Yet another GAF thread - I still haven't got over it :( (No spergfits allowed)

[Your Stalker]

the dolphin fucker
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=399457

[Sausage]

Nigri threads are always embarrassing to read.

[thisismyusername]

Especially since in water polo people are trying to grab your nips and punch you in the balls and rip your swimsuit off, the fouling in that sport is so ridiculous.

How do you know my foreplay so well? 

[Shadow Mod]

I think Hockey wins most difficult. Skating around on ice will all that shit on, slapping a puck around with precision, the goalie having to block a puck going insanely fast, and the amount of dudes who get fucked up during the game but continue to play god damn.

[Phoenix Dark]

Football requires the most athleticism, it's not really close.

lol @ the guy posting professional hockey combine stats that literally mirror those of high school football players 

[Joe Molotov]

Yes, it's a strange coincidence that some of the hardest sports are the gayest. Possibly because they all involve vicious physical struggles for dominance against another man.

To say nothing of your struggle to avoid getting an erection.

[Tasty]

Yes, it's a strange coincidence that some of the hardest sports are the gayest. Possibly because they all involve vicious physical struggles for dominance against another man.

To say nothing of your struggle to avoid getting an erection.

I thought that was part of the desire for victory.

[Momo]

Nothing ever hit me harder than squash (played properly at a decent level) in terms of outright stamina needed and fuck-im-tired at the endness. Not even boxing. Yes I tried lots of sports, including track athletics, tennis, basketball, (real) football, hockey, squash for fun, swimming for fun (oh god the tiredness), rugby, cricket, baseball =P

[Phoenix Dark]

Football requires the most athleticism, it's not really close.

lol @ the guy posting professional hockey combine stats that literally mirror those of high school football players 

american football?  wtf.  that's one of those sports where you can be a giant tub of lard and still be a really effective player. 

man, you can really tell the people who've never played hockey.  there's a reason why hockey shifts are only a few minutes at a time.

Singling out the larger linemen doesn't change the fact that the NFL features the best athletes in the world. And even many of those linemen are athletic as fuck. When you have 300 pound men with 40 times under 5 seconds, "lard ass" doesn't apply. The skill positions - wide receivers, linebackers, defensive ends, cornerbacks, etc - are on another level.

In terms of pure athleticism I'm not sure there are many athletes in recent history more talented than Calvin Johnson or LeBron James.

Hockey is no doubt an athletic sport, it takes some strength to skate around while stacked with so many pads. But in terms of sheer athleticism they don't compare to most college or football players; in fact in terms of strength, a top football player would translate very well in the sport (assuming he was able to skate). I think the problem with this line of conversation is that there's the perception that one sport is being dissed or dismissed. In reality every major sport (not counting golf) demands great athleticism. But I can't think of any metric one could judge all sports at and not come to the conclusion that the NFL is at the top.

[benjipwns]

As a gamer, I'd like to see a hockey player or football player play their sport for 24+ hours straight like Starcraft players do.

[Phoenix Dark]

great retort



goat athlete

[Sausage]

Football requires the most athleticism, it's not really close.

lol @ the guy posting professional hockey combine stats that literally mirror those of high school football players 

american football?  wtf.  that's one of those sports where you can be a giant tub of lard and still be a really effective player. 

man, you can really tell the people who've never played hockey.  there's a reason why hockey shifts are only a few minutes at a time.

Because all the  good athletes with stamina are playing football and basketball?

[Phoenix Dark]

So now we're talking about demanding sports correct, which means we've moved on from athleticism?

In general I'd give football the edge simply because it features the fastest, most athletic athletes. From what I understand the average weight of rugby player is about 200 pounds, whereas it's 246 in the NFL. It's a more fair comparison if we look at specific rugby teams like South Africa or New Zealand, where the average is around 240-245.

According to this article the fastest 40 times for rugby players tend to be in the 4.50s, which is comparable to what you'd see from a 260-280 pound defensive player in football.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/4531008/All-Blacks-measure-up-for-American-football

If I had to rank demand (not athleticism) without including mixed martial arts, I'd go:
1. Football
2. Rugby
3. Soccer

The fastest rugby player (4.22 40) is Carlin Isles and interestingly he quit rugby to play in the NFL this season, and is going to try to make the Detroit Lions   so I'll get a good look at him.


Of course the problem is that he's 160 pounds. For comparison, Calvin Johnson ran a 4.35 40yd dash, and he's 6'5, 240 pounds.

