OT: World Championship of American Football

[ghoti]

Link.</p>

Anyone else follow this?</p>

It took the US team two overtimes to beat Japan in the final game.</p>

Two freaking OTs to beat JAPAN!!</p>

</p>

Look, it's time for the NFL to become involved in this. It's not acceptable for the rest of the world to catch up to us in a sport we invented. </p>

It's not a big marketing opportunity right now, but that has absolutely nothing to do with why professional leagues and players become involved in international competition. </p>

The real reasons are the incredible opportunity to proudly and selflessly represent the country and play with some of the best players in the world.</p>

So I expect guys like Peyton Manning, Tomlinson, Champ Bailey, Urlacher, etc. to jump at this incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience and show the world that we still dominate our most popular sport.</p>

</p>

Honestly, I'm surprised there wasn't more of an outcry from fans that we sent such unknown players to a competition where our great country was being represented.</p>

</p>

NFL, it's time to show your true colors - Red, White and Blue!! </p>

</p>

</p>

 

[Kid Chocolate]

Who are these guys that are playing?</p>

</p>

Who cares about this anyway, I didn't even hear about it, until now. Seems pointless. </p>

 

[cpawfan]

Japan did win the last 2 World Cups

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Never even heard about this.</p>

</p>

But if the NFL players do decide to get involved, it wouldn't even be fair

</p>

Imagine Peyton throwing the ball to Calvin Johnson, Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, and Marvis Harrison.</p>

And have LT and O'Neal in the backfield.</p>

An impenatrable O-Line.</p>

</p>

The defense would be even more stacked.</p>

 

[JCB]

I've never heard of this before either.

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Never even heard about this.</p>

</p>

But if the NFL players do decide to get involved, it wouldn't even be fair

</p>

Imagine Peyton throwing the ball to Calvin Johnson, Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, and Marvis Harrison.</p>

And have LT and O'Neal in the backfield.</p>

An impenatrable O-Line.</p>

</p>

The defense would be even more stacked. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

Exactly!</p>

It's a free country, and if these guys want to play for the USA, they should be allowed.</p>

The NFL and their franchises don't seem very patriotic to me - even the one in Massachusetts! </p>

 

[Kid Chocolate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Never even heard about this.</p>

</p>

But if the NFL players do decide to get involved, it wouldn't even be fair

</p>

Imagine Peyton throwing the ball to Calvin Johnson, Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, and Marvis Harrison.</p>

And have LT and O'Neal in the backfield.</p>

An impenatrable O-Line.</p>

</p>

The defense would be even more stacked. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

Exactly!</p>

It's a free country, and if these guys want to play for the USA, they should be allowed.</p>

The NFL and their franchises don't seem very patriotic to me - even the one in Massachusetts! </p>

</div></p>

</p>

Yea right, the NFL players would be selfish to play in this thing.</p>

 

[Kid Chocolate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>The real reasons are the incredible opportunity to proudly and selflessly represent the country and play with some of the best players in the world.</div></p>

</p>

Selfish, just like Jason Kidd.</p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate)</div><div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'> The real reasons are the incredible opportunity to proudly and selflessly represent the country and play with some of the best players in the world.</div></p>

</p>

Selfish, just like Jason Kidd. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

That's ridiculous.</p>

This is the World Championship of American Football, and the best players should be there to represent our country, no matter what.</p>

 

[Kid Chocolate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate)</div><div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'> The real reasons are the incredible opportunity to proudly and selflessly represent the country and play with some of the best players in the world.</div></p>

</p>

Selfish, just like Jason Kidd. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

That's ridiculous.</p>

This is the World Championship of American Football, and the best players should be there to represent our country, no matter what.</p>

</div></p>

</p>

Oh man. I didn't notice that. You are totally right.</p>

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

I bet if it wasn't for that "You can't do anything that may cause injury" clause in every single contract, they'd join.

