The Super Bowl is a Waste of Time

[Cowboy89]

The only way the OP could have made this thread more annoying is if they mentioned something about the CFL being more exciting to watch than the NFL. The Super Bowl is the Championship game of America's favorite sport, say what you want but it deserves the hoopla and ratings.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

The NFL is simply amazing. Haters can point out that there are only 14 minutes of actual action on the field all they want. Every other "exciting" sport is pretty envious of the NFL right now.

Personally, I think that the breaks in between plays adds to the drama. Late in the game when your team is driving down the field and needs a score to tie or take the lead on the road. Its third down and two. The QB breaks the huddle and the offense lines up on the line of scrimmage as the crowd noise starts to build and build. It doesn't get any better than that.

Overtime in the Stanley Cup playoffs gets better than that.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by troutman

Overtime in the Stanley Cup playoffs gets better than that.

Depends who's playing.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Depends who's playing.

Agreed. Maybe it's just because I'm more of a Flames fan than a hockey fan, but I don't really care what happens in the SCF if the Flames aren't playing, and I only watch it if I happen to catch it. I make a point of watching the Super Bowl every year, no matter who's playing.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

The NFL is simply amazing. Haters can point out that there are only 14 minutes of actual action on the field all they want. Every other "exciting" sport is pretty envious of the NFL right now.

Personally, I think that the breaks in between plays adds to the drama. Late in the game when your team is driving down the field and needs a score to tie or take the lead on the road. Its third down and two. The QB breaks the huddle and the offense lines up on the line of scrimmage as the crowd noise starts to build and build. It doesn't get any better than that.

If you could have NFL players play with CFL rules you would have the best sport in the world. Soccer would go down in a heartbeat.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

If you could have NFL players play with CFL rules you would have the best sport in the world. Soccer would go down in a heartbeat.

NFL players playing CFL rules would be awful. There'd be absolutely no running game and the scores would be stupidly high. Who wants to see a 60-57 football game? Go watch basketball.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Agreed. Maybe it's just because I'm more of a Flames fan than a hockey fan, but I don't really care what happens in the SCF if the Flames aren't playing, and I only watch it if I happen to catch it. I make a point of watching the Super Bowl every year, no matter who's playing.

The World Series used to be like that. Everyone would watch the Fall Classic no matter who played. But baseball has lost it's popularity and doesn't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

[Lil Pedro]

Originally Posted by rubecube

NFL players playing CFL rules would be awful. There'd be absolutely no running game and the scores would be stupidly high. Who wants to see a 60-57 football game? Go watch basketball.

Imagine how many rogues there would be lol

[Golden Jet]

The Super Bowl is the ultimate spectacle. It deserves the ratings it gets. More people watch that game than any other sport.

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by Golden Jet

The Super Bowl is the ultimate spectacle. It deserves the ratings it gets. More people watch that game than any other sport.

In North America ya absolutely but not world wide.

The World Cup Final in 2010 had about 700 million people watch and 2.2 billion watched the whole tournament.

As much as I love Football and the Superbowl, nothing compares to the World Cup where basically 1/3 of the world watches.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by rubecube

NFL players playing CFL rules would be awful. There'd be absolutely no running game and the scores would be stupidly high. Who wants to see a 60-57 football game? Go watch basketball.

It's been done.

http://www.mmbolding.com/BSR/Candian...all_League.htm

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by IceMan xMVPx

In North America ya absolutely but not world wide.

The World Cup Final in 2010 had about 700 million people watch and 2.2 billion watched the whole tournament.

As much as I love Football and the Superbowl, nothing compares to the World Cup where basically 1/3 of the world watches.

Agreed, the World Cup is the official World's championship in anything.

But we are in North America. We don't really care what they watch in Timbuktu.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

If you could have NFL players play with CFL rules you would have the best sport in the world. Soccer would go down in a heartbeat.

Actually, I thought if the CFL used NFL rules more people would watch the CFL. I know I would.

