Okay, so I've started to learn about American (NFL) Football, in order to play with some online friends in a fantasy football league.
Here's what I don't get: watching the Colts/Saints 2007/08 opening game, much to-do was made about the unfurling of the 2006 Superbowl "WORLD" Championship flag for the Indianapolis Colts.
Now, I may be new to football, but there is exactly ONE country that plays in the NFL. So why the claim to "world" championship status for the Superbowl winners?
And while I'm on this soapbox, what about the "World" Series for baseball? Exactly TWO countries play in the American and National Baseball Leagues. So it's not really a "World" series now, is it?
In the NHL, the "National" ? Hockey League, there is no claim to "world" championship status. Only, rightly and correctly, the claim to be Stanley Cup Champions.
What gives?
I agree with this whole heartedly...
There is a world cup in baseball (World Baseball Classic) and if i remember correctly, american didnt win it 
I think it was Japan, so america calling the winner of major league championship the world champion is arrogant and a joke
As for gridiron, they probably would be the world champion because it is not played in very many countries, but its the same as the Australian Football League, our football isonly really played here, but the team that wins it all is only known as the Premiers not World CHamps 
[/end rant] | mattyj wrote: |
| ... its the same as the Australian Football League, our football isonly really played here, but the team that wins it all is only known as the Premiers not World CHamps |
Cool, mattyj! Is the Australian Football League playing American football or soccer?
| mattyj wrote: |
| [/end rant] |
Have always loved that! Carry on ranting .......... | Crazy_Canuck wrote: |
| mattyj wrote: | | ... its the same as the Australian Football League, our football isonly really played here, but the team that wins it all is only known as the Premiers not World CHamps |
Cool, mattyj! Is the Australian Football League playing American football or soccer?
| mattyj wrote: | | [/end rant] |
Have always loved that! Carry on ranting .......... |
Australian Football League plays australian rules football...which is kind of a mix between Rugby and Soccer, but you'd have to see it to understand lol
Have a look on youtube for AFL 
Here is a couple
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WyuUJHhdYus
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GCdcAfXsom0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6Cz-vseUX9k
and secondly, you dont want me to carry on ranting, 
<<<Now, I may be new to football, but there is exactly ONE country that plays in the NFL. So why the claim to "world" championship status for the Superbowl winners?
And while I'm on this soapbox, what about the "World" Series for baseball? Exactly TWO countries play in the American and National Baseball Leagues. So it's not really a "World" series now, is it? >>>
I have always wondered this too and it always made me laugh when they say it. I guess it sounds better when the announcers say it on TV or radio and it looks better on the trophy and banners the winners get. Saying your the national champion makes it sound like collage sports so the pros had to make their accomplishments sound better by claiming to be World Champions.
For baseball, it's been called the World Series since 1903, and back then baseball was only played in the United States. Changing the name now would be confusing. Baseball tends to be a very 'traditional' sport. That's why the umpires don't use instant replays.
| hlavco wrote: |
| Changing the name now would be confusing. |
Not any moreso than it is now! I remember Bill Bryson had a good explanation of the system (which IIRC gave anyone and everyone, except the Chicago Bears, an opportunity to win something) although I've forgotten the actual details.. | mattyj wrote: |
...the winner of major league championship the world champion is arrogant and a joke.
|
It is not arrogant or a joke. As someone already stated the baseball started in the late 1800's in the United States and at that time baseball was only played in the US so whoever won was the "best" team in the world and then it was called "World Championship Series". Later it was shorten to the "World Series."
True now baseball is played all over the world and there is a "World Baseball Classic" to get a "true" world champion but that was established by the "arrogant" Major League Baseball, go figure. Major League is still the pinnacle of baseball. No matter what country you are from you strive to get to the Majors in the US. The best players in the world play in the Majors. The World Series is a best of seven "series". The World Baseball Classic is a tournament format like the World Cup. They are not even close to being the same.
There are no other countries in the world that have a "serious" professional "American" football league or program and unlike baseball and basketball where the rest of the world have either caught up or surpassed the US in the overall talent pool, tackle football remains uncontested. World Champions in Football, that shouldn't even be a question.Major league is the best league in baseball. Japan won the world baseball classic but if you remember the MVP of the WBC, Daisuke Matsuzaka, now plays in MLB and isn't even the best pitcher on his own team, let alone one of the best in the league. Hes a slightly better than average starting pitcher in MLB but was an ace in Japan. Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui was a three time MVP in Japan and led the league in Hrs and RBIs three times. However what has he done since he went to MLB, he has been a very good player but never the best on his own team, or close to the top of MVP voting. Ichiro is another prominent Japanese player to come to the Majors and a very successful one. He has an MVP award, Rookie of the Year, and a .333 career average. However, in Japan, he was had a 20 pt higher average, and was a 3 time MVP. Clearly MLB is much more difficult to play in than Japan and I would say that the World Series clearly determines the world champion. Just because Japan won the WBC doesn't mean they are better than American players. The best player from that team is in the MLB and I think it is the best league in the world.
| Futile wrote: |
| mattyj wrote: | ...the winner of major league championship the world champion is arrogant and a joke.
|
It is not arrogant or a joke. As someone already stated the baseball started in the late 1800's in the United States and at that time baseball was only played in the US so whoever won was the "best" team in the world and then it was called "World Championship Series". Later it was shorten to the "World Series."
True now baseball is played all over the world and there is a "World Baseball Classic" to get a "true" world champion but that was established by the "arrogant" Major League Baseball, go figure. Major League is still the pinnacle of baseball. No matter what country you are from you strive to get to the Majors in the US. The best players in the world play in the Majors. The World Series is a best of seven "series". The World Baseball Classic is a tournament format like the World Cup. They are not even close to being the same.