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>I bet if it wasn't for that "You can't do anything that may cause injury" clause in every single contract, they'd join.</div></p>

They have it in their contracts they aren't allowed to play football??</p>

Wouldn't that mean there'd be no players in the league?</p>

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>I bet if it wasn't for that "You can't do anything that may cause injury" clause in every single contract, they'd join.</div></p>

They have it in their contracts they aren't allowed to play football??</p>

Wouldn't that mean there'd be no players in the league? </p>

</div>Come on Ghoti, you know what I mean. Same thing that made it so Pacman can't make contact in his TNA crap. </p>

 

[Kidd Karma]

NFL contracts aren't guaranteed and teams are trying to prorate salary bonuses into roster bonuses, when rosters turnover. This is to prevent players from just collecting their bonus, then doing garbage for the life of the contract. I remember Ricky Williams had to give back part of his signing bonus. Now teams are preventing this by just giving parts of the guaranteed cash each year the player is still on the roster. So if these players get hurt outside of their contractual obligation, they won't see a cent from that contract again.

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kidd Karma)</div><div class='quotemain'>NFL contracts aren't guaranteed and teams are trying to prorate salary bonuses into roster bonuses, when rosters turnover. This is to prevent players from just collecting their bonus, then doing garbage for the life of the contract. I remember Ricky Williams had to give back part of his signing bonus. Now teams are preventing this by just giving parts of the guaranteed cash each year the player is still on the roster. So if these players get hurt outside of their contractual obligation, they won't see a cent from that contract again.</div></p>

I think it's because NBA players are more patriotic, not because they have guaranteed contracts. </p>

</p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>I bet if it wasn't for that "You can't do anything that may cause injury" clause in every single contract, they'd join.</div></p>

They have it in their contracts they aren't allowed to play football??</p>

Wouldn't that mean there'd be no players in the league? </p>

</div>Come on Ghoti, you know what I mean. Same thing that made it so Pacman can't make contact in his TNA crap. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

Do basketball players have it in their contracts that they are not allowed to play basketball? Baseball players? Hockey? </p>

</p>

 

[Real]

Make American Football an Olympic sport and then we'll talk. </p>

BTW Post 300!</p>

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Ghoti, would you risk 15-20 million dollars to play in a football tournament?</p>

This isn't going to war, it's playing a game.</p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kidd Karma)</div><div class='quotemain'>NFL contracts aren't guaranteed and teams are trying to prorate salary bonuses into roster bonuses, when rosters turnover. This is to prevent players from just collecting their bonus, then doing garbage for the life of the contract. I remember Ricky Williams had to give back part of his signing bonus. Now teams are preventing this by just giving parts of the guaranteed cash each year the player is still on the roster. So if these players get hurt outside of their contractual obligation, they won't see a cent from that contract again.</div></p>

</p>

I absolutely love this post.</p>

The player making the guaranteed money should feel free to do whatever he wants because it olny affects his employer and everyone affiliated with them, while the player gains benefit for himself.</p>

The guy not making guaranteed money wouldn't even dream of participating in this life-changing and selfless experience of proudly representing his country in important international competition because the consequences also directly affect him and his financial well-being.</p>

</p>

I bet if NBA players didn't have guaranteed contracts they would still play in these competitions. Unlike greedy NFL players, they are true patriots and appreciate the importance of being Americans.</p>

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Important?</p>

You seem to be the only one who knows about this. </p>

</p>

At least admit to this:</p>

You run less of a risk playing basketball than football.</p>

 

[Kid Chocolate]

I'm just waiting for the clarity of how ghoti will relate this to Kidd being selfish...which he already has been implying.</p>

</p>

STOP IT GHOTI!</p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Important?</p>

You seem to be the only one who knows about this. </p>

</p>

At least admit to this:</p>

You run less of a risk playing basketball than football.</p>

</div></p>

</p>

All international competition is important.</p>

It's about the purity of sports and provides everyone with life experiences that are unattainable any other way.</p>

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

I sense a joke on ghoti's part...

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'>I sense a joke on ghoti's part...</div></p>

Representing America is not a joke, it's a privelege. </p>

One the NFL and its players apparently do not take as seriously as the rest of us.</p>

 

[Kid Chocolate]

Quit it ghoti. You've made your point. And it sucks!

