Comments on: Were They There For the Game or For Russell Crowe? http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/ It's always football season somewhere. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:41:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: a different dave http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/comment-page-1/#comment-63339 a different dave Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:55:17 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/#comment-63339 The first time I saw rugby league (I did not know about the differences between rugby union and rugby league at the time) was on ABC Wide World of Sports, circa 1978 or 1979, when they showed the championship final between Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers. My reaction at the time was that it looked like a combination of the running game I liked from American football, with the constant, non-stop action, free flowing play I liked from soccer. When I later saw rugby union I was puzzled at first because it was nothing at all like that game I had seen on ABC back in the late 1970's. I don't see either code of rugby being more than a niche sport in the USA in the near future. Rugby union has by far the vast majority of rugby players in the USA; rugby league may be easier for Americans raised on gridiron to understand and appreciate, but as spectators, not as players, and I don't see it becoming a viable spectator sport over here. It certainly has some advantages though compared to other sports due to similarities to gridiron. Being more similar to gridiron can also be a disadvantage in the USA, too, however. It makes it easier for gridiron fans to understand, true, but that niche is already being occupied by gridiron football itself. There's really no market out there for another sport "similar to, but different from" gridiron. That would be like arguing that netball is perfect for Americans because it is "similar to" basketball, or that rounders is perfect for Americans because it is "similar to" baseball and softball. The first time I saw rugby league (I did not know about the differences between rugby union and rugby league at the time) was on ABC Wide World of Sports, circa 1978 or 1979, when they showed the championship final between Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers.

My reaction at the time was that it looked like a combination of the running game I liked from American football, with the constant, non-stop action, free flowing play I liked from soccer. When I later saw rugby union I was puzzled at first because it was nothing at all like that game I had seen on ABC back in the late 1970’s.

I don’t see either code of rugby being more than a niche sport in the USA in the near future. Rugby union has by far the vast majority of rugby players in the USA; rugby league may be easier for Americans raised on gridiron to understand and appreciate, but as spectators, not as players, and I don’t see it becoming a viable spectator sport over here. It certainly has some advantages though compared to other sports due to similarities to gridiron.

Being more similar to gridiron can also be a disadvantage in the USA, too, however. It makes it easier for gridiron fans to understand, true, but that niche is already being occupied by gridiron football itself. There’s really no market out there for another sport “similar to, but different from” gridiron. That would be like arguing that netball is perfect for Americans because it is “similar to” basketball, or that rounders is perfect for Americans because it is “similar to” baseball and softball.

]]> By: Dave http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/comment-page-1/#comment-63323 Dave Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:13:34 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/#comment-63323 Sunny: Actually, I think growing a mullet for a movie role would be much more interesting, but maybe that's just me. I didn't see a pony tail there. I'll look again. League is definitely more accessible than Union, but <a href="http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/04/05/like-nfl-vs-cfl-except-more-british/" rel="nofollow">that's out of design</a>. Whether it would catch on in America remains to be seen, but given its closer resemblance to our own gridiron game, it might have a shot. Like Aussie Rules, though, it will need a bit more exposure on American TV before it makes any real inroads. Sunny: Actually, I think growing a mullet for a movie role would be much more interesting, but maybe that’s just me. I didn’t see a pony tail there. I’ll look again.

League is definitely more accessible than Union, but that’s out of design. Whether it would catch on in America remains to be seen, but given its closer resemblance to our own gridiron game, it might have a shot. Like Aussie Rules, though, it will need a bit more exposure on American TV before it makes any real inroads.

]]> By: Sunny http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/comment-page-1/#comment-63322 Sunny Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:43:46 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/#comment-63322 It seems that Crowe's hair is long [a pony tail is NOT a mullet] for an upcoming film project, not out of personal preference. League gained a number of new fans, thanks to Crowe for bringing the teams here to Florida and tirelessly promoting the game. The overflow crowd seemed to enjoy themselves despite the uncharacteristically miserable weather. It seems that Crowe’s hair is long [a pony tail is NOT a mullet] for an upcoming film project, not out of personal preference.

League gained a number of new fans, thanks to Crowe for bringing the teams here to Florida and tirelessly promoting the game. The overflow crowd seemed to enjoy themselves despite the uncharacteristically miserable weather.

]]> By: Will http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/comment-page-1/#comment-63293 Will Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:53:51 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/#comment-63293 In all seriousness, I think League has a chance, for good or for bad, to eclipse Union for whatever amount of latent interest America may have for Rugby. League is a MUCH more accessible game for American fans, and seems generally less hide-bound by tradition. Even the 13 vs 15 players may be of help in allowing League to more successfully shoehorn itself into narrow American gridiron fields. I don't really make the time for either code of Rugby, but when I do stumble across something, I find I settle into the flow of League much more readily than Union. In all seriousness, I think League has a chance, for good or for bad, to eclipse Union for whatever amount of latent interest America may have for Rugby. League is a MUCH more accessible game for American fans, and seems generally less hide-bound by tradition. Even the 13 vs 15 players may be of help in allowing League to more successfully shoehorn itself into narrow American gridiron fields. I don’t really make the time for either code of Rugby, but when I do stumble across something, I find I settle into the flow of League much more readily than Union.

]]> By: gayle http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/comment-page-1/#comment-63177 gayle Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:32:19 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/#comment-63177 I was there for Russell Crowe, but am now a lot more interested in rugby! I plan to use the links you have on this page for more information! I was there for Russell Crowe, but am now a lot more interested in rugby! I plan to use the links you have on this page for more information!

]]> By: a different dave http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/comment-page-1/#comment-63163 a different dave Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:03:01 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/#comment-63163 Hey, if it works for David Beckham, why not Russell Crowe? Rugby league, like Aussie rules, has a small following in North America thanks in part to ex-pats and others. I'm sure they are happy for any publicity they can get. Hey, if it works for David Beckham, why not Russell Crowe?

Rugby league, like Aussie rules, has a small following in North America thanks in part to ex-pats and others. I’m sure they are happy for any publicity they can get.

]]> By: Will http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/comment-page-1/#comment-63084 Will Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:23:59 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/#comment-63084 Go AXEMEN! (Jacksonville native here) Go AXEMEN! (Jacksonville native here)

]]> By: Football » Were They There For the Game or For Russell Crowe? http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/comment-page-1/#comment-63066 Football » Were They There For the Game or For Russell Crowe? Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:47:24 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2008/01/28/were-they-there-for-the-game-or-for-russell-crowe/#comment-63066 [...] Dave wrote a fantastic post today on “Were They There For the Game or For Russell Crowe?”Here’s ONLY a quick extractI’m sure plenty of the 12500 people who showed up — and by the way, that’s an impressive number for a football code about which most Americans haven’t the first clue — actually wanted to see the game, but this is America, after all, … [...] [...] Dave wrote a fantastic post today on “Were They There For the Game or For Russell Crowe?”Here’s ONLY a quick extractI’m sure plenty of the 12500 people who showed up — and by the way, that’s an impressive number for a football code about which most Americans haven’t the first clue — actually wanted to see the game, but this is America, after all, … [...]

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