BS: Nascar and other American Sports

Subject: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Blindlemonsteve
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 09:46 AM

I am taking my balls in my hand on this one and breathing deeply,,,, Just reading the Ale Vs Lager thread and some one said that Busch puts shitloads of money into Nascar, being British, Nascar does nothing for me, just wondering what the fascination is in watching blokes in automatic cars driving around in circles is. Also American football, what on earth is that all about, its like Rugby but with with a health and safety executive as a referee. and baseball, come on, the girls in our schools play that, its called rounders...
I would like to point out that this is a light hearted look at the differences between our great nations.
Please respond with callous disregard.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 09:53 AM

I'm with you on Nascar. I'd rather watch grass grow than watch one of those races. I enjoy football from time to time - esp on the rare occasions when my local team is winning.

I married into a baseball family - my brother in law is a former catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and currently is a scout. So my best advice is to actually attend a game with someone who knows the sport and can explain what's happening. It has it's own internal rhythm. And you actually have to be in the ballpark to get the full effect - in my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 09:54 AM

By the way - any country that plays Cricket has no business questioning the sports we enjoy.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Midchuck
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 10:00 AM

I'm a good 'murican boy and I agree with Blindelmonsteve. I think there's something in the US psyche that admires power more than finesse.

On the other hand, I also agree with Wesley S's second post.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Blindlemonsteve
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 10:04 AM

Wesley, you are absolutely right of course, Cricket is the worst game ever. but do bare in mind we seldom actually play cricket, just get beaten by the Aussies.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: jonm
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 10:10 AM

Cricket is only wonderful when playing. I remember games on the village green opposite the pub, standing fielding with a pint in my hand.....

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 10:27 AM

Well, it's the same with cricket. If you've played as a boy, and then spent some of our rare sunny days with a bottle or two of wine (the beer at cricket venues is often not good) watching good cricket, then you're addicted to the game. But I could see how the same might apply to baseball, which was quite popular in Hull in the 60s and 70s.

The atmosphere at a cricket match makes all the difference. Sitting with knowledgeable spectators and discussing technique and tactics and re-living old memories is a wonderful way to spend a day. Wilfred Rhodes, one of the finest cricketers ever to draw breath (and a fellow Yorkshireman to boot) used to attend matches at Headingley in his later years, even though he was completely blind! If any poor downtrodden native of an unfortunate nation that does not support the 'Summer Game' visits the broad acres of Yorkshire during the cricket season I will gladly accompany them to a match and attempt to explain the subtleties. But don't expect me to watch Nascar.

It is difficult to see the USA enjoying cricket. A five day match ending in an exciting draw does not fit the US psyche - not enough power there! And the subtleties of slow bowling... Probably Canadians would have taken to the game more if it could be played on ice! Still it's bad enough England getting thrashed by our former colonies without those two getting in on the act!

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Alec
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 10:31 AM

One of the most enjoyable games of cricket I ever saw was played in Stanley Park in Vancouver.
America was a cricketing nation until a very late point in the 19th century.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 10:59 AM

Yes Alec - About the same time that the superior game of baseball became more popular. That makes sense.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: frogprince
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 11:47 AM

There are at least 3 things you can now watch at almost any hour of the day or night on American televison: Cars going in circles, golf, and celebrity poker playing. How anyone can watch any of those for more than 30 seconds without a total cessation of brain waves is beyond me.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 01:39 PM

NASCAR: NAtional Stock CAr Racing (Association). People in cars driving around a circle really fast while other people in the stands drink beer and hope for a flaming crash. (NASCARA was a bit too close to mascara back before women also drove.)

Now, if you want REAL sports, I suggest fencing, biatholon, or any of the Olympic shooting sports. Of course, watching someone shoot holes in paper or ski like mad to shoot disks IS similar to watching paint dry, but then again watching ANY sport is like that.

Playing it, or have played it, makes all the difference.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 02:02 PM

Wesley, thank you for your opinion. If by superior you mean easier, simpler, shorter, you are of course spot on. Baseball is really Cricket Lite! Still that's just my opinion, but I have watched both games.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: John Hardly
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 02:20 PM

Basketball, the greatest sport ever invented, more than makes up for any shortcomings in NASCAR. Or any other American sport, for that matter.

I heard that NASCAR has been looking into solutions for one big problem they've unwittingly created. It seems that with all the NASCAR races involving all the NASCAR cars going 'round and 'round and 'round in the same direction...

