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Thread ID: 79255	2007-05-14 04:07:00	I Need A NZ Interpretation Here	SurferJoe46 (51)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
549730	2007-05-14 10:34:00	Agreed, considering that I would get more confused about the explanation of cricket after reading this piece than from watching the game.:p Cricket Oh dear Joe, what a question. Probably a bit beyond an American's understanding. However here is a quote from the holy home of cricket in the UK, the "MCC" Don't say I didn't warn you!!!!! :D ...................... You have two sides one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that goes in goes out and when he's out he come in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out. When both sides have been in and out including not outs, that's the end of the game. HOWZAT! Source: MCC	winmacguy (3367)
549731	2007-05-14 11:19:00	If you ever feel you are beginning to understand what cricket is about, it might be an idea to avoid stress and bright lights for a day or two. Soothing music sometimes helps. Sometimes they bowl a maiden over, and silly mid-off will clap a bit. Those who are in look glum, and the maidens are not at all inconvenienced. Strangely enough, if they bowl all maidens, no-body gets anything and they have more maidens than when they started. This probably explains why there are a lot of other summer games. ;)	R2x1 (4628)
549732	2007-05-14 11:45:00	Which is why it goes on and on and on and on and you have more fun watching paint dry.Hear! Hear! Or grass grow, or counting your toenail clippings... etc. etc. ...	johcar (6283)
549733	2007-05-14 18:15:00	Ok - all these replies are trying to help an unbeliever to understand - how about a bit of reciprocation Joe what's American Football all about and why does it exist, especially when you don't have cucumber sandwiches served at tea? Aside from "pre-game", "post-game" and "halftime" celebrations, to the uneducated, football looks very disheveled and sloppy . Nothing could be farther from the truth . Copious amounts of inebriating alcoholic beverages are consumed during, before and immediately after a good game (USC v UCLA is a good game) . The players are not allowed to drink anything like this, in fact they are denied sexual intercourse the night before just to make them angry . Since some older guys (read: couch potatoes) don't get to go to war because of their advancing years, fat guts, gout or sciatica or unfulfilled desires (because of family, kids, drug habits, etc) they need a vent for their macho-meat-killer-blood-and-guts-provider psychological needs, and that is provided by football, in season of course! It's either football or a rifle with a scope and a tower and . . . see what I mean? OK . . . football is really very simple, psychologically that is . The physical part is a little more complex, and like all good games of war (chess, Dungeons n Dragons, Second Life, etc), football is a good catharsis and generally supported (clandestinely, of course), by the US Army, Marines and Special Forces . Two rows or teams on opposite sides of the scrimmage line, line up in formations that vary from offense to defense positions . The guy in the offensive center is called . . . simply the "center", quite obviously . Simple, whot? So, to recap: The offensive line consists of a center, two guards, two tackles and one or two tight ends . Backs include running backs (or tailbacks) who frequently carry the ball, and a fullback, who usually blocks, and occasionally carries the ball or receives a pass . The primary function of the wide receivers is to catch passes, either wide or deep, holy of otherwise (later, for definition of holy-ness) . The position(s) of the guard and tackle apply only to a line that is balanced (has equal numbers of players on both sides of the player who is to snap the ball) . In an unbalanced line, there may be players designated "guard" or "tackle" next to each other . Offensive linemen cannot catch or run the ball in most circumstances . Except for the snap by the offensive center as each play from scrimmage starts, ordinarily the only way an offensive lineman can get the ball during a play is by picking up a fumble . On rare occasions offensive linemen can legally catch passes; they do so either by having reported as an eligible receiver to the referee prior to the snap or by catching a pass which has first been deflected or otherwise touched by an eligible receiver or a defensive player . Any other touching of the ball by an offensive lineman will result in a penalty . Typical formations include: * One running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers . * Two running backs, one tight end and two wide receivers . * One running back, one tight end and three wide receivers . * One running back, no tight end and four wide receivers * No running backs, no tight end and five wide receivers . With me so far? Now let's mention the Defense . The defensive team or defense is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball . The object of the defensive team is to prevent the other team from scoring . The sign that the defensive goal has been accomplished is a 4th down, which usually involves punting the ball . Downs (only counted against the offensive team) are 1 through 4, the forth being the last and then the ball reverts to the other team as the first team has them forfeited the ball to the opposition . The offensive team may however then kick the ball at the other team in such a way that the ball flops and tumbles so badly as to make it virtually uncatchable and gives the offensive team time to get to the ball, possibly scooping it up after a bad bounce and then running it into the endzone for a touchdown (6 points) themselves . There will be an extra formation by the offensive team to add another point (1), making the total for the first touchdown and the "extra point", 7 points . Sometimes the offensive team will play the last down as a standard play, (called: Taking the forth down) trying to fool the defensive team with a fake line-up that LOOKS like a kick, but they actually run the play with a pass, a lateral or an on-sides kick . Conversion of a down can occur in any down and that means that the count goes back to the first down if a gain of more than 10 yards has moved the line of scrimmage at least that far . It is recommended that a gain of 3 . 