 

[ly_yng]

The NFL, as a league, would never push its own players into playing in an international competition, because the risk of injury in a game is too high. It is a poor buisiness decision for the individual teams, the league and the players to particiapate.</p>

Meanwhile, the NBA is actively pushing its own players into international competition. You can make a strong argument that the 1992 Dream Team was the tipping point for the influx of international players into the game today. From a marketing standpoint, the more countries that get hooked on basketball (and it's happening, if slowly) the more money there is for the owners, the league, and thus the players who can cut it in the league. The overall level of talent in the NBA goes up, as does the world profile of teams that feature international stars. The individual coaches and teammates might not be paticularly thrilled with their teammates risking injury by playing high-level basketball games in the offseason, but most owners with a long-term view can see that a strong Team USA to compete with an increasingly difficult level of international play can do a LOT for the strength of the league. Meanwhile, in a league where personal marketing is everything, being a key member of Team USA can do a lot for rasing one's profile in the public conciousness. For the individual players, it can often be a smart buisiness decision.</p>

Does it suck for us, as fans, to see our players risk regular season success on what feel like "exhibition games"? Sure, if your sole focus is the team you root for. But if your view is a bit broader (and I'm not saying yours should be ghoti, just that it is for some of us) you can appreciate how watching some of the best players in the world face off against each other playing for national pride is both rewarding for the fans, and an investment for the players, the owners, and the league. </p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng)</div><div class='quotemain'>

The NFL, as a league, would never push its own players into playing in an international competition, because the risk of injury in a game is too high. It is a poor buisiness decision for the individual teams, the league and the players to particiapate.</p>

Meanwhile, the NBA is actively pushing its own players into international competition. You can make a strong argument that the 1992 Dream Team was the tipping point for the influx of international players into the game today. From a marketing standpoint, the more countries that get hooked on basketball (and it's happening, if slowly) the more money there is for the owners, the league, and thus the players who can cut it in the league. The overall level of talent in the NBA goes up, as does the world profile of teams that feature international stars. The individual coaches and teammates might not be paticularly thrilled with their teammates risking injury by playing high-level basketball games in the offseason, but most owners with a long-term view can see that a strong Team USA to compete with an increasingly difficult level of international play can do a LOT for the strength of the league. Meanwhile, in a league where personal marketing is everything, being a key member of Team USA can do a lot for rasing one's profile in the public conciousness. For the individual players, it can often be a smart buisiness decision.</p>

Does it suck for us, as fans, to see our players risk regular season success on what feel like "exhibition games"? Sure, if your sole focus is the team you root for. But if your view is a bit broader (and I'm not saying yours should be ghoti, just that it is for some of us) you can appreciate how watching some of the best players in the world face off against each other playing for national pride is both rewarding for the fans, and an investment for the players, the owners, and the league. </p>

</div></p>

Sorry, I don't understand the double standard.</p>

Isn't the NFL in much more need of international noteriety than the NBA? About a million times more? Yet the league and its franchises still refuse to allow players the important opportunity to represent their country. That should be their unassailable right! </p>

As for the risk of injury, isn't it true that the smaller rosters and salary restrictions in the NBA make it all but impossible to replace an injured star player? In the NFL, it's sooooo much easier.</p>

Basically, you are just justifying the NFL and their players' lack of national pride when they clearly have no commitment to their country. </p>

NBA players understand the meaning of selflessness and duty. For you to say that they participate for business reasons that benefit them personally is an insult to that selflessness. You should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting that they are putting themselves before their employers, fans and teammates when they are clearly great patriots. </p>

 

[Petey]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng)</div><div class='quotemain'>

The NFL, as a league, would never push its own players into playing in an international competition, because the risk of injury in a game is too high. It is a poor buisiness decision for the individual teams, the league and the players to particiapate.</p>

Meanwhile, the NBA is actively pushing its own players into international competition. You can make a strong argument that the 1992 Dream Team was the tipping point for the influx of international players into the game today. From a marketing standpoint, the more countries that get hooked on basketball (and it's happening, if slowly) the more money there is for the owners, the league, and thus the players who can cut it in the league. The overall level of talent in the NBA goes up, as does the world profile of teams that feature international stars. The individual coaches and teammates might not be paticularly thrilled with their teammates risking injury by playing high-level basketball games in the offseason, but most owners with a long-term view can see that a strong Team USA to compete with an increasingly difficult level of international play can do a LOT for the strength of the league. Meanwhile, in a league where personal marketing is everything, being a key member of Team USA can do a lot for rasing one's profile in the public conciousness. For the individual players, it can often be a smart buisiness decision.</p>

