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IRL (In Real Life) => Sports => Topic started by: BanzaiCat on January 26, 2015, 12:28:55 PM

Title: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 26, 2015, 12:28:55 PM
...what sport do you suggest?

Not that other leagues other than the NFL aren't rife with vice and graft and woman-beating, but for me, the NFL has less and less class acts like JJ Watt and more bottom-feeding criminal jackassery going for it. I've pretty much moved away from the NFL - six years ago I'd watch games religiously, now I don't even bother to turn it on. I'd prefer to hold on to my good memories of the sport from me growing up than continue to pay credence to something that's lost its way. At least, to me.

That crap all said, I'm getting more and more interested in the NHL and EPL. I will actually find myself sitting down to watch some hockey. Not EPL yet because there's about two thousand teams and I have no idea where to begin. I'm sure there's tons of books and Google resources I could check out...but what NHL / EPL teams do YOU guys like, and why? I'd like to use that for food for thought and just move from there. I just want to get started. 

Not looking for MLB here, either. Never have been a fan. A baseball game is about as exciting as a day at the beach. Pretty much relaxing, which there's nothing wrong with, but I want some action and excitement, not grown dudes adjusting their junk or spitting profusely and playing at the speed of grass growing. :)
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: Marty Ward on January 26, 2015, 12:32:53 PM
If you want action watch indoor soccer or arena football. They are human pinball games!
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2015, 12:38:20 PM
There are fewer EPL teams than NHL teams.  There are only 20 EPL teams, but some of them will change from year-to-year.

If you want some EPL options, here are a few
--  Where are the Americans playing?
Tim Howard - Everton
Geoff Cameron - Stoke City
Brad Guzan - Aston Villa
DeAndre Yedlin - Tottenham Hotspur (in a few weeks, once the int'l friendlies are done)

-- Favorite colors and/or cool crests?
you have to look around a little bit to find them

Another option
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/13/the-new-fans-201415-guide-to-picking-a-new-premier-league-club/
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2015, 12:44:21 PM
That said, there's plenty to like about the NHL, too.  Really, it comes down to "when are you most likely to have time during the day to watch the games?"

EPL games are on weekend mornings, and into early afternoon.  Most are on Saturday, some on Sunday, one on Monday.  Every once in a while, you'll get a couple of Wednesday games.

NHL games are on mostly at night, and occasional afternoons, all week long.

The one thing you need to distinguish with European soccer is that teams will sometimes be playing in several competitions simultaneously
--  EPL, the regular league - you play everyone home-and-home, and the guy at the top of the standings at the end of the season is the winner, no "playoffs"
-- FA Cup, a bigass tournament for pretty much everyone in England, where you see insane upsets like low-life teams (think A- and AA-baseball) knock off big premier league clubs.  Just this past weekend, the top 2 in the EPL standings both lost in the FA cup
-- League Cup, similar to the FA Cup, but a smaller pool of participants, not very prestigious
-- Champions League, a tournament for the top teams all over Europe, with 4-team groups that play in the fall, and the top 2 in each group advancing to a 16-team knockout round starting in a few weeks.  The final 16 are set, the knockout rounds are home-and-home until the final, which is a one-off in mid-May.  Matches teams from England, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, etc.
-- Europa Cup, like the Champions League, but clubs that finished lower in the standings, so kind of a second tier.  Think of this as the NIT to the Champions League's NCAA tournament
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: mirth on January 26, 2015, 12:46:47 PM
I've increasingly become an NHL fan. NBA has been unwatchable to me for nearly a decade. NFL is becoming increasingly rules heavy with outcomes decided by the refs. MLB has always bored me to tears. I'm not a fan of college sports. So I am left with pro hockey.

And I'm a becoming a fan of women's curling:

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxsports.com%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Ffsdigital%2Ffscom%2Fother%2FImages%2F2014%2F01%2F28%2F012814-curling-Anna-Sidorova-TV-Pi4.jpg&hash=8f5df10d6aa38fa15f5b2d9b0c1fb3116a5a170d)

Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2015, 12:46:56 PM
older article, but has some amusing comparisons.  Keep in mind not all these teams are still in the EPL
http://www.nbcsports.com/joe-posnanski/how-pick-premier-league-club
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2015, 12:52:38 PM
FWIW - I'm a Newcastle United fan, in large part b/c that's where my wife and I went on our honeymoon (we were 15 miles outside of town in Hexham).  Until then, I had no really connection to any of the teams over there, but for a while I'd also pull for Fulham b/c there were 4-5 Americans all playing there together (Keller, McBride, Bocanegra, Dempsey all on the roster at some point), but it was more "cheer for the Americans" than "cheer for Fulham".

