just sounds strange
2006-09-15 08:54:25 · 21 answers · asked by rusty red 4 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
Great point! Since American Football is so popular in the USA, I suggest that the NFL Commissioner and the NCAA get together and come up with a new name. They could even get the fans involved to come up with a new name...
I think Gridiron or Gridiron-ball would be most appropriate. Ballfondlers is out.
2006-09-15 09:06:32 · answer #1 · answered by Todd Maz 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
American football was established before association football. In those days, there was a greater emphasis on kicking the ball in order to advance it toward the end zones. It has evolved into a pass first, run second, kick third strategy. An Englishman by the last name of Brown decided that association football needed to be different and coined the term "soccer" that continues to be marketed under that name by the powers that be in Europe. Basically, we didn’t need to name it soccer because we already had football.
2006-09-15 16:44:37 · answer #2 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, The basic idea is that it's played on foot -- as opposed to on horseback.
The first known written mention of anything called "football" ("The Every-Day Book", Wm. Hone, ~1825), referred to a Scottish game that seems to resemble a primitive form of rugby or American-rules football (if you have the ball, run like heck until someone catches you or strips the ball from you; If they catch you, you can throw it, but noone can kick it). And technically, "football" can refer to Association Football (soccer), North American Football, and even Rugby.
2006-09-15 16:12:34 · answer #3 · answered by hogan.enterprises 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a Brit, I find the only players with any skill to be the quarterback, receiver and maybe field goal kicker. The rest just get bulky and run into each other for hell knows how long as opposed to REAL FOOTBALL (aka soccer) where every single player possesses outstanding skill and they use their FEET.
Must admit though, its a lot of fun to watch American football, especially those 'cheerleaders'
2006-09-17 07:24:14 · answer #4 · answered by Legend 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
American football evolved from Rugby, which evolved from soccer (football). It kept the name.
American football is mostly based on the forward pass (throwing the ball), but this was not always so. The forward pass was considered to be a "trick play" when it was first introduced.
2006-09-15 16:04:52 · answer #5 · answered by Randy G 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Just stay in your soccer forum and leave us to a real sport here ok?
Hey, lets all go to the soccer forum and ask them why they call it football instead of soccer and then they can see how friggin annoying this really is.
2006-09-15 20:18:48 · answer #6 · answered by Stogie 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How many times are you whiny, anti-American soccer fans going to ask this question?
We are the worlds only superpower. We can call it whatever the hell we want to!
Now get back to the soccer site so we can answer questions about a real sport.
2006-09-15 16:20:56 · answer #7 · answered by Nuke Lefties 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because using the term "handball" in America would bring on too many corny (and thoroughly offensive) jokes. Besides, it is what it is known as now, we don't like to change (that's why we fight evolution so hard).
2006-09-15 16:02:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well.....they would have a hrad time trying to sell grab my ball on Monday night.
Monday Night Grab My Ball............gee, does that not make you want to go out and get some guys together to play a game of grab my ball.......be hard to get that one out of the bag.
2006-09-15 15:58:13 · answer #9 · answered by John M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we've been calling it football for 140 years and we like the name. so instead of us changing the name how 'bout this. you europeans call it whatever the hell you'd like and we'll keep calling it football.
2006-09-15 18:12:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