Other Where Does Gridiron Sit in Favorite Sports?

[Dexterous]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

I find it interesting that so many in this thread find the AFL boring. I go through considerable effort and some expense to watch AFL games from the USA because I find it much more interesting than the NFL. The NFL game is way too slow to hold my interest for very long. All the breaks in action annoy me. I like the constant action and flow of the AFL game. The only thing in the states like it is ice hockey at the NHL/minor professional leagues and NCAA level. I watch NCAA game because my alma maters play football.

My list:

AFL - Geelong
NCAA basketball - Michigan State, William & Mary
NHL - Detroit Red Wings
NCAA Hockey - Michigan State
MLB - Detroit Tigers
NCAA football - Michigan State, William & Mary
NCAA Lacrosse
NFL - Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins

Don't even mention the NBA, NASCAR, MLS, USTA, PGA. These are only good for napping.

 

[Wizard]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

I find it interesting that so many in this thread find the AFL boring. I go through considerable effort and some expense to watch AFL games from the USA because I find it much more interesting than the NFL. The NFL game is way too slow to hold my interest for very long. All the breaks in action annoy me. I like the constant action and flow of the AFL game. The only thing in the states like it is ice hockey at the NHL/minor professional leagues and NCAA level. I watch NCAA game because my alma maters play football.

My list:

AFL - Geelong
NCAA basketball - Michigan State, William & Mary
NHL - Detroit Red Wings
NCAA Hockey - Michigan State
MLB - Detroit Tigers
NCAA football - Michigan State, William & Mary
NCAA Lacrosse
NFL - Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins

Don't even mention the NBA, NASCAR, MLS, USTA, PGA. These are only good for napping.

Bolded is why you find the NFL hard to follow.

 

[mcgarnacle]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

I find it interesting that so many in this thread find the AFL boring. I go through considerable effort and some expense to watch AFL games from the USA because I find it much more interesting than the NFL. The NFL game is way too slow to hold my interest for very long. All the breaks in action annoy me. I like the constant action and flow of the AFL game. The only thing in the states like it is ice hockey at the NHL/minor professional leagues and NCAA level. I watch NCAA game because my alma maters play football.

ever heard of the term quality over quantity. yes, plenty seems to go on in an AFL game, and it is continuous (until a mark is taken in the foward 50 when the shot for goal can be just as tedious as a timeout), but everything in the game falls into the 'same s**t-different smell' category for me. kick-mark-whistle-repeat. if you're lucky, you might see a decent kick for goal from the boundary line, or maybe a hangar in every 3rd game, but the rest is as monotonous as playing kick-to-kick. and the way the comp is run has just killed it for me. it's the A(genda)FL. a shame really, i used to be a fanatic.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

Good post, mcgarnacle. That's exactly what it is. Incessant whistle blowing for marks and freekicks and hands-off uncontested type of sport. No specialist players or skills anymore. Bereft of tactical beauty. You see one AFL game you've seen a million of them. But american football (any level, peewee, amateur aussie, ncaa, nfl, cfl) every game is different, submerged in tactical food for thought/viewing, far more intrigue and drama, great amount of specialist skills/players, and more varied team philosophies/styles. It's a game forever at the cutting edge of invention of systems, tactics, ideas, etc, due to the way the actual rules of the game is....setting up formations vs formations in a contest of skills and brute strength/speed.

 

[dmc333]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

Can't put my finger on the exact list, but AFL is slipping down the list big time.

I know EPL has gone past AFL for me. And this is the first season I've had access to live NFL games, opposed to downloading them, so NFL will probably surpass AFL now.

 

[Gamblore]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

NFL is still the most tactical and strategic football code in exsistance with contantly tough and close seasons. The main problem it faces is it's decent learning curve to enjoy it at the level your not bothered by the stoppage. The game has got a hard shell with a extremely rewarding inner. It's a question on how long tv networks will give peoples in aus to get through that hard shell before they have to abonden it again (hope that day never comes).

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

The stoppages thing is an overstated 'problem' used by Aussie fans to not try to like what they dont understand.

I liken NFL to Cricket, the tactical depth and stoppages. Yet Aussies will sit and watch that with baited breath for hours on end. Am.Football is only about 3 hrs and has plenty of hard hitting and spectular athletic skills versus cricket's 6 hrs of slow plodding play.

 

[ERead]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

The stoppages thing is an overstated 'problem' used by Aussie fans to not try to like what they dont understand.

I liken NFL to Cricket, the tactical depth and stoppages. Yet Aussies will sit and watch that with baited breath for hours on end. Am.Football is only about 3 hrs and has plenty of hard hitting and spectular athletic skills versus cricket's 6 hrs of slow plodding play.

Great analogy. Of course, the history and culture of Cricket also appeals. NFL is too odd and foreign for some people's palates.

That'll change with more households getting ESPN and OneHD .

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

Great analogy. Of course, the history and culture of Cricket also appeals. NFL is too odd and foreign for some people's palates.

That'll change with more households getting ESPN and OneHD .

That's the key imo. These days, unlike the Don Lane 80's, there's more market for sports and foreign sports on TV. People are more nowadays into the internet-culture than the 80's. I reckon NFL interest in Australia will explode season after season with ONE HD/Foxtel now. It's a sport that never stops giving more and more love to a fan, so many more layers in the sport that it becomes an addiction unlike other sports. Also, an initial hook like Rocca etc in the NFL can be a good bait.

