Angles: The true American past-time

Football

By Adam Walsh

Mirror Staff Writer

American football has become one of the most-watched sports on U.S. televisions and continues to draw large game-day audiences.

One reason why football is so popular is because of its entertainment value.

For example, the 2010 Super Bowl in February became the most watched program in American history and was a re-awakening for New Orleans, a city that won their first Lombardi Trophy.

At a college level, there are few things more enjoyable than going to a Saturday home game at Kirkeby-Over Stadium and rooting on our Augustana Vikings.

The atmosphere on campus is exhilarating. In high school, students flocked to the game to root on their friends and classmates.

Nothing is more entertaining than watching football. Football is a sport of athleticism and physicality.

Players are working their hardest to control the pigskin, whether on offense or defense.

Each position has its own techniques and strategies that make the team better and each player contributes; there's no "I" in team.

Coaches are ultimately responsible for the outcome of the game, but it's their management and play-calling that controls the victory-hungry players.

Can you say bragging rights?

There's a rule that you have bragging rights for your team for a variety of different reasons, your team lost to my team, a ridiculous play, or Super

Bowl Champs.

Nothing gets more intense than the verbal battles between friends, co-workers or enemies about football.

Trash talk is common on opposing sidelines, in hallways, on the phone and anywhere that shows ESPN.

August through December is a time where onlookers are constantly checking their teams' division standings, fantasy points and Bowl Championship Series votes.

When it comes time for playoffs, fans place bets, buy gear and get ready for some football.

Baseball

By Andy Tupa

Mirror Web Editor

Football is really a sport of celebrities.

Think about it, every day Sport Center gives us a new angle on how much Brad Childress hates Brett Favre.

At this point, football has become mind-numbingly about individual players who want their 15 minutes (or 20 years) of fame.

Don't get me wrong, I love watching football on Sundays; but football has turned into a seven-day-a-week drama.

That is why baseball is far superior to football.

Some will argue that baseball has its steroids, but really, what sport doesn't have steroid users?

Football is dominated by individual players who strive for attention and yet this year's World Series winners, the San Francisco Giants, did not have a "superstar" player.

Baseball is a business played out over 162 games, while in football we get four games that don't matter, followed by 16 games that involve the exact same washed-up story lines. The NFL has trades, but nothing like baseball.

This year we saw teams like the Chicago White Sox lose hope after they failed to acquire a big name bat and teams like the Yankees buying up all of the great players to assure themselves a World Series.

A lot of people think the Yankees are bad for baseball, but in reality who can we root against in football? Michael Vick sure has his demons, but they welcomed him back with open arms.

There is nobody to root against in the NFL - just 32 hometown teams who win the games they are supposed to.

Baseball is played every day of the summer and doesn't need silly storylines to sustain interest.

Football has six days of drama and one day of action. Forget about WWE Wrestling, the NFL is the new male soap opera.