American transplant - please teach me about Football!

[northwoods]

Gingerbeer: my brother's partner is finishing his master's degree in Iowa City, and I think it's fair to say they both wish there was no football anywhere in the state. So I think the answer is "neither". :)

Iain - a local rugby club sounds like a treat, we'll definitely come check out a game in September. Thanks for the info!

maxxi - cake and pigeons is a sport?

[maxxi]

northwoods Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> maxxi - cake and pigeons is a sport?

More part of the ambience, like hot dogs and beer in baseball, it helps with the gradual learning-through-osmosis which works best with cricket. Two or three tests and you'll be howling with rage when the fielding skipper sets a silly point and a backward square leg but only has two men in the slips* and no gully.

*you might also become part of the debate concerning the reintroduction of a leg slip (although that may prove to have been a fad).

[david_carnell]

northwoods Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> maxxi - cake and pigeons is a sport?

Not a sport, but an essential element to the listening pleasure of cricket - one of the few sports that's better on radio than television.

Essentially, listeners often send cake to the radio commentary team (Test Match Special or TMS for short) who then will give a "shout-out" thanking them for their kind gesture.

One commentator in particular, colloquially known as Blowers, enjoys little asides and bon mots about local bird life he spots at grounds - "oh look, a pigeon at fine leg. He'll need to be careful with Pieterson at the crease" for eg.

All of this is possible due to the unique nature of the game and the large gaps between "the action".

Welcome to 21st century England.

[Gingerbeer]

I got my BA at U of Iowa, (just named by Time as the top party school in the US *sigh*), but never went to a football game, nor tailgated, so hopefully I'm redeemed. But IC is wonderful.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Don't get into cricket, it will break your heart.

[northwoods]

  Quote

howling with rage when the fielding skipper sets a silly point and a backward square leg but only has two men in the slips* and no gully.

That might as well have been said in Aramaic, I'd understand it equally the same...

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Aramaic is what Jesus spoke. That proves that cricket is God's own sport.

[northwoods]

God's own sport - does that mean New Zealand is best? :P

[Otta]

I personally love watching the bowlers in Cricket, just as I like watching the pitchers in baseball (not that I watch a lot of baseball, but Charlie Sheen was cool as the Wild Thing in Major League).

[maxxi]

I spent a summer trading info with a californian - he'd explain the curve ball and the designated hitter rule and I'd explain the googly and the 12th man.

[Annette Curtain]

Hmmmm...

[northwoods]

Well I've looked at Dulwich Hamlet, missed their match today but I'll try to get to the next one.

I checked out Arsenal tickets online and I can't even BUY them without joining them as a member for 36 quid??? unbelievable!

[telegramsam]

Happy to meet and talk football!

Sent a pm.

Sam

[Otta]

Premiership football costs a fortune. Go and spend the money watching in the pub.

[northwoods]

I'm realizing that - I had no idea. I understand it's very foolish of me but I had some kind of mental picture of common people going to games... how can you have hardcore fans if they're shelling out ?80 per game or more? that's a lot of scratch to spend on a single game.

I suppose people prioritize but come on, 80 pounds buys a fair few rounds. It seems I'm destined for pub-only viewing!

[Otta]

Pub viewing rocks!

[Katy Tonbridge]

.

[ruffers]

May I recommend following this twitter chap -

He'll be a great help.