So many faults not called on Getafe, sooo many hand-balls not called, and that charge on Pedro at the end that should have translated into a penalty but didn't because of his "reputation"... BULLSHIT!

Grrrr...

And Messi's post?

Grrrr....

The real question is this: how can you call it football, if you use neither the foot nor a ball? Shouldn't it be called "hand-egg" instead?

Some of the most beautiful games are played in la Liga. You're right to point out that Madrid and Barça are almost always at the top, but you're missing out many great other teams. Not too long ago, there were 3 Spanish teams in the semis for the Champions' League. It's just a really good league.

And it's real football because it's played with your feet, not your hands!

Also: don't take the game becoming a professional league as the game's genesis. That's just not the case. I'm willing to bet that football is "older" in its current format than American Football is.

because it evolved from an ill defined english game called "football" and unlike rugby Americans, like Australians and the Irish saw no need to change the name

But I'm not poo-pooing on American Football (or Canadian football for that matter): that's another great game and I do enjoy watching it sometimes (especially the Als since I'm from Montreal). I'm just saying....

"I'm willing to bet that football is "older" in its current format than American Football is."

They all are branches on the same evolutionary tree, none of them ever "began" before the other, they all evolved out the same game. Its like calling Humans the "real mammals"

Hand-egg lol

I'm actually curious to find out what the history is... I don't pretend to know better than anyone, and I think it would be interesting for its own sake to find out how these different games developed to become what they are.

I somehow doubt that Wiki would be of real help here...

well, football was pretty much established and then some muppet called William Webb Ellis decided during a game at Rugby school decided to have a laugh and pick the ball up and run. Everybody else then chased him and tackled him, and presto! was born 'the game they play in heaven'. Can't remember the date, but it shouldn't be hard to find.

as to gridiron, australian (no) rules, or gaelic football...no idea.

"well, football was pretty much established and then some muppet called William Webb Ellis decided during a game at Rugby school decided to have a laugh and pick the ball up and run"

Old football was a game with ill defined rules between two sides who carried, threw, tackled, kicked and dribbled around for some predetermined distance. That game came over to America where it evolved just as the sport was evolving in Europe. The Rugby school story is a myth.

there are doubts as to Ellis actually being the 'inventor' of Rugby, but you can't dismiss it as a myth.

Blarg! All I wanted to do is poke some fun at the American crowd and point out that "football", as a concept denoting a game, makes a lot more sense when denoting the game Americans call soccer than when it is used to point at American or Canadian Football.

That's all!

I don't think one is purer than the other, nor better. Though I will readily admit that I prefer watching a good football game to any American football game.

hear, hear. speaking of, i'm getting on a plane in a bit to fly to NZ to watch wellington v my beloved sydney FC :) hardly the UCL i know, but the best i can get in Oz :)

Good. Can't stand Barca. Their greed killed La Liga. I hope the two Spanish giants are left with no where to play.

BTW, very sad about Gary Speed. RIP.

Hala Madrid! Real's 6 ahead now, yesss!
Didn't see most of the Barca game, wouldn't be surprised if the reffing did suck (it rarely doesn't when either Madrid or Barca lose points!). At least it's vindication for the farcical CL games last season.

It's rich whenever Barca complains about the refs. Barca - the most referee pampered team in all professional sports.

6

AH HA! I have discovered something amazing today!!! you type in the word "points" and it will make a cute little diplopoint! :D

It does. And it can be annoying at times. Draw a 5 point star. It is rude to point. point point point!

10 20 points.
I had sex with your mother and got 30 .
Cool stuff.

oh, it is point(s) plurl. points pointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspointspoints

Why did it not work? What is it. Points

points

They blocked it from me didn't they... :-(

You need to add a number.
I want to win 100

1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points 1 1 points

Ah, ha! Lots of points symbols!

Now he violates the spamming rule. I thought you were at least a teenager, Diplotool.

Draug go easy on the poor guy. he just discovered what I did... you have 425 :)

It is pretty cool. Just testing the system.

Poor guy? Every third thread it seems like Diplomat33 annoys the fuck out of somebody, and somebody makes excuses for him.

Well it seems to constantly be the same people.... *tap tap*

I never posted in a Diplomat33 annoy-everybody thread. New excuse, please.

Wonderful, another perfectly good thread derailed by #33's BS. You should feel very lucky that the mods are tolerant people.

I thank them every day. But they know if they ban me I would just make another account and don't want to deal with that.

They can and probably will ban your IP if you make another account to get around that.

33...you're getting annoying now, I don't like sticking my neck out for people if they just prove the other people right...this thread is about football...if you don't have something to say about football, make a D33's annoyance thread and start chatting it up...

I play rugby :) and soccer :)

So...back to the original subject, which seems to be less boring for people than bashing D33...
Place your bets on this year's Pichichi! Messi or Ronaldo? Will both get 30-40+?

join this game for some fun gameID=73423

@ Putin: You do know that Barça is owned by the people of the city, yes? Very much like the Green Bay packers, but on a larger scale (they have teams in various sports). Given your political inclinations, I'm surprised to see you speak of their "greed" the way you are. If anything, their one sin would be pride, pride in their city and its inhabitants, pride in Catalunya, but not greed.

Greed is Real's privilege, buying the best players on the planet to watch each of them play as if they were the only one on the turf. Greed is Ronaldo.

Also, how do you say La Liga is destroyed, whether by Barça or any other team? It has to be one of the most competitive European leagues by almost any standard. It also favours a much more open style of play that other leagues (like the Premier League) tend to make rare.

@Diplomat554: The ref was fairly awful, yes. To his defence, not calling the penalty on Pedro was somewhat justified by his reputation. I still think a penalty should have been awarded (and not to Pedro!), but that's the way the cookie crumbled.

I'll only add this: the linesmen were awful on all sides, not just against Barça.

Finally, despite all the wishes expressed by some of you, Barça will likely prevail for a long time to come still (and Madrid too, sadly). And the reason for that is that they are a true national symbol for Catalans (pride again). Their farming school is second to none, and their scouts are the best in the world.

Oh! And Messi will win the player of the year award. Anybody else would be quite ridiculous. How many hat-tricks does the man have this year? And how often do you hear him criticize his team-mates or the coaching staff or the refs? One of the most humble players out there, yet one of the very best.

Almost forgot:

Muting Dipshit33 was one of my best moves on this site!

And in *real* real football news (from US high-school playoffs, that is :) )...

Swain came back from a 28-point first-quarter deficit to beat West Montgomery 37-35 to advance to the NC div 1-AA state championship game.

Now back to that other game some of you call "football".... :)

"@ Putin: You do know that Barça is owned by the people of the city, yes? Very much like the Green Bay packers, but on a larger scale (they have teams in various sports). Given your political inclinations, I'm surprised to see you speak of their "greed" the way you are."

Well, let's see. Half of La Liga is in administration and don't even have shirt sponsors while the socios of Barcelona refuse to share any tv revenue, which is the reason why Barcelona has so much more money than most any other club on the planet. Barcelona thinks it is too big for its own domestic league, and wants to destroy European football by pushing for the creation of a super European league. And I'd be more impressed with Barca's "community" ownership if they actually allowed anybody to be a member of their club, but they don't. They have restricted new membership to only family members of current members. Their current President is a Nike executive. Others include a Hotel & construction company tycoon and a big law firm partner.

Plus, their ultras are skinheads. More than most ultras.

"buying the best players on the planet to watch each of them play as if they were the only one on the turf. Greed is Ronaldo. "

Really, Barca didn't buy Fabregas for 40 million. They didn't buy Sanchez either I guess.