> I can’t understand let alone (and probably because of my lack of understanding) stand NFL which I personally think culturally encapsulates an American approac

> I can’t understand let alone (and probably because of my lack of understanding) stand NFL which I personally think culturally encapsulates an American approach to the world - this is the offence team, this is defence, let’s pad up and beat the shit out of the opposing side. Out of curiosity have you ever watched the NFL? Like, given it a good chance for at least a few games? Because in pop culture that's how the NFL is portrayed and marketed, but it's not really like that and honestly I'd venture to say that's not why most people like watching it - because there's not really much literal "beating the shit" out of the opposing side anyway, and to give an example: if you listen to the live crowds, you rarely, if ever, hear them lose their shit when the occasional gruesome helmet-to-helmet play or injury occurs, as someone on the outside looking in might expect. On the flipside, any time contact is avoided by the home team to make a good play, the crowd collectively loses their shit, because really what football is about is using physical strength as well as skill - mental and physical - to outsmart and outmaneuver your opponent and "beat the shit out of them" that way. I've been watching football for years and I still barely understand how, at its core, the game works. Nevermind how physically skilled they are, which is a given - there is so much that goes into the game mentally it's mindboggling. Don't even get me started on the quarterback position which is arguably the most mentally-intensive position in any of the major sports, not just because it requires intelligence but it requires intelligence, FAST, while a bunch of guys are clawing at your offensive line trying to run into you and bring you down for the sack.