Super Bowl, or "Roller Ball." I really don't get the difference.

[Cyrano]

The film "Roller Ball," (the original with James Caan, not the dog shit remake), pretty well sums up my personal attitude toward the Super Bowl.

It's corporate gladiators mauling each other for our entertainment.

But what if people start losing interest at some point in the future? Well, that's easily fixed. Get rid of the clock. No time limit makes the winner the last man standing.

Anyhow, munch, swill, enjoy. What the hell. It's only a game.

Sorry to be the fly in the ointment, but hey, someone's gotta do it.

And yes, my tongue is planted in my cheek -- but only a bit.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

I'm not much in the mood for circuses these days.

And since the government isn't exactly handing out bread, that doesn't leave much to keep my mind off of things.

[ThomWV]

1. You'd be suprised how many of us don't give a rat's ass about this or any other game.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Will munch, will swill, will enjoy... And will laugh at the haters periodically, too.

[Cyrano]

14. Umm, there's a difference between "haters" and those who differ from you.

[BlooInBloo]

17. That's true.

[liberalmuse]

3. I love the superbowl because it's a great time to go shopping.

or get an oil change.

[BlooInBloo]

6. Or buy tools?

:P

[tanyev]

7. Best day of the year for dinner and a movie.

[msongs]

4. it's the millionaire class onfield promoting products made by the billionaire class :-) nt

[hedgehog]

5. I can't watch professional football very long. As you say, people are out there risking

life and limb for purposes of entertainment. No one means to get anyone hurt, but the game is becoming too dangerous due to the size of the players.

[BlooInBloo]

9. k = 1/2 mv^2

[hedgehog]

11. It's getting to be like watching the race horses that are so overbred they

run the risk of smashing their legs every time they run!

[BlooInBloo]

12. Ooooh boy. Thanks, Jimmy The Greek.

"the black is a better athlete to begin with because he has been bred to be that way. This goes all the way back to the Civil War when the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid. See?"


EDIT: Clarified for those who didn't catch the reference.

[hedgehog]

20. Wow! I never meant to refer to that load of BS! I was thinking more in terms

that in general players are way bigger and more specialized than they were 40 years ago. I'm not a big sports fan, but I was reading something a while back that indicated that some of Johnny Unitas's fellow players on the Baltimore Colts worked in the steel mills in the off-season to make ends meet. I tried to find out more about this just now, and it turns out that permanent injuries are nothing new. From the Wiki article on Unitas:

"toward the end of his life, Unitas brought media attention to the many permanent physical disabilities that he and his fellow players suffered during the early years of football, before padding and other safety features designed to prevent such injuries had been invented. Unitas himself lost almost total use of his right hand, which had become mangled by the end of his playing career, with the middle finger and thumb noticeably disfigured from being repeatedly broken."

On edit - can you imagine a skinny kid like JFK playing for any college football team these days?

[BlooInBloo]

23. Aside from your breeding issue, it's already been clearly pointed out that speed...

has a much greater impact on, well, impact.

[hedgehog]

24. Well, there you go. The players now who train full time and in the

off-season are faster than the guys were back then.

[ferrous wheel]

28. True but remember a=f/m

:D

[BlooInBloo]

30. (facepalm)

We're a stupid, stupid country.

[Oregone]

8. I just can't stand it because football sucks as a sport

Seriously, anyone who tried some other sports would realize this.

BUT, its promoted heavily in the States because its slow-paced style allows ample room for commercial advertisement. There is no way you could have so many commercial breaks and promotions in a Rugby game.

This post was brought to you by Tide with Bleach(tm), killing tough stains everytime.

[alfredo]

10. I watch sports because I can't afford heroin.

[petronius]

13. Don't apologize - you're not a fly in any ointment. You're just the obligatory

sourpuss that provides an extra breath of humor on a relaxing day...

:toast:

[Cyrano]

18. Thank you.

[NeedleCast]

15. So...don't watch it?

Always gotta be some butthole telling people why what they enjoy doing in their spare time is stupid.

"Sorry to be the fly in the ointment, but hey, someone's gotta do it."

No, actually, no one's gotta do it, you've just chosen to do it so you can show us all how superior you are for not watching football. Hope it helps you sleep at night.