Being a Newcastle United fan is a lot like being a Red Sox fan circa 1982.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: mirth on January 26, 2015, 01:00:02 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2015, 12:52:38 PM
Being a Newcastle United fan is a lot like being a Red Sox fan circa 1982.

Ouch.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 26, 2015, 01:04:25 PM
Thanks for the resources; I'll check 'em out.

Women's curling? I'm almost afraid to Google it. Almost.  :D
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: endfire79 on January 26, 2015, 01:09:53 PM
Check out the NHL.  I won't try to make team suggestions, I think you can watch a bit and see if you like it.  Maybe hang out with some hockey fans during some games and see what you think.  Maybe you're already in a league city or close by.

*cough cough*  go Habs :)

For English Premier League Football, I was raised an Arsenal FC fan and stuck with it.  However the teams in Premier League are a good bunch to watch, and I think you'll be entertained.  Obviously check out the Euro Cup & FIFA World Cup when that comes around.



Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: Arctic Blast on January 26, 2015, 02:53:33 PM
Hockey is a lot of fun, but it's a totally different experience live. If you have a local team, go check out a game. It doesn't have to be NHL to be good...junior/minor league hockey can be an absolute blast, and it's a Hell of a lot cheaper.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: mirth on January 26, 2015, 03:15:25 PM
Quote from: Arctic Blast on January 26, 2015, 02:53:33 PM
Hockey is a lot of fun, but it's a totally different experience live. If you have a local team, go check out a game. It doesn't have to be NHL to be good...junior/minor league hockey can be an absolute blast, and it's a Hell of a lot cheaper.

+1 we have a local AHL team. Going to the games is great fun.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2015, 04:19:58 PM
Quote from: mirth on January 26, 2015, 03:15:25 PMwe have a local AHL team. Going to the games is great fun.

we do, too.  they just happen to play in the NHL
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: mirth on January 26, 2015, 04:23:24 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2015, 04:19:58 PM
Quote from: mirth on January 26, 2015, 03:15:25 PMwe have a local AHL team. Going to the games is great fun.

we do, too.  they just happen to play in the NHL

<badum-tssh>
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: MetalDog on January 26, 2015, 07:40:28 PM
I took up for the Tampa Bay Lightning during their Stanley Cup run in the early 2000's.  And the Rangers when they won the Cup in '93 with Messier.  Hockey is a lot of fun to watch.  It would be good to have someone to answer your questions though.  It's not difficult to understand, but the terms and some of the rules are not always apparent.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 26, 2015, 08:09:29 PM
We *had* a hockey team here in Houston, but it was the AHL, not NHL (obviously). Our AHL team (Houston Aeros) moved to Des Moines a couple of years ago. I went to several Aeros games and loved it - it really sucks they left because you could get seats damn near up on the front row for $20. Doubt you could do that in the NHL. Anyway, it was great fun while it lasted.

Since this is Houston, I seriously doubt there will be another team, much less NHL, though there were rumors when Edmunton was bought many years back that they'd move here (LOL @ rumors).

We had Arena Football here, but that was way back in the mid 90s and it didn't last long, which sucks too because those games were fun. Hell, I enjoyed Arena Soccer (Houston Hotshots) too, while it lasted.

I'm not necessarily looking for something I can go watch in person (again, obviously, because I live in a shite town). The Rockets suck, the Texans are way way way overpriced for being a mediocre team, and I'm not taking my life in my hands to go watch our "pro" soccer team (I have zero interest in them anyway).
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2015, 08:34:25 PM
Actually, your MLS team is pretty good.  They've played for several MLS cups and had a handful of guys who are/were regulars for the USMNT - Brian Ching, Stuart Holden, Brad Evans, Ricardo Clark, Damarcus Beasley (only US player to appear in 4 World Cups), Brian Mullan, and Chris Wondolowski (before anyone knew who he was)
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: MetalDog on January 26, 2015, 08:53:19 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2015, 08:34:25 PM
Actually, your MLS team is pretty good.  They've played for several MLS cups and had a handful of guys who are/were regulars for the USMNT - Brian Ching, Stuart Holden, Brad Evans, Ricardo Clark, Damarcus Beasley (only US player to appear in 4 World Cups), Brian Mullan, and Chris Wondolowski (before anyone knew who he was)

This being true would require me knowing who he is now ;)
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 27, 2015, 07:15:57 AM
Quote from: MetalDog on January 26, 2015, 08:53:19 PM

This being true would require me knowing who he is now ;)

You're not alone, brother.

