It was as bright and loud as I'd expected it to be, but, to my surprise, I found it slow. Very slow. It was like watching golf, but with cheerleaders on the side. I felt I was spending most of my time watching the decidedly large gentlemen PREPARE to play the game rather than actually PLAY it.
This might have something to do with the rules, the basics of which take up 4060 words in Wikipedia, as opposed to the 410 words used to detail the key points of Rugby; the game from which American Football originates. More rules = more debate = less game time.
Another thing I have to question is the armour. I generally don't make a point of mocking people that could easily snap me like a twig, but when said people wrap themselves in a duvet and bounce off each other like they're wearing sumo-suits, they do lose some of their menace. It's like they've seen what happens to Rugby players ([link] and communally said; "We're not leaving this locker room 'till you bring us a helmet, goggles and a sh*t load of cushions!!"
I want to know when this happened! I'm a huge fan of history, so I know American Football wasn't always this wimpy. Back in the 20s and 30s they made do with a bit of leather padding on their head, as is the full extent of (optional) armour worn by contemporary players of Rugby and Aussie "scariest bloody game in the world" Rules.
For those that will no doubt argue that AF is indeed a brutal sport and that I'm talking out of my arse again, I point you to this clip. Ireland vs Australia: [link]
Any game in which you get a mere yellow card for starting a mass brawl on pitch is a game worth watching as far as I'm concerned








that is until they tried to forbid it.. then we went on to throw frozen lumps of playdough at each other, claiming it was a snowball fight.... and yes any sport you wear armour in is for sissies - honestly, they spend half the time argueing and complaining - and yes i've watched it (this is to the people who might claim i haven't) i fell a sleep after the first half hour of biggering