...they been tossing around the idea of sending all the cars down under to Australia where they can hold all the races, having the cars making successive right-hand instead of left-hand turns. It would allow the cars to unwind.

It's just a rumor.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 02:21 PM

I don't get motor sports and it seems to me that there's a lot of waste/pollution/consumption involved. How it compares to say, hockey, my guilty pleasure, I don't know.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Alec
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 02:29 PM

First clapped-out old car
go 'round the outside
   'round the outside
   'round the outside
First clapped-out old car
go 'round the outside
And dosy doe your partner.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Blindlemonsteve
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 03:30 PM

Hey Frog prince, dont worry too much, you dont have to watch anything for more than 30 seconds on American TV, because your gonna get a commercial break every 20 seconds. Of course we have the BBC, our gift to the world.
Although they cant afford any decent sporting events, they just have to make excellent T.V.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 04:01 PM

I watch a lot of varied sports and enjoy most of them in one way or another. Curling caught my attention and interest finally and it is far more exciting then I would ever have dreamed. However..............

Unlike the rest of you, my passion and love is for racing. The earliest memories of ANY sporting event is choking on the dust of a dirt short track. Dirt track racing is still a favorite of mine and watching Midgets and Sprint Cars, 1200 pound cars with engines producing 875+ horsepower, is one of my favorite activities. On a half or third mile track there is nothing like it. I realize most of you would disagree and I have no intention of trying to explain.

I also watch Formula One (although there is very little "racing" left in F1), Indy Cars, NASCAR, and damned near everything else I can find on TV or locally. Its loud and raucous and environmentally destructive and all of that.....But I grew up here in the midwest where short track circle racing used to be, and still is to some degree, the main activity on a weekend night.

But I'm used to people not liking it or getting it. I know more jokes about "redneck racers" than you do! Try not to jump too heavily on the bandwagon though, I have plenty of jokes about YOUR sports as well.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 04:17 PM

Well, that's kinda it, isn't it. Sports love is pretty much inexplicable (like my spelling?) so explaining it to folks is kinda pointless. If you don't get standing in a river for hours testing the trout with every fly in the sky, sitting on a bucket on a frozen lake peering down a hole, or freezing your backside off playing shinny and pretending you're Gordie Howe, it's okay, there are other lunatic things to do.

If everyone had the same form of crazy, it wouldn't be crazy anymore.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: RangerSteve
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 07:55 PM

As Steven Wright once said about the Indy 500 - "If they left earlier, they wouldn't have to drive so fast".

Anyway, I believe that Nascar was invented for people who weren't bored to death by televised golf. Then, in an attempt to prove that neither were the most boring things you could watch, they started televising poker. It's so boring, even the commentator's can't think of anything to say. NBC broadcasts it at 2am, which is a good time, as it's a sure cure for insomnia.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 08:37 PM

If you put the same money behind "CROSS COUNTRY BOWLING" I think it would be more popular than Nascar since any damn fool could do it.

of course a lot of damn fools think they are nascar drivers and will kill to pass you..literally.

At least cross country bowling is enviormentally friendly.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 08:40 PM

Mooh old friend, once again you have nailed it correctly. We all have to be nuts to _____________. Yep....Sure enough.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 08:45 PM

Hey Mooh, care to roll a few> Cross country bowling is really cool on totally frozen lakes.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 09:24 PM

Sounds like fun, but won't it scare the fish?

One of the coolest things I ever did was skate, alone, on acres of ice. There was a quick thaw followed by a quick freeze so the lake was a huge rink. I could literally skate as fast as I could and glide in a straight line until I stopped, hundreds of yards away. Laughed myself silly at the experience.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Blindlemonsteve
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 01:07 AM

On the British side of traditional sports, has anyone seen "SHIN KICKING". 2 people stand toe to toe and kick each other in the shins. Thats gotta hurt, also "CHEESE ROLLING" men stand at the top of a really steep hill, someone throws a ball of cheese down and everyone has to run as fast as they can to try and catch it, usually results in lots of broken arms and legs. Then theres "BOG DIVING", not too sure what happens there, but i dont think its too nice....anyone got any other mad ones.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 02:01 AM

