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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2009 21:48:33 GMT
I know there's a footie thread and a cricket thread but there isn't a thread for any other sports so I thought it might be worthwhile having a general thread for all non footie or cricket chat.
Anyone into any sports other than footie & cricket ?
I love the NFL (American football) and can't wait for the new regular season to start in September. They only play from the beginning of September to early January in the regular season, then they have the play-offs, leading up to the Superbowl which is usually around the end of Jan or early Feb.
I think the English Premier League could learn a lot from the NFL model. For a start, there is a short season so there is no element of "overkill" by people seeing too much of it, they have a salary cap for players and the worst teams one year get to pick the best players coming through from the college football scene the next year. This ensures a much fairer system and means that you don't get one team dominating because they can afford the best players.
My team are the Cincinnati Bengals, who are generally pretty mediocre with occasional bouts of average-ness ;D I chose them because they played the first ever game I saw live on tv back in the mid 80's and I've stuck with them since.
I also like a bit of motor racing and quite enjoy Formula 1. Sadly, with all the rows going on at the moment, it looks like there might not be a Formula 1 championship in it's current format after this season. The row appeared to have been resolved a couple of weeks back but it seems to have flared up again this week. Still, at least there's a race to watch this weekend.
I also love golf. I play it (badly) so I enjoy watching the pro's show me how it should be done ! It's only when you've played the game that you realise how bloody difficult it is and how good the pro's must be to make it look so easy.
Any other sports fans out there ?
FA x
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Post by Spruance on Jul 8, 2009 22:25:57 GMT
Yes, good idea Andy. I am not a particular fan of main stream sport given that I absolutely hate football - and always have - cannot understand cricket and find tennis barely watchable although I did watch some of Murray's matches and most of the 5th set tie-break with Roddick and Federer. I do enjoy watching golf on TV and was a member of the local GC for twelve years from 1978 but as I never managed to get round in less than 100 gross in all that time, 102 being my personal best, I gave up playing in favour of watching. I like Formula One as well, and am one of those nutters who gets up in the middle of the night to watch the season opening Australian GP. It would be nice if they could drop the arguments and get on with the racing and preferably throw the ever changing rule book out of the window. Safety has to be paramount and also some means to allow regular overtaking. What I would like to see in F1 would be a rule whereby each driver takes one race in another team's car. So how would Jenson Button fare in a Force India, or turning the tables, Giancarlo Fisichella in the Brawn car? The team points would stay with the car and the driver would keep the enhanced or subdued tally. Also, what about extra points for fastest lap or most overtaking manouevres etc?
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Post by Tig on Jul 8, 2009 23:00:18 GMT
I quite like showjumping (probably puts me in a minority of one ), but don't like horse racing. I enjoy watching some athletics events, diving, gymnastics, and I find hockey very exciting to watch. I also like watching skiing, grand slalem and the jumping, also tobogganing (sp?). I quite like football - though not a 'fanatic', quite like rugby - it is a bit hectic at times! Not much into cricket, golf or Formula 1, but I can watch some tennis (I too watched Murray ) Can't watch boxing - makes me cringe when they get hit! Kinda ruins it Darts is OK, snooker can be a bit slow and boring at times ... The last sporting event I attended though was the childrens school sports day, so I am an armchair enthusiast x Tig
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Post by Auricula on Jul 8, 2009 23:04:41 GMT
I like and follow most sports. My parents were huge rugby league fans ( they came from Yorkshire) so I was brought up on that as well as cricket and footy. I follow Wakefield Wildcats and Keighley Cougars, for my sins. Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears are my American football teams.I follow the results of the English basketball and ice hockey,formula one, and most other sports.Never played much myself but have 2 very sporty sons so we spent years watching them. About all I do now is swimming. Hope F1 sort themselves out soon
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Post by Auricula on Jul 8, 2009 23:17:10 GMT
Tig reminded me.Although I follow who's who, I can't watch boxing of any description - I even leave the room when any fight scenes come on tv. I'm not anti.........just can't bear to watch or listen
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Post by Spruance on Jul 8, 2009 23:19:24 GMT
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Post by Auricula on Jul 8, 2009 23:22:06 GMT
;D ;D Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks!!! ;D ;D
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Post by Dr Bill on Jul 9, 2009 8:07:49 GMT
Love golf (but don't get time to play it). Like proper cricket (not the bash it and hope style). Look forward to 6 Nations rugby every year. Used to watch NFL but don't see it these days. Quite enjoy velodrome cycling.
