RoswellSaint

Interesting perspective! But then Britain used to be good at bullying people. Again, I didn't say the system was perfect. College football is an interesting beast. The players who generate the millions of dollars are not allowed to benefit bar a free education. There are half-hearted attempts to improve graduation rates so the vast majority that won't make millions in the NFL can embark on a career. But there are many who are only at college because they can play football not because they are smart.

Truly frightening - Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, NBA finals, 4 NFL games every weekend, countless baseball, basketball games available FREE if you have a television and an old-fashioned aerial, oh, and the Olympics. The only sport I pay for by PPV (and usually regret) are England games. It is true that most boxing and a lot of wrestling is available on PPV. I do pay monthly subscriptions to get Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta USA but not at a rate of $25 per match.

Yep

Having lived over here for 16 years now, I have adapted to the local language. I resisted for many years - still often say tomahto not tomayto, but usually shedule rather than skedule. On here, I try to use 's' rather than 'z' in words like realise. We are two countries divided by a common language. But, ESB, Zed is the way to go in England. My children have a lot of fun when I say things in an English way but they have American accents and will say zee.

It is also what the rest of Americans say - the vast majority of them not being stupid.

The few are 32 in number. I agree the model is not perfect - as I said it lacks the threat of relegation. At least those involved compete on a level playing field. I long for the days when small clubs could challenge the big city clubs but I doubt will see them again my lifetime.

Actually, Nick, the American football model has a lot going for it - apart from the lack of relegation. It is a very socialistic model. Most revenue is shared, there is a strict salary cap and the worst teams each year get the first choice of the best young players. It means that at the start of the season most teams have a good chance of reaching the play-offs. Rarely does a team come to dominate and certainly not through money. Green Bay, a small city, can compete with Dallas, New York, etc. There is no big 4 that dominate every year.

Sometimes it takes someone looking from a distance to see what is happening - talking about DP here rather than myself, he usually speaks some wise words. But as he says, what is the alternative to Lowe & Wilde right now? What the players need right now is for the crowd to get behind them and cheer them on, encourage them, they don't need to see dwindling crowds. I realise that it is expensive to go to games and people are feeling the pinch right now but the players are under a lot of pressure and need the fans' support.

Anyone ever done one? As I mentioned in another thread, I am hoping to be over at the end of November, when Americans are enjoying their turkeys at Thanksgiving. Saints are at home to Plymouth in a midweek game. Having two young children, I contacted the club to find out how they choose the mascots for games. Apparently selected at random from the JSaints. They referred me to the Marketing dept who offered a package with food, drinks, tickets, programmes, full kit and the chance to meet the players in the changing rooms before the match. Pretty expensive unless we eat and drink a lot - everyone says the beer is dire but maybe I could get drinks for all my fellow TSWers who are there that night! So, has anyone ever done one of these packages? Don't know when the kids would get the chance to do something similar again but maybe should just go for the basic tickets and hope we enjoy the game! Any sensible, alternative ideas?

Me too. Grew up near Sherborne in lovely North Dorset. In the early 70's I became a Saints fan as they were the nearest First Division team. Guess that makes me a glory hunter! Friends all supported Liverpool, Man U, etc. Dad took me to my first game at the Dell in late 1974 against Chelsea. Either in October or December. Been a fan ever since. Hoping to make it to my first game at SMS in November against Plymouth, with the wife and kids. Will there be anyone else there?

Arizona is not redneck land. That would be the "South", as opposed to SW - states like Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, the Carolinas, oh and Georgia. HTH

I went away for a few minutes and we score...has happened a couple of times before now this season, so...

My optimism is changing to Alpine-like pessimism

Think you are right. Chris Perry seemed to have some meanness about him in the WBA game at the end of last season (Don't get many opportunities to see the games!), was that a one off? After that, who else is there? We can get somewhere with a young team but not with a young and nice team.

I think we would all be very happy

we are...

too much pressure from Ipswich

plenty of time still

is there much time left? :confused:

1-0!!

They found Tom!

Lucky you. Listening while trying to work. Mid-afternoon here. Maybe a cuppa soon.

Where are they all? Where are our stickys?

On the prediction league, I went for Ipswich 2-0 but I am trying to be more optimistic now, so 2-1 Saints.

OK.