Maximus Decimus
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Posts posted by Maximus Decimus
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11 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:
Only 15 minutes until the days snooker gets going! Mrs. Goose is lucky today though cos I will be going to a football game at 2.30 and then I have to let her have her Strictly Come Dancing when I get back so she won't be sitting through too much snooker today!
I've just this week got multi-room.
It's purely coincidental that it comes days after trying to watch the NFL with my near-80 year old Irish inlaws in the room...
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10 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:
Gaelic Football was a much more entertaining sport when teams used to vary between short passes and longer, raking balls to the forward lines. Nowadays it is a constant recycling of the ball until the opposition leaves an opportunity for a shot for a point. Far less goals are being scored because the full forwards aren't receiving direct ball and 1-on-1 chances.
It would be a much better spectacle if there was a limit on the number of short passes allowed in succession.
Even though it's not professional, it has probably gone through a process of where the sport has become more professional in its outlook.
Some sports this has benefitted from a spectacle POV, and some it hasn't. I often say RL is one that has lost out a bit IMO. It sounds like GAA has as well.
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5 hours ago, Keith989 said:
Yeah it's awful, I'm surprised to see positive reviews of it on here. Hurling on the other hand is comfortable one of the best sports in the world to watch. You basically never get a bad game when the All Ireland knockouts come round.
It's a good watch as a novelty, but I soon think it would wear off. It's like GAA but you can basically shoot from half the pitch away.
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5 hours ago, Keith989 said:
Fair comment. The only thing is that a gaelic football is a lot different to a soccer ball. It's actually an incredible skill to kick a gaelic ball off the crowd from the 45 over the bar.
I'm sure it is, but when you see it 30/40 times a game it soon loses its allure.
Funnily enough, it's a similar criticism I would have had for basketball. As RL fans, we often use the line of not wanting a game to be like basketball. However, having been to a few games I kind of get it now and the game can ebb and flow quite well. The actual getting of a basket isn't that impressive, it's often more about creating the opportunity to shoot.
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2 hours ago, gingerjon said:
I have similar when it comes to boxing. Outside of the Olympics or equivalent tournaments, I have no understanding of why X is fighting Y at this time beyond the obvious knowledge that it was the way the money wanted it to go.
Interestingly (ish), despite not doing anything to really fix it, cricket does seem to be aware that just having random countries show up at random times for a random series, isn't necessarily the best way to entice people.
Yeh I get that, and I suppose they are quite alike in that respect. As I'm familiar with boxers, certain matchups are exciting for a variety of reasons. If I knew the relative form of different cricket teams, I'm sure the test series would be similar.
For me, to truly enjoy a sporting event, I need to believe that there is meaning behind it. The fans need to care and the players need to care. I'm really put off if I think that there isn't that much on the line. With sports like darts, tennis, snooker etc, I just can't get interested by anything but the big tournaments.
Cricket tests seem a bit like this as an outsider. As I said I enjoy the ashes, because there is something truly riding on it - bragging rights. When I'm talking about NFL, I often use cricket as an example of getting used to a sport that has plenty of stoppages and not being bothered by it.
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3 hours ago, gingerjon said:
They are - to my eye, anyway - a lot more similar than league and union. But, yes, two sports that I've combined for ease of reference.
Chicago Bears in NFL and Saskatchewan in CFL, since nobody asked.
Bear Down!
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7 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:
I think Gaelic Football has been made almost unwatchable over the last few years by the soccer-like trend towards holding onto possession, over taking risks and trying long passes.
Some sports have a fundamental feature that I find too frustrating to watch properly. Union, even without the pro-RL baggage, has penalty kicks. I can't get my head around a sport that relies on infringements for so many of its points.
GAA is like this for me. I find the constant kicking for 1 point unappealing, it doesn't seem like an incredible skill. AFL is similar, they kick it over everybody's head from far away and the crowd goes wild. I'm sure both are very difficult, but they just aren't aesthetically pleasing as a main form of scoring.
