Tigers Toulouse

[Webbo]

No draws in basketball.

I've never stayed awake till the end.

[kingfox]

Not the time outs that's the issue for me, it's the lack of build up and suspense to any scoring manoeuvre. I like plenty of American sports but the pace of the game doesn't appeal to me for that reason. The only real tension is in the last moments if it's a close game.

American Football is 10 times worse than Basketball, that stop starts all the time.

[Guest]

American Football is 10 times worse than Basketball, that stop starts all the time.

Where did I say it had anything to do with stop starts? It's just end to end scoring with no suspense at all was what I was saying

[Guest Bilo]

Not the time outs that's the issue for me, it's the lack of build up and suspense to any scoring manoeuvre. I like plenty of American sports but the pace of the game doesn't appeal to me for that reason. The only real tension is in the last moments if it's a close game.

That's why I dislike basketball. I can understand why some find it exciting, but I can't imagine a basketball fan being put through the wringer as much as a football fan.

Look at the tension of Friday night as we had chance after chance, Middlesbrough making the most of midfield, Nugent scoring a stunner, Vardy giving away a last minute penalty only for it to be saved by Schmeichel. That's excitement.

No offence to b-ball fans, but I just don't see an NBA game putting you through that kind of emotional rollercoaster.

[Guest]

I can only say that you clearly don't understand any of the american sports if you can't see the tension and enjoyment in all of them. It's as bad as people who complain about Football because of all the 0-0 draws and Cricket because it lasts 5 days.

Basketball has incredible tension but as with football unless you understand the sport and have some attachment to the teams then you'll lose a lot of that.

American football is an incredible sport, strength, speed and intelligence.

And Baseball, Again I can understand why many bits don't like it, it's long and not much seems to happen but having played it at a reasonably high european level for several years I can say that it is a truly great sport to play. Watching it is down again to attachment and understanding, very much like Cricket for those countries not of the empire.

I can listen to cricket on Radio 5 the whole day and be enthralled.

I also have to say that Basketball players earn their money. they're paid amazing amounts but they do actually play 8 months of the year nearly every other other day and spend the rest of the time practicing , watching game video and palnning for other games. Thier work ethic and athleticism puts british sports stars to shame.

US Football - you have 300lb guys who can run faster than most people on this site.

[Guest Bilo]

So basically if you don't like American sports, you're too thick for them.

[Guest]

Or apparently I don't understand American Football, Baseball or Ice Hockey because I dislike the speed of scoring in Basketball. Perhaps I should give up watching them eh FIF?

[Guest Bilo]

Now ice hockey IS a sport.

Fast paced, action packed and tense. Oh, and violent. Very, very violent.

[Fox in the North]

American football is a brilliant sport. I play it at university. I didn't understand much when I started, but once I did, I realised how tactical it was. Theres a lot more to it than just simply stop/start. I only started playing at uni after constantly playing rugby and football. I wouldn't compare it to rugby as I think it's too different in its nature to be comparable. To anyone who hasn't played it but gives an opinion about it, give it a go and train or play with a team. It was an eye opener for me and you just might enjoy it

[Guest]

So basically if you don't like American sports, you're too thick for them.

you have a chip on your shoulder.

I said that you don't understand them, not that you're too thick for them.

Lots of people don't understand Cricket it doesn't make them too thick.

your comments make it clear that you don't understand the sport (or that you are a thick bastard )

Now ice hockey IS a sport.

Fast paced, action packed and tense. Oh, and violent. Very, very violent.

and American?

[Guest]

American football is a brilliant sport. I play it at university. I didn't understand much when I started, but once I did, I realised how tactical it was. Theres a lot more to it than just simply stop/start. I only started playing at uni after constantly playing rugby and football. I wouldn't compare it to rugby as I think it's too different in its nature to be comparable. To anyone who hasn't played it but gives an opinion about it, give it a go and train or play with a team. It was an eye opener for me and you just might enjoy it

Yeah played it for a while.

Power and speed mixed with the intelligence of chess. So many unique skills put together in a team sport, where any one failure can ruin the play.

[Guest Bilo]

you have a chip on your shoulder.

I said that you don't understand them, not that you're too thick for them.

Lots of people don't understand Cricket it doesn't make them too thick.

your comments make it clear that you don't understand the sport (or that you are a thick bastard )

and American?

I understand the strategic element of American football, but find the sheer length of matches and the stop-start nature of them very dull. I watched the Superbowl a couple of years ago with some interested mates, and basically got through by getting pissed and eating my bodyweight in snacks.

Oh, and you'll find ice hockey is a Canadian sport.

[Hugo Sanchez]

How come no american sport is very popular outside north america ? Japan like baseball but europeans asians, south americans or africans don't. Same with basketball and american football.

[Guest]

I understand the strategic element of American football, but find the sheer length of matches and the stop-start nature of them very dull. I watched the Superbowl a couple of years ago with some interested mates, and basically got through by getting pissed and eating my bodyweight in snacks.

Oh, and you'll find ice hockey is a Canadian sport.

what do you want a medal or a chest to pin it on?

Really DGAF

Did you notice the ? - obviously not.

Stop derailing the thread - this is about the Leciester v Toulouse game today - Do you understand how a thread on Rugby works?

[Guest]

How come no american sport is very popular outside north america ? Japan like baseball but europeans asians, south americans or africans don't. Same with basketball and american football.

Fool.

I wonder why sumo isn't so popular in England as in Japan?

I wonder why Aussie rules is not played much in Europe?

I wonder why Gaelic football .....

Next you'll be asking why Ski slalom isn't big in Barbados.

