Sitting at the Keg last one of my mates was watching the Football. Manchester United vs AS Roma. BOOORRRRRIIIIINNNNGGGGG!!!But Wait, it's half time, the riot police are out and some Mancs (term for Manchester United Supporters) are getting the living daylight kicked, punched, beaten and whipped out of them. Let me tell you, the entire pub came to a stand still, turn around, and watched the onslaught. People cheered, shouted and went absolutely mad at a bit of police brutality.Prior to the incident, not a single peep from anyone regarding the Football!What does this say about the state of society right now?1: Either Football is an extremely boring sport and people are catching on or2: It takes blood and guts to make us feel good.I think that both are applicable. I can't turn around without hearing someone talk about the movie 300. Blood, comic books, gore, aggression, etc etc etc. Same old, same old. Yet no one takes two seconds to discuss the more subtle films, songs, T.V. series on. It's all about Nip/Tuck, Prison Break, beat your mom music, death metal and all the rest of the testosterone boosting influence that is available.It must also be said that Football is not a particularly stimulating watch for the AVERAGE viewer, not the emphasis on average. I am not talking about the Mancs, the die hard pommie wanna be football freaks who not which team finished 15th in the premier league 12 years ago. I am talking about the average guy or girl sitting at a pub NOT wanting to watch football.Quick comparison:Rugby: 80 minutes a game, points are scored via Tries, Conversions, Penalties or a drop goal (occasionally a Penalty Try will be awarded). There are lineouts, scrums, mauls, rucks, tackles, contact, kicking, passing (via hands), passing (via feet) amongst many other interesting phases in and out of the game. Games hardly ever end in a draw and when it does, that is usually a fair result.Football: 90 minutes a game, a goal can be scored by a player (usually the forwards), goals can be scored with the head or the foot (occasionally an obscure part of the body, NEVER the hands or arms). There are throw-ins, freekicks, the occasional penalty and very often the game ends in a draw which is usually a crap and boring result.Now, before you start telling me that I am bias, I am not, I love Football, I support Everton (UK) and Pirates (SA). I just think that something could be done to improve the sport for the viewers, and I don't mean beat the fans until the T.V. station puts on a Heineken Advert!
Pic supplied by AOLsportsblog