There are no other countries in the world that have a "serious" professional "American" football league or program and unlike baseball and basketball where the rest of the world have either caught up or surpassed the US in the overall talent pool, tackle football remains uncontested. World Champions in Football, that shouldn't even be a question. |
IT is arrogant, that team that wins the "WORLD SERIES" is the North American champ at best , not the world champion, i dont care if its a throw back to the 1800s
Like i mentioned with Australian Rules Football which is only played here and nowhere else, and also dates back to the 1800s, we do not call our champion the world champion when they are more of a world champion than the winner of the world series is | mattyj wrote: |
| Futile wrote: | | mattyj wrote: | ...the winner of major league championship the world champion is arrogant and a joke.
|
It is not arrogant or a joke. As someone already stated the baseball started in the late 1800's in the United States and at that time baseball was only played in the US so whoever won was the "best" team in the world and then it was called "World Championship Series". Later it was shorten to the "World Series."
True now baseball is played all over the world and there is a "World Baseball Classic" to get a "true" world champion but that was established by the "arrogant" Major League Baseball, go figure. Major League is still the pinnacle of baseball. No matter what country you are from you strive to get to the Majors in the US. The best players in the world play in the Majors. The World Series is a best of seven "series". The World Baseball Classic is a tournament format like the World Cup. They are not even close to being the same.
There are no other countries in the world that have a "serious" professional "American" football league or program and unlike baseball and basketball where the rest of the world have either caught up or surpassed the US in the overall talent pool, tackle football remains uncontested. World Champions in Football, that shouldn't even be a question. |
IT is arrogant, that team that wins the "WORLD SERIES" is the North American champ at best , not the world champion, i dont care if its a throw back to the 1800s
Like i mentioned with Australian Rules Football which is only played here and nowhere else, and also dates back to the 1800s, we do not call our champion the world champion when they are more of a world champion than the winner of the world series is |
IT is not arrogant. If you really knew anything about baseball you and you were a true fan of the sport you would know that baseball is a game of nostalgia and deep traditions whether played in the US or anywhere else in the world. The point that you are arguing is mute because it is a title and name based on the beginning of the sport not the current flamboyance, ignorance and pre madonnas that play the sport now.
Matt, take a step back and look at your Australian Rules Football which has been around also since the 1800’s and is also rich in tradition and culture. What would you say to someone that said the pitch invasions need to be disallowed because they are unsafe and fans need to stay in the stands.. You would tell them first and foremost its tradition and second you would tell them where to stick it and where they could go. Why because that is a tradition that dates back to the beginning of your sport. You wouldn’t change it for anything. But then again you would want to change it because you don’t care about the throw backs from the 1800’s. But if you do care about them when they apply to your sport then why try to change another sport just because you disagree with the terminology of how a word is used | Futile wrote: |
| mattyj wrote: | | Futile wrote: | | mattyj wrote: | ...the winner of major league championship the world champion is arrogant and a joke.
|
It is not arrogant or a joke. As someone already stated the baseball started in the late 1800's in the United States and at that time baseball was only played in the US so whoever won was the "best" team in the world and then it was called "World Championship Series". Later it was shorten to the "World Series."
True now baseball is played all over the world and there is a "World Baseball Classic" to get a "true" world champion but that was established by the "arrogant" Major League Baseball, go figure. Major League is still the pinnacle of baseball. No matter what country you are from you strive to get to the Majors in the US. The best players in the world play in the Majors. The World Series is a best of seven "series". The World Baseball Classic is a tournament format like the World Cup. They are not even close to being the same.
There are no other countries in the world that have a "serious" professional "American" football league or program and unlike baseball and basketball where the rest of the world have either caught up or surpassed the US in the overall talent pool, tackle football remains uncontested. World Champions in Football, that shouldn't even be a question. |
IT is arrogant, that team that wins the "WORLD SERIES" is the North American champ at best , not the world champion, i dont care if its a throw back to the 1800s
Like i mentioned with Australian Rules Football which is only played here and nowhere else, and also dates back to the 1800s, we do not call our champion the world champion when they are more of a world champion than the winner of the world series is |
IT is not arrogant. If you really knew anything about baseball you and you were a true fan of the sport you would know that baseball is a game of nostalgia and deep traditions whether played in the US or anywhere else in the world. The point that you are arguing is mute because it is a title and name based on the beginning of the sport not the current flamboyance, ignorance and pre madonnas that play the sport now.
Matt, take a step back and look at your Australian Rules Football which has been around also since the 1800’s and is also rich in tradition and culture. What would you say to someone that said the pitch invasions need to be disallowed because they are unsafe and fans need to stay in the stands.. You would tell them first and foremost its tradition and second you would tell them where to stick it and where they could go. Why because that is a tradition that dates back to the beginning of your sport. You wouldn’t change it for anything. But then again you would want to change it because you don’t care about the throw backs from the 1800’s. But if you do care about them when they apply to your sport then why try to change another sport just because you disagree with the terminology of how a word is used |
But the thing is, pitch invasions HAVE been outlawed from the game, the league could see it as being a problem, and possibly dangerous to the players and changed it, people are not allowed on to the M.C.G. anymore even after the game has finished and players have left the arena...Why? Because the league needed to move forward, not living in the past like Major League Baseball is apparently doing
Tradition and Culture are one thing, and when MLB started, the team that won the "world series" probably was the "world champion" but its just not the case anymore, so why live in the past?