Does it suck for us, as fans, to see our players risk regular season success on what feel like "exhibition games"? Sure, if your sole focus is the team you root for. But if your view is a bit broader (and I'm not saying yours should be ghoti, just that it is for some of us) you can appreciate how watching some of the best players in the world face off against each other playing for national pride is both rewarding for the fans, and an investment for the players, the owners, and the league. </p>

</div></p>

Sorry, I don't understand the double standard.</p>

Isn't the NFL in much more need of international noteriety than the NBA? About a million times more? Yet the league and its franchises still refuse to allow players the important opportunity to represent their country. That should be their unassailable right! </p>

As for the risk of injury, isn't it true that the smaller rosters and salary restrictions in the NBA make it all but impossible to replace an injured star player? In the NFL, it's sooooo much easier.</p>

Basically, you are just justifying the NFL and their players' lack of national pride when they clearly have no commitment to their country. </p>

NBA players understand the meaning of selflessness and duty. For you to say that they participate for business reasons that benefit them personally is an insult to that selflessness. You should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting that they are putting themselves before their employers, fans and teammates when they are clearly great patriots. </p>

</div></p>

... because NBA players if cut due to injury will still get paid? While high payed NFL players on the last year of the contract can lose millions?</p>

-Petey</p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Petey)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng)</div><div class='quotemain'>

The NFL, as a league, would never push its own players into playing in an international competition, because the risk of injury in a game is too high. It is a poor buisiness decision for the individual teams, the league and the players to particiapate.</p>

Meanwhile, the NBA is actively pushing its own players into international competition. You can make a strong argument that the 1992 Dream Team was the tipping point for the influx of international players into the game today. From a marketing standpoint, the more countries that get hooked on basketball (and it's happening, if slowly) the more money there is for the owners, the league, and thus the players who can cut it in the league. The overall level of talent in the NBA goes up, as does the world profile of teams that feature international stars. The individual coaches and teammates might not be paticularly thrilled with their teammates risking injury by playing high-level basketball games in the offseason, but most owners with a long-term view can see that a strong Team USA to compete with an increasingly difficult level of international play can do a LOT for the strength of the league. Meanwhile, in a league where personal marketing is everything, being a key member of Team USA can do a lot for rasing one's profile in the public conciousness. For the individual players, it can often be a smart buisiness decision.</p>

Does it suck for us, as fans, to see our players risk regular season success on what feel like "exhibition games"? Sure, if your sole focus is the team you root for. But if your view is a bit broader (and I'm not saying yours should be ghoti, just that it is for some of us) you can appreciate how watching some of the best players in the world face off against each other playing for national pride is both rewarding for the fans, and an investment for the players, the owners, and the league. </p>

</div></p>

Sorry, I don't understand the double standard.</p>

Isn't the NFL in much more need of international noteriety than the NBA? About a million times more? Yet the league and its franchises still refuse to allow players the important opportunity to represent their country. That should be their unassailable right! </p>

As for the risk of injury, isn't it true that the smaller rosters and salary restrictions in the NBA make it all but impossible to replace an injured star player? In the NFL, it's sooooo much easier.</p>

Basically, you are just justifying the NFL and their players' lack of national pride when they clearly have no commitment to their country. </p>

NBA players understand the meaning of selflessness and duty. For you to say that they participate for business reasons that benefit them personally is an insult to that selflessness. You should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting that they are putting themselves before their employers, fans and teammates when they are clearly great patriots. </p>

</div></p>

... because NBA players if cut due to injury will still get paid? While high payed NFL players on the last year of the contract can lose millions?</p>

-Petey </p>

</div></p>

</p>

Read above. I already addressed this.</p>

NFL players are just greedy. They don't care about the USA.</p>

It's not basketball players' fault they have guaranteed contracts. They all say representing their country is worth the risk to their organizations, fans and teammates, so I think it goes without saying it would be worth personal risk to themselves as well. They would still play because they care most about the opportunity to play for their country. It's not about money to them. </p>

 

[shookem]

This competition is a fucking joke.</p>

Canada doesn't even have a team? There's about 10-15 Canadians playing in the NFL and dozens playing in NCAA, plus a league full of "Canadian" football players. I think they could figure it out if they where forced to play by these international rules. I know the running backs would love it.</p>

Team Canada wouldn't have a real good QB. Decent D and great kicking and special teams though. </p>