gain that territory and place the ball over a line defended by the opposition.

The New Zealand All Blacks actually do a traditional Maori war dance before each international game they play.

And the rolling maul is one of the games most warlike experiences particularly if you've been in the middle of one that collapses into a ruck.

For those interested in the history of where their game comes from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football

ReallyDedPoet · 09-18-07, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

opposition.

The New Zealand All Blacks actually do a traditional Maori war dance before each international game they play.

I saw a traditional dance once at a softball game played here on PEI, the New Zealand Team was playing a local squad in preparation for a tournament they were in. It was an impressive sight.

RDP

August · 09-18-07, 07:23 AM

George Carlins comparison of football and baseball:

"Baseball is different from any other sport, very different. For instance, in most sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports the ball, or object, is put in play by the offensive team; in baseball the defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed to touch the ball. In fact, in baseball if an offensive player touches the ball intentionally, he's out; sometimes unintentionally, he's out.
Also: in football,basketball, soccer, volleyball, and all sports played with a ball, you score with the ball and in baseball the ball prevents you from scoring.
In most sports the team is run by a coach; in baseball the team is run by a manager. And only in baseball does the manager or coach wear the same clothing the players do. If you'd ever seen John Madden in his Oakland Raiders uniform,you'd know the reason for this custom.
Now, I've mentioned football. Baseball & football are the two most popular spectator sports in this country. And as such, it seems they ought to be able to tell us something about ourselves and our values.

I enjoy comparing baseball and football:

Baseball is a nineteenth-century pastoral game.
Football is a twentieth-century technological struggle.
Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park.The baseball park!
Football is played on a gridiron, in a stadium, sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium.
Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life.
Football begins in the fall, when everything's dying.
In football you wear a helmet.
In baseball you wear a cap.
Football is concerned with downs - what down is it?
Baseball is concerned with ups - who's up?
In football you receive a penalty.
In baseball you make an error.
In football the specialist comes in to kick.
In baseball the specialist comes in to relieve somebody.
Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness.
Baseball has the sacrifice.
Football is played in any kind of weather: rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog...
In baseball, if it rains, we don't go out to play.
Baseball has the seventh inning stretch.
Football has the two minute warning.
Baseball has no time limit: we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings.
Football is rigidly timed, and it will end even if we've got to go to sudden death.
In baseball, during the game, in the stands, there's kind of a picnic feeling; emotions may run high or low, but there's not too much unpleasantness.
In football, during the game in the stands, you can be sure that at least twenty-seven times you're capable of taking the life of a fellow human being.
And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different:
In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! - I hope I'll be safe at home!"

Skybird · 09-18-07, 07:34 AM

Does it serve the spirit of sports - to intentionally and needlessly compare it to war? If so, we should no longer look down on the Romans for having gladiators in the arena.

August · 09-18-07, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Does it serve the spirit of sports - to intentionally and needlessly compare it to war? If so, we should no longer look down on the Romans for having gladiators in the arena.

Well except for the whole disembowling thing...

The Avon Lady · 09-18-07, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

If so, we should no longer look down on the Romans for having gladiators in the arena.

I bet the Romans didn't have this.

Onkel Neal · 09-18-07, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Does it serve the spirit of sports - to intentionally and needlessly compare it to war? If so, we should no longer look down on the Romans for having gladiators in the arena.

I never did.

August, thanks for the , it has to be heard to be fully appreciated

Skybird · 09-19-07, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Does it serve the spirit of sports - to intentionally and needlessly compare it to war? If so, we should no longer look down on the Romans for having gladiators in the arena.

I never did.

Meant the article you linked!

09-18-07, 02:31 AM	#1
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	I think this concept is universal to most of the "contact" football games. A similar article on rugby being likened to war: http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/ne...d=2005931.html I agree with everything that you say, but its certainly not exclusive to American Football which is actually a branch of the rugby family which in turn is actually a branch of soccer although Rugby had already split from soccer when Americal football was devised. Both games have significant stress on the gaining of territory and tactical manuvouring to gain that territory and place the ball over a line defended by the opposition. The New Zealand All Blacks actually do a traditional Maori war dance before each international game they play. And the rolling maul is one of the games most warlike experiences particularly if you've been in the middle of one that collapses into a ruck. For those interested in the history of where their game comes from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football Last edited by TarJak; 09-18-07 at 02:41 AM.

09-18-07, 07:23 AM	#3
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,227 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	George Carlins comparison of football and baseball: "Baseball is different from any other sport, very different. For instance, in most sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports the ball, or object, is put in play by the offensive team; in baseball the defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed to touch the ball. In fact, in baseball if an offensive player touches the ball intentionally, he's out; sometimes unintentionally, he's out. Also: in football,basketball, soccer, volleyball, and all sports played with a ball, you score with the ball and in baseball the ball prevents you from scoring. In most sports the team is run by a coach; in baseball the team is run by a manager. And only in baseball does the manager or coach wear the same clothing the players do. If you'd ever seen John Madden in his Oakland Raiders uniform,you'd know the reason for this custom. Now, I've mentioned football. Baseball & football are the two most popular spectator sports in this country. And as such, it seems they ought to be able to tell us something about ourselves and our values. I enjoy comparing baseball and football: Baseball is a nineteenth-century pastoral game. Football is a twentieth-century technological struggle. Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park.The baseball park! Football is played on a gridiron, in a stadium, sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium. Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life. Football begins in the fall, when everything's dying. In football you wear a helmet. In baseball you wear a cap. Football is concerned with downs - what down is it? Baseball is concerned with ups - who's up? In football you receive a penalty. In baseball you make an error. In football the specialist comes in to kick. In baseball the specialist comes in to relieve somebody. Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness. Baseball has the sacrifice. Football is played in any kind of weather: rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog... In baseball, if it rains, we don't go out to play. Baseball has the seventh inning stretch. Football has the two minute warning. Baseball has no time limit: we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings. Football is rigidly timed, and it will end even if we've got to go to sudden death. In baseball, during the game, in the stands, there's kind of a picnic feeling; emotions may run high or low, but there's not too much unpleasantness. In football, during the game in the stands, you can be sure that at least twenty-seven times you're capable of taking the life of a fellow human being. And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different: In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line. In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! - I hope I'll be safe at home!" __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

09-18-07, 07:34 AM	#4
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,717 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Does it serve the spirit of sports - to intentionally and needlessly compare it to war? If so, we should no longer look down on the Romans for having gladiators in the arena. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.