Though I can appreciate they are big names in the sport, the only one I know is Beckham, and that's because of popular culture. And the LA Galaxy, for the same reason. Other than that, I know shite about the MLS...which is more than I know about the Premier League. :)
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 27, 2015, 07:40:04 AM
Wondo has been one of the top goal-scorers in MLS for several years now and was on the 2014 World Cup team. He missed the simple tap in shoot at the end of regulation time against Belgium that would've sent the US through to quarterfinals
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 27, 2015, 07:47:48 AM
So, he's the Tony Romo of soccer?
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 27, 2015, 08:04:38 AM
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on January 27, 2015, 07:47:48 AMSo, he's the Tony Romo of soccer?

He's the Scott Norwood of soccer - pretty good performer who choked once on the biggest stage and will forever be defined by it.  He's not (so far) been a serial playoff/stretch run choke artist
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 27, 2015, 09:04:04 AM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 27, 2015, 08:04:38 AM
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on January 27, 2015, 07:47:48 AMSo, he's the Tony Romo of soccer?

He's the Scott Norwood of soccer - pretty good performer who choked once on the biggest stage and will forever be defined by it.  He's not (so far) been a serial playoff/stretch run choke artist

Yeah, I remember Norwood - was watching that Super Bowl and clearly remember his miss. :)
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 27, 2015, 07:30:37 PM
I think you should learn the art of tantric sex.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: MetalDog on January 27, 2015, 07:56:55 PM
Sounds like Star is offering to teach you.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 29, 2015, 07:23:20 AM
Mirth might get jealous. I won't bring that kind of IT wrath on me and my computer, thanks.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: Gusington on February 01, 2015, 09:38:51 PM
When I was in college I occasionally went to Albany River Rats (AHL) games...great fun and at that time tickets were like 5 dollah.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on February 02, 2015, 09:02:29 AM
I think I caught 10 seconds total of the Super Bowl last night, and that was purely by accident. I heard it was a good game but strangely, I feel no pang of guilt for missing it. I also heard the commercials were terrible, so it's just as well.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 02, 2015, 09:25:52 AM
the commercials were thoroughly unmemorable
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: Barthheart on February 02, 2015, 09:34:31 AM
Go with Hockey.

The season lasts from October to June so lots of watching to be had.
Great fast paced game. Not a lot of down time.
Learn to watch the players no the puck. You can tell where the puck is by how the players move. This is lost on a lot of people when they start watching the sport, including one US network with the glowing pucks....  ::)

There's enough of us Canuks on here to answer any questions you might have. :coolsmiley:



Go Sens!  O0
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on February 02, 2015, 09:36:43 AM
Opie and Jim were bashing the commercials this morning, so I heard all about the Godawful Nationwide one - and saw the meme for it too...LOL.

Also heard about the stupid "make it happy" initiative that Coke was trying. Clearly, Coke does not understand the Internet. Jim Norton tweeted this morning, "I need to hop in the shower, but my crying wife and those damn paramedics won't get the hell out of my way. #MakeItHappy #Nationwide"

:2funny:

Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 02, 2015, 09:53:23 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on February 02, 2015, 09:34:31 AMThe season lasts from October to June so lots of watching to be had.
Soccer in Europe runs August - May, with international tournaments over the summer.  MLS runs March - November, so plenty of overlap.  You can pretty much watch soccer year-round if you want :)
(As an aside, FIFA keeps yelling at MLS to get on the "international calendar" that include games in DEC-JAN-FEB;  MLS keeps pointing out that January games outdoors in Toronto, Salt Lake City, Foxborough, Montreal, Vancouver, Chicago, and Denver are pretty dumb.  MLS will never build in the massive 'winter break' that Russia / Sweden / Norway do b/c they're not going to leave the sports pages for 6 weeks and have to recapture everyone's attention)

Quote from: Barthheart on February 02, 2015, 09:34:31 AMGreat fast paced game. Not a lot of down time.
More down time than a soccer match

Quote from: Barthheart on February 02, 2015, 09:34:31 AMLearn to watch the players no the puck. You can tell where the puck is by how the players move. This is lost on a lot of people when they start watching the sport, including one US network with the glowing pucks....  ::)
Yeah, the glowing puck was stupid.  Thankfully, they're not using it anymore, and national broadcasts aren't even on Fox.