[Cyrano]

19. You defy me??? You dare to insult my superiority???

Have you no fear of me? Aren't you aware that I may just hurl down a lightening bolt at you from my sky wizard heights?

Oh, what the hell. It's Super Bowl Sunday, so I'll just forgive your disrespect regarding my infallible comments and my supernatural powers.

[NeedleCast]

22. Stop it, Stop it

You'll make me blow beer out my nose as I sit here swilling.

You should probably make a 3rd or 4th thread about this topic to make sure everyone is clear about your stance on the Super Bowl. Don't forget to tell us all what terrible people we are for watching a game on TV when we could be hand-wringing over the plight of others instead.

[catnhatnh]

38. Oh! That's Right!

...I knew something was missing THIS time...must be the moral outrage component of the last post about how sports viewers are stupid degenerates
At least I won't be "munching" or "swilling" smug bullshit. Shouldn't the OP be out feeding the homeless today???

[madrchsod]

16. i`d rather watch "soccer"

the womens final in china was one of the best matches in the history of "soccer". i`d like to see a nfl running backs or wide receiver play as many minutes in football as the ladies played in that soccer match.

[shadowknows69]

21. I haven't cared much for sports

Since my bookie got busted. Just not the same adrenalin level as when you have a "dime" or two riding on the game.

[Bluzmann57]

25. I like the NFL

I like watching football. I don't care if others do or not. It's still a semi free country so if you don't want to watch the Super Bowl, then don't watch. Millions of us will be though.

[acmavm]

26. This is really 'a burr under your saddle' today, isn't it?

[Cyrano]

29. Yeah, but look at it this way.

After I'm through lashing myself, I have to go to a Mother Theresa pray-in and after that, I have to attend a Gandhi Appreciation loincloth party.

Anyhow, enjoy the Super Bowl and the 4,000 commercials that accompany it.

[acmavm]

34. Do I have to? I just spent 10.00 on a new book.

[timtom]

27. I've always felt this way about football.

And, when I saw "Rollerball" in...1971? 1973?...it merely gave shape to my dislike.

[conscious evolution]

31. Super Bowl Tin Foil Alert

Why is it that the network broadcasting the game always get it right when it comes to introducing the starting lineups?
For at least the last 25 years I have noticed that the networks always get it right.They introduce the starting lineup of whoever recieves the kickoff and the defense of the team that kicks off.They always get it right.(Serously.I have won money in bets over this over the years.It is the only time gambling has paid off for me every time I have made the bet.)
Here's the tin foil part.The coin toss that decides who kicks and recieves does not happen until AFTER the teams have been introduced.
Or is it?
And if not,how is it that they get it right every year in regards to which unit gets introduced?

[melm00se]

33. they used to

do the coin toss in the locker room before the game and the one at midfield was just for show with the results mirroring what has already happened.

as to your anecdote? *shrug*, I haven't paid that much attention to that...it might be interesting to analyze the raw data to see if there is a correlation

[melm00se]

32. then don't watch (n/t)

[cherish44]

35. So glad I found this place

I've always felt the Superbowl is just one big overpriced, over-hyped corporate circle jerk. I understand it's an excuse to throw a party I guess.

[Orsino]

36. Time limits. n/t

[SidDithers]

37. I'm gonna watch the game on 2 TVs, in your honour...nt

Sid

[Mr Rabble]

39. I dont follow baseball, sorry. nt

[jmg257]

40. The difference is people ARE interested in football, and "Roller Ball" was a bit boring the 2nd or

3rd time - got to be just fast-forwarding to the fun action scenes.

Of course not every football game is exciting either, even the Superbowl, but they are ALWAYS good excuses to get together with friends and have a party!

Chilli, fresh Roast Beef & Turkey, bruscetta, shrimp, beer... YUM!

What's not to like?? (besids the late Sunday start anyway)

[Cheap_Trick]

41. I don't give a crap about the game.

I wanna see the new movie trailers!

The one for Star Trek is online already, but there's still Wolverine, Watchmen, Monsters vs Aliens (in 3-D!!!)and lots more.

[Greyhound]

42. Football hasn't replaced war and there's more teams.

That's about it.