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I'm the current lone NFL advocate, but that is a very recent thing. No doubt at different times I would pick Darts or Boxing. Darts is another fairly recent rediscovery, but boxing is one relatively constant feature. I wouldn't call myself a diehard but there's few sports that can get me hyped like a big fight. I probably buy 3/4 a year.
I like American Football as a sport but I also enjoy the over the top American nature of it. I get the problem with stoppages, but you can get used to it. I've always passively followed the Premier League (and love the big tournaments) but just don't really enjoy football as a spectator sport a lot of the time. I also find it a deeply unsatisfying sport from a competitive point of view.
I'm really surprised to hear so many people talk about cricket as one of their main sports. I quite enjoy the Ashes, but I would honestly hear them talking about different test series on the news and wonder who really cares about that. The whole test series structure just seems a bit like glorified friendlies to me.
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Vikings, Packers, Dolphins, Jets, Ravens, Bengals, Texans, Lions, Buccs, Chargers, Bills, Bears, Chiefs, Broncos, 49ers, Steelers
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On 16/10/2024 at 07:55, THE RED ROOSTER said:
It s an interesting sporting cultural point. The US couple next to me were incredulous that with first down, goal to go line-up in front of the sticks you have people getting up to get more beers. As they put it back home that would have got to Boo Birds letting the individuals concerned what they thought of them.
There are enough natural breaks in a football game for people not to do this and its a part of sporting etiquette the International series crowds need to be educated in
I suppose that's always going to be the case with sports where most people aren't avid fans, especially if they aren't fans of the teams specifically. As a sports fan, I can't understand why you would go in the first place if you aren't interested in seeing a possible TD.
When I went in Chicago, people were in and out a lot. There were 2 guys in front of us who got up after the first touchdown and never came back.
And of course, they nearly all left before witnessing the end of their first home win in over a year!
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Broncos, Jaguars, Lions, Bills, Colts, Falcons, Packers, Bengals, Eagles, Rams, Commanders, 49ers, Steelers, Buccs, Chargers
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6 hours ago, Irish Saint said:
Week 6
1. R L Winger 60
2. WestsTigersRule 59
3. Matt Santos 58
4. redsi42 57
5. DeeDeuce 56
5. The RedRooster 56
7. Irish Saint 52
8. Cherry and Whiite 50
9. Maximus Decimus 47
9. Gerrumonside ref 47
Here's me thinking I had a decent week with 10/14.
I should have known to never pick the Jets!
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Just finished the Jets-Bills game. You just knew that when the second FG hit the post that they weren't going to win.
Entertaining first half, but way too many flags in the second.
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38 minutes ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:
Shameless name drop, but I went along to NFL live with Commissioner Roger Goodell on Saturday.
Jolly Roger opened up by stating his first experience was in the American Bowl series in the 1980's where
Roger also being misquoted in Pro Football talk, he never said the Super Bowl would move out of the states he simply said the Super Bowl would be played in an "NFL city" . In reality there are practical reasons not to do so, noticablty the time diference between the UK and USA. In addition, Ronde Barber added "You give us the FA Cup final and we will give you the Super Bowl"
Someone wanted nightime games in the UK with 7.00pm staerts. that would go down like a line of sick with me and other because it means additional expense through a potential overnight stay given that an NFL game can stretch as far as 3.5 hours. Fortunately it also denies the NFL the 09:30am Eastern states time slot so unlikely.
Roger under fire for no "Family Friendy" fan rallies at Southbank or Battersea Power Station this year aand the lack of planning with player signings and events for those coming fromn afar. I got to meet Kenny Stills and Travis Etienne at seperate events last year because I happened to be in London at the time, mid-week with signings arranged at 2 hours notice.
The Ireland question with we have 800 fans at a watch party for the Steelers and 9.5 % of the US population with an Irish ancestor "so when are the Steelers coming to Dublin" question came up. As you would expect from the son of a republican politician, Roger the Dodger, swerved the question by replying that he was one of the 9.5%, the Steelers are keen on coming over, but "maybe not next season". The bit that's gone unreported in the media beat up.
