Why is the NFL so successful

[gottabegood]

Considering their national pastime for so many years was baseball, anything would seem exciting...even the slower than cricket American Football.

 

[Raider_69]

NFL is my 2nd favourite sport behind RL

Its awesome to watch... and i believe as Legend said, they have the best run competition in the world.

 

[LRC]

NFL is my 2nd favourite sport behind RL

Its awesome to watch... and i believe as Legend said, they have the best run competition in the world.

One thing the 2 share in common as opposed to any other sports is the fact that you have a set number of plays to achieve a result either defesively or in attack.

Whether you make your ten in NFL or sack the 1/4 back when in defense.

Same with league how you finsish your set can win you another set or give good feild position.

These are big plays in the context of the game and things you actually get to applaud outside of the actual scoring of points.

Winning possesion back is a huge thing in leage and can be done so many ways but usually takes a big play. Not like other codes like aFL and soccer where possesion changes so much that there is no value on winning it.

Really, outside of the actual scoring of points what else do you cheer about in those codes? You basically sit there and watch and hope somehting happens...no wonder they sing so much!!

 

[Raider_69]

more than that, the tactical side of the game is amazing.
For a successful play, every player must do his job to make it work. If just one guy does a half hearted job, he risks stuffing the entire play. It's like a game of chess, except it's played by freak athletes with obscene amounts of violence and skill.

Google Adrian Peterson highlights, its amazing the mix of speed, acceleration, power, footwork and vision he has. And if you want to see big hits, google Sheldon Brown on Reggie Bush. The physicality is beyond anything I've seen.

Also the theatrics of it, i know a lot of people hate the way Americans ham it up to the crowd, but i love it, i love that they have genuine characters in the game, i love the arrogance they display. I love that they celebrate a big play. Ill admit the adds absolutely sh*t me, but the game itself... awesome.

And the fact the NFL season kicks off a week after the semi finals start, and ends just as trials begin, makes it perfect NRL off season game. To suggest it has no entertainment value, is imo, absurd.

 

[Whos Ya Daddy]

They have a great product. Once you get a feel for the game you will appreciate it. Watch New Orleans go around on Tuesday morning and you will be impressed.

 

[Goddo]

Winning possesion back is a huge thing in leage and can be done so many ways but usually takes a big play. Not like other codes like aFL and soccer where possesion changes so much that there is no value on winning it.

Really, outside of the actual scoring of points what else do you cheer about in those codes? You basically sit there and watch and hope somehting happens...no wonder they sing so much!!

Generally I agree with you on that point, but having been dragged by my gf to a Essendon v Carlton game early this year, I found they cheer when they get marks or run for 10m or step someone.
The MCG seemed to have something to cheer about every 30 seconds or so. It was a close game so that helped.
I found myself cheering, simply becuase I was swept up in the atmosphere of a 90k crowd in a game that went down to the last shot on goal. If I was watching it on TV I would have been asleep in the first minute.
I imagine the big soccer games are exactly the same to watch at the grounds. That said, league p!sses all over AFL and soccer for quality.

 

[legend]

One of the problems for League is it is a very fast moving game and if you want to make more revenue out of it, it should be broken up into quarters like the NFL and AFL with a short break at quarter time and then the longer break at the half.

I would also like to see a coach's challenge introduced to dispute the dud calls, of which there are many in RL.

 

[God-King Dean]

I personally wouldn't mind the '3 periods' idea. 30 minutex3. Only 10 minute longer, & fresher players will make it a faster pace.

 

[Billythekid]

One of the problems for League is it is a very fast moving game and if you want to make more revenue out of it, it should be broken up into quarters like the NFL and AFL with a short break at quarter time and then the longer break at the half.

I would also like to see a coach's challenge introduced to dispute the dud calls, of which there are many in RL.

I actually like the idea of splitting the game into thirds or quarters.

However i hate the video ref and i think a challenge system would be a terrible idea. League is great because it's fast paced lets not ruin it by adding in more stoppages.

 

[Angry_eel]

They have a great product. Once you get a feel for the game you will appreciate it. Watch New Orleans go around on Tuesday morning and you will be impressed.

No such thing as a great product in terms of Sport. Its all about the marketing. e.g. I've been watching baseball on One recently. I must say though cricket is boring too, Baseball sucks big time. Its all about what the media feeds you.

 

[LRC]

Generally I agree with you on that point, but having been dragged by my gf to a Essendon v Carlton game early this year, I found they cheer when they get marks or run for 10m or step someone.
The MCG seemed to have something to cheer about every 30 seconds or so. It was a close game so that helped.
I found myself cheering, simply becuase I was swept up in the atmosphere of a 90k crowd in a game that went down to the last shot on goal. If I was watching it on TV I would have been asleep in the first minute.
I imagine the big soccer games are exactly the same to watch at the grounds. That said, league p!sses all over AFL and soccer for quality.

i know what your saying. I was like that watching the socceroos when they played Uruagay for the qualifier. Everytime we won possesion we all cheered.
Ive been to a few premier league games and its similar as you suggested.(I do enjoy soccer) I guess its depending on how much emotion you put into the game.

