Questions for Our Brothers and Sisters Across the Pond

[Steadmund Brand]

ok thats hysterical!!!! reminds me of a bit from the show My Hero (yes I do watch alot of British TV in America)

and oh yeah.. now it's clear... I get Cricket now.. wow how could I have been so silly as not not get how simple that is......

Ya know, I love the look of cricket, and someday I'll understand it.. but I will never get how some games go on for days!!

[Abby Normal]

I have no interest in American football. The play seems to last for about 20 seconds, and then stops while everyone has a chat. Then it restarts for another 20 seconds, and stops again. I have always assumed that this is to give the burger sellers plenty of time to make their sales.

American football is like violent chess.

[Steven Russell]

Hi Belinda,

Here in the U.S. twit means fool. Twat is a vulgar reference to female genitals.

c.d.

Same here (UK). Twat does mean the female genitals but is usually used to mean a nasty person or an idiot - (daft twat). It is considered vulgar whereas twit is more akin to "silly billy" i.e. very mild. There is a widely held belief that twat is also a term for a pregnant goldfish but this is not true. Twat is also used in the UK to mean hit hard e.g. "He really twatted that one" when watching cricket. Again, this usage is considered vulgar.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Phil Carter]

Indeed Robert, but we must explain to our friends over the pond a little terminology as well, don't you think?

In cricket, when you are out in the field, your field in various positions.
These include...

Long leg
Short leg
Square Leg
Backward square leg,
Deep backward square leg,
Mid-wicket
Deep mid-wicket
Mid-on
Mid-off
Silly mid-on
Silly mid-off
Long on
Long off
Cover (cover point)
Deep cover point
Point
Deep point
Silly point
Backward Point
Third man
Deep third man
Short third man
1st slip
2nd slip
3rd slip
4th slip
Gully
Square gully
Deep gully
Deep backward gully
Leg slip
Backward leg slip
Backward gully
Deep backward gully
Wicketkeeper..also called a stopper amonst other things
Short stop
Long stop
Bowler.. these have many names and descriptions.. too many to describe
(For example the bowler not only bowls the ball, he bowls things like chinamen, flippers, and wrong 'uns, yorkers and off breaks, leg breaks and arm balls)

that should help understanding our quaint tradition of cricket a little..

best wishes

Phil

[Abby Normal]

Indeed Robert, but we must explain to our friends over the pond a little terminology as well, don't you think?

In cricket, when you are out in the field, your field in various positions.
These include...

Long leg
Short leg
Square Leg
Backward square leg,
Deep backward square leg,
Mid-wicket
Deep mid-wicket
Mid-on
Mid-off
Silly mid-on
Silly mid-off
Long on
Long off
Cover (cover point)
Deep cover point
Point
Deep point
Silly point
Backward Point
Third man
Deep third man
Short third man
1st slip
2nd slip
3rd slip
4th slip
Gully
Square gully
Deep gully
Deep backward gully
Leg slip
Backward leg slip
Backward gully
Deep backward gully
Wicketkeeper..also called a stopper amonst other things
Short stop
Long stop
Bowler.. these have many names and descriptions.. too many to describe
(For example the bowler not only bowls the ball, he bowls things like chinamen, flippers, and wrong 'uns, yorkers and off breaks, leg breaks and arm balls)

that should help understanding our quaint tradition of cricket a little..

best wishes

Phil

Thats a sticky wicket!

[Robert]

This will help them understand :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5pRv2ajHkU

[Monty]

Phrases only cricketers will understand.



One brings two.

Catches win matches.

Terry Thomas.

Dot botherer.

All the gear.....no idea.

The ball was on the Bakerloo line, he was playing on the Hammersmith.



Monty

[johns]

I watch US Football when I get the chance and have done for many years now.... Although I enjoy it, I always feel that there are far too many "technical" infringements in the game which spoil it at times.... and I think that teams could try more "laterals" (in rugby, this is a normal backwards/sideways pass), but at the same time they're probably more concerned with giving possession away.
I like the way the sport itself is actually run by the NFL which, amongst other things, means that team shirts aren't emblazoned with stupid sponsor logos and the like, unlike our football teams which look like billboards.

I also enjoy baseball if I can ever get the chance to watch some...

One question about baseball I can't seem to find an answer to is... Why do they play so many games in a season? 162 I think is the current number for both leagues...

[Steadmund Brand]

Good question about the amount of games in a baseball season.. and there are a few answers, first off it has always been a long season, part of the reason is to get a good assesment of the teams, each team will play each other a set # of times, that way at the end the record does usually show the better team, playing someone once or not at all doesnt show anything... also, it i a game that can be played several times a week, not as physically draining as some other sports, and last, well, becuase it is a seasonal sport, and in America it is suppose to represent all of spring and summer....I know not a good expliantion but best I can give you... plus, as a fan I love it.. gives me something to do everynight (and my girlfriend hates it... thast always a plus when you are fighting)

[Errata]

American football is like violent chess.

American football is rugby for girls. And I am an American and a girl.

On the other hand, you brits have come up with two of the most incredibly awesome sports in the cosmos. Chess Boxing and Ferret Legging. You people are hard core.

[sleekviper]

They do, and have, played so many games because of multiple factors. It began at a time when baseball was the chief form of entertainment for millions, and the formula is still in place from when it began. Back then, it would have been like having a movie theater show one movie, one time, once a week, if placed in modern day terms of a once a week sport. If the major league team was not at home, or work did not allow a free day when they were, someone could always catch a Negro League, or Native American League game. There was no drop in talent, it was just as interesting for many to attend. Josh Gibson was home run killer in the Negro Leagues, they actually tried to sign him 4 years before Robinson would break the color line, but baseball would not allow it. Jim Thorpe was still with Native American Leagues, I think, when he set a record that can never be broken. Playing in Texas, he hit a home run that lands in Texas. He hits another home run that lands in Oklahoma. He hit a third homer that landed in Arkansas; Three home runs, same game, each lands in a different state. So baseball became a activity for the long days of summer.

[Red Zeppelin]

American football = yeah I quite like it. Used to follow it quite a fair bit some years back but have lost touch with it lately. Once you understand it (like cricket) it can be very interesting/exciting.

The Dallas Cowboys are my team in American football and Liverpool are my team in English football.

[Stephen Thomas]

(For example the bowler not only bowls the ball, he bowls things like chinamen, flippers, and wrong 'uns, yorkers and off breaks, leg breaks and arm balls)

Not to mention googlies

[Phil Carter]

Hello Stephen,

Indeed...Which was once known in it's form as a "Bosie"

I have always thought the following comment during a match to be a real classic..

"He got a chinaman that looked like a wrong'un and tickled it behind the short backward square leg to get the runs"


Wonder what he had for breakfast?

best wishes

Phil

[johns]

Playing in Texas, he hit a home run that lands in Texas. He hits another home run that lands in Oklahoma. He hit a third homer that landed in Arkansas; Three home runs, same game, each lands in a different state. .

Now that sounds interesting... I guess the stadium was close to the border... have you got a map?