 

[lards]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

Essendon Bombers
AFL - always number 1 but starting to really piss me off, wouldve loved it in the the 80's had i been alive but today the afl is just ****ing with everything
Olympics
Aussie Cricket esp the Ashes
NBA - have always loved this comp, go the lakers
EPL - my team is in the 3 tier so my passion isn't there but I still watch it when I can
Newcastle Knights
West Adelaide / SANFL
NRL
A -League / La Liga / Internations althought the W.C would be #1 for me above the bombers esp if the socceroos are playing
Grand Slam Tennis
NFL Is increasing for me, really getting into it along with the MLB
Surfng Tour Prefer doin this myself but still have a big interest in the pros
NBL
MLB / NHL
Motor Sports

Only got into the NFL just before the playoffs and around the superbowl my interest took off before forgetting about in the last few months. Now im getting back into and can't wait seeing as its my first complete season as a fan. Don't have a team yet, I have about 5 or 6 i like, so by the end of the year hopefully I have one but ill enjoy watching as a nuetral. Have always liked American sport, they just know how to run professional comps much better.

 

[lards]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

That's the key imo. These days, unlike the Don Lane 80's, there's more market for sports and foreign sports on TV. People are more nowadays into the internet-culture than the 80's. I reckon NFL interest in Australia will explode season after season with ONE HD/Foxtel now. It's a sport that never stops giving more and more love to a fan, so many more layers in the sport that it becomes an addiction unlike other sports. Also, an initial hook like Rocca etc in the NFL can be a good bait.

Agree, as a new fan I cant wait watching games during the week alongside NBA games. Esp with the Aussies getting a go in the NFL and playing in big games even if they are only the punters. An Aussie playing overseas will generate more interest, when Balfour was playing well in the World Series or Graham playing in the Superbowl, these blokes were creating headlines and therefore getting more fans.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

Well the interest in the board has also risen, more posters than this time last year. I think all this stuff been mentioned has done that.

 

[JeffDunne]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

There's only two sports I'm interested in these days, NFL & AFL (in that order).

I can watch any sport at the top level but can take them or leave them. Used to love cricket, it was a real passion, but it's become like tennis - lose this week and there's always another comp next week. That 20-20 bullshit is like watching indoor cricket without the nets.

Any sport that runs all year round is subtraction by addition IMO

Aussie rules has lost the plot. The top tier of the sport is loaded with teams in 'development' mode. Everything about it is fixed and orchastrated. If the game itself isn't enough to sell it then everything else is sports marketing. *vomit*. 'Duty of care'? WTF? I'm sick of hearing about it. Leave your duty of care at the door when you decide to play. Teams have lost their identity too - an aspect of NFL I love.

NFL is a passion. Why else would I be sitting here watching preseason games and working on a website (yes Woodson, I'm working on it! )

 

[manureid]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

NFL is a passion. Why else would I be sitting here watching preseason games and working on a website (yes Woodson, I'm working on it! )

Less talking more working!!

 

[fuey]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

I liken NFL to Cricket, the tactical depth and stoppages. Yet Aussies will sit and watch that with baited breath for hours on end. Am.Football is only about 3 hrs and has plenty of hard hitting and spectular athletic skills versus cricket's 6 hrs of slow plodding play.

Oddly... I can't stand the cricket, I don't mind it as a sport, but you won't find me watching it for more than 5 minutes to check a score... And even then I care more about state cricket than the national team....

AFL has lost even more for me over the past week. I don't think there's ever been as big a gap as there is now between AFL and NFL.

The only way I see the AFL coming back is if Demetriou quits and takes Anderson with him. They're killing the game like no other. I actually miss Wayne Jackson...

 

[manureid]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

Yes, the Buddy issue has 'offsided' a few supporters. But welcome to about 5 seasons ago from my point of view when Byron Pickett started to get 'special' treatment from the tribunal.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

Yes, the Buddy issue has 'offsided' a few supporters. But welcome to about 5 seasons ago from my point of view when Byron Pickett started to get 'special' treatment from the tribunal.

Exactly. Everyone makes a fuss about it because its Franklin but as you said this happened 5 years ago hence why I'm not surprised nor outraged.

 

[larkis]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

It's more or less welcome to sport - this type of stuff happens everywhere
Hawthorn fans have a right to be angry but the same law is applied to every team. People want a more physical game and they got it today. Instead everyone is off whining about little incidents. It's not the administrators that are ruining the game but the fans. Fans want their players protected and to be able to do anything they want. You can't have it both ways.

 

[Discrim]

Re: Where does NFL sit?

NFL/college
footy
hockey (I'm an Avs fan. Unfortunately, I live nowhere near Denver. So watching em has gotten more sporadic in recent years.)
baseball, though my watching's basically limited to the Cubs, an old high school friend who plays for the Pirates, the College World Series and AAA championship game.
basketball, though I'll say one thing: I'm far more passionate about the Bucks than the game itself. the issues a lot of yall seem to have with the AFL, I have with the NBA.
indoor soccer
outdoor soccer, mainly the US men, occasionally Champions League. most of the time I tune in late, and don't stick around that long, to be honest.
rugby...ugh. i've watched a few all blacks and local matches out of curiosity. all I can say is John Heisman had the right idea when he suggested the forward pass.