Ive post before about highlights and what constitutes big plays.

If you put a highlights package of Soccer or AFL, they dont show much outside of shots on goals and some good saves. (the shots can soemtimes be classified os low lights when they go so a stray)
The only thing AFL highlights show are the shots or a bunch of marks.(once in while its a spectacular one)

You put a league highlight package together and there could be many things shown as highlights besides the actual scoring of points. Genuine things that can make or break a game.
And it could be in defense or offense these things occurr.

- 40/20s (one being kicked or one being stopped at the last second)
- great escapes from in goal or a great kick chase to trap a player
-Massive hits that dislodge the ball or the defender bounces off.
-Tries can be scored so many ways..(individual brilliance, off kicks, set plays, mutliple passes,length of the field run aways where the defensive supporters are willing the chase and the attacking supporters are willing the run etc etc)
- Runaway player tackled at the death (Sattler style)
- etc

These are 100% plays..the AFL just has a lot of 1% plays which generally dont make a difference to the score (unles syour team is winning every single one of them)

You could name a few things that often make it on to a league highlights package. They dont happen all game but happen enough so you dont get bored waiting just for points to be scored.

NFL is similar, their highlights packages show so many different things that mean a lot to the context of the game.

 

[Alex28]

We could learn heaps from NFL, NBA, EPL, et al in how we run our sport.

The one thing that could absolutely turn our game on it's head and really take off is a draft, and unfortunately we will never have one. For mine it's the one thing that other codes do really well to spread the talent throughout the competition.

 

[Teddyboy]

2 things i don't understand why L.A. don't have an NFL team and 2nd Australia would of had an NFL type comp with the proposed amalgamation of Rugby League and Australian Rules Football in 1914 and 1933.

 

[legend]

The AFL are closer to an NFL structure than we are. They have a draft, but it is a mix of younger players and experienced ones.

The draft is awesome but for it to work properly, clubs would have to forgo junior bases and that will never happen.

 

[Whos Ya Daddy]

No such thing as a great product in terms of Sport. Its all about the marketing. e.g. I've been watching baseball on One recently. I must say though cricket is boring too, Baseball sucks big time. Its all about what the media feeds you.

Being in Australia I am immune to American advertisement nore did I have any interest in this game growing up. My opinion is based on what I see: a great game. It is a highly structured, well coached, tactical war. It lacks the flow of league but I still enjoy it.

I have little interest in the NBA even though basketball has been flavor of the month a few times growing up. Never cared much for Cricket either despite it being the national sport.

 

[Angry_eel]

Being in Australia I am immune to American advertisement nore did I have any interest in this game growing up. My opinion is based on what I see: a great game. It is a highly structured, well coached, tactical war. It lacks the flow of league but I still enjoy it.

I have little interest in the NBA even though basketball has been flavor of the month a few times growing up. Never cared much for Cricket either despite it being the national sport.

I don't believe that its only the advertisement. There have been a million Gridiron movies some of which have been very influential.

Personally, its too structured for me. Not boring when it gets going but takes ages to get going.

 

[attila_the_gorilla]

Rugby Highlights is exactly right. A terrible sport to watch, about as much fun as watching games of chess. A move every 10 minutes, no improvisation, all structure and premeditation. Even test cricket beats it for entertainment value. But hey what can u expect from a nation that is hooked on Nascar. Watching grass grow is more exciting.

 

[Billythekid]

The one thing that could absolutely turn our game on it's head and really take off is a draft, and unfortunately we will never have one. For mine it's the one thing that other codes do really well to spread the talent throughout the competition.

The AFL are closer to an NFL structure than we are. They have a draft, but it is a mix of younger players and experienced ones.

The draft is awesome but for it to work properly, clubs would have to forgo junior bases and that will never happen.

Take your terrible ideas and leave them where they belong outside of our game. A draft would absolutely suck.

 

[RugbyHighlights]

God I hate intolerant wankers liks you.
You hate NFL simply because you lack any understansing of the game because you are an ignorant twat.

If you think the NFL 'lacks entertainment value' absolutely proves my point.

I've been trying to force myself to watch the NFL for a year and a half. I even own an NFL website. I watch more of the stuff than I care for.

It's boring and sh*t. There's nothing impressive, even the touchdowns are garbage. A long forward pass into the hands of someone standing in the end zone. Boring.

Your intolerant argument is predictable and false. Try again.

 

[RugbyHighlights]

WOW!
You are totally an intolerant little f*ckhead

Go back to your ignorant little world you moron

It seems, NFL is too intelligent for you because you lack any understanding of the game whatsoever

I understand the game perfectly well.