Ze proper name of ze silly American sport

[duke o' york]

Kicking at the opponents shins is how Americans teach humility to fancy pants soccer players. I'm with Elok on this one.

You'd have loved the British game up to about 1987. Hell, we even fulfilled your hooliganism ideas until about the same time. Much as I love handmelon, the players are still dressed in armour and don't have to get up and play on when this kind of thing happens:



(Yes, the Barcelona number 10 is one of the finest players ever to play the game, but heck, he can kick the rest as well as anyone)

[KrazyHorse]

if you think those clips make soccer players look tough



A bunch of *****es kicking at each other is what passes for a soccer fight

[KrazyHorse]

By the way, a year ago I watched Alex Ovechkin get his nose broken with a stick in the first period and go on to score four goals. It was against my team, but still, much respect

[duke o' york]

I'm not suggesting that it makes them look tough, but it does make them look dirty. Feel free to post clips of handmelon players ending another's career in one go, and we may have a contest.

[duke o' york]

Named FWA Footballer of the Year for 1956, Trautmann entered football folklore with his performance in the 1956 FA (Football Association) Cup Final. With 17 minutes of the match remaining Trautmann suffered a serious injury after diving at the feet of Birmingham City's Peter Murphy. Despite his injury he continued to play, making crucial saves to preserve his team's 3–1 lead. His neck was noticeably crooked as he collected his winner's medal; three days later an X-ray revealed it to be broken.

Yeah, it's a wiki link, but amazingly also true.

[Ben Kenobi]

Slide tackling is an art. Excellent technique. I've slid spike high as a defender into strikers before.

If they try that sissy-jig thing where they tuck the ball behind their legs, you can just kick at it anyway and hit their shins

Remember insteps. Shins have shinguards.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'm not suggesting that it makes them look tough, but it does make them look dirty. Feel free to post clips of handmelon players ending another's career in one go, and we may have a contest.

Seriously?

Not for the weak of stomach:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH8SZOqc6Pk

And that was a clean hit where Lawrence Taylor broke Theismann's leg and ended his career.

[duke o' york]

Guy at school with me who played at the highest level demonstrated how to break someone's ankle and get away with it by jumping at the right time. Studs are incredibly dangerous if used in the wrong/right way...

[KrazyHorse]

Google "Joe Theisman"

[KrazyHorse]

****, Imran...you got there first.

CLASSIC injury

[duke o' york]

Seriously?
And that was a clean hit where Lawrence Taylor broke Theismann's leg and ended his career.

Yes.

Nice hit, but it's not as if he meant it. The slippery conditions meant that Theissmann just had his foot in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is no way the lineman meant that. I did love Washington's 68's 'tache though.

In football they go in with both feet, studs up, and know that there is a definite chance that they may end the opponent's career (and face legal action themselves).

[Imran Siddiqui]

You don't think there is anyway LT meant that? He was deliberately trying to knock QBs out of the game on every play.

[KrazyHorse]

Seriously, linebackers HATE QBs

[duke o' york]

He meant the hit, as all defenders should, but he didn't mean to break his leg. Roy, the evil scum, Keane, on the other hand, said that he knew exactly what he was doing to Alfe Inge Haaland. Another career-ending injury, but this time definitely intentional.

[KrazyHorse]

Completely gratuitous Ray-Ray hit on Ochocinco from a few weeks ago...