Students will compare and contrast British and American social, sports, and leisure activities.
Natalie Papini
After talking with a handful of Londoners, it became clear that there are solid differences between UK and American sports and leisure activity. Specifically, people in London take great pride in what the United States would label soccer, basketball, tennis, and cricket.
Sam Hendi, a man I interviewed on the tube, explained that his personal favorite sport offered in London was basketball. He somewhat followed the NBA and explained that the players from U.S. teams had been in London weeks ago. Sam's job deals with sports management here, and he actually went to an after party that Kobe Bryant was at. However, he told me that Kobe Bryant is not as big deal in London as he is in America. Later, Sam commented that when he thinks of America, he thinks of big high school football games.
A nameless man I talked with on the bus informed me that his favorite sport to watch was cricket. He briefly educated me on how popular the sport is in London by saying that most people follow it, and that going to a game would be worthwhile. He explained that in a few days the Lord’s Cricket Grounds are hosting playoff type games. He advised I would not be able to find seats, but once those are finished the last two weeks I am here I could more than likely get tickets to a normal match.
From these conversations, I was able to notice the difference in emphasis we place on separate sports in the United States versus the United Kingdom. While America is more geared towards NASCAR, football, baseball, basketball, etc, the United Kingdom looks to soccer (or, “football” as Londoners would call it), basketball, tennis, and cricket. Despite those disparities, it is clear that both countries are passionate about athletics.
Sam Hendi, a man I interviewed on the tube, explained that his personal favorite sport offered in London was basketball. He somewhat followed the NBA and explained that the players from U.S. teams had been in London weeks ago. Sam's job deals with sports management here, and he actually went to an after party that Kobe Bryant was at. However, he told me that Kobe Bryant is not as big deal in London as he is in America. Later, Sam commented that when he thinks of America, he thinks of big high school football games.
A nameless man I talked with on the bus informed me that his favorite sport to watch was cricket. He briefly educated me on how popular the sport is in London by saying that most people follow it, and that going to a game would be worthwhile. He explained that in a few days the Lord’s Cricket Grounds are hosting playoff type games. He advised I would not be able to find seats, but once those are finished the last two weeks I am here I could more than likely get tickets to a normal match.
From these conversations, I was able to notice the difference in emphasis we place on separate sports in the United States versus the United Kingdom. While America is more geared towards NASCAR, football, baseball, basketball, etc, the United Kingdom looks to soccer (or, “football” as Londoners would call it), basketball, tennis, and cricket. Despite those disparities, it is clear that both countries are passionate about athletics.
Chelsey Laurito
Sports influence society in every region of the world. Some people look at sports for leisure and entertainment, and some look at it as a way of life. British culture and American culture have a lot of similarities when it comes to sports as to its meaning to the country, but several differences too.
As a high school and college athlete, my first question for the man I interviewed was what high school sports like are as in competition. He said that there are mainly two levels, a school and a county level. The school level competes in the county level, and then the winner moves on to district level where they compete with different regions. That is very similar to America. We have the conference sports where the winner competes to the district, then states. A difference though between us is the favorite, most played sports. Here in the UK, I was told, the main sports are soccer (football), Cricket, and tennis. In the U.S. the main sports would be football, basketball, racecar driving, and I’d say baseball.
Sports bring all groups of people to the events. In America many come out for entertainment to have a good time, and drink a beer. Others are there for the love of the sport. In the UK, they have the same idea except they are not allowed to drink at most events. At soccer games they cannot because people will start fighting. At cricket they are because the man said it brings out boring people and at tennis they are mostly outside the matches.
Sports have the same meaning everywhere regardless how different they are. It brings pride, enjoyment, and activity to a community. The UK and America are very similar in that.
As a high school and college athlete, my first question for the man I interviewed was what high school sports like are as in competition. He said that there are mainly two levels, a school and a county level. The school level competes in the county level, and then the winner moves on to district level where they compete with different regions. That is very similar to America. We have the conference sports where the winner competes to the district, then states. A difference though between us is the favorite, most played sports. Here in the UK, I was told, the main sports are soccer (football), Cricket, and tennis. In the U.S. the main sports would be football, basketball, racecar driving, and I’d say baseball.