Roger however confirmed the NFL would NEVER give up the London games which have been going on in various guises for 41 years now. But No mention of a European franchise.
The NFL international series in London has ended. The Wembley game is a Jacksonville Jaguars event run by them, not the NFL, all profits to the Jags. Perhaps you were not aware but Jacksonville's agreement runs out this year, and is being given a short-term extension.
Or that during Stadium Renovation there is the prospect of 2-3 home games played in the UK
The big question of course is what happens when the Jags have a 71,000 stadium and the short-term lease expires in 2028/29. (All leases have to be short-term due to NFL market factors) - Make of that as you will...
Speculation for next year, AFC teams will have the additional game in 2025, but I think Miami will be in Madrid and maybe the Jets come over for a home game but maybe not. The key is to look at the Jags 2025 schedule . The names where Jacksonville are the away team that jump out are: Las Vegas Raiders
, Denver Broncos and the AFC North, where although the Cincinatti Bengals may, due to their final placing, not be on the Jags schedule but I do think they will be coming over to Spurs. As for the Jags home game at Wembley I will tip the LA CHargers as the side coming over.
Yes but it was also less of a game than the week before. In addition a lot of UK fans like me adopt the Jags as their "second team" because they play here That said, there is still too many there who seem clueless as to what is going on on the field and just come to drink beer, sing along to Sweet Caroline or Mr Brightside, buy the gear and just be seen at the event..
The Bears fans from Florida on my left paid me the backhanded compliment that I was the only Brit they had come across in their stay that knew about football (NFL). I should do after 41 years, but although the word is misused in a political context, the fans over here still need to be "educated" in the ways of the NFL.
When I went to the NFL in Chicago we got talking to this older couple at the airport and they couldn't believe that we knew about the NFL but also things like college football etc.
I was really impressed with my one experience and would definitely do it again. I suppose I was too into the game to notice too much about the rest of the crowd.
That said, I was sat next to about 6 young French lads across 2 rows who all came out carrying a set of 4 beers. They lasted the first quarter so they got another 4. Safe to say they were hammered and one was even being given ice to stop him puking up.
It was the most British acting I'd ever seen our French cousins.
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Very pleased with the Bears performance yesterday. After a slow first quarter, they dominated and easily won a game that they were slight underdogs for.
I have a mate who went both the last two weeks and he said while there were probably more Bears fans than Vikings fan last week, it felt like less of a home game.
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What with the GF being on, I missed the most controversial moment that being the Ben Whittaker draw.
From what I've seen, he was struggling against a fighter he was expected to beat and then they both went head first over the ropes, where Whittaker was injured and had to retire.
The fight went to the scorecards and it was scored a draw which most see as fortunate for Whittaker. Not only that but he's being accused of faking being hurt and effectively quitting.
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3 hours ago, Gerrumonside ref said:
Very interesting article about the progress by the NFL academy in Loughborough amongst its spread of 16-19 year old prospects.
The hope is that more and more of these athletes will be picked up by the top US colleges and processed through the US collegiate system.
This is seen as more likely to lead to pro athletes from in the NFL from around the world rather than mid 20s rugby union talent trying to adapt.
Interestingly the article suggests that currently the ratio of applicants to places is high so the NFL are looking at a global academy structure including one opening on the Gold Coast in Australia.
In order to prove their ability the coaches at the academy at Loughborough are organising top quality matchups against their US high school contemporaries such as the highly esteemed De La Salle Spartans.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/oct/13/tackles-and-textbooks-inside-the-uk-nfl-dream-factory
They were pushing this at the game last Sunday without explaining much about who either side were.
Just looked it up and De la Salle won 31-9.
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5 hours ago, Gerrumonside ref said:
Beterbiev won the fight to me and that’s backed up by the stats although I believe Eddie Hearn was upset at the end.
I would have given Bivol maybe 5 rounds but it was Beterbiev who got more on top from round 3 and delivered the more telling shots.
