Thread: The pedestal that football is put on in this country

Originally Posted by Dick Martin

Absolutely! Thank goodness we have the Internet, where assholes are not allowed.

Originally Posted by unclassifiable

I am faced with hostility nearly everytime I state that I am not a football fan (which only happens after this information is solicited from me).

lol really? every time? you have to look in the mirror then. what is it about your behavior when you tell someone you don't like football that is causing them to become hostile towards you? could it be that you are the one who starts with the hostility and others are just responding to it? that seems FAR more likely to me than your scenario where every single person who likes football is an asshole who has it out for you.

Originally Posted by unclassifiable

Why is there this expectation among Americans that other Americans love football?

I'd like to give this one a stab ... Americans love football and expect other Americans to love football because American football, specifically the Superbowl, represents everything that is good about America! The Superbowl is like the annual American version of the Olympics were we celebrate the greatest of our country, our athletes, our media, our celebrities, our past, and our joy at having such a rich spectacle in every sense of the word. If you are not into the game itself you can enjoy the commercials, the half-time show and the singing of the National Anthem.

Presidents have called the winning teams. Blacks and Whites and Hispanics call each other brother and hug and cry. There is no need for affirmative action. Minorities make up more than 80% of the teams and no one cares or cries foul. They are all multi-millionaires. Each team wants one thing. Victory. The excitement, the energy of this uniquely American event has no parallel in our society or anywhere in the world. Unlike the Olympics, the Superbowl does not last for weeks. It is a single day. In that day Americans come together like no other day. The young, old, Democrats and Republicans and all races, creeds and sub-cultures share the moment of patriotism as we watch a roaring crowd of 50,000 with their hands over their heart, looking at the flag as Air Force Fighter jets fly overhead.

There is nothing like it to inspire us to the best we can achieve and that is why American love football and expect other Americans to like it too.

Originally Posted by unclassifiable

Well, at least one person admits that football fans have a lot of intolerant asswipes among them. I don't know why Steve and ThorHammer are unaware of what you're aware of.

I just think it's bullshit.

Nobody threatens someone else with violence for not being a football fan, so quit with the drama-queen antics; they make you look silly. believe it or not, and despite your obvious need to be the center of attention, nobody really gives a fuck if you like football or not...

Originally Posted by Q of U

You know I think you are just misjudging the situation, as a bartender part of my job is to engage guest in conversation. If you came in where I work I might say where are you from if you said San Fran I might ask if you if you are a 49ers fan but if you said you don't like football then I would try to find something else about the area to engage you maybe talk about Napa and great wine etc. Maybe the people who ask you are just trying to get to know you next time instead of the very negative no I don't like football instead why not say no I am not into sports that much what I really enjoy is fishing or something else that you really enjoy.

I don't reply with a very negative no. I reply with a matter-of-fact no.

Originally Posted by ThorHammer

Yes, there are plenty of asshole football fans. That isn't unique to football though. There are also asshole atheists, asshole doctors, asshole truck drivers, etc.....

Asshole football fans try to convert by force, just like you know who.

I ask again: how were you threatened with violence?

I say that I do not like the local football team, or football in general, and the knuckle-dragger says "I am going to kick your ass." or words to that effect.

Originally Posted by unclassifiable

I say that I do not like the local football team, or football in general, and the knuckle-dragger says "I am going to kick your ass." or words to that effect.

and i'm sure you were ever-so polite when you told them you didn't like his team or his sport.

if you don't want to get your ass kicked, don't act like a prick. it's as simple as that.

Originally Posted by ThorHammer

Similar in the sense that you, like Crela2, were never threatened with violence?

Which is why he wrote "I fear bodily harm if I don't feign joy and elation"

Originally Posted by bg85

and i'm sure you were ever-so polite when you told them you didn't like his team or his sport.

if you don't want to get your ass kicked, don't act like a prick. it's as simple as that.

Assuming arguendo that I am a prick in how I answer these questions (something that you have no evidence of), are you maintaining that exercising First Amendment rights the "wrong" way entitles the other party to break the law and commit assault and/or murder?

Football lovers portray themselves as oh-so-American yet they love to shit all over American freedoms and principles.

Fucking hypocritical assholes

Hmm.

I'm not a football fan.

I'm certainly not a Bronco fan.

Denver fans are notoriously rabid.

Yet, I've not once been threatened with violence over it. Never.

I wonder if it's the way the message is communicated? I mean, I've never responded to "did you watch the game?" with "no, you goddamn knuckle-dragging cretin! Why the fuck would I do something like that? I fucking hate football you dumb fuck!"

S'pose that might have something to do with it?

Originally Posted by JohnLocke

I'd like to give this one a stab ... Americans love football and expect other Americans to love football because American football, specifically the Superbowl, represents everything that is good about America! The Superbowl is like the annual American version of the Olympics were we celebrate the greatest of our country

Such as the scientists who have ensured that we live in a modern, first world country, with top notch weapons systems that war hawks like you love?

No they don't deserve any respect for all that they have done, do they? They're just nerd scum who should be tortured and killed for pleasure (after they have finished with their research, of course) by a country that hates their fucking guts after all that they have given them, right?

our athletes, our media, our celebrities, our past, and our joy at having such a rich spectacle in every sense of the word. If you are not into the game itself you can enjoy the commercials, the half-time show and the singing of the National Anthem.

Presidents have called the winning teams. Blacks and Whites and Hispanics call each other brother and hug and cry. There is no need for affirmative action. Minorities make up more than 80% of the teams and no one cares or cries foul. They are all multi-millionaires. Each team wants one thing. Victory. The excitement, the energy of this uniquely American event has no parallel in our society or anywhere in the world. Unlike the Olympics, the Superbowl does not last for weeks. It is a single day. In that day Americans come together like no other day. The young, old, Democrats and Republicans and all races, creeds and sub-cultures share the moment of patriotism as we watch a roaring crowd of 50,000 with their hands over their heart, looking at the flag as Air Force Fighter jets fly overhead.

There is nothing like it to inspire us to the best we can achieve and that is why American love football and expect other Americans to like it too.

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i don't know what's funnier: the OP's obvious insecurities or the attempts in this thread to turn a discussion of football into a political issue.

There was a time when baseball had the same reverence that American football enjoys today.

It looks like basketball may eventually overtake American football in popularity.

After that, soccer will probably overtake basketball, and by then... we'll be aligned with most of the world in terms of sports interest. Soccer (known as football to most of the world) is already the world's most popular sport.