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People tend to view football as a bunch of dumb lugs pushing each other around, but theres crazy amounts of raw physical strength, finesse, and smarts involved.

People tend to view football as a bunch of dumb lugs pushing each other around, but theres crazy amounts of raw physical strength, finesse, and smarts involved. Each play might involve linemen pushing defenders one way or another to mislead them just long enough to let the ball carrier run through. Watching a great run play unfold is truly amazing, especially at the professional level where the players are basically freaks of nature/superhuman. Then theres the Odell Beckham catch from earlier this year which is just an insane feat of athleticism: http://www.gfycat.com/PointedKindheartedAtlanticsharpnosepuffer http://www.gfycat.com/PointedKindheartedAtlanticsharpnosepuf... 2 years ago I thought football was stupid. Then I started actually watching it and realized theres a lot more to it than I gave it credit for. Now I highly anticipate the start of each season.

TeMPOraL 12y ago
I think you might be onto something. I still find sport boring, though I recall my interest in soccer increasing when I was learning things about game strategies. Maybe simply some of us derive pleasure from the aspects that are non-obvious first time you watch a match on TV.
- taternuts 12y ago
  I find that unless you've played football, it's one of those sports where it can be kind of hard to recognize great play at the line and other positions that aren't featured as heavily as the QB/RB/WR's. The truth is though that at that level there is always 100x more stuff going on than you could possibly imagine; how far someone is leaning forward, if their right foot is slightly ahead of their left, where their center of gravity is relative to their normal stance, what moves were tried in previous situations and how will that affect what they try now given what I think I/we am/are showing? When I played sports at a high level, I always regarded my ability to think quickly and break down situations further than my competition in the moment as to what made me effective. There's a fair amount of slower freak athletes in the NFL that don't need to win the mental battles as much because they are just so much better physically and nothing can counter-act that, but there's also a ton of really smart guys studying their ass off for that slight edge and beating the bigger, stronger, faster with it. Then there's guys who do both like JJ Watt
- Ar-Curunir 12y ago
  I would recommend Inverting the Pyramid, it is a fascinating journey through the history of footie tactics. Also, often it's difficult to gauge what's happening in a football match from watching on TV. Going to a game allows you a clearer view of how the match is progressing. However, after watching enough matches, you can pretty soon see patterns and tactics and styles of each team, and it gets pretty fascinating. And then of course there's the ability of the players to dazzle individually, either via great passing or with tricks or great tackles or an outstanding save.

TeMPOraL 12y ago

I think you might be onto something. I still find sport boring, though I recall my interest in soccer increasing when I was learning things about game strategies. Maybe simply some of us derive pleasure from the aspects that are non-obvious first time you watch a match on TV.

taternuts 12y ago
I find that unless you've played football, it's one of those sports where it can be kind of hard to recognize great play at the line and other positions that aren't featured as heavily as the QB/RB/WR's. The truth is though that at that level there is always 100x more stuff going on than you could possibly imagine; how far someone is leaning forward, if their right foot is slightly ahead of their left, where their center of gravity is relative to their normal stance, what moves were tried in previous situations and how will that affect what they try now given what I think I/we am/are showing? When I played sports at a high level, I always regarded my ability to think quickly and break down situations further than my competition in the moment as to what made me effective. There's a fair amount of slower freak athletes in the NFL that don't need to win the mental battles as much because they are just so much better physically and nothing can counter-act that, but there's also a ton of really smart guys studying their ass off for that slight edge and beating the bigger, stronger, faster with it. Then there's guys who do both like JJ Watt
Ar-Curunir 12y ago
I would recommend Inverting the Pyramid, it is a fascinating journey through the history of footie tactics. Also, often it's difficult to gauge what's happening in a football match from watching on TV. Going to a game allows you a clearer view of how the match is progressing. However, after watching enough matches, you can pretty soon see patterns and tactics and styles of each team, and it gets pretty fascinating. And then of course there's the ability of the players to dazzle individually, either via great passing or with tricks or great tackles or an outstanding save.