Football

[woqqqa]

Why is American football called football? Other than punting or field goals, no one ever kicks the damn thing. It's a modified version of rugby (and was even more so until they introduced the forward pass), why not give it a rugby related name?

[Feneban]

You mean like Australian Rules Football?

[woqqqa]

Originally Posted by Feneban

You mean like Australian Rules Football?

Yeah, that name I don't get either. Hardly any kicking.

[Shabado]

It has a rugby related named, as it's rugby football, with soccer being association football.

[woqqqa]

Originally Posted by Shabado

It has a rugby related named, as it's rugby football, with soccer being association football.

Aha, now that I looked it up, I see that's in fact the official name...well, that makes more sense. Thanks.

[Dumar]

they should just rename association football (soccer) to boring-as-all-fucking-hell ball. it would be much more accurate.. and would even sound cooler!

[woqqqa]

Originally Posted by Dumar

they should just rename association football (soccer) to boring-as-all-fucking-hell ball. it would be much more accurate.. and would even sound cooler!

Well I must prefer I usually prefer watching Australian Rules Football (except when watching a really good football matchup or the World Cup). American football on the other hand, is horrible (to watch, it's pretty fun to play). It'd be fine if not for the damned 30-40 second break between each down, and the god-awful commentators.

[miber]

Originally Posted by woqqqa

Why is American football called football? Other than punting or field goals, no one ever kicks the damn thing.

Because the only thing you can do with your feet is kick?

Personally, I like the explanation I've heard that it was referred to as football because it was played on foot, rather than on horseback. Here's a wikipedia quote on that:

While it is widely believed that the word "football" (or "foot ball") originated in reference to the action of a foot kicking a ball, there is a rival explanation, which has it that football originally referred to a variety of games in medieval Europe, which were played on foot. These games were usually played by peasants, as opposed to the horse-riding sports often played by aristocrats. While there is no conclusive evidence for this explanation, the word football has always implied a variety of games played on foot, not just those that involved kicking a ball. In some cases, the word football has even been applied to games which have specifically outlawed kicking the ball

[Laven]

What about Field Goals in basketball? Always something that boggled me.

[woqqqa]

Originally Posted by Laven

What about Field Goals in basketball? Always something that boggled me.

That's a damn good question...I'll see if I can't look up the answer.

[Mkopec1]

Because its a basket scored from the field? AKA goal? Hence a field goal?

[woqqqa]

Originally Posted by Mkopec1

Because its a basket scored from the field? AKA goal? Hence a field goal?

Yes, but given the origin of basketball and having looked through a bunch of archaic basketball terms (goal wasn't often used), it seems a bit weird.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Originally Posted by woqqqa

It'd be fine if not for the damned 30-40 second break between each down, and the god-awful commentators.

I rather think that's one of the good things about american football. You watch the play, then you get a replay which shows you a few more things you couldn't catch the first time and some time to talk with your buddies about the play and about the next down.