[calgaryrocks]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Actually, I thought if the CFL used NFL rules more people would watch the CFL. I know I would.

I disagree, I think its the opposite. many canadians who don't watch the CFL say its because its inferior. having the same rules as the nfl would make it look more like a farm league, not less. the CFL would lose its canadian image. whether or not you prefer the rules of one over another isn't a big deal, its the image of canadian, small-time, minor league, crappy stadiums, no nfl-hype that prevents some people from watching the CFL.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

I disagree, I think its the opposite. many canadians who don't watch the CFL say its because its inferior. having the same rules as the nfl would make it look more like a farm league, not less. the CFL would lose its canadian image. whether or not you prefer the rules of one over another isn't a big deal, its the image of canadian, small-time, minor league, crappy stadiums, no nfl-hype that prevents some people from watching the CFL.

The same rules would certainly make the CFL look like much more of a farm league, but the reality is that it is a farm league. I agree though, the ability to make more direct comparisons wouldn't be good for the CFL.

And I don't know anyone who prefers the NFL over the CFL due to the stadiums or lack of hype, they prefer it due to the talent difference. Personally I prefer NCAA ball over both.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

I disagree, I think its the opposite. many canadians who don't watch the CFL say its because its inferior. having the same rules as the nfl would make it look more like a farm league, not less. the CFL would lose its canadian image. whether or not you prefer the rules of one over another isn't a big deal, its the image of canadian, small-time, minor league, crappy stadiums, no nfl-hype that prevents some people from watching the CFL.

CFL fans need to get over this whole "hype" idea as the reason people like the NFL better. It has nothing to do with hype and entirely to do with the content, which includes primarily the talent and the rules to a lesser degree.

However, I do agree that the CFL should maintain its current set of rules, with a few minor tweaks, because the reality is that the biggest issue for NFL fans is the talent discrepancy. The CFL's rules suit CFL players pretty well, and there aren't even that many that I find totally ridiculous (no yards and awarding a rouge on missed FGs are the only ones I'd change off the top of my head).

[calgaryrocks]

Originally Posted by rubecube

CFL fans need to get over this whole "hype" idea as the reason people like the NFL better. It has nothing to do with hype and entirely to do with the content, which includes primarily the talent and the rules to a lesser degree.

However, I do agree that the CFL should maintain its current set of rules, with a few minor tweaks, because the reality is that the biggest issue for NFL fans is the talent discrepancy. The CFL's rules suit CFL players pretty well, and there aren't even that many that I find totally ridiculous (no yards and awarding a rouge on missed FGs are the only ones I'd change off the top of my head).

while I somewhat agree, I also disagree. look at the superbowl, people get together to watch more for the parties then the actual game. heck the name of the game is 'superbowl'! I guess I would throw in gambling in the hype in that people talk about it because they are in a pool or have a proline ticket. the CFL just doesn't have that to the same degree (only 4 games a week, i know). also that people across Canada watch it despite having just about no Canadian connections to the league. sure it is high quality football and entertaining. but how did we start to like it with no connections (like going out to the game in the local stadium). the NFL is completely american. most people i know don't watch european soccer, despite it having the highest talented players in the world (ok, divers maybe not a good example). anther hype thing is commercials etc (i guess that is content though), TSN ads for NFL games are better then the CFL ones, despite it being in Canada. NFL-only fans get all pumped up to watch some team from the southern states, but won't step foot in a stadium in their own city, maybe its not hype, but changing the rules would have no effect on thier attitudes

and I do like the CFL rules, many CFL fans might not watch it as much if they changed them to NFL rules, another reason not to change the rules to NFL rules

[flames_1987]

Outside of the rules, I love the atmosphere of a Grey Cup over Superbowl a 1000x more, and I follow the NFL much more then I do the CFL. I've gone to both events and even watching my favourite team the Colts in a championship, I still had a 100x more fun when the Grey Cup came to Calgary and the week leading up to it.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by rubecube

CFL fans need to get over this whole "hype" idea as the reason people like the NFL better. It has nothing to do with hype and entirely to do with the content, which includes primarily the talent and the rules to a lesser degree.

