African American Players

[aqua_duck]

Alot of people have this head in the sand attitude that league players are undoubtably he greatest athletes in the world, they are the greatest athletes in the world for rugby league because their conditioning is based on rugby league but if anyone watched any other sport they'd realise there are alot of blokes playing other sports who are every bit as good natural athletes as we have in the NRL. For example 49er's tight end vernon davis is measured as 191cm tall and 120kg, he can run 40 yards in 4.38 seconds, bench press a 100kg bar 33 times and had a vertical leap of 106cm, just to put that in perspective, very few AFL players wold be able to vertical leap 106cm let alone league players

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

49er's tight end vernon davis is measured as 191cm tall and 120kg, he can run 40 yards in 4.38 seconds

Pretty similar to Vatuvei, he doesn't exactly dominate

Serious though, sorry to repeat myself, but aren't all the black guys playing in Britain (like Richie Barnett from Warrington etc) the same racial make up?

The fact that all the supremely athletic black guys seem to be "African-AMERICAN" surely has something to do with culture then, and not just race?

 

[hutch]

.. and there will be more then a few kooris break 10sec in 100m sprints one or two already have.

the only aussie to have broken the 10 secniod barrier in 100m is patrick johnsen and he is half aboriginal and half irish!

 

[Raiding Dazz]

Pretty similar to Vatuvei, he doesn't exactly dominate

Serious though, sorry to repeat myself, but aren't all the black guys playing in Britain (like Richie Barnett from Warrington etc) the same racial make up?

The fact that all the supremely athletic black guys seem to be "African-AMERICAN" surely has something to do with culture then, and not just race?

It is culture not race, though Black guys are usually more flexible on there feet than white guys.

 

[Geohood]

Just saw some of those NFL vids.. Ive never watched a match properly.. ever.. but it looks like an 'obstruction'fest lol

 

[aqua_duck]

Pretty similar to Vatuvei, he doesn't exactly dominate

Serious though, sorry to repeat myself, but aren't all the black guys playing in Britain (like Richie Barnett from Warrington etc) the same racial make up?

The fact that all the supremely athletic black guys seem to be "African-AMERICAN" surely has something to do with culture then, and not just race?

vatuvei is like 109kg and i doubt he has a 106cm vertical leap, also doesn't help that he has hands like feet.

I think America produces better african atheletes than any other country because of a few factors.

1.their population, the US has something like 300 million people, an estimated 12% of that 300 mil are african american, you do the math, thats something like 3 and half million african americans, the uk has a population of 60 million, of those 60 mil, roughly 1 million are african/west indian.

2.Living standard/culture, there is so much mony on offer in the US that kids get the best coaches, best conditioning from a young age. You compre the living standard in te US africa or the carribbean and really there is no comparison, kids in te US have better access to coaching, equipment, and facilities.

3.Natural selection theory, the theory is that when africans came to the US hundreds of years ago as slaves they were treated so badly that alot of the weak/sick died, only the strong survived and were able to breed, you give this superior breeding thin a few generations and you get some unbelievable results, the Spartans of ancient times believed in this and practiced it, hence why the smaller babies were simply left to die, its no co-incidence that the spartans were well renowned for their soldiers

 

[dragonfire]

it would be interesting to see how they would go. To get any over here you would probably have to target some of the players straight out of high school who have no hope of college football and bring them over. The only worry would be giving them correct tackling technique and lots of practice at it. Anyone who says those guys are soft because of the pads has got no idea. I would have Bush as starting fullback any day of the week

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

vatuvei is like 109kg and i doubt he has a 106cm vertical leap, also doesn't help that he has hands like feet.

He is listed at 109kg, but he's been listed that size since he was 17 and is a lot bigger imo

I think America produces better african atheletes than any other country because of a few factors.

1.their population, the US has something like 300 million people, an estimated 12% of that 300 mil are african american, you do the math, thats something like 3 and half million african americans, the uk has a population of 60 million, of those 60 mil, roughly 1 million are african/west indian.