[hampster]

Watching speed chess on twitch is the most intense stuff ever

As a gamer, that gets my pick for most demanding sport

[Phoenix Dark]

[Himu]

Football requires the most athleticism, it's not really close.

lol @ the guy posting professional hockey combine stats that literally mirror those of high school football players 

american football?  wtf.  that's one of those sports where you can be a giant tub of lard and still be a really effective player. 

man, you can really tell the people who've never played hockey.  there's a reason why hockey shifts are only a few minutes at a time.

Singling out the larger linemen doesn't change the fact that the NFL features the best athletes in the world.

You say the world but the rest of the world doesn't really play American football.

I stick by what I said last page: football (soccer), hockey, and rugby.

Let's take soccer.

In Europe, where the best teams are, they are hyper super competitive. Unlike American football, soccer is a global sport and also the cheapest sport, so it has a higher number of entry per person. The best teams in Europe have youth leagues where the children are trained at a professional level at a very young age (from iirc 12 and up). Since soccer is a global sport, that means that in order to get on the best teams, you have to be cream of the crop. This means that the best teams HAVE to have the best athletes from around the world just by virtue and pure numbers. Running/jogging around on a pitch for two halves, juggling a ball your feet, barely any stoppages, and a truly international playing field. All the kids in the world who watch football know who Lionel Messi is, which is a lot. And you bet almost every one wants to be that guy and practice their butts off to do it. But only Americans stick to American football, so they can't possibly be the best athletes in the world because numbers simply aren't there.

Hockey, rugby, tennis too, are also highly demanding sports with an international fanbase.

as a global society, we really need to teach black people how to skate so we can get over this clearly racially-motivated disdain for the greatest sport on earth.

I know how to skate.

[archie4208]

Too bad Starcraft is virtually irrelevant nowadays due to the MOBAs taking over. 

[benjipwns]

MOBAs

Requires no technological athleticism at all. Where's the resource collection? Get real.

[Phoenix Dark]

Himuro: your post literally had nothing to do with the matter at hand, which is athleticism and physical demand. The average soccer player doesn't compare to the average football player in terms of athleticism, let's be real. Or rugby.

About 2/3 of the distance was covered at the low intensities of walking and jogging and around 800 meters sprinting in numerous short 10-40 meter bursts.

A player was in control of the ball for an average of 200 meters for a whopping total of 90 seconds (that means you spend 88.5 minutes trying to get or keep someone from getting the ball).

Recording every change of speed and direction showed that there was some change in activity every 5-6 seconds. Subsequent work and maturation of the game has pushed this total distance up to around 10,000 meters for a men's professional European game with the South American game being contested at a little less total running distance.

Midfielders run the most, central strikers and defenders the least. Don't brag too much about the running volume--10,000 meters (six miles) in 90 minutes is four miles per hour, something a good power walker can do.

http://www.active.com/soccer/articles/how-far-do-you-run-during-a-soccer-game-872900

The snarky way to dismiss football is to laugh at the constant stop of play. However the sport revolves around high intensity bursts that demand strength and speed. Even in rugby I notice some standing around and slower paced competition. 

[Tasty]

I think by most counts, Wayne Gretzky is the GOAT athlete (in a major sporting league.)

GOAT athlete in general would probably have to be Michael Phelps.

[Broseidon]

Sports

[Tasty]

Sports

I've always kinda said that but I've learned in the last year it can be pretty fun to watch and talk about.

[StealthFan]

Hockey owns. Shit is hard as fuck be to good at irl. I commend NHL players. It's a shame my Kings already lost 3 out of 4 playoff games They ain't gonna win 4 in a row.

[benjipwns]

MOBAs

Requires no technological athleticism at all. Where's the resource collection? Get real.

Correction: cyberorganic athleticism.

[benjipwns]

Sports

Distracting the proletariat from their international class actions in solidarity amirite

[Phoenix Dark]

Haven't played MOBAs outside of literally 2 minutes of DOTA2 but from what I've heard there's a lot of strategy involved at the highest level. It doesn't compare to StarCraft in terms of speed or reaction time of course, but it's not a pushover (from what I've heard).

[Himu]

Himuro: your post literally had nothing to do with the matter at hand, which is athleticism and physical demand. The average soccer player doesn't compare to the average football player in terms of athleticism, let's be real. Or rugby.

About 2/3 of the distance was covered at the low intensities of walking and jogging and around 800 meters sprinting in numerous short 10-40 meter bursts.

A player was in control of the ball for an average of 200 meters for a whopping total of 90 seconds (that means you spend 88.5 minutes trying to get or keep someone from getting the ball).

Recording every change of speed and direction showed that there was some change in activity every 5-6 seconds. Subsequent work and maturation of the game has pushed this total distance up to around 10,000 meters for a men's professional European game with the South American game being contested at a little less total running distance.

