That is true the other way as well. Several professional rugby players have tried to make the switch to the NFL recently and none have really been successful. Christian Wade clings onto a roster spot at Buffalo because he’s protected by the IPP system, Hayne wasn’t good enough.
Mailata is probably the most successful and he’s a rotational OL for a bad Eagles team.
It’s tough to change sports.
Relying on news agencies is what i call ignorant.
@Redbji,
If those countriea doesn’t show American football in their sports news, the average person will not know what a Superbowl is. When I was growing up, I knew about American football, but not about how it was as a league.
I would not have been able to name a team. They never showed any of those games on the tv. It was Boxing and Golf. I remember Football Italia tv show in thec1990s. I think now, in the last 5 years or so, the UK with the USA have tried promoting the games. It will take time. Football is a game with a massive global appeal with the 1918 World Cup had 3.5 billion viewers watching that tournament.
Having said that, the USA people are much more familiar with soccer and the various European leagues in the last 15-20 years or so and know all the clubs, even the mid table ones. It also helps their men’s national team has done quite well. Women’s soccer is huge though for many years. They are miles ahead compared to the Women’s European teams.
I would have thought most sports fans in the UK would have known what the superbowl was since at least the 80s. I remember watching the NFL on Channel 4 round my cousins’ house from the early 80s. The 1986 superbowl was shown live in the UK on Channel 4, I’m fairly certain.
That was over 30 years ago. If anyone who has a vague interest in sports doesn’t know what the superbowl is in 2021 then I’d be amazed…or their vague interest in sports is particularly superficial.
USA people are familiar with Southampton, Leicester and Palace? OK then.
What I mean is, EPL matches are shown over there, so they would know the teams, not just the big six teams.
Its not just EPL, Bundesliga is popular over there.
Those people who watch soccer. All my family over there know who Wilfred Zaha is and Leicester won the league a few years ago and they know Matt le Tissier and Fulham, Dempsey played for them.
Just saying that is all.
I was teasing abit with my previous post about NFL and Tom Brady but in all honesty, while Tom Brady might possibly be the greatest player in NFL ever but the fact is he and the sport is relatively unknown outside of America. Our generation might have more access to media and might read about the NFL even if we don’t understand the game but a case in point about GOAT across sports is like my Mum, who has no inkling about any sports or watched any but yet she knows enough basic information about Ali, about Pele but she is definitely clueless about Tom Brady. I think the Superbowl had a global viewership of 100mil this or last year and 90% is in America. That tells the story even if it is broadcast in many countries.
So definitely would not begrudge Tom Brady as possibly the GOAT in NFL and should be respected for his achievement in the sport but if we are talking about a GOAT across sports or even above sports globally, then I am afraid Tom Brady would be behind many in the list.
So what your saying is Steven Gerrard is the all time GOAT. Based this on the fact that of all the sports persons my mum knows (which is pretty abysmal) Steven Gerrard is the only one she recognises other than Lampard who she absolutely detested (because some people said he was better than Gerrard which she so rightly disagreed with).
My daughter is of the same mind though she does have a soft spot for Toevalu (as he was at the centre of all handbags when we went to watch RCT).
To be honest I still don’t think you can cross sports, even those who played two sports weren’t the greatest at both, maybe those multi eventers come closest but even then people like Denise Lewis had her weak disciplines and wasn’t at the level of best in the world at her best ones.
Time also plays a part, I think Kenny and George had the skills to play nowadays but it is a different game for most players.
There are several managers who were the top of their game but haven’t adapted at all and now seem diminishing whenever they start somewhere new.
Then there are sports which the best could probably have played at any era like Snooker and Golf. I think Woods vs Nicholaus both at their prime would have been epic.
Absolutely but then you also have to factor in the other aspect that differentiates eras for some sports. Equipment. Nicklaus v Woods using the equipment either used would likely see both win using their respective gear - they are products of their time.
It’s a shame we never saw prime Hendry v prime O’Sullivan at snooker…plus the peaks of Jimmy White, Alex Higgins, Joe Davis etc.
True, I think we just need to accept when a great sports man or woman comes along that they are the greatest of their generation.
Lets rule out statistical freaks like bradman and then get into the discussion
Right. Can we get rid of the skilful and fast freaks too then please?
He doesn’t have much luck with cars.
Only the other day I was reading that he hopes to be fit for the Masters after his 5th back surgery. Now this.
I’ll just say you have to be going some lick to do that to a car with no one else involved.
Maybe Woods was just a bad driver (pun intended)
Or stone cold sober and drug free.
OK, this guy has just been referenced on Fighting Talk. Never heard of him but this guy is ridiculous