12/21/24
October 29, 2017
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
No, I don't think a knowledgeable sports fans needs to know the basics of every sport (I think that's what you're asking). Hell, I've been watching CFL & NFL football for decades, and I still am unsure what constitutes holding by an O-lineman. As I get more interested in a sport, I do attempt to learn more of the intricacies of the game, it just makes viewing it more enjoyable.
posted by tommybiden at 12:23 PM on October 29, 2017
Not every sport. Just top 30 or thereabouts.
posted by rcade at 12:41 PM on October 29, 2017
"Every announcer should have total command of the complete legacy of Greek, Roman, and Western European civilizations and be able to summon impeccable cultural and historical references at will during the run of play"
- Ray Hudson
posted by beaverboard at 12:42 PM on October 29, 2017
still am unsure what constitutes holding by an O-lineman.
So are about 30 percent of N F L officials.
posted by Howard_T at 01:24 PM on October 29, 2017
Loving the all Honolulu Blue unis that Detroit is sporting tonight
posted by NoMich at 09:43 PM on October 29, 2017
The discussion about whether Yuli Gurriel should serve a suspension now or next season just got a few degrees warmer.
posted by beaverboard at 10:19 PM on October 29, 2017
One of the NFL announcers in London responded to a recent rugby match's score at the same stadium by saying something to the effect of, "I don't know how rugby is scored but that sounds like a crushing defeat."
It made me ponder something. Should a knowledgeable sports fan know the basics of rugby, cricket, Australian rules football, Canadian football and the like at a risk of seeming like an idiot otherwise? (Insert a different sport list when asking a non-American, such as "baseball, American football, hockey.")
Maybe it was because the game was in Twickenham, but I thought it was dumb that a professional sports announcer could know so little about rugby.
I ask this question knowing that my knowledge of cricket is just as embarrassing.