Midfielders run the most, central strikers and defenders the least. Don't brag too much about the running volume--10,000 meters (six miles) in 90 minutes is four miles per hour, something a good power walker can do.

http://www.active.com/soccer/articles/how-far-do-you-run-during-a-soccer-game-872900

The snarky way to dismiss football is to laugh at the constant stop of play. However the sport revolves around high intensity bursts that demand strength and speed. Even in rugby I notice some standing around and slower paced competition.

I did bring up athleticism. Soccer players play a highly demanding game of two 45 minute halves.

They have no pads.



They require precise ball handling control, they can't just tuck the ball under their arms and run with it.



Have to hit the balls no small a target:



And unlike American football, this is a global sport with a global competition.

The numbers don't lie. You said 'the world'. You cannot back that up.

You talk about bursts of power and speed and...

[Shadow Mod]

This discussion right now.

I watch for the butts.

[Phoenix Dark]

The existence of global competition has nothing to do with the level of athleticism. Nothing you've posted suggests they match up athletically with NFL players in anything except maybe cardio endurance, and even that is questionable given how little actual "non stop" action soccer has. Football players are stronger, faster, and capable of more athletic feats. The same applies to rugby, and hockey isn't far off.

If you put a soccer player on a football field he won't be able to measure up. If you put a football player in soccer he could compete athletically.

[Himu]

If you put a soccer player on a football field he won't be able to measure up. If you put a football player in soccer he could compete athletically.

[Phoenix Dark]

Both wouldn't be skilled at the different sports obviously, but at least a football player would be able to stay on the field athletically. Outside of kicker/punter I don't think there's anything a soccer player could do on a football field.

[benjipwns]

Reminds me of this show:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhani_Tackles_the_Globe

 

Water polo and cycling in the Alps were brutal.

[Himu]

I think that's a bad point to make because they require different things and are totally different games. However, I feel tha soccer is ahead because of the fact that it is fluid. In soccer, your position can change in seconds. Defenders become mid fielders or even a forward depending on the situation. So all the players have to be able to go. They also require a more diverse skill set. Five players will kick during a penalty. And they have to be able to all kick ANYWHERE inside the box. Unlike football, where they have a specific player to fill that role. In football, positions fall into niches. So saying football requires more athleticism is false, because the game has many positions where that simply is not true. You are picking specific positions and not the overall sport itself.

[Your Stalker]

i think sprinters have the best butts

[Phoenix Dark]

I think that's a bad point to make because they require different things and are totally different games. However, I feel tha soccer is ahead because of the fact that it is fluid. In soccer, your position can change in seconds. Defenders become mid fielders or even a forward depending on the situation. So all the players have to be able to go. They also require a more diverse skill set. Five players will kick during a penalty. And they have to be able to all kick ANYWHERE inside the box. Unlike football, where they have a specific player to fill that role. In football, positions fall into niches. So saying football requires more athleticism is false, because the game has many positions where that simply is not true. You are picking specific positions and not the overall sport itself.

I just posted an article detailing how little fluidity and running is actually in soccer.

Most football players have to have similar skills as well - in fact that's the case of most sports. Whether it's knowing how to catch or run routes.

[Yulwei]

i think sprinters have the best butts

you damn right



Alenka Bikar 

[etiolate]

Too bad Starcraft is virtually irrelevant nowadays due to the MOBAs taking over. 

fucking map clicking games

GET SOME 3D SKILL BITCHES

[Himu]

I think that's a bad point to make because they require different things and are totally different games. However, I feel tha soccer is ahead because of the fact that it is fluid. In soccer, your position can change in seconds. Defenders become mid fielders or even a forward depending on the situation. So all the players have to be able to go. They also require a more diverse skill set. Five players will kick during a penalty. And they have to be able to all kick ANYWHERE inside the box. Unlike football, where they have a specific player to fill that role. In football, positions fall into niches. So saying football requires more athleticism is false, because the game has many positions where that simply is not true. You are picking specific positions and not the overall sport itself.

I just posted an article detailing how little fluidity and running is actually in soccer.

Most football players have to have similar skills as well - in fact that's the case of most sports. Whether it's knowing how to catch or run routes.

You posted an article that featured data from the 70s that if I remember, collected the info from a single game.

[Your Stalker]

is it because it's american

[Phoenix Dark]

Nice retort x2. beyond "fuck american football" I'm not seeing an argument. not surprising

anyway I can't believe I fell for this shit, even if it was only for a minute
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=808249

[Himu]

I'm surprised he's going so hard for NFL and not nba. He played basketball in school. Football though? Dunno.

