Americanism

[mtffafl]

There have been several complaints about the americanisation of our game... and our entire nation in general.

But I think the last straw has been reached... if they take this one any further I will boycott the AFL for the rest of my life.

Essendon's gridiron style bull**** with each player running out individually and being announced is the biggest in indictment on the game of football I have ever seen.

The AFL should ban it now before those weak and heartless (when it comes to footy at least), egotistical bombers players start a horrible trend.

What's next? Cheerleaders...

The entire game, just like our country, is turning into a farse, just to be more like America.

Matt
http://www.dreamwater.com/mtffafl/
MTFFAFL - Free Fantasy Australian Football

 

[bluegirl24021972]

I would have to agree. A big thumbs down to the Americanisation of the game. It's called AUSTRALIAN Rules Football for a reason surely. I went to the Dockers v Cats game at Subiaco. Whilst I thought two new screens were fantastic, I could easily have done without "OUCH!!!" and "MODRAAAA!!!" - they even put this last one up when he gave away a 50mtr penalty. It was also very distracting when the screen blazed up with white advertising for a goal replay. Apart from that though it was great for close-up's at the other end of the ground.

 

[jim-lionsrule!!!!]

While I agree that the AFL is too Americanised, I fear you have gone too far down the path- listen to the intro for Channel 7 footy- a direct take off on the NFL Monday Night Football.
As for cheerleaders- well, I saw North Melbourne a couple years back (against Sydney at the MCG)- and they had cheerleaders out before the game. I like the banners before the game- good activity, but again American based- look at high school football.
Now if you guys go for TV timeouts (and I don't mean after goals......)

Jim
Collegeville, PA, USA
(a Lions season ticket holder from 1997 to 1999)

 

[Tim]

Jim

You've been living in the US too long. Banners were being used in Aussie Rules before American football was invented. In six months here (Philadelphia) I've learned that the American media all make the same assumption - if it's found in America and it's found elsewhere then clearly it must have been invented in America and those poor democracy-less, penniless, oppressed foreigners copied it. After all, that's why so many people, including the British, speak American these days.

 

[mtffafl]

We had banners for finals in the 20's and 30's.

We first had the big ones in the 60's, the Collingwood cheer squad being the first to make one. I know some people that were in the cheer squad when they made them, and they got the idea of making the ones on the posts (rather than tied to the player race) themselves

Matt

PS - If I see 'timeouts' in the game I will shoot someone... hang on, shooting people is a big americanisation too.

Then again, they've gone a week since a kid has shot someone in the school yard. That's a big effort for them.

 

[Power Mad]

I heard Dwayne Russell on ABC radio mention something about Richmond using Leon Cameron in 'a quarterback role'. Tommy Hafey let out a very audible groan...

 

[Arch]

cheerleaders ??? ever hear of the swanettes or the eaglettes ???
gimme a break. we had 'em ages ago.

and mtffafl- "weak, heartless and egotistical" bomber players ????

boo hoo- did one of 'em steal your girlfreind or something ???? Typical jealous essendon hater with no basis for their comments whatsoever.
i think it was a good way to introduce the players to the crowd, who enthusiastically cheered for all their favoutite players.
As for americanisation- where did the idea for the draft, salary cap, national competition etc etc etc come from ???? When a Mr Ross Oakley paid an early 90's visit to meet with Mr Paul Taglibue (NFL Comissioner)and took their ideas.
get over it. too often bleating hearts confuse amercanisation with professionalism. The opening theme for sevens footy is WAY better now than last year even if it happens to be american (according to someone here), and lastly to mfttafl- WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR FANTASY FOOTBALL START ?????
Im not for the americanisation of australia or anything but i get annoyed when people scream "AMERICANISATION" as an excuse to argue against any good new ideas. I mean You guys probably voted against the republic because you thought it was too amercianised.

 

[madswan]

Was at SCG (swans v roos) last year with an American sports journalist (read US Sports Illustrated August 18 1999 Gary Smith)
He laughed at our lack of pre-game entertainment!!!
(I thaught the reserves game was most entertaining!!)
He said "WHAT____NO CHEERLEADERS!!!"
(I said "Listen to me cheer")
He was disgusted that the clock on the scoreboard didn't show how long was left!!

