The death of American football.

[emzie]

Violence would be the downfall though. As the original article states, football is going to become very expensive to insure. High schools are going to stop playing. And then universities. Where's the NFL going to get its talent? Is the game going to be as interesting as it is now?

 

[wilycoyote]

Violence would be the downfall though. As the original article states, football is going to become very expensive to insure. High schools are going to stop playing. And then universities. Where's the NFL going to get its talent? Is the game going to be as interesting as it is now?

Perhaps you'll see academies run by the NFL to develop young kids (I think European soccer clubs already do this)? Or, perhaps high schools will go to a flag football hybrid (or institute dramatic changes to limit injury), until college. At the college level, it will be fine. In fact, most schools support all of their sports based upon the revenues from their football programs. Remember, college athletes aren't paid.

Ultimately, to me, their is just WAY too much demand for football at the university and pro levels right now and for the foreseeable future. Also, a few small changes can bring the danger of football inline with hockey or rugby (such as limiting tackling to wrapping up with the arms, meaning no use of the shoulders and no "charging"). It would be like making the NHL more inline with Olympic hockey. It would change the sport to a degree, but I don't think that it would kill it.

I think all of this talk is like the talk about China being the next superpower. Are there reasons to think that it COULD happen? Sure. Is it inevitable or even to be expected in the coming couple of decades? I just don't see it. Too much would need to change.

 

[Quackers]

willycoyote i'm massively ignorant of american football. but beyond the role of the quarterback and the tactical aspects of the game - what other technical parts of the game exist which require extensive techncial training? In football controlling the ball with your feet, dribbling, passing, shooting is a lot more difficult then it looks - what is there in American football?
It seems to me, the best atheletes excel at the game. The fastest, strongest guy is always gonna win out.

 

[wilycoyote]

willycoyote i'm massively ignorant of american football. but beyond the role of the quarterback and the tactical aspects of the game - what other technical parts of the game exist which require extensive techncial training? In football controlling the ball with your feet, dribbling, passing, shooting is a lot more difficult then it looks - what is there in American football?
It seems to me, the best atheletes excel at the game. The fastest, strongest guy is always gonna win out.

Outside of quarterbacks (which might be the most demanding position in major sports), it isn't too rare to hear about a player drafted into the NFL having only played the sport for a few years.

Some positions don't require any technical development (punters, kickers), while others require relatively little (running backs, wide receivers), and still others truly require development at the professional level (cornerbacks and offensive linemen).

Ultimately, I would say that for the most part, football is much more of a sport that relies on athleticism, rather than technique (like baseball or golf). However, that isn't to say that a non-kicker can do well without some technical development (unless you are talking about a once in a decade physical talent like Randy Moss).

Yeah, I played one year of soccer as a kid... and score ONE goal. They put me at defense (even though I was always the faster player on the team) since I wasn't very good at dribbling the ball.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Pro boxing doesn't exist at the collegiate level, and for good reason. It is simply too dangerous and violent with far too many negative long term effects. That is why amateur boxers wear head protection gear and other rules to lessen the chance of injury.

There are undoubtedly some "rednecks" who are turned on by the blood which is occasionally present in MMA fights. But I characterize them the same way I do with race fans who want to see wrecks with people injured and even killed. They are obviously the exception instead of the rule even in NASCAR. It is the reason it is considered to be a sport instead of gladiatorial combat or even pro wrestling.

 

[Disgustipated]

My co-worker likes UFC, and the sport being based in my city makes it pretty popular here. And I don't live in a redneck city. I even have a UFC hat, although I have never seen UFC in action. . My sister in law used to work for them. She likes it, and she isn't a redneck (she's mexican). It's hardly a redneck sport. Rednecks are still probably watching wrestling.

Football will continue to thrive. Will there be rules changes? Most likely. Will the old timers complain that football is wussied (I can't use the other word here ) out? Yes.

I enjoy football for the strategical side of the game. I feel the game has much more strategy than any other sport. There's a reason why the quarterback is the most difficult position in any sport, and they require a good measure of intelligence.

As for Boxing, it's hardly dead. Look at how much money Mayweather made for his fight last weekend. He's set to go to jail after our court system delayed his sentencing so he could fight (yeah the rich own the justice system, I know). http://www.lvrj.com/sports/after-win-mayweather-wonders-whether-he-ll-fight-again-150393355.html Heavyweight boxing is doing badly, but lighter divisions are still doing well.

 

[downtown]

The NCAA doesn't sponsor college-level boxing, but it does exist. Like other sports that don't have national popularity, outside organizations run intercollegiate competition. My Alma Mater had a boxing team.

Looks like it's dominated by military schools though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Collegiate_Boxing_Association

 

[Formaldehyde]

It is done by amateur rules instead of professional where it does exist. I see nothing inherently wrong with amateur boxing as I now do with professional boxing. With the headgear, scoring based on merely touching with the gloves, and only 3 rounds, it is far safer. The refs are also far more careful to call bouts where the person is no longer properly defending himself.

 

[wilycoyote]

Okay, it seems like I offended people with my "redneck" comment. I take it back. What my comment REALLY meant is that I usually don't get along with the type of people that like MMA. In my experience, they tend to be the type of people that will threaten to fight you because your team is beating theirs.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Yeah. That is much better.

 

[wilycoyote]

Yeah. That is much better.

And yet that is the best that I can do.

 

[Formaldehyde]

The basis of virtually all martial arts is exactly the opposite philosophy. I frequently hear the same false characterization of road racing from those who don't really understand anything at all about the sport. I am sure the same is true for football, lacrosse, basketball, or any other sport where the participants are occasionally hurt.