2.Living standard/culture, there is so much mony on offer in the US that kids get the best coaches, best conditioning from a young age. You compre the living standard in te US africa or the carribbean and really there is no comparison, kids in te US have better access to coaching, equipment, and facilities.

3.Natural selection theory, the theory is that when africans came to the US hundreds of years ago as slaves they were treated so badly that alot of the weak/sick died, only the strong survived and were able to breed, you give this superior breeding thin a few generations and you get some unbelievable results, the Spartans of ancient times believed in this and practiced it, hence why the smaller babies were simply left to die, its no co-incidence that the spartans were well renowned for their soldiers

hmmmm

well tbh the West Indies produce a lot of the world's top sprinters etc so I think it's largely a racial thing.

 

[Rocco]

i think african players would turn out to be great wingers or full backs with the pace they have.

they are not strong but they are light and quick

 

[The Engineers Room]

If the African Americans played rugby league they would have to start early and learn the game. NFL stars would find it hard to adapt to our game.

 

[hrundi99]

NFL is an impact sport played in short bursts. I doubt many would have the stamina to play league for 80 mins.

It is also played in extensive protective gear.

All league players have to play attack and defense.

They could learn the rules.

PR or not, NFLers who have come out here and watched NRL/ARL have stated that they can't believe the toughness of the sport.

There is also an abundance of drug use in the NFL...

 

[m0j0]

1.their population, the US has something like 300 million people, an estimated 12% of that 300 mil are african american, you do the math, thats something like 3 and half million african americans,

No, you do the math!

12% of 300 million is 36 million.

 

[Mal Meninga]

Some are making it sound like Rugby League is for harvard grads. Let Elliot be the coach and make them play one off the ruck, than someone like Reggie Bush(Best footwork EVER) and they'll carve it up. As Steve Folkes said, the facilities they have for training are unbelievable and leave League for dead.

They could fill most positions except for halfback. Too many cliches ie "Big Padding" and "Steroid use" and "difficult to adapt"... please if George Rose and David Howell can somehow find their way into a 17 man side than surely NFL players would. Some people fail to realise that in high school nearly all players play both ways and only really specialise once they're about to hit the big time. Shawne Merriman is an absolute beast of a player who'd be devastating in our game.

 

[m0j0]

Some people fail to realise that in high school nearly all players play both ways

:sarcasm:

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

 

[The_Savage_1]

Some are making it sound like Rugby League is for harvard grads. Let Elliot be the coach and make them play one off the ruck, than someone like Reggie Bush(Best footwork EVER) and they'll carve it up. As Steve Folkes said, the facilities they have for training are unbelievable and leave League for dead.

They could fill most positions except for halfback. Too many cliches ie "Big Padding" and "Steroid use" and "difficult to adapt"... please if George Rose and David Howell can somehow find their way into a 17 man side than surely NFL players would. Some people fail to realise that in high school nearly all players play both ways and only really specialise once they're about to hit the big time. Shawne Merriman is an absolute beast of a player who'd be devastating in our game.

you mustn't have seen barry...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwrsM8U0Nr8

 

[McLovin]

Get Shaq on the phone...His time in the NBA is nearly up anyways...

Imagine a 216 cm, 150 kilo giant in your forward pack. He'd last about 15 minutes each half but ffs...

 

[McLovin]

Boykins is 5'5...

 

[hrundi99]

Too many cliches ie "Big Padding" and "Steroid use" and "difficult to adapt"...

Cliches but true...

 

[Quigs]

What if I told you that the Yanks had already played league here in australia. And played at the SCG before 60,000 plus people - believe me my little chin wags - it did actually happen.

Americans play Rugby League in Australia 1953 - Mike Dimitro, a wrestling promoter, brought 22 untried American All Stars on a 26 match tour of Australia and New Zealand. 60,000 spectators at the SCG

http://www.eraofthebiff.com/p21-yarn-16.html

Cheers
Quigs

 

[The Centre]

I think America produces better african atheletes than any other country.

Kenya,Ethiopia,Ghana,Nigeria,and Cameroon would be very close to the USA when it comes to producing african athletes.