Super Bowl?

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

The Americans are fecking stupid and so are their sports

[Rock_Flock_of_Five]

Oh, I see. In that case, the turgid lack of continuity is exactly why it's so commercially viable. More space for advertising. American football may not be the most popular sport in the world but it generates significantly more revenue than any other.

No.
The commercial influence is why it's so turgid and lacking continuity.
It could be a wonderful 'live' global spectator sport, but it never will.

BTW: I don't have any hate towards the sport. I played it myself for a few seasons. I also went to the first ever game at the old Wembley, featuring the Bears vs Cowboys.
Watched the Detroit Lions at the Pontiac Silverdome, and I have a good understanding of the game.

[pomeroy]

We also forget that not only did the Yanks invent the world’s daftest sport but also its most boring I.e. baseball where in nine innings it’s not unusual for a side not to record a single run and where batters can go for weeks without recording a hit!!

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

We also forget that not only did the Yanks invent the world’s daftest sport but also its most boring I.e. baseball where in nine innings it’s not unusual for a side not to record a single run and where batters can go for weeks without recording a hit!!

Baseball I can just about cope with

But American Football and Basketball should be banned completely

[Harry Lime]

Yes I like the NFL, it's one of the most socialist setups which is great considering almost everything else in the US.

The worst teams get the highest draft picks.
Strict salary cap for all teams.

Most team sports could learn something from that.

I prefer baseball though.

[G rangetown Blue]

The Americans are fecking stupid and so are their sports

We can all watch cricket for 5 days instead.

[bobh]

We can all watch cricket for 5 days instead.

Ah, Cricket!
The game that can last 5 days,
teams finish with different scores,
and call it a draw!!

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

I would rather watch cricket , which I find boring , than American football or basketball

I would rather eat tinned ravioli than watch American football

[Wales-Bales]

Good game so far, KC Chiefs struggling a bit, which I wasn't expecting.

[Alan Lung]

I find baseball a great game to watch. Cricket on the other hand is just stupid. What sort of game pauses for a cup of tea and some sandwiches? Should be banned.

[NYCBlue]

We also forget that not only did the Yanks invent the world’s daftest sport but also its most boring I.e. baseball where in nine innings it’s not unusual for a side not to record a single run and where batters can go for weeks without recording a hit!!

Have you ever watched cricket?

[NYCBlue]

Good game so far, KC Chiefs struggling a bit, which I wasn't expecting.

A bit? They were completely overrun from the Eagles second possession onwards. The final score flattered them immensely. It was a rout.

[the other bob wilson]

We also forget that not only did the Yanks invent the world’s daftest sport but also its most boring I.e. baseball where in nine innings it’s not unusual for a side not to record a single run and where batters can go for weeks without recording a hit!!

My least favourite American sport is Basketball where a game seems to be decided by how many times a team doesn’t score when it attacks. I don’t see that making it hard to score is a bad thing in a sport - quite the opposite actually (unless you’re talking about the Eton Wall Game!).

[the other bob wilson]

Just listened to a review of the Superbowl on Radio 5 and, to end, the reporter at the game was asked what would be her 'takeaway" from the weekend, the single stand out thing she'll remember all of her life and she replied "the occasion". There you have it, sadly, it's on the increase all over the world, but it's so typically American to turn sporting contests into events - it's as if they don't believe the sport is strong enough to survive by itself, it has to be turned into an event with all sorts of peripherals to carry it. Mind you, judging by what I've heard about the game, maybe the organisers needed the half time show and all the rest of the extras this year!

[bobh]

Just listened to a review of the Superbowl on Radio 5 and, to end, the reporter at the game was asked what would be her 'takeaway" from the weekend, the single stand out thing she'll remember all of her life and she replied "the occasion". There you have it, sadly, it's on the increase all over the world, but it's so typically American to turn sporting contests into events - it's as if they don't believe the sport is strong enough to survive by itself, it has to be turned into an event with all sorts of peripherals to carry it. Mind you, judging by what I've heard about the game, maybe the organisers needed the half time show and all the rest of the extras this year!

Something like the 6 nations games in Cardiff?

[The Bloop]

The best way to watch it. I’ll avoid the result until the morning, then watch the extended highlights show which is normally 40-45 minutes and only has the plays.

The actual game KO is 11:30pm

Just turned on to the end of the 7-8am highlights show to see both the winning coach and quarterback thanking God and Jesus for the victory. I wonder if the losing equivalents will blame them for the defeat?

[Des Parrot]

Threepeat my arse.

What a trashing. One of the most one sided Super Bowl in decades. They didn’t get into the Philly half until 40 minutes in by which time they were 30+ points down.

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Personally I like American football, I've followed it since the 80s, but I do find it weird that the Superbowl gets so much attention over here. Currently the top 6 stories on the BBC Sport website are about it and it seems to be featuring on pretty much all TV and radio news bulletins.

I guess they've done a great job of marketing it as an event, as TOBW suggested, regardless of the sporting element.

[JamesWales]

Just listened to a review of the Superbowl on Radio 5 and, to end, the reporter at the game was asked what would be her 'takeaway" from the weekend, the single stand out thing she'll remember all of her life and she replied "the occasion". There you have it, sadly, it's on the increase all over the world, but it's so typically American to turn sporting contests into events - it's as if they don't believe the sport is strong enough to survive by itself, it has to be turned into an event with all sorts of peripherals to carry it. Mind you, judging by what I've heard about the game, maybe the organisers needed the half time show and all the rest of the extras this year!

I think you said elsewhere "it's everything I don't want sport to be", or words to that effect. I entirely agree with that. They talk of the high cost of a ticket, the price of a commercial, the abundance of celebrity fans etc as if it's a good thing.

It's not for me, but I do see how it is a big event and I think as you allude to, it's to pad out the sport.

That said, I think the half time show is a pretty decent and traditional part of the game which does broaden it's appeal. A bit like the anthems in the rugby which I am sure is the part some people tune in for more than anything else!

[Wales-Bales]

The Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a 'mare, while Taylor Swift was booed and President Trump got a big cheer. We are living in an inversion.

[Rjk]

We also forget that not only did the Yanks invent the world’s daftest sport but also its most boring I.e. baseball where in nine innings it’s not unusual for a side not to record a single run and where batters can go for weeks without recording a hit!!

baseball was invented in the UK I think

[G rangetown Blue]

74 million voted for trump...see how that's going! In other words don't put all your faith in popularity. Swifty :P

I won’t.

[Sparticus_Mills]

Another "I don't like American Football because I don't understand it" post.

[pomeroy]

baseball was invented in the UK I think

I think you are confusing UK baseball which has mainly been played in Cardiff, Newport and Liverpool and US baseball which is a different game and developed existentially in the game it has become in the US.

[Harry Paget Flashman]

The Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a 'mare, while Taylor Swift was booed and President Trump got a big cheer. We are living in an inversion.

Trump was booed in every clip I've seen.