The advice about watching away from the puck is good advice in hockey, and soccer, and basketball, too.  Once you know what you're looking at, it's amazing how much more of the game you see.  There was a great play in the Newcastle-Hull game this weekend where the winger without the ball took off toward the sideline like he was opening up for a pass; the defender went with him, and left too big of a gap between him and the central defender, and the guy with the ball took abou 3 more dribbles and blasted a shot for a goal.  Perfect "beginner" example of how moving without the ball can have a big impact.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: Barthheart on February 02, 2015, 10:27:29 AM
Soccer is right behind basketball and then baseball as the most boring sports to watch in TV. Even curling is better to watch than any of those three.  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: mirth on February 02, 2015, 10:41:30 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on February 02, 2015, 10:27:29 AM
Soccer is right behind basketball and then baseball as the most boring sports to watch in TV. Even curling is better to watch than any of those three.  :uglystupid2:

+1 !!!!
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 02, 2015, 11:12:19 AM
meh, to each their own.

I'm not going to try to convince someone they have to like something they don't want to.  I enjoy soccer because it's constantly moving and flowing, it is tactical and strategic at the same time, because you really have to think hard about your personnel groupings / man management since you have limited subs, and because it's very neatly time-boxed (2 hours for a full broadcast) with almost no commercials. 

Over the long haul, the more I've paid attention to soccer leagues and not just individual games or players or tournaments, the more I appreciate that the "champion" of the league is the team that proved it on the field over the entire season, not the team that got hot at tournament time.  The endurance challenge managing a squad over 8 months, with injuries, transfers, fatigue, current form, etc. is something I've really come to appreciate, and really changes your view on how the entire season is structured.

That's my 2c - I'm way past the point in my life of trying to convince you it has to be your 2c too :)
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on February 02, 2015, 11:48:23 AM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on February 02, 2015, 11:12:19 AM
with almost no commercials. 

Hmm...that's a HUGE plus in favor. I hate commercials on principle and the NFL's are just terrible, especially those awful domestic violence ones. Especially highly annoying when they come back from a commercial break to tell me "The NFL is brought to you today by" and then recount each of the terrible sponsors we just had to sit through. And then added bonus when the whore out the names of the halftime report, sideline reports, weather reports, or just about anything they can. It's highly, HIGHLY annoying and a big reason why I don't sit through football games anymore.

Biz is biz, I get that - but Jesus Christ, let up on the pedal you frigging pimps.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: Marty Ward on February 02, 2015, 12:09:57 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on February 02, 2015, 10:27:29 AM
Soccer is right behind basketball and then baseball as the most boring sports to watch in TV. Even curling is better to watch than any of those three.  :uglystupid2:

If the doctor gives me a week to live, I want the time counted like the last 2 minutes of an NBA game. I'll have months!
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: BanzaiCat on February 02, 2015, 12:46:21 PM
Watching a baseball game is like sitting down to read a book that has one word per page and you have to spend at least ten minutes on each page before you can look at the next one.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: Marty Ward on February 02, 2015, 12:58:52 PM
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on February 02, 2015, 12:46:21 PM
Watching a baseball game is like sitting down to read a book that has one word per page and you have to spend at least ten minutes on each page before you can look at the next one.

That's the beauty of baseball. It has a pace that is totally different than any other sport. It's the perfect summer sport.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 02, 2015, 11:59:58 PM
or.... you could say fuck it and play more games.  ya might even get good at some.
Title: Re: If I Give Up The NFL...
Post by: Centurion40 on February 04, 2015, 03:19:05 PM
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on January 26, 2015, 01:04:25 PM
Thanks for the resources; I'll check 'em out.

Women's curling? I'm almost afraid to Google it. Almost.  :D

The best part about Women's Curling, is that they let you drink beer in the arena whilst you watch it.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zastavki.com%2Fpictures%2Foriginals%2F2014%2F_Canadian_women_s_curling_team_won_gold_medals_069896_.jpg&hash=818ba1bbb6232c9209b57ed8722a6b7434238294)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestarphoenix.com%2Fmobile%2Fnews%2Fsaskatoon%2Fcms%2Fbinary%2F7866266.jpg%3Fsize%3Dmobile290&hash=46e027c6faee297898cedac841a0f6f1f2d74442)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3ms4ve1eb1we30q8w527h1j9f4u.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com%2Fwp-content%2F%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F02%2FSOCHI_OLYMPICS_CURLING_WOMEN_214327248-930x600.jpg&hash=e4319fe73af021eef3964d5cb7a59d9af45046a7)