[Phoenix Dark]

Sounds like I've hit a nerve. And I'll have you know I was an assistant manager at a dental office, sir.

I've played soccer, and as I said in the GAF thread it's the hardest sport I've ever played; I haven't played football (competitively). I played basketball at the highschool and AAU level. However I'm not going to use my anecdotal experience to make that point because, you know, that's not how good arguments work. Which I shouldn't have to tell a guy who spends time looking at numbers and sales trends, so I'll just assume you're trolling on that end.

Noting you play football in Canada is like saying we play StarCraft in America - or that people make action films in Kenya. It doesn't mean anything when the premier competition, talent, and leagues are elsewhere. The NFL features superior athletes and the more demanding game, with rugby close behind. I'm not going to haggle over skill as its subjective - hockey players do a lot of amazing stuff, as do soccer players.

[Himu]

Basketball would be almost impossible to argue.  It's a really laid-back game.  I was being a little facetious comparing football to baseball or curling, but basketball really *is* in that league.

I cannot watch basketball anymore. It bores me. So. So much.

What sucks is it was my favorite sport as a kid. But when I watch it now I'm just bored. Still my favorite sport to play though. For some reason, I'm thinking the NBA's more tight officiating have ruined what was my favorite sport. Not to mention the players.

[benjipwns]

I don't buy it, auto and horse racing are near the bottom in speed.

[Phoenix Dark]

That argument actually makes sense when measuring pure athleticism - I am not talking about skill. The focus is on seeing where and how their athleticism translates to other sports. So for instance if I say Calvin Johnson could play basketball, soccer, etc the point isn't "oh man, Calvin would dominate that shit!" it's simply that athletically it's not out of his element. Whereas, for instance, a soccer player wouldn't be able to handle the NFL due to the strength requirement. A rugby player would be fine in the NFL, and would presumably translate into soccer.

It's harder to do that with hockey because a skill is required right out the gate (skating). But if we strictly look at athleticism and physical shit, there are no issues that would hinder an NFL player.

There's nothing silly about the argument that the NFL features the best athletes nor is it exclusively being made by me, hence me being baffled here. It's the most physically demanding team sport, it's arguably the most complex,

[Shadow Mod]

i think sprinters have the best butts

Start watching volleyball.

[Phoenix Dark]

here, hockey wins by three points, read it and weep.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills

and yes, you've hit a nerve.  dunno if you noticed, it's really easy to hit my nerves by being a dumb-ass!

So again just to be clear, we have moved away from the original argument which was "which sport has the best athletes" to what is the most difficult correct? I just want to note the goal post moving again.

My problem with that list is that each skill is weighed equally, which strikes me as ridiculously simplistic and allows for some odd results. Basketball is more difficult than rugby? Sky jumping is more difficult than swimming..? Moreover, swimmers have very high endurance yet their strength is rated low, why? Shouldn't that be significantly higher given the force required to swim at a high level? Why does skiing require more strength?

To go back to athleticism, I think my point remains. When we measure the actual athletes involved with any test you want to give them, it seems pretty clear NFL players will come out on top.

[Shadow Mod]

I'm willing to bet Hockey takes more stamina than football. They're not just gliding on the ice you know.

[Phoenix Dark]

I would agree with that.

[StealthFan]

What a terrible last couple of pages.

[Your Stalker]

i think sprinters have the best butts

Start watching volleyball.

they have pretty eatable asses too

[Raban]

What a terrible last couple of pages.

seriously never thought I'd see the day I'd be aching for this thread to get back to shitting on GAF posts

[benjipwns]

Individual sports are always harder than team sports. The mental aspect of it is crushing. Its just you, another person, lights, a crowd and struggle.

So you're saying that porn is the ultimate sport?

[Phoenix Dark]

Busting multiple nuts in one scene is definitely an impressive feat.

[Shadow Mod]

Surprised PD isn't going all lexpert on us and giving out some stats.

[Phoenix Dark]

Surprised PD isn't going all lexpert on us and giving out some stats.

Well in terms of prolific nut busting I'm not sure anyone can compare to Mandingo's classic scene with Vanessa Vexx. He explodes twice, with simar volume.

[archie4208]

fucking map clicking games

GET SOME 3D SKILL BITCHES

How is Guild Wars 2 doing as an esport?

Oh wait.

[Sausage]

If hockey had even the quality of athletes that baseball has, you would see 5 minute line shifts. The big problem with hockey is you get bottom of the barrel American athletes paired with Canadians. Really brings the sport down.

[Huff]

wrestling > all

[Positive Touch]

What a terrible last couple of pages.

  i love how we can say that literally every time we move from random shitposting and into a discussion in this thread