American Football and Baseball: A Pet Peeve

poter · 12-14-2007, 05:12 AM

Okay, so I've started to learn about American (NFL) Football, in order to play with some online friends in a fantasy football league.

Here's what I don't get: watching the Colts/Saints 2007/08 opening game, much to-do was made about the unfurling of the 2006 Superbowl "WORLD" Championship flag for the Indianapolis Colts.

Now, I may be new to football, but there is exactly ONE country that plays in the NFL. So why the claim to "world" championship status for the Superbowl winners?

And while I'm on this soapbox, what about the "World" Series for baseball? Exactly TWO countries play in the American and National Baseball Leagues. So it's not really a "World" series now, is it?

In the NHL, the "National" ? Hockey League, there is no claim to "world" championship status. Only, rightly and correctly, the claim to be Stanley Cup Champions.

What gives?
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Iceman-bass14 · 12-14-2007, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poter

Okay, so I've started to learn about American (NFL) Football, in order to play with some online friends in a fantasy football league.

Here's what I don't get: watching the Colts/Saints 2007/08 opening game, much to-do was made about the unfurling of the 2006 Superbowl "WORLD" Championship flag for the Indianapolis Colts.

Now, I may be new to football, but there is exactly ONE country that plays in the NFL. So why the claim to "world" championship status for the Superbowl winners?

And while I'm on this soapbox, what about the "World" Series for baseball? Exactly TWO countries play in the American and National Baseball Leagues. So it's not really a "World" series now, is it?

In the NHL, the "National" ? Hockey League, there is no claim to "world" championship status. Only, rightly and correctly, the claim to be Stanley Cup Champions.

What gives?
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Because if you were to put the best players at every position from the NFL on one team they could probalby beat anyone out there.And you forgot NBA.Or do you not care about that?

FTS · 12-14-2007, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman-bass14

Because if you were to put the best players at every position from the NFL on one team they could probalby beat anyone out there.And you forgot NBA.Or do you not care about that?

Well, if we're talking basketball, then Spain are actually the world champions

But I kind of agree with Poter, at least on the American football front. I think if there were to be an international competition, it would at least get people more interested in the sport in other countries. The NFL tried to do that this year by having that match in London, but one match a year doesn't seem like much.

I know New Zealand has an American football team. Canada has the CFL, so they've got players. And there was/is the Euro NFL. I'm sure there are other countries that have American football teams. I mean even if the U.S.A. did whip the pants off everyone, it'd be fun to watch, and it'd be a great experience for all the other countries. Heck, even if they played AFL guys, that'd still be good experience.

Kind of like the Churchill cup (rugby) held in North America (Canada and a couple of U.S. states). Canada and the U.S. get a chance to play against the N.Z. Maori squad, and some other countries, just to get some international experience, and it's great for the other sides as well.

I don't know. I don't have a gripe with the NFL claiming "World champs". I just think it'd be fun to watch some international games.

sabertooth181 · 12-14-2007, 06:32 AM

Any professional football team from another country would easily be pounded by any college team in the Top 10. Football is an American game, and the NFL is the only legitimate venue for football.

As for baseball, the MLB is the top league in the world. All the best players from every country come to play in America. Since the MLB represents sucha wide range of nationalities, it truly is the World Series.

Iceman-bass14 · 12-14-2007, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kepa

Well, if we're talking basketball, then Spain are actually the world champions

No i was just wondering why she pointed out MLB and NFL and not the NBA.

Quote:

I know New Zealand has an American football team. Canada has the CFL, so they've got players. And there was/is the Euro NFL. I'm sure there are other countries that have American football teams. I mean even if the U.S.A. did whip the pants off everyone, it'd be fun to watch, and it'd be a great experience for all the other countries. Heck, even if they played AFL guys, that'd still be good experience.

Unless im mistaken the Euro NFL was basicly where the scrubs from NFL teams went to play in the offseason and to get better.

***Art*** · 12-14-2007, 02:47 PM

NFL Europa started as the World League, with teams from US and Europe. Eventually (Just one year after the Sacramento Surge won the World League title), it became all European.

Anyhow, I think they have a claim to "World Champion" status, being as they are the #1 team in the #1 league for the sport in the world. Japan actually has claim to world champion in baseball, though I would have liked to see a true representation of a Team USA. But the World Series, as pointed out, truly is a world event.

