Time for Telfer to retire

[gopolks]

It is time for long serving Journalist Brendon Telfer to retire? For the last few years, he has spent his time misleading the public. On Tuesday's morning show, he said "Rugby is too complex for America" and suggested that maybe Rugby Sevens will be best suited for the American audience.

He was suggesting that the American sporting public might not be bright enough to follow the game, well he is either sadly mistaken, or he is trying to appeal to the anti Americans in New Zealand society by lying.

You see Americans follow a game that makes Rugby union looks like snake and ladders by comparison, I talk of American Football.

This sport has more rules than cricket, and the people who follow the game are students of it, debates rage all over the country, over the credibility of each teams playbook, The defensive alone might have to memorize 200 different plays for each game, and the sporting public of the USA would be able to tell you, what plays work better.

For Telfer to suggest that Americans wouldn't understand a complex game, borders on being bigoted. He really has to go for misinforming the public once again.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

That's nice

JohnGaul
NZTS

[gllitz]

I have to agree with you, gopolks, about how complicated American football can be, especially compared to Rugby (be it League, Union, or otherwise). As an American living here in New Zealand for almost 8 1/2 years now, sure, rugby at first was a bit hard to grasp, but after watching it for a while, one can easily understand it and appreciate its "simplicity" and beauty compared to American football. Shoot, even my parents (in their late 50's/early 60's) who have been to a few Crusaders games, have come to enjoy watching it...my Dad is a die-hard gridiron fan (loves the Bills and anyone playing Dallas) and loves it! I love watching college football more than professional, but that's just me...College ball tends to be more exciting, with more on the line for the kids playing - they aren't in the "big leagues" just yet, and have the "glory/honour" of the school to play for.

Yes, there are many intricacies involved for the purists in rugby (understanding ruck and maul rules, lineouts, when to kick to touch, etc) but the basic premise is very similar to American football: get the ball to the goal line, and kick the ball between the goal posts for points as well. All in all, I would say rugby is a better game to play and watch (scandalous!! coming from a Yank)...it's just that in America (1) there isn't as large a "grass roots" following that I am aware of and (2) a notion that rugby is for "pontsy" types..."Oh yes, it'll be Harvard vs Yale this weekend"...pip, pip, cheerio and all that. That's just my personal $0.02, but if it ever DOES catch on in the States....watch out!!

Still having some issues understanding cricket...getting there, though!