3 yards per down will keep the ball in the possession of the team, as that will add up to 10 yards . This assumes a "ground-game" or one that does not have much in the way of long passes . Some coaches are hated for this type of game play/action (The LA RAMs were notorious for gobbling up the clock this way, much to the consternation of the crowd . Most feel that the RAMs, nicknamed; "The Lambs" didn't like getting their uniforms dirty for the post-game photo-ops and interviews) . Football is called "the game of inches", as a pair of linked measuring poles called a "chain" will be used to measure the forward placement of the ball in a dispute of questionable yardage gain to see if the loss of down is counted or there really was a 10-yard gain and the down goes back to "First and 10" . Unlike the offensive team, there are no formally defined defensive positions . A defensive player may line up anywhere on his side of the line of scrimmage and perform any legal action . However, most defensive positions used in football include a line composed of defensive ends and defensive tackles and (behind the line) linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties . Defensive ends and tackles are collectively called defensive linesmen, while the cornerbacks and safeties are collectively called the secondary, or defensive backs . There may be third-backs, who lie in wait for any penetration that is not checked by the first two lines of defense . Typically, a team will have a safety who also has a reputation of being a hard hitter . His position is usually deep in the back of the line, creating a "safety" man who is there as the third-back position as a single man . Safeties are also used in a variety of blitzes . Typical defensive formations include: * Six defensive linemen, two linebackers and three defensive backs (the 6-2 formation) * Five defensive linemen, three linebackers and three defensive backs (the 5-3 formation) * Four defensive linemen, three linebackers and four defensive backs (the 4-3 formation) * Four defensive linemen, four linebackers and three defensive backs (the 4-4 formation) * Three defensive linemen, four linebackers and four defensive backs (the 3-4 formation) * Four linemen, two linebackers, five defensive backs (the nickel formation) * Four linemen, one linebacker, six defensive backs . (the dime formation) * One linebacker, three linemen and seven defensive backs (the quarter defense) The purpose of the game: By physical power, attrition of opposing players by violence or incidental injury, cunning and tactics, one team is to get the football from the line of scrimmage to the opposite team's goalposts where a touchdown in created if the person who actually runs with and carries the ball into the endzone is actually eligible to do so . Ineligible receivers have been denied a touchdown if they are not legally allowed to carry or run with the ball . Loss of down is incurred and the ball is called back to the line of scrimmage, and possible beyond if there's a yardage penalty involved . Loss of possession is likely to be called against the offending team for this action . . . it's up to the line judge (referee) . This is not true of a defensive player from any position who is always eligible to carry the ball to the opposite goalpost, if he can actually catch, run away from the other team and hold the ball that far . That's a lot to ask of a 350 lb linesman . . but some do it well ("The Refrigerator, Perry" was good at this sort of speed) . The Halftime Game This is where the sponsors of the game (Budweiser Adult Beverages, UPS, FED-EX, SEARS, etc) have bought time to ply their wares or products with acres of bosom flesh and innuendo . Sometimes a marching band or two will show up to look stupid and sound sour because of the bad acoustics in the stadium . Did I mention the cheerleaders? More acres of bosom flesh and thighs . Jump stunts and bouncing of appendages are all prerequisite to performing in this paramilitary formation of feminine pulchritude . But then back to the second half of the game . The Two-Minute Game Probably the MOST enjoyable part of the game is after the "2-Minute Gun" is heard . In the last 2 minutes of the game (some say this IS the game anyway), all the blood and bone-crushing becomes more violent . I have seen solid leads of 14 to 0 scores turn completely around and the then-losing team will come off the winners . Hail Mary passes and On-Side kicks and fumbles and pick-off interceptions happen in fierce rapidity at this point . Many times the paramedics haul a few players off the the trauma ward during this escalated final game time . My fingers are tired .	SurferJoe46 (51)
549734	2007-05-14 19:32:00	:illogical Wow .. Good one Joe. Most sports are hard to understand unless you are brought up with them. Now can you explain why you Yanks have another sport that has a "World Series" but only has American teams in it??? :illogical Ken	kenj (9738)
549735	2007-05-14 20:34:00	:illogical Wow . . Good one Joe . Most sports are hard to understand unless you are brought up with them . Now can you explain why you Yanks have another sport that has a "World Series" but only has American teams in it??? :illogical Ken Well . . with two leagues . . one called "The National League" and the other called "The American League", it is kinda all-encompassing . . . especially now with "The Oriental League" or "The Honshu League" . . etc . . . etc . It might be a little presumptive, but since the US was the progenitor of the game, it seems that in a world-sense alone it is incorrectly named . Note that the US has always invited many many countries to enjoin and play . . . alas, only a few did so . Certain South American countries DO play as do most of the Oriental cultures . . . with gusto . Japanese teams play in the US as do Cubans (when Fidel allows it) and Brazil et al plays here too . NZ has an open invitation to join the World series if they can mount a team good enuff . Alas, our playing season coincides with your sheep-sheering time and it might not work out, logistically that is . BTW: Can you name the one sport that WAS totally invented and first played in the US?	SurferJoe46 (51)
549736	2007-05-14 21:15:00	Can you name the one sport that WAS totally invented and first played in the US?Baseball?	Greg (193)
549737	2007-05-14 21:34:00	Basketball I think? Ken	kenj (9738)
549738	2007-05-14 22:16:00	Lynching??	johcar (6283)
549739	2007-05-14 22:18:00	Your analogy to sport & war, is probably covered by this quote, Joe; "Vitaï Lampada or Play up! play up! and play the game! by Sir Henry Newbolt There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night -- Ten to make and the match to win -- A bumping pitch and a blinding light, An hour to play and the last man in . And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season's fame, But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote "Play up! play up! and play the game!" The sand of the desert is sodden red, -- Red with the wreck of a square that broke; -- The Gatling's jammed and the colonel's dead, And the regiment blind with dust and smoke . The river of death has brimmed his banks, And England's far, and Honour a name, But the voice of schoolboy rallies the ranks, "Play up! play up! and play the game!" This is the word that year by year While in her place the School is set Every one of her sons must hear, And none that hears it dare forget . This they all with a joyful mind Bear through life like a torch in flame, And falling fling to the host behind -- "Play up! play up! and play the game!" This was one we had when I was at school in the late '50's . A few of the older teachers at New Plymouth Boy's High School, in those days were very much imbued with British Public School attitudes . It seems like a time long gone now . But, we still play cricket:stare:	jcr1 (893)
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