you forgot to add these re: american "football":
1. the players wear rather silly tights that are actually two sizes smaller. or more.
2. oh and shoulder pads and helmets too. makes you wonder if it is really men who are playing the sport.
3. time out is called for anytime anyway they want. wtf??! is this truly a sport? or an exhibition event purely to entertain?

and i wonder which sport they copied the "football" from and then named it american football? is it necessary to add the word "american"? to differentiate it from which particular sport? like as if nobody will know it's an *american* invented game?

and if it's so mighty a sport, how come there seems to be a growing number of college boys playing "soccer" and plying their trade in the English Premiership? care to enlighten me on this, anyone?

oh and may i add a certain Brian McBride scored two goals on the weekend. not bad for a Yank.

oh and how come the U S of A tend to send a team of rugby players for international meets then? seeking world domination?

baseball: isn't it the canucks who came out with the sport? no? whatever, it reminds me of the childhood game called, erm, rounders.

mind, may i remind whomever who actually invented the english language. so ok, the language is a mish-mash of languages with a germanic base blah yadda yawn but still.

No doubt we should discuss this over a pitcher of 辛辣马丁尼. Extra dry.

WR - you're on.

In Australia, the women wear pads, the men play REAL FOOTBALL (Aussie Rules of course).

Now if only the Swans could get their act together again....

"B" must be approaching some sort of record for the most misinformation in a single blog comment. Football (American) is a collision sport, with running. Rugby is a running sport, with collisions. You simply cannot play competitive American football without protective equipment -- the injuries would be horrendous. Having played both sports at a competitive level there is simply no comparison between the degree of impact in football and rugby.

The skills required in soccer and football are completely different. Is B implying that the fact the US turns out among the best professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey players in the world, and still has a few lads left over to ship off to the so-called Premier League is a bad thing?

Yes, the US sends a rugby team to international competitions. The US sends a basketball team. Both suck. What's his point?

No, the Canadians did NOT invent baseball.

LOL, Simon. pretty good description of American football, I'll give you that. Loved the "stripey guys" line.

Unfortunately, Americans are superior to the rest of the world in EVERYTHING.

Yes, I am THE ugly American.

There is only Rugby.

There is only Rugby.

(I thought repeating it might more thoroughly make my point. Which is irrefutable, by the way.)

Conrad - if i do really know what's the exact difference between rugby and football, do you think i'd make that sort of comment which led you to quote, "approaching some sort of record for the most misinformation in a single blog comment"??

also, in no way did i imply that it's a bad thing to have americans playing in the premiership. on the contrary, it is refreshing to have folk from across the pond to make their mark (even the BBC commentators repeated/praised McBride's goals ad nauseum) in a sport that is still not gaining wide/fullest support from the public and sponsors. ok so i may be misinformed on this last bit there.

btw, i'm NOT a he.

Of course, the real American sport is Round Ball, as even in the poorest neighborhoods, there is a hoop available for the future Michael Jordan's to begin developin' the skills that will take them far. Fast movin', highly athletic, goin' both ways players, and the worst refs in any sport there is. Just ask Mark Cuban.

b stands for beauteous big-breasted bimbo?

Hey, now, don't get angry with me. I am admittedly "a dog," you know? I really deplore having my nose slapped with a newspaper.

I first saw Aussie Football late one night on ESPN back in the '80s. It both fascinated, and baffled me. It is a wonderful mayhem, as is rugby. They're some tough guys. But not as tough as Amercan football players.

American Football is a glorious sport. Yes, there's an offense and a defense. Once upon a time they were the same players, and even now there are a very few with the necessary skills to play on both sides of the ball. The positions have become so specialized that if an offensive lineman has to move one spot over, he doesn't know what to do. Moving the ball in 10 yard increments may not seem exciting, but if you understand the game, and what's going on then there's a lot to watch.

As for baseball...well, the only thing ever said by George Will that I can agree with is that "Only boring people are bored by baseball".

Baseball is proof of the existence of God.

And just for the record, an American college football team would destroy any Aussie football or rugby team. Until you've put on the pads, you have no idea...

I'd be embarassed too if scrubby American kids that wouldn't dare think of playing football were coming over to my country and taking jobs.