Serutan
Eatibus Anythingibus
There already is such a hybrid - Australian Rules Football. I wouldn't mind that at all.
The death of American football.
- Thread starter emzie
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There already is such a hybrid - Australian Rules Football. I wouldn't mind that at all.
I saw an article... I think by ESPN about how the newer helmet models from the NFL's supplier are/offer MUCH better protection than the older models. But... the players seem to keep their older helmets and they are at the moment allowed to. As far as the 'death' of American football... it 'aint happening.
North King
blech
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Cause people sure still get fired up about horse-racing!
Serutan
Eatibus Anythingibus
I don't think that's an apt comparison. A lot of the appeal of horse racing is the official betting, and once that could be done off track, attendance plummeted.
North King
blech
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It's not a 1:1 comparison because there's no real phenomenon quite like American football before now. But the point stands that an extremely popular sport can suddenly become quite marginalized over the course of less than a century.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
How many times have we heard the same thing stated about boxing?
sophie
Break My Heart
rugbyLEAGUEfan
Deity
People still follow boxing?
Definitely . Unfortunately the heavyweight division has descended into farce with the exception of Klitchko , but it's almost a golden age in a number of the lighter weight divisions .
North King
blech
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No one's saying no one will EVER play football again. But it could experience a steep decline in revenues, the NFL could fold partially or entirely, etc. Boxing is definitely not the sport it used to be.
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
But I don't see anything here that indicates decline, just change, and that's nothing new. The game today is certainly not the same as it was twenty years ago, particularly in the NFL. I don't think you can necessarily say that people would stop watching if the most violent hits are legislated out of the game.
Like now, safeties can't leave their feet and launch into a 'defenseless' player who tries to go up for a ball across the middle like they used to be able to do, and to me that sucks because it unbalances the game in favor of the offense, which inflates scoring, which I don't like. But it's the unbalancing effect that I don't like, not the lack of hitting. If the offense had been restricted in some way to compensate for handicapping the defense, I'd probably still be watching the NFL today . . .
Like now, safeties can't leave their feet and launch into a 'defenseless' player who tries to go up for a ball across the middle like they used to be able to do, and to me that sucks because it unbalances the game in favor of the offense, which inflates scoring, which I don't like. But it's the unbalancing effect that I don't like, not the lack of hitting. If the offense had been restricted in some way to compensate for handicapping the defense, I'd probably still be watching the NFL today . . .
If high schools can't afford insurance to cover their liability, that's a jam in the pipeline.
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
True, but it's easy to see an independent industry growing up outside of the school system to develop young talent, where the right to sue could be negotiated away. Kind of like the AAU system in basketball. I'm not saying that would be a positive step, but it would definitely happen if the sport was in danger . . .
warpus
In pork I trust
I wouldn't mind it if they weren't wearing tights.
Butterball
Bear
No ... go with leather helmets with no face guards.
North King
blech
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How about helmets which are padded in such a way that they can't be used to deliver big hits but are still good at protecting brains? Pretty sure those exist.
classical_hero
In whom I trust
Like this?
rugbyLEAGUEfan
Deity
Enough overweight rugby union players who make 3 tackles a season.Let's have some serious hits from Rugby League
Link to video.
Link to video.
Disgustipated
Deity
I haven't read the article yet, but I am aware of the issue. I am inclined with the too big to fail camp. I just can't see football going away any time soon. It's too big of a money maker. This years ratings were the highest ever I believe, including the superbowl. There's just too much money to be had.
Either they find some way to cover the liability, or they all have to sign waivers. Either way, the game will go on. Boxing on the other hand, is much more destructive to the brain.
