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[jwhouk]

The shootout, most hockey fans agree, sucks. But many more hockey fans (at least, those who are born south of the 49th parallel or the southern shores of the Great Lakes) agree that ties suck harder.

[mustang6172]

Ties can be a useful thing when you have a relatively short schedule.  If games have more than 2 possible outcomes, teams are less likely to be tied in the standings.

[BeoPuppy]

Ties suck in any sport ... except american football, where it's positively exciting. Yet another reason why US football is superior to all!!!

...

!!!

[jwhouk]

You haven't seen college football's OT system, have you?

[BeoPuppy]

Never watch college. Watching the NFL is difficult enough in dutchieland, thanks.

[pwhodges]

Uruguay 2, England 1.

Ooops.

[pwhodges]

[jwhouk]

I take it Uruguay's best stars play for Liverpool FC?

And Beo: the NCAA went to an overtime system that some in the NFL would not mind seeing copied. Each team gets the ball at the opponent 25, and has an untimed series to score. Whatever the result, the opposing team then gets the ball at the other 25 and has a chance to score. If one team scores more than the other, they win. If it's still tied after each team has had the ball, they do it again - but this time, no point-after kicks. You have to go for a two-point conversion.

The NFL went to a rule that both teams would have a possession in OT as of last season. This was because OT games were being decided by the coin flip after regulation, because the team taking possession of the ball usually marched down the field, kicked a field goal and won the game. If a team does that now, they have to kick off and let the other team have the ball.

[pwhodges]

I take it Uruguay's best stars play for Liverpool FC?

Yes; but note also: Liverpool F.C.

[ev4n]

And Beo: the NCAA went to an overtime system that some in the NFL would not mind seeing copied. Each team gets the ball at the opponent 25, and has an untimed series to score. Whatever the result, the opposing team then gets the ball at the other 25 and has a chance to score. If one team scores more than the other, they win. If it's still tied after each team has had the ball, they do it again - but this time, no point-after kicks. You have to go for a two-point conversion.

I'm curious when they adopted this.  Sounds like what the CFL has had for a long time.

I always figured the NFL's system was fast but inherently unfair because TV time slots were more important than anything else in the NFL.

[jwhouk]

If memory serves, it's been in place since the BCS went to a separate championship game.


EDIT: 1996 for the NCAA, 2010 for the modified NFL rule.

[GarandMarine]

First female back in NCAA Football http://www.stack.com/2014/06/09/shelby-osborn-football/

[jwhouk]

Nice. And she's not a kicker.

[GarandMarine]

Hell no. She's a back. That's awesome.

[mustang6172]

I always figured the NFL's system was fast but inherently unfair because TV time slots were more important than anything else in the NFL.

I've always thought the NFL should do away the the sudden death aspect entirely and play the whole 15 minutes.

[jwhouk]

That would defeat the purpose of playing overtime to determine a winner in the first place.

[Detachable Felix]

Not sure if any fellow Oz forumites were just watching the Crows vs Bombers AFL game, but I just wanted to flag with y'all that victorian umpires are biased motherfuckers. Maybe this post belongs in the complaints or vitriolic letters threads, but eh.

[ev4n]

I saw John Allison complaining (gently!) about how Costa Rica played soccer the other day on twitter.  My gut response was "try bing in the same continent, and dealing with referees every darned game that think that flopping and diving and time wasting and arguing with the refs are just smart football.

[Patrick]

man fuck association football for that reason, people actually believe that shit. "it's not cheating if you don't get caught and it does nothing to damage your integrity" is some bullshit I've heard Actual Soccer Fans say.

[jwhouk]

I've heard some people over on this side of the pond say "It ain't cheatin' if you don't get caught." And a corollary: "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'."

[ev4n]

The former Canadian keeper explained it well.  They think it's smart football, and they think we're idiots for not flopping, diving, and faking injuries to stall for time when defending a lead.

[GarandMarine]

As Iranian and American military forces begin to work together in Iraq, a far more peaceful coalition is occurring in Brazil.

[jwhouk]

Welp, back into obscurity for another four years.

In other news - #### it, Stastny just had to sign with the Blues, didn't he?

[LocoJoe]

Tim Howard with the record setting performance, though. I don't care that the US lost, that was one hell of a game.

[mustang6172]

I'm just glad the U.S. is out.

[Patrick]

me too, now I don't have to listen to all the douchenuggets who like soccer for one month every 4 years

[GarandMarine]

^ yut. Back to sports that don't suck!