Loath football.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2009 18:15:21 GMT
It's good to see there's one or two other NFL fans out there. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a minority of one with the NFL !!
Good to see some other sports being discussed too. I'd personally like to see the F1 drivers draw lots for position on the grid, rather than the qualifying sessions. The person finishing last in the previous race gets to draw the first number next time etc. That way, you could get some of the faster cars near the back and there would be lots of overtaking. The current system of the faster the car, the nearer the front of the grid you get doesn't always make for interesting racing.
And for something that may be a little controversial, my suggestion is that they do away with the Monaco Grand Prix. In years gone by when the cars were much slower, it must have been great to watch but now I find it so dull, with absolutely no overtaking etc, that I barely watch it.
How does anyone feel about the British GP being moved from Silverstone ? I think it's a shame and holding it at Donington Park just won't be the same.
FA x
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Post by Auricula on Jul 9, 2009 18:21:49 GMT
I agree with you about the Monaco GP, it's just a parade
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Post by Jasmine on Jul 9, 2009 18:42:07 GMT
I quite like showjumping (probably puts me in a minority of one ), but don't like horse racing. x Tig We can be a minority of 2 Tig - I love show jumping but not horse racing although I love to watch the horses thundering across the gallops near Eastbourne.
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Post by Spruance on Jul 9, 2009 19:06:26 GMT
I don't much care for Monaco either. They could perhaps do something like the Goodwood events there but as a race it is a complete waste of time.
I like the drawing lots idea. Another option would be to say that the leading drivers had to start from the back row on a set number of races.
As for Silverstone, my understanding of the reason behind the move is that a certain vertically challenged person feels that the facilities are archaic, but if that was truly the case no sporting events would be held there. Then again the race hasn't always been at Silverstone, so why not establish a rota with Donington and also maybe include Brands Hatch? It works for golf.
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Post by nightowl on Jul 10, 2009 9:13:48 GMT
I quite like showjumping (probably puts me in a minority of one ), but don't like horse racing. x Tig We can be a minority of 2 Tig - I love show jumping but not horse racing although I love to watch the horses thundering across the gallops near Eastbourne. A minority of 3, Tig and Jas! i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gif But you both already know I am horse crazy! i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/cheesy.gif It used to be on so much more in the 70s and 80s than it is now, so I am not so familiar with the equine stars as I was then (My fave was Ryans Son but can't remember who rode him!) i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/rolleyes.gif Also love to watch the eventing (even the dressage if they show it!), and I love to follow NH jump racing but not the flat (over too quick and the horses aren't around long enough to get to know them. Usually only 2 0r 3 seasons at most) i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/sad.gif I know it's sad when a horse is fatally injured, but that can happen any time. A friend's beloved horse managed to break a leg in the field on its own i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/cry.gif Anyway, sport......hate football, rugby, cricket, tennis, in fact almost anything involving balls, except snooker. Not keen on athletics. Don't go out of my way to watch any other sport really, except the gee-gees i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/rolleyes.gif
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Post by Tig on Jul 10, 2009 11:25:00 GMT
Ryans Son was ridden by John Whittaker if I remember correctly, he also rode the lovely grey, Milton Used to love watching Harvey Smith (O'Malley comes to mind), and David Broome, and an Irish rider whose name I can't recall, but he rode a small chestnut horse which was very sprightly and quite exciteable ;D x Tig
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Post by nightowl on Jul 10, 2009 13:06:35 GMT
Ryans Son was ridden by John Whittaker if I remember correctly, he also rode the lovely grey, Milton Used to love watching Harvey Smith (O'Malley comes to mind), and David Broome, and an Irish rider whose name I can't recall, but he rode a small chestnut horse which was very sprightly and quite exciteable ;D x Tig Was that Eddie Macken and (I think) Boomerang? Remember the dinky little Stroller and Marion Coates/Mould? I didn't like Harvey much, thought he was a brute i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/angry.gif But he could certainly ride - saw him jumping really big stuff bareback at the Olympia Christmas Show.