+SEAL+ · 12-14-2007, 04:47 PM

I believe that baseball was scrubbed from the Olympics this time around, wasn't it? Because of the Americans...

***Art*** · 12-14-2007, 04:57 PM

Because of the Americans.. what? Because of the Americans being so stinking good at it?

normajean777 · 12-14-2007, 05:00 PM

The winners of the NFL are really world champions. Its not like the players on the team are restrticted to Americans. Any good Canadians will go to play in the NFL, and anybody rejected from the NFL could very easily get in the CFL (a much lesser tier in football, the players all need second jobs because they make enough playing).

I'm not sure about baseball because there are so many countries that play baseball very seriously. If you fly over Cuba you see hundreds of baseball fields everywhere. I think S. America plays alot of it to.

Anyway I think international competitions are always pretty dumb. Theres no real sport or incentive in them. Maybe if they had annual seasons and tried to make money, maybe it could be fun. But the Olympics and such are so pointless.

***Art*** · 12-14-2007, 05:14 PM

Wait, people from any nation can play in the NFL, but not in MLB? I think you are confused.

Big names in Baseball born outside of the US: Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki, Daisuke Matzuaka, Kaz Matsui, Mariano Rivera, Hideki Okajima, Benjie Molina, Omar Vizquel, Francisco Rodriguez, Vlad Guerrero, Takashi Saito... And that is just the tip of the iceberg. American Baseball is truly global as far as the players go.

As for the Olympics, I find them to be fascinating, and I really love watching them. There are, in large part, a bunch of athletes who are not going to get rich for doing what they do, and they do it anyhow.

Iceman-bass14 · 12-14-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by +SEAL+

I believe that baseball was scrubbed from the Olympics this time around, wasn't it? Because of the Americans...

I do hope your not saying that only the americans in the MLB have taken steroids.....cause im sure there are a lot of internationals that have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by normajean777

Anyway I think international competitions are always pretty dumb. Theres no real sport or incentive in them. Maybe if they had annual seasons and tried to make money, maybe it could be fun. But the Olympics and such are so pointless.

I hope your kidding.I love the Olympics and its fun to have nations compete against each other.It shows USA dominance

.

+SEAL+ · 12-14-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman-bass14

I do hope your not saying that only the americans in the MLB have taken steroids.....cause im sure there are a lot of internationals that have.

No...it was based on American prowess, IIRC, but I could be recalling incorrectly. But I think they got rid of it, because we were too good.

**thesteve** · 12-14-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kepa

Well, if we're talking basketball, then Spain are actually the world champions

.

indeed...US teams in the international scene have been terrible for the last decade or so. Judging from the way the US team dominated the qualifying tournament this past year I expect they will bring home gold again in 2008. I am glad to see the effect that the '92 team had in spreading basketball around the globe though. International competition has definitely improved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art

Because of the Americans.. what? Because of the Americans being so stinking good at it?

haha...that's what I was thinking...then again, we've only sent college players in the past.

Though, from what i remember reading, the reason baseball was canned wasn't just the US, but just that the Pacific Rim and Caribbean were the only competitive teams

wjarmusch · 12-14-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normajean777

Anyway I think international competitions are always pretty dumb. Theres no real sport or incentive in them. Maybe if they had annual seasons and tried to make money, maybe it could be fun. But the Olympics and such are so pointless.

I know someone already said it....but I truly hope you're kidding.

It isn't a real sport if they don't make money???

I find the Olympics one of the best sporting events of all time. Personally I'd take a gold medal over most any other award in any sport. Seriously, I think it's great seeing people compete for their country. You get all the best IN THE WORLD to compete. How is that pointless? I can't even fathom your point...

"maybe it could be fun"
Try telling the athletes that get televised in hundreds of countries around the world that it would be more fun if they changed it.

**thesteve** · 12-15-2007, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjarmusch

I find the Olympics one of the best sporting events of all time. Personally I'd take a gold medal over most any other award in any sport. Seriously, I think it's great seeing people compete for their country. You get all the best IN THE WORLD to compete. How is that pointless? I can't even fathom your point...

"maybe it could be fun"
Try telling the athletes that get televised in hundreds of countries around the world that it would be more fun if they changed it.

IIRC, with the exception of basketball and possibly hockey now (I'm not sure) all of the athletes in the Olympics are amateurs. When baseball was an Olympic sport, the best weren't being sent, just the best amateurs...in other sports this isn't as big of a deal, but for the major sports it is.