Wanna know why I like rugby?

[wayfaringwordhack]

 Watch ten minutes of men chasing a round ball across a field, falling down and whining at the smallest touch, and I think you'll see why.  

You make hundreds of thousands of dollars, euros, pounds, pesos for your athletic abilities, boys. Leave the acting to actors. Stop acting like whiny butts and play the blasted game.

Comments

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I've seen signs that Rugby is starting to catch on in the USA. Several local high schools have boys teams and more than a few have girl's teams as well. It has caught in as a woman's sport at several east coast universities.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yay, RUGBY! I just hope the sport keeps its values if ever it gets as big as soccer.

[clarentine]

At that level, they're all prima donnas (and encouraged to be so). My husband and I have been very involved in the local pro soccer scene; when our team (Richmond (Virginia) Kickers) has played the top national teams, the difference in the players' attitudes is striking. I'll take semi-pros any day of the week. They still want to play the game!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yes! I remember really enjoying college soccer, but seeing the pros play? Gets. On. My. Ever-Loving. Last. Nerve. Every time. Why do I stupidly hope that each game will be different?

[clarentine]

And besides which, at the semi-pro level, in most stadiums you can get right up to the action and see some lovely young bodies moving in all their glory. Hard not to appreciate that. *g* In the big pro stadiums, though, you might as well be at home watching on tv.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

*nods* I went to a couple of pro rugby games before the world trip, and I would have preferred to be at home, seeing it on tv. :P

[clarentine]

I don't know about pro rugby crowds, but in top level pro soccer/football stadiums, you're as likely to have a drunk sloshing beer at your elbow. Much preferable to be in your own living room, if you ask me.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Oui! Much more preferable. I've never had the beer problem, though. :P

[frigg.livejournal.com]

hahahaha...soccer? I don't watch it, but it is amazing how the players of certain national teams can hurl to the ground, crash into the grass, poke both eyes and sprain a foot in the process - and all that because of a feather-light touch or...*gasp* even without being touched at all!

The German "Bayern Muenchen" should be the team for you, though, they are border-line rugby players in my opinion. ;)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I foolishly thought I would see if the teams could put aside their martyr antics long enough to play the World Cup, but I see it is not to be so. Their favorite pose is the "I'm being crucified" arms-flung-wide pose. Sissies.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Rugby is definitely catching on here -- the college championships for 7 on 7 (I think that's what it was... it was the Championship 7s, so maybe it was just 7 minutes each half) were televised recently, and I think I even know some of the rules now.

I think the flopping in soccer is a major subconscious reason as to why the sport isn't huge yet in the states. The majority here won't take it seriously unless the people playing take it seriously, and stop trying to draw gratuitous fouls. It's really quite pathetic. You should fall down, look to see if the ref noticed, and if he hasn't, suck it up and get up. Don't go through all of those stupid theatrics.

But then again, I come from a city that cheered when an opposing football player was nearly paralyzed and had to be carried off the field, so maybe my bias is a little evident.

But overall: Suck. It. Up.

It's a gorgeous sport played by many prissies (among true athletes, that is).

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yes, and in a ref's defense, I did watch the Germany-Australia match and the ref gave two yellow cards to Germany for their players' faking acts. Sweet!