Being a Yank myself I don't get the attraction either & I can navigate Boston L.A. or NYC during rush hour better that most cabbies. As for all those other sports (are they really?) I rather watch grass grow too & I played high school, CYO & Street Basketball growing up (Street basketball is really a game of elbows, knees & head butts, the ball is just a distraction). The only thing I can stand to watch is an all out, no rules martial arts match, go figure & I hate violence too. So what's up with that you might ask? Well I really do see it as an art, if it were done in slow motion it'd be dance to me, matter of fact it is like dance to me, except I can't dance anymore. Take the foot work of a Philippino or an Indonesian martial artist it's like "hula" & the sticky hands & sticky feet of Chinese Wing-Chun Kung-Fu is almost like Kama Sutra and watching the Japanese & Brazilian Jujitsu artists is like seeing swans dancing in air. Talk about "shin kicking" I can't see to much in that but when a Thai boxer uses their shins, elbows & knees it's again like watching two dancers admiring each others moves, maybe even showing off a bit. Try to look a graceful driver of a race car driving at dangerously high speeds & bluntly trying to cut each other off, not, might as well be watching road rage. Or watch a hockey game, a bunch of plucky overpaid skaters trying to plow a puck past a post or look at a baseball game, that's watching grass grow; I'd rather see a gaggle of elderly matrons doing a beautiful form of Thai Chi that would dazzle a team to pro football players back onto the bench. Anyway, NASCAR is coming up in a few days, the sport in it this time will be to see who else gets fined & benched for cheating & taking it to the level or American Pro Weaseling, opps that was wrestling as opposed to the art of trapping & grappling, I don't think I'll be watching, matter of fact I'lll be glad when it's over so we can all get back to our kick ass lives. Don't pass the beer, please.

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: GUEST,Mingulay at work
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 08:14 AM

Have to agree somewhat with Spaw on this. I think it must have something to do with the fumes. High octane petrol, methanol, nitro-methane, burning rubber, hot metal etc. Although the finest of them all was the smell of Castrol R a mineral oil used in high performance motor cycle engines.

Some of my finest hours were spent on the startline between two dragsters being covered in noise and smell, both so tangible you could feel the noise and hear the smell. Ah! memories.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Wesley S
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 09:10 AM

I heard an interview on NPR by a guy who has a book out that explains the connection between bootleggers and NASCAR. According to this author it was the drivers that delivered the moonshine that started the NASCAR races.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 09:11 AM

Back in my teenage and early twenty years racing was okay. Dirt tracks, and the cars weren't modified so much that they looked more like tie fighters -- they were street legal, and often what the owner drove to work or school during the week. This WAS exciting.

But then came the funny cars, the spoilers, and the rest and "stock car" became a joke. And about then I lost interest. Of course, I had also discovered sex about that time and frankly, a young woman was a LOT more exciting than watching a race.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: mack/misophist
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 11:30 AM

As a history buff, I should note that the padding used in US football is said to be a result of the use of the 'flying wedge' formation. Not only injuries, but deaths occured.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: 3refs
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 12:10 PM

I don't think I consider poker a sport. I can't think of a sport where you can be full of shit and still win. Now it shouldn't be confused with "Who has the biggest turd" which gets played at summer camps by our burgeoning young athletes every year.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Bee
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 12:13 PM

It's my opinion that the only sports worth watching are pond hockey and women's Olympic hockey, and the only ones worth indulging in are pond hockey and softball.

I somehow can't see smelting as a sport, as with most sports the players aren't sitting on their backsides drinking rum and eating picnic lunches, while trying to attract tunned cold starving eight inch fish. I always feel bad after catching smelt: they are so pretty and their colour fades so quickly when they die. It's an absolute sin they taste so good. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: ranger1
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 12:21 PM

I don't get car racing, but I am a full-fledged NFL fanatic. I also like soccer. Going to see a minor league baseball game is fun, so is college hockey.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: GUEST,tailgator
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 09:33 PM

The root explanation is that, in any given population, about 50% of the population has below average intelligence. From this cohort is the nascar fan drawn. If you doubt this theory, see spaw's testimony above, I rest my case.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Peace
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 09:38 PM

I need to know this--sorry for the thread drift on this excellently informative thread about dish soaps--: If half of the population is above average intelligence and half is below average intelligence, then who the hell is Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms Average? Can such a person be real? We have accounted for the entire population with 1/2 + 1/2 = 1.

I am so confused.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 09:40 PM

I was at a soccer game in college (my school didn't have football then) where our goalie got cold, walked off the field, bought a cup of coffee, came back and sat down on the field and drank it.

One could say that there was very little action at our end of the field that night...and one could also assume that we won very handily.

Subject: RE: BS: Nascar and other American Sports
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 10:40 PM

Yeah Rap, but it could be a BAD assumption as I heard the other team's goalie joined him and bought the donuts.

Spaw