23 Jan 05
Originally posted by ianpickeringAs far as I'm aware, though, the Americans didn't actually invent either of the games that you mention...........
2 examples to say it is
1. American Football players wear more padding than Dustin Hoffman did in Tootsie, whilst rugby players wear little if any.
2. Fielders in baseball wear gloves, whilsts cricket fielders don't.
23 Jan 05
Originally posted by rwingettFound this about the origins of American Football, which surprised me a bit, because I'd always heard it was us Brits who invented "Gridiron"
It's open to debate.
http://www.sultans.boun.edu.tr/tr/futbol.html
Not too sure about the baseball bit - although this site says it originated from "rounders" - duh...
www.baseball1.com/bb-data/e-hist-1.html
23 Jan 05
Originally posted by FavsYes, it was supposedly based on the English game of rounders. But does that mean baseball is an English invention? Or would it be an American invention based on an earlier English invention?
Found this about the origins of American Football, which surprised me a bit, because I'd always heard it was us Brits who invented "Gridiron"
http://www.sultans.boun.edu.tr/tr/futbol.html
Not too sure about the baseball bit - although this site says it originated from "rounders" - duh...
www.baseball1.com/bb-data/e-hist-1.html
As for football, I have no idea.
23 Jan 05
Originally posted by RussThere is a 10 page debate about the origins of American Football and Rugby going on in the Debates forum.
American football shares so many fundamentals with rugby, I would not believe it wasn't the basis for it. But, the actual game is very different, so surely an American invention.
-Russ <- writing this thinking maybe I should have done a quick Google first.
However I think they've deciding precisely nothing.
23 Jan 05
1 edit
I suppose it depends on what we mean by "invented"...
A group of students at Princeton began playing what was then known as ‘ballown’. First using their fists to advance the ball, and then their feet, this game consisted mainly of one goal: to advance the ball past the opposing team. There were no hard and fast rules applied to this earliest attempt at the game we now call football.
Soon after the end of the American Civil War, around eighteen sixty five, colleges began organizing football games. In eighteen sixty seven, Princeton led the way in establishing some rudimentary rules of the game. Also in that year, the football itself was patented for the very first time.
Source: (well actually cut and paste!!) http://wiwi.essortment.com/americanfootbal_rwff.htm
So, contrary to my previous post it does seem as though American's did invent they're own national game, they only used Rugby as inspiration.
I wonder how many other quintessential British "things" have "inspired" our American friends to try and do it bigger and better.......
23 Jan 05
Originally posted by ianpickering1-American football players developed all of that padding in response to players dieing . It's a much harder hitting sport than it looks . How many rugby and soccer deaths occur each year ?
2 examples to say it is
1. American Football players wear more padding than Dustin Hoffman did in Tootsie, whilst rugby players wear little if any.
2. Fielders in baseball wear gloves, whilsts cricket fielders don't.
2- I don't think the ball travels as fast in cricket . In baseball some pitches are traveling at almost 100 mph as they cross the plate . I don't know the velocity of such a pitched ball as it leaves the bat after being hit , but guaranty that if you fielded such a ball once bare handed you would wear a mit .
23 Jan 05
Originally posted by Moldy Crowyes in cricket they use huge heavy bats that aren't lifted above the sohoulders o they can't really get power into it, the whole idea is to defend your wickets and aiming the ball to go somwhere where a fielder isn't whereas baseball i think is for power so you can run all th way around so no the american sport isn't pansified
1-American football players developed all of that padding in response to players dieing . It's a much harder hitting sport than it looks . How many rugby and soccer deaths occur each year ?
2- I don't think the ball travels as fast in cricket . In baseball some pitches are traveling at almost 100 mph as they cross the plate . I don't know the veloci ...[text shortened]... eing hit , but guaranty that if you fielded such a ball once bare handed you would wear a mit .
23 Jan 05
Originally posted by BlobbyClearly you have never seen cricket played. The ball can be bowled at up to 90 miles an hour so a full bloodied shot will have plenty of power in it. If the ball is edged behind the wicket at this speed it is often caught by someone standing about 20 yards away travelling at some speed. In addition a ball can be hit very high in the air (similar to a 'fly ball'😉 and is caught without the use of gloves.In order to hit such a shot the bat is lifted to at least shoulder height and the follow through is like a golf shot.
yes in cricket they use huge heavy bats that aren't lifted above the sohoulders o they can't really get power into it, the whole idea is to defend your wickets and aiming the ball to go somwhere where a fielder isn't whereas baseball i think is for power so you can run all th way around so no the american sport isn't pansified
23 Jan 05
Originally posted by BlobbyAbsolute nonsense to this and the precious post on baseball.
yes in cricket they use huge heavy bats that aren't lifted above the sohoulders o they can't really get power into it, the whole idea is to defend your wickets and aiming the ball to go somwhere where a fielder isn't whereas baseball i think is for power so you can run all th way around so no the american sport isn't pansified
1) The cricket wicket is 2.5 feet shorter than the distance between a baseball pitcher and the hitter. At a speed of 90mph (quite achievable in a first class cricket game) this means that the ball reaches the batsmen in 0.03 of a second quicker than in baseball.
2) The baseball bat is steel of some sort, the cricket bat is wooden, yet both cricketer and baseball player can hit the ball similar distances.
3) Baseball pitches must be thrown into a specific area of space. Too high and it is a foul ball, too low and a foul ball, too close to the body of the hitter and it is a foul ball. On the other hand in cricket, a bowler may deliver his ball to hit the batsmen in the head if he so wishes, provided that it bounces first.
4) Some slip catches are taken at the same speed as the ball passes the batsman and some close in catches in front of the batsman are taken at faster speeds.
5) A baseball is generally a quarter ounce lighter than a cricket ball and so has less momentum and therefore creates less pain upon catching. A cricket ball is heavier and moving at similar speeds.
I rest my case, American sports are for girls 🙂 😛