However, I do agree that the CFL should maintain its current set of rules, with a few minor tweaks, because the reality is that the biggest issue for NFL fans is the talent discrepancy. The CFL's rules suit CFL players pretty well, and there aren't even that many that I find totally ridiculous (no yards and awarding a rouge on missed FGs are the only ones I'd change off the top of my head).

There are lots of valid reasons why the NFL is so big compared to the CFL and "hype" is most certainly one of them. Also, it is important to distinguish between the Super Bowl and the NFL as a whole. I'm not denying the talent difference or discrediting it. I'm sure lots of hardcore NFL fans love it for the talent.

The Super Bowl doesn't get 163m viewers because of the talent. To suggest otherwise would be insane. The Super Bowl gets the viewership it does precisely because of two things: hype and gambling.

For the league as a whole it is a little more balanced than just hype and gambling. Football has pretty much replaced baseball as America's past time. The NFL has one of the most successful marketing teams in history too. Where the NFL was once college football's red headed step brother, it is now top dog. The NFL has been so successful with its brand that they've managed to retcon the early years of the league to give off the impression that the league and the early Super Bowls were much more legitimate than they actually were.

I like both leagues so I'm not going to suggest that hype is the only reason the NFL is the biggest sport in NA, but it sure as hell helps.

The Super Bowl is all hype. Nothing shows that better than the fact that this years Super Bowl's highest ratings came during the half time show.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

while I somewhat agree, I also disagree. look at the superbowl, people get together to watch more for the parties then the actual game. heck the name of the game is 'superbowl'!

I don't think the Super Bowl is a good indicator of hype. The NFL is obviously going to make a spectacle out of their championship game. Every sport does that. I agree that some of it is pretty over the top, but most people I know hate that part of it. However, everything else in the above paragraph could just as easily be applied to the Grey Cup.

I guess I would throw in gambling in the hype in that people talk about it because they are in a pool or have a proline ticket.

Okay, but is gambling part of the hype or a by-product of the quality of the game? I like hockey, but I don't gamble on it because I'm not interested in watching games that the Flames aren't involved in. The NFL is very unique in that you have thousands, if not millions of people, who bet on games just so they have an excuse to watch them. People don't bet on the CFL because they don't want to watch the games.

the CFL just doesn't have that to the same degree (only 4 games a week, i know). also that people across Canada watch it despite having just about no Canadian connections to the league. sure it is high quality football and entertaining. but how did we start to like it with no connections (like going out to the game in the local stadium). the NFL is completely american. most people i know don't watch european soccer, despite it having the highest talented players in the world (ok, divers maybe not a good example).

The nationalist mantra from CFL fans is unbearable. Which do you watch more, Canadian movies or American movies?

I watch European soccer. I even have a team. How did those two Czech dudes form a strong enough connection with the Flames to want to travel all the way to Calgary to see a game? People will form their own connections if the product on the field entices them to do so. I don't think anybody is an NFL fan just because FOX has a dancing robot during their broadcasts.

anther hype thing is commercials etc (i guess that is content though), TSN ads for NFL games are better then the CFL ones, despite it being in Canada.

I haven't noticed this, but it's pretty irrelevant. Advertisers pay for certain slots. They generally broadcast their best spots in the timeslots they think will have the most viewers.

NFL-only fans get all pumped up to watch some team from the southern states, but won't step foot in a stadium in their own city,

Why is this so egregious? I should go out and pay to sit through hours of what I consider to be crappy football, just because they're in the same city as me?

maybe its not hype, but changing the rules would have no effect on thier attitudes

and I do like the CFL rules, many CFL fans might not watch it as much if they changed them to NFL rules, another reason not to change the rules to NFL rules

I agree with all of this. I think the CFL should continue to cater to their fans and not worry about NFL fans. The only thing the CFL needs to really worry about is Toronto getting an NFL team, because that would effectively kill the Argos and a good chunk of the CFL's revenue.