Volume 4　国民が夢中になるスポーツ


Our Sports Differences

Ann: Now why is American football not at all popular in the UK, do you think?

Michael: It is played. There are teams. I wonder though, probably because, off the top of my head, I'm thinking that it bears a resemblance to a game that is popular in the UK, which is rugby.

Ann: Rugby, uh-huh.

Michael: Uh, and us Brits, you know, when we look at the Americans, OK, you've got this game, you play for 20 seconds and then you stop.

Ann: Ha-ha, change teams. Michael: And you change, what, you guys get tired just after 20 seconds, and then you, they're wearing this, just huge amount of padding.

Ann: Right.

Michael: Whereas in rugby, of course, which is also a very, very physical contact sport, no, no protection. No, you don't worry about that. You just ram, jump in there, ram yourselves together like that, and . . . So from a British perspective, at least from my perspective, the American football seems a little bit kind of wimpy. Ha-ha.

Ann: Paradoxically right? 

Michael: Yeah, I'm, I'm probably completely misreading it 'cause I've never actually seen a game, I confess, American football.

Ann: Don't say it to one of the football players. That's, uh, you know, ha-ha, the, the wimpy part, ha-ha, when you're face to face with them.

Michael: Right.

Ann: Another interesting thing, I think, is that soccer is not that popular in the States. Of course, it's much more popular than it used to be, and when I was in school, they started in second grade, having soccer for girls and that was a big thing and it's very common now that, that kids play soccer and grow up. But it still doesn't have the audience - you know, when there are soccer matches and that kind of thing - that football has.

Michael: So on a professional level, it just hasn't really taken off although on an amateur level it's quite popular for, for schools and kids. Right.

Ann: Exactly, exactly, right. And sometimes one explanation I've heard of that is that perhaps if you don't grow up with it in, in the same way that you do, for example, in England, it seems a little, what should I say, drawn out, right? Because you, know, have these long games, you know, it's 90 minutes, right, the whole game. And maybe the score is zero to zero.

Michael: Right. Ann and Michael: Ha-ha.

Michael: But the skill, you see. Ha-ha. That's what's involved. It's this . . .

Ann: Oh, right, right, right. Well, well, we just, you know, we're, we clearly, you know, haven't, you have to have a certain eye for it. I suppose.

Michael: I guess. It's, it's more subtle. Like, American football is just warfare.

Ann: Head down . . . 

Michael: It's, you know . . . 

Ann: . . . go for it. That's right.

Michael: . . . it's just run, and barge your way through there, which, it's just a little too unsubtle for us, I guess.


Ann: Well, on that diplomatic note, we will leave you with that discussion of sports and, uh, hope that it's been interesting for you and we'll look forward to being with you next time.

Michael: Oh, that'll be fun. All right, OK. Well have a wonderful July.

Ann: And see you next time. Bye. Michael: Take care, bye-bye.