A Uniquely American Phenomenon

[-Sigurd-]

From: Freethinker

Superbowl 37 is about to unfold in San Diego California. An estimated 800 million viewers worldwide will share in the drama of this uniquely American spectacle. The Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Bucs are preparing to slug it out for America's most coveted sports prize, the Lombardi trophy.

American football grew out of the English sport rugby...just one more example of the profound cultural influence of our Mother country and closest ally. It began as a form of recreation for the industrial workers in the northeast on their day off in the late 19th century. Once these scrimmages began attracting large crowds of spectators, the entreprenuerial spirit that exemplifies what America is all about came into action and the professional leagues were born.

The invention of the foward pass dramatically transformed American football and further distinguished it from its rugby roots. Because of the aero-dynamic properties of the American football, long down-field passes could be made with incredible accuracy, thus inducing defenses to adapt to the concept of depth and thereby introducing a degree of strategy hitherto unheard of in the realm of team sports. Whereas the fortunes of baseball and basketball franchises in America are largely determined by the talent of the personel, in American football, offensive and defensive signal-calling are an absolute imperative in determining success or failure. Run or pass on offense; blitz or zone on defense. American Football more resembles a game of chess than anything else, with the linemen acting as pawns, the recievers as combination of rook and bishop, and the Quarterback as combined king and queen. It is a fascinating enterprise that combines coaching strategy with the physical talents and mental acuity of the players. So fluid is the possible outcome of every game played that an expression was born to denote this uncertainty: "on any given Sunday...".

Life should be seen in terms that transcend tribe, nation, culture, and doctrine. The man or woman that can do so is truly enlightened. But there is nothing wrong in embracing those aforementioned entities that embody our values and beliefs...even as we conceptualize the larger picture. This is the delicate balance of keeping one foot in a higher plain...and the other in the real world. War is always regrettable, but there are worse alternatives. As the United States prepares for the uncertanties of the coming conflict, I want to say only that I'm proud to be an American and that I hope and pray that the world comprehends and appreciates the enormity of the responsibilities that fall on this country as the planet's only super-power and champion of democracy. While the nay-sayers in Europe castigate us for our perceived recklessness, they at least have the comfort of knowing that they can call on us if they are ever threatened by potential adversaries. We have no such luxury...the buck stops with us...and the loyalties of many of our allies are conditional. If we don't live up to our responsibilities, the field will be left to the purveyors of barbarism and darkness...who would exact tribute from the affluent but impotent nations of Europe and eventually usurp their freedoms and ours. God bless America.

My pick: Raiders by 7

[jambo_03]

"just one more example of the profound cultural influence of our Mother country and closest ally."

For your info mate, your closest ally is Great Britain, which doesn't just constitute England (even though most Americans believe it does) and you're "mother country" was also Great Britain.

Did you ever wonder why you have so many Scottish named cities in the America? There were plenty of Scots in charge of the colonies for Britain believe me.

Are you also aware that there are currently a great number of Scots in Iraq stationed for the "war on terrorism"? These people are funnily enough classed as British regiments!

Tony Blair is also a Scot.

I recommend a good book on British history.

cheers

p.s I had to laugh at John Maddens constant comments that the Raiders were in "world championship" and that they don't seem to care. Funny I thought the Super Bore was an American event?...were the other countries knocked out in the prelims then?

[Ulrikke]

Hey mate:

What exactly is your problem? Hatred to all people that are not Scottish? This 'mate' reads to me as a low, ignorant, uncultured, narrow minded and dwelling in the past attitude.

I see the author correctly referring to Rugby as an English game, I do not see where he implies that the ' Mother country' is not Britain and that Scotland is not part of Britain.

Most people know well enough the continent they live in but not much besides that, geographically speaking. I have had Britons, most precisely Scots, telling me that Argentina is in Brazil. That in no manner portrayed them as less, but if the mistake is made by an American!