[Fox in the North]

Admittedly yes the popularity isn't high, but at uni level there's 72 teams. Yes at senior level there's only like 20, but the student game is gaining more and more popularity and publicity. There was a boom of interest around the early 90s and I think it's about to boom again after a serious decline.

Anyway come on you tigers!

[Hugo Sanchez]

But football is quite big everywhere ...

[Guest Bilo]

How come no american sport is very popular outside north america ? Japan like baseball but europeans asians, south americans or africans don't. Same with basketball and american football.

Basketball is actually quite popular in Southern Europe, there are a number of clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, Partizan Belgrade, Red Star Belgrade and CSKA Moscow who have successful basketball divisions of their clubs.

The fans really get up for it as well.

It's never really been big here or in Northern Europe though.

Baseball is VERY popular in Latin America as well.

American football has never made it out of the USA and Canada to any great extent though, in spite of attempts made by the NFL by having matches played at Wembley etc. It's competing with established world games such as football and both codes of rugby, which offer far more in terms of simplicity and excitement.

[Guest Bilo]

what do you want a medal or a chest to pin it on?

Really DGAF

Did you notice the ? - obviously not.

Stop derailing the thread - this is about the Leciester v Toulouse game today - Do you understand how a thread on Rugby works?

It's Leicester.

Don't get into a 'Bilo's clearly thick' vein of thinking, there's no need for it. I'll explain why.

I'm pointing out that I can see how it could be enjoyed as a spectacle. If you have a few mates and beers to hand, I can understand it as a bit of fun. I'd be bored to tears watching it alone though, I'd probably get bored with Division Two County Cricket at Grace Road as well under the same circumstances even though I love the sport. I'd get bored with a goalless draw between Hinckley and Prescot Cables as well. It's largely about standard, the higher up I go the more I appreciate the game. Give me an Ashes Test and I'd have eight hours of thrill-a-minute stuff, give me a La Liga or Premiership game and I'll be enthralled. However even at the the highest level of American football, the Superbowl, I find American football very dull as a spectacle. That's just personal preference, not a lack of intellect or understanding.

I'm not sure why you thought I thought ice hockey was an American sport either, seemed a bit of a dim comment on your part. I complimented it as an exciting sport which I enjoy watching. Perhaps I should have put Emilio right on the origins of ice hockey immediately so as not to offend you.

[Guest Bilo]

Anyway, back on topic.

It's going to be one hell of a tough match for Tigers.

Toulouse are a big-spending side with plenty of stars, but if anybody on this side of the Channel is going to top them it's Leicester.

Leicester's record at WR is outstanding and Toulouse's away record less so. Manu Tuilagi will be key here, the lad is an absolute monster of a man and totally fearless. On an ice cold day in front of a noisy crowd facing the likes of Tuilagi, Cole, Waldrom and possibly Castro coming off the bench, you have to question how much Toulouse will fancy it.

Narrow win for the Tigers.

[Guest]

It's Leicester.

Don't get into a 'Bilo's clearly thick' vein of thinking, there's no need for it. I'll explain why.

I'm pointing out that I can see how it could be enjoyed as a spectacle. If you have a few mates and beers to hand, I can understand it as a bit of fun. I'd be bored to tears watching it alone though, I'd probably get bored with Division Two County Cricket at Grace Road as well under the same circumstances even though I love the sport. I'd get bored with a goalless draw between Hinckley and Prescot Cables as well. It's largely about standard, the higher up I go the more I appreciate the game. Give me an Ashes Test and I'd have eight hours of thrill-a-minute stuff, give me a La Liga or Premiership game and I'll be enthralled. However even at the the highest level of American football, the Superbowl, I find American football very dull as a spectacle. That's just personal preference, not a lack of intellect or understanding.

I'm not sure why you thought I thought ice hockey was an American sport either, seemed a bit of a dim comment on your part. I complimented it as an exciting sport which I enjoy watching. Perhaps I should have put Emilio right on the origins of ice hockey immediately so as not to offend you.

As I said I don't think you're thick. I think that some people who don't "like" US Football or any other sport, simply don't understand the sport and don't know where to look, when. There is a difference between not understanding and being thick. If you don't like the sport, I can't argue with that. I can argue with the statement that "American Sports are boring" which is what I was doing.

I like your argument that you would find Hinckley v Prescott stables boring, yet you don't find Football boring. That's a reasonable point I guess.

In short I don't think you're thick. I think Hugo is a Fool and others who make generalised comments too. Finnegan is simply Welsh and likes to follow me around the board calling me names.

Anyway, back on topic.

It's going to be one hell of a tough match for Tigers.

Toulouse are a big-spending side with plenty of stars, but if anybody on this side of the Channel is going to top them it's Leicester.

Leicester's record at WR is outstanding and Toulouse's away record less so. Manu Tuilagi will be key here, the lad is an absolute monster of a man and totally fearless. On an ice cold day in front of a noisy crowd facing the likes of Tuilagi, Cole, Waldrom and possibly Castro coming off the bench, you have to question how much Toulouse will fancy it.

Narrow win for the Tigers.

Agree with almost everything you say here. I'll be very happy with a win of any margin. What's the weather doing in Leicester at the moment?

[Guest Bilo]

I don't live in Leicester, but it looked pretty horrendous on SSN earlier. Huge snow drifts cleared from the pitch at Welford Road and very icy.

As I say, I just can't see Toulouse fancying it in front of a decent crowd.

[Staff]

Snowing quite heavily

(in Thurmaston anyway!)

[Guest]

Just got the broadcast.

Snowing

Manu out

Advantage Toulouse

[Guest Bilo]

Tigers starting like a train in appalling conditions.

Near miss for Toulouse, Morris dropped a slippery ball on the line.