The next day we went to Stadium Australia for the (Broncos v Chargers) gridiron.

As the 3682 players were being announced 1 by 1 i asked "Why?? And why are they congratulating each other before they've done anything??"
He said it was motivating the players as well as the crowd.

He asked "Why do you have a Maccas symbol on your football?"
"So we don't have to stop the game for commercial breaks" (It happened every few minutes) i said.

He said "Well...look at those chargers cheerleaders...you don't have entertainment like that at AFL games!!!"

"Our game is the entertainment" i replied.

46 commercial breaks and 3.2 seconds of entertainment later it was 3/4 time.

I said "It must be your shout"
He was asleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gary is now an AFL lover and considering Swans membership.


The predominant memory of Superbowl EVERY year are the half time commercials.
Don't let this happen to OUR game.

 

[Jerome]

If there was one thing that really gave me the s***s last week, it was the SA papers descriping the opening round as "the kick off". Just when in AFL do we have a kick off?? you'd think the Editor of the paper would get his refernces right (then again we are talking about Geoff Roach...)

The incredibly stupid need of the commentators/media to americanise the terminology of the game is sickening.

 

[Portsuck]

Typical bloody Dwaine Russell, typical port w***er

 

[Power Mad]

Arch even spells "defence" the American way. I bet he loves it when the US Navy visit Perth...

 

[mtffafl]

To Arch - I am not confusing Americanism with Professionalism.

But useless time wasting with things such as running out individually etc. are not necessary for our great game.

The same goes for cheerleaders (which the swans experimented with disastrously).


And the best theme song for seven's footy there has been would have to be The Thing About Football from around 1994.

I agree with everything madswan said

Matt

 

[staggy]

gotto to agree with some of matt's points, but like others have already said, don't use the amerianisation excuse just because you don't like some of the new ideas. Like people have mentioned , without america we wouldn't have a draft or a salary cap.

I mean, do we want to go back to the days where players were picked from geographical regions??

Do we want to go back to the deep dark days of the 80's?? Without some americanisation, afl would not have survived past 1987. So, while i'm not the biggest fan of americans either, give some of their ideas a chance.

And by the way, the running out individually thing is great.....it's easy to stick the foot in when it's not your team, but you know that if it was your team doing it, you'd be loving it.

cheers
staggy

------------------
2000: year of the bomber

 

[mtffafl]

I'm not anti-American as some people seem to think I am, and I agree some good ideas come from their sports.

But this sort of individual running out is an Americanism that isn't necessary.

As for the draft, I think each team should be able to select 1/2 players from their area prior to the draft.

Obviously, the zones would need to be distributed evenly in all areas (i.e. Port and Adelaide don't share SA between themselves only etc.)

But this would encourage all teams to put money back into local footy, and this in turn would result in better players coming through.

While there are obvious problems to work around, the development of junior footy etc is very important to football's future.

By teams putting this money back in, and getting the benefits of some good players from their 'area', there are some positives also.

I know there are obvious problems that need to be dealt with to ensure equality in this system, and I will most likely get bagged and insulted for this by certain people, but I'd like to see what others think.

Matt

 

[madswan]

No doubt if a club is spending money to develop the juniors in their area they deserve to reap some of the benefits.
Some restrictions would have to be placed on the "interstate" teams to make it fair though.

 

[We_Love_BARB]

Hullo I think that the so called "tough" american version of "football" is stupid - they are not men since they have to protect themselves with extra layers of padding, while the AFL boys play without anything extra (apart from the odd helmet, knee brace or gloves)

Does anyone remember when the Dockers tried to recruit some american and get him into their squad? Lets face it - we're the only country who can play this game . . . and thats the way it should stay!

 

[mtffafl]

On the contrary, I think we should teach it to as many people as possible...

So we have someone to beat every year, other than that stupid International Rules thing... too many concessions in that. We should play one game of each code.

This topic has been dug up from a long time ago though...

Matt