[mustang6172]

me too, now I don't have to listen to all the douchenuggets who like soccer for one month every 4 years

You sounded different about fair weather fans about 3 months ago.

Great, baseball season again. Ugh. I fucking hate baseball. Never heard of a sport that had more of an overwhelmingly self-righteous attitude among the fanbase, and the following is my story.

I spent 3 years of my life trying to learn about baseball because I found it interesting. After having never grown up around sports, followed by 5 years of living in Europe, where baseball is almost unheard of, it was fascinating, exhilarating. I moved back to the U.S. in 2009, my best friend (a Giants fan) got me started watching baseball at the start of 2010, and lo and behold, SF wins the World Series. I was stoked, because my best friend was stoked. The overwhelming majority of baseball fans, upon the discovery that I was a new fan, accused me of being title residue, nothing but some shithead bandwagon fan. Never felt more belittled by something so trivial in my entire life.

I'm just one man, so my absence from the ranks of baseball fans won't impact the sport. But I am still a man, with every right to enjoy a sport for my own reasons, regardless of how long I've been a fan. Treat new fans with patience and respect. Don't bully them into not liking the sport altogether.

[The Seldom Killer]

The Tour de France starts tomorrow. It's the toughest professional sporting event in the world. It starts in the greatest count(r)y in the world. It will be awesome. Already very excited about being able to watch two stages in person. I may have to spend a lot of today jumping up and down.

[pwhodges]

World Cup teams as cartoon characters (or specifically anime, I guess from the file name); the only one I recognise is Germany, represented by Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion (who is not actually German if you follow the plot):



If Germany wants to claim Asuka, though, this is a better one:

(click to show/hide)

[ev4n]

Nice.

I think my time off work coincided with the third week.  Love the tour.

Also happy that they're doing Tourmalet this year.

[The Seldom Killer]

Harrogate tomorrow on the ridiculous off chance that Cavendish gets his yellow jersey. Even more ridiculous is the chance that we'll get to a place where we can see it happen.
Jawbone Hill in Oughtibridge on Sunday as it's close to home but shouldn't be colossally busy.

[ev4n]

I think the people I watch with will be happier if Cav does not get yellow.

We've been to Montreal the last few years.  Something like 15 loops, so we always get some decent photos of the riders.

Enjoy!

[GarandMarine]

The Tour de France starts tomorrow. It's the toughest professional sporting event in the world. It starts in the greatest count(r)y in the world. It will be awesome. Already very excited about being able to watch two stages in person. I may have to spend a lot of today jumping up and down.

Toughest professional sporting event in the world? Bullshit. Try competitive dog sled racing. An average of a thousand miles of travel in some of most hostile and lonely terrain on earth. Lance Armstrong would never survive the Iditarod.

[jwhouk]

GM has a point. Y'all in Europe have NFC about how hard it is to go from point A to point B in Alaska, during the middle of February/March.

Tour de France is the biking equivalent of a Formula One race. Lots of flash and dash, but everyone knows who's going to win before the race even starts.

[The Seldom Killer]

Just checked Wikipedia and it reckons the Iditarod is open to amatuers. I used the word professiona .as a qualifier for a reason. Iditarod isn't the only sporting event I consider tougher than the TdF, I just don't think any of them are pro only.

Also, Lance couldn't even do the TdF without cheating.

[BeoPuppy]

Let's not compare sports dicks, whilst sat behind a computer. There's so many things I couldn't do so for me to have a judgement on what sport is tougher for on the respective athletes is slightly laughable anyway.

[jwhouk]

And we all know hockey's the best sport in the world, right, Patrick?

[The Seldom Killer]

GM has a point. Y'all in Europe have NFC about how hard it is to go from point A to point B in Alaska, during the middle of February/March.

Tour de France is the biking equivalent of a Formula One race. Lots of flash and dash, but everyone knows who's going to win before the race even starts.

Just a couple of comments on this. You do realise that the Iditarod is inspired by the efforts of a Norwegian don't you? It's also been won by both Swiss and Norwegian competitors. In fact getting from point A to Point B in Alaska in the middle of February/March might be considered very similar to the same in Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland, all European countries and all of which used dog sleds for transport in winter.

And if everyone knows who's going to win the Tour de France then perhaps you can tell us who's going to get this year's Yellow, Green, Polka Dot and White jerseys, the Combativity award and each of the individual stages. We'll see if you're right in three weeks time.