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Post by Tig on Jul 10, 2009 18:13:40 GMT
Well done NO, yes Eddie Macken & Boomerang (very apt name ;D) and I recall Stroller!
x Tig
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Post by Auricula on Jul 11, 2009 22:16:57 GMT
I loved Annerlie Drummond-Hay's name!! Flipping Australians.....not content with whipping both the men and women at cricket, they take pole position in the Grand Prix!!!
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Post by Tig on Jul 11, 2009 22:24:17 GMT
Bit of a wet blanket this cricket lark ;D In true sporting tradition ... well done the Aussies Not much chance of a comeback on that score, well from a person who knows zilch about the game, it still seems unlikely Enjoyed watching some of the athletics though, and the Tour de France - lots of lovely lycra x Tig
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Post by Auricula on Jul 11, 2009 22:29:56 GMT
Hmmmmmmmm................... Followed a bit of the athletics, don't know what to think about Chambers
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2009 8:55:13 GMT
Hmmmmmmmm................... Followed a bit of the athletics, don't know what to think about Chambers I do. But it's not repeatable on here ;D FA x
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Post by Barbara on Jul 12, 2009 9:42:52 GMT
Well I'll put my pennyworth in, if you took stuff to boost your body strength, you still have an unfair advantage over people who use their own strength, and not enhancements. so he should NOT be competing IMO.
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Post by nightowl on Jul 12, 2009 10:00:46 GMT
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Post by Spruance on Jul 12, 2009 21:24:46 GMT
I do find it irritating when sports items (or anything for that matter) is misreported on the news. According to the BBC News channel a moment ago, Lewis Hamilton came last in the German Grand Prix after an 'over enthusiastic start' which saw him go off the track and collect a puncture. WRONG! He collected the puncture after being clipped by eventual winner Mark Webber, and the puncture caused him to go off the track. Also, the BBC stated that Rubens Barrichello complained of the Brawn team favouring Button when Barrichello specifically denied that he was suggesting that. Two inaccuracies in just two minutes. Is that a record?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2009 17:45:40 GMT
I do enjoy watching golf on TV and was a member of the local GC for twelve years from 1978 but as I never managed to get round in less than 100 gross in all that time, 102 being my personal best, I gave up playing in favour of watching. I've just re-read your first post on this thread Spru and I realised I missed this bit of it ! I remember my first sub 100 round. I got a real sense of achievement when I finally did it after about 2 years of trying ! I am now disappointed if I don't break 100 but I play golf so rarely these days, I'm more often than not disappointed ;D My best ever round was a gross 86 on a par 70 course but I play off 22 and don't usually manage to even play to that very often these days. It's a bloody frustrating game, I know that !! FA x
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Post by Barbara on Jul 14, 2009 7:06:07 GMT
You'll all have to come bowling with me.
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Post by Missredhead on Jul 14, 2009 9:13:32 GMT
I love football and ice skating, find cricket boring along with snooker, golf and darts. don't mind a bit of tennis or grand prix racing but not too much. Used to watch NFL but not much now, don't like athletics but don't mind swimming.
Can't think of anything else but I'm sure more will come to mind.
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Post by Dr Bill on Jul 14, 2009 9:59:31 GMT
How about fly fishing?
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Post by Missredhead on Jul 14, 2009 11:42:35 GMT
nope...used to go fishing when my son was younger but couldn't put a maggot on or take a fish off the hook....can't watch it on TV though...boring.
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Post by Barbara on Jul 14, 2009 12:01:52 GMT
I like most sport but, FISHING, god that looks sooooo boring.
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Post by nightowl on Jul 16, 2009 11:21:14 GMT
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