Unfortunately the ignorant cannot assimilate that there is a world beyond his/her own, like or not Scotland is part of Britain just as much as England is; and other countries do exist and are world leaders. I think you have some kind of inferiority complex. Thankfully, those like you are indeed very few and a shame to your countrymen, Scots are caring people. I have the experience myself daily! Scots [Britons in general] respect and admire Americans and other citizens of the world.

About your p.s. it is known that sports fans do not exactly represent a country; neither can they be called the cultured percentage of a given population, examples abound and you are the ultimate example here.

Furthermore, you seem to be in the wrong place altogether, this is indeed an American board. Created and maintained by AMERICANS as a homage [one out of many] to SCOTLAND. A place where Scots can come and show the world what their country, culture and people are all about. And instead, an ignorant like you uses this very medium to portray Scots as people with a chip on their shoulders!

[jambo_03]

You can rant and rave and all you want sir, I’ve said nothing unreasonable at all. The reason you are so pissed is because you know I’m right!

It's not generalizations. I have spent on and off 5 years in America living working and studying and I can tell you that the average American does not even know where Scotland is, let alone that it's part of the UK.

The education system in America teaches kids that when it comes to Britain, England is the only one they really need to know about...that's a FACT!

The media is even worse, example was a documentary on Tony Blair (on discovery I believe) in which the narrator referred to the conflicts in the middle east as "a testing time for England’s young PM"

As for YOUR generalizations about me, I couldn’t give a flying f**k what your little sensitive brain has conjured up, but I will answer a couple of your points.

You strike me as a complete paranoid! Where did I say I only attack Americans? For your information my wife is American so I could hardly have the massive grudge you think I do. If the guy had been from Turkey I'd have questioned his knowledge of the particular subject.

Read the whole paragraph about the mother country again, it's quite clear what he means...a 5 year old could figure it out. I've also taken history courses in Oregon in which the Professors ALL referred to Britain as England...these guys are supposed to be the intelligent ones lol!

"About your p.s. it is known that sports fans do not exactly represent a country; neither can they be called the cultured percentage of a given population, examples abound and you are the ultimate example here."

Pray tell where I said he was a representative of Americans? It was merely a humorous example that you chose to make a mountain out of.

Your last paragraph is utterly laughable, on the one hand you talk about how nice the Scots are etc but then someone dares to criticize you they are not welcome on "an AMERICAN board"

How do you know exactly what this board stands for? You've made one post! I think you will find that the majority of people using this board are people who actually LIVE in Scotland...just because YOU have an arrogant pompous view that anyone who disagrees with an American should not be allowed to post, it doesn’t mean the moderators of this forum feel the same.

P.S. If you would like to try again and put a reasonable argument to me without sweeping generalizations and insults I may be prepared to listen to you.

[BoltonBoy21]

foreigners confuse the UK and england because england is by far the biggest member of the union.

[Marti33]

Look Boltonboy, try and stick to giving intelligent commentary instead of your wee boyish comments.

I agree with Ulrikke that essentially Sigurd did not appear to be committing the ultimate sin.

However. on the other hand I am sure you will see jambos point, that it is a fair assumption (with plenty of prescedence)to assume that he/she was indeed calling England as Britain or vice versa.

More importantly why all the fuss, after all there is a Scotland.com and no England.com for a reason, right.

Can't be anything to do with 'bigness' right Boltonboy.

[jambo_03]

Marti, I agree that the original author has not created a massive sin, I do not actually blame him at all, I would tend to blame the American schooling system and it's media. After all this is what He was taught and what He sees everyday (for the most) I think He is guilty of not doing enough research before posting his piece though.

I don't think foreigners confuse Britain with England because of size, it's a number of things. Mainly down to the fact that the English advertise themselves as the true brits to other countries...be it in advertising or your average guy on the street who ventures out of the country.

British Airways recently did an advert in which the pilots were seen listening to the cricket in the cockpit, they were all English...can you imagine if they had gotten 2 Scots a Welshman and a guy from Northern Ireland doing the ad?