[jwhouk]

First, you tell me who's going to win the Hart, Norris, Adams, Selke, Masterton, Pearson, and the Conn Smythe Trophies... next year.

[GarandMarine]

GM has a point. Y'all in Europe have NFC about how hard it is to go from point A to point B in Alaska, during the middle of February/March.

Tour de France is the biking equivalent of a Formula One race. Lots of flash and dash, but everyone knows who's going to win before the race even starts.

Just a couple of comments on this. You do realise that the Iditarod is inspired by the efforts of a Norwegian don't you? It's also been won by both Swiss and Norwegian competitors. In fact getting from point A to Point B in Alaska in the middle of February/March might be considered very similar to the same in Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland, all European countries and all of which used dog sleds for transport in winter.

And if everyone knows who's going to win the Tour de France then perhaps you can tell us who's going to get this year's Yellow, Green, Polka Dot and White jerseys, the Combativity award and each of the individual stages. We'll see if you're right in three weeks time.

None of this changes the fact that the Iditarod and dog sled racing, a global sport in which there really is NO Amateur status (frankly if you're going to survive the sheer amount of time and money required makes it a second job, never mind WIN) makes the Tour de France look like the Tour de Chumps in terms of toughness.

[The Seldom Killer]

I think that shows a gross lack of understanding of what it takes to complete the Tour de France and by extension being a year round professional cyclist.

[GarandMarine]

I think cyclists can get fed to my huskies.

[Barmymoo]

Guys, calm down. This is a thread to discuss sports that you like. If you don't enjoy a particular sport, don't join in the discussion.

[Patrick]

me too, now I don't have to listen to all the douchenuggets who like soccer for one month every 4 years

You sounded different about fair weather fans about 3 months ago.

Great, baseball season again. Ugh. I fucking hate baseball. Never heard of a sport that had more of an overwhelmingly self-righteous attitude among the fanbase, and the following is my story.

I spent 3 years of my life trying to learn about baseball because I found it interesting. After having never grown up around sports, followed by 5 years of living in Europe, where baseball is almost unheard of, it was fascinating, exhilarating. I moved back to the U.S. in 2009, my best friend (a Giants fan) got me started watching baseball at the start of 2010, and lo and behold, SF wins the World Series. I was stoked, because my best friend was stoked. The overwhelming majority of baseball fans, upon the discovery that I was a new fan, accused me of being title residue, nothing but some shithead bandwagon fan. Never felt more belittled by something so trivial in my entire life.

I'm just one man, so my absence from the ranks of baseball fans won't impact the sport. But I am still a man, with every right to enjoy a sport for my own reasons, regardless of how long I've been a fan. Treat new fans with patience and respect. Don't bully them into not liking the sport altogether.

That was different. I had just moved back to the U.S. after 5 years overseas. Before moving overseas, the only sport I knew anything about was American football. I had just learned about a new sport that I found interesting. That's very different from being a fairweather fan.

[ev4n]

My favourite sports are endurance sports, both for watching and participating.

My least favourte sports are epeen jousting.

[Noxx]

I have a "friends with benefits" relationship with professional sports. If something is on the television that looks interesting, I'll watch it for a bit, but I couldn't give a rip for stats, players, trades, etc.

In fact I've always been a bit leery of the major sporting events. Seems a bit a creepy to me, getting 30-50 thousand people in one place, and have them all swear some kind of national fealty (sing the anthem boys!) prior to the contest of two corporate entities. It's weird. And a little Orwellian.

[ev4n]

There are so many good sports that are either never on TV, or only on once or twice a year.

[idontunderstand]

So, this bugs me. Neymar got a knee in his back during the Brazil - Colombia match and apparently it was pretty bad and he broke his back. This is sort of amazing on its own, but now, about the Colombian guy who kneed him, Zuniga. I'm pretty worried he's going to get shot. South America, and Colombia in particular has a pretty bad story about things like that, I remember from the WC '94 there was this Colombian defender who got shot for scoring an own goal. Now, Neymar made this pretty grand statement about how grateful he is for the support from his fans, how playing the finals were always his dream… but he said nothing about Zuniga. I'm not saying it's his responsibility or anything… but he had the chance to say that it was just an accident and how things happen in the heat of a WC match.. etc. There was a perfect moment to say something to cool things down a little. What if Zuniga gets a bullet in his gut? Neymar, of all people, probably had the best chance to prevent it at this point. Zuniga's only option right now is fleeing the country and switch names for all I know. It really sucks.

[Patrick]

That was also 20 years ago. 20 years ago, I was in kindergarten.