He was starting to hunt down Bivol and always carried the greater power to me and his great footwork allowed him to roll away and never allow Bivol enough of an opportunity to tee off with a straight right or right hook at the start of an exchange.
Bivol had some joy of course at times but it was never sustained particularly in the last three ‘championship’ rounds which Beterbiev won for me.
A lot of the rounds were close but I always felt Beterbiev was coming back stronger at the end of more rounds than Bivol including the closing minute.
Another telling factor was that Beterbiev had that ‘go forward’ advantage that he was visibly more and more pushing the tiring Bivol closer to ring edge even when Bivol attempted to stand and exchange in the centre.
While British judges may ignore that I’ve seen too many world title fights were international judges are more influenced to award aggression.
It was a close fight on the whole where neither man can say he truly dominated the other (no knock downs for example), I’m not sure we’ll get a rematch but it certainly would be interesting.
I backed Bivol pre fight and stood to win a bit of money had he won so I watched him quite keenly tbh. I watched the fight on TNT (Paul Dempsey commentary really) and Richie Woodhall, Anthony Crolla and the rest of the panel as it was saw a Beterbiev win.
I think it's that old thing about what judges prefer, the cleaner shots or the aggression.
I was rooting for Bivol, and think he did really well but there was always an inevitable feeling that Beterbiev was going to come strong. I actually put a bet on after round 2 for Beterbiev because the odds had Bivol as the favourite, but I thought he was going to find it hard to keep up.
I'm OK with the result but it could've gone either way. While the cleaner shots came from Bivol there were also longer periods where he did very little but cover up. On the DAZN coverage, they had it very close and the last time I remember seeing it thought Beterbiev would win if he could get the last 2 rounds.
The main reason I was surprised, was because betting wise they seemed to think Bivol had got it. I only stuck a tenner on Beterbiev and the whole fight they were offering me about £9 to cash out. By the time of the decision it was like £4.50.
The whole aggression vs clear shots seems to be about the fighter and pre-fight expectations a lot of the time IMO. The classic example of this is Mayweather. When he fought, it didn't seem to matter that the other guy was more aggressive because Mayweather did the better work.
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2 hours ago, Gerrumonside ref said:
Word should be spoken too about the absolute pathetic nature of the attempted wrestling style promo between Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.
For those not old enough to remember or be there at the time, I can quite honestly say that the anticipation of the Benn-Eubank fight fought by their fathers even overshadowed football for a short time.
Two very different men with different styles captured the imagination on ITV like nothing had in boxing at that time eclipsing everything for hardcore and casual boxing fans.
That was real and what we saw last night was a terrible attempt to manufacture the same thing but with two infinitely worse fighters and it descended into farce.
I'm not even joking, my 10 year old came in as I was watching that and asked whether it was WWE.
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Until the decision.... don't agree with that.
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Safe to say it was worth it. What a fight!
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9 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:
Wardley demolishes Frazer inside a round tonight.
Like Dubois he’s not got the usual big amateur background yet isn’t far away from a world title fight now.
Beterbiev vs Bivol up next for all the Light Heavyweight belts.
A real shock and very disappointing. I only got the PPV because I saw that fight and the last one was a classic. Hard to argue with his power, but I didn't like the way he caught him after he'd been turned round.
Hopefully, the big fight lives up to the hype.
Either way, it hasn't cost me anything because I made a deal that if I won my GF bet I'd get the PPV!
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Apologies if you haven't heard it and now will, but whoever is doing that incessant tap-dripping drum beat needs a kick in the balls.
If anyone at the game is near, I'll pay your legal fees if you do any damage.
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I'd love to see Hull KR do it, but my head says a comfortable Wigan win. It's just about the occasion and how often Wigan have been there.
KR we're lucky to get through Wire last week while Wigan breezed through.
Hoping for a good game and something to shout about.
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Your second favourite sport
in Any Other Business / Any Other Sports
Posted
So let me get this straight, if you can punt the ball out on the full behind the posts you get a point?
Seems like madness.