Sports bring all groups of people to the events. In America many come out for entertainment to have a good time, and drink a beer. Others are there for the love of the sport. In the UK, they have the same idea except they are not allowed to drink at most events. At soccer games they cannot because people will start fighting. At cricket they are because the man said it brings out boring people and at tennis they are mostly outside the matches.
Sports have the same meaning everywhere regardless how different they are. It brings pride, enjoyment, and activity to a community. The UK and America are very similar in that.
Laura Mulloy
When I went out to a bar where there was a TV on showing Cricket, a popular sport in Britain, I peeped around to see if I would find any sport watchers like I most likely would at ant sports bar in Kentucky, where I’m from. To my surprise, no one was watching. I was just at a small pub and perhaps I should have found an actual “sports bar” or pub but I’m not sure if those exist here in Britain or at least if there are as big as there are in the U.S. That is another question I’ll have in mind when I ask someone new here about night life and cultural differences in general. I noticed that people were really focused into their own groups of conversation and no one was really looking around the room and certainly not checking the TV.
With my friend Heather by my side, I ended up working up the courage to talk to a group of four men sitting at a table outside enjoying a few glasses of wine. Our conversation topic of course was centered around the fact that we were American because of our accents and one man in particular was talking about his experience in New York City and we all kind of joked about a few of the differences between the U.S. and London. I finally brought up the sports question and asked this man that I had been talking to the most. He said that he didn’t know much about American sports other than he’s heard that football in really big in our country. I told him I was from Kentucky and in the south, college football is very huge and some folks follow it like a religion. He said that cricket was a popular sport and it was like “their baseball,” so then I realized he probably knows more about American sports than I thought he just came across as not being a huge sports watcher even though knowing about the different sports. He told me he didn’t really have a favorite sport to watch but that futbol or soccer was really big here. I then asked him since he brought up American football, what sport he could compare that they have here to American football and he told me rugby would probably be a good comparison.
I knew nothing about rugby so I decided to do some research and from what I read, rugby is similar to football but in my opinion much more free flowing with less rules. It is also older than football and in fact, basketball was s invented by a rugby coach in 1891. A rugby coach named Dr. James Naismith was looking for a way to keep his players conditioned during the winter season so he invented an indoor sport and the first sketched the game we know today as one of the most popular watched sports in America. I was very surprised to learn that basketball which I thought was solely started as an American past time, was actually founded so to speak, but a rugby coach keeping his team trained through winter.
The ball used for rugby is probably what is most similar to football. It looks just like a football in the pictures I found except it is actually bigger than a football with rounder edges. Rugby is played in two 40 minute intervals or halves and the clock never stops except for any injury, then that time is added on to the half. I have a short attention span at times so I could probably get into watching rugby more than football because with all the time paused for penalty calls and time outs, an average football game usually lasts 3 hours and that was always too long for me. Every time I’ve gone to see a football game at my university, I’ve dozed off a bit throughout the middle and usually don’t really get into the game unless the score is really close. Also similar to football, each game starts out with a kickoff and the object of the game is to score more points than the other team by carrying, passing, and kicking the ball like what happens in football. It is also played on a grass field which they call pitch. Rugby has many less players than football. Where the quarterback is almost irreplaceable but the other positions have many “trained” substitutes, rugby is played by two teams of fifteen players with only six substitutes. Rugby also only has one referee where there is always more than one referee in the game of football. Rugby has been described as Rugby has the speed of basketball, the contact of football and the strategy of chess.
With my friend Heather by my side, I ended up working up the courage to talk to a group of four men sitting at a table outside enjoying a few glasses of wine. Our conversation topic of course was centered around the fact that we were American because of our accents and one man in particular was talking about his experience in New York City and we all kind of joked about a few of the differences between the U.S. and London. I finally brought up the sports question and asked this man that I had been talking to the most. He said that he didn’t know much about American sports other than he’s heard that football in really big in our country. I told him I was from Kentucky and in the south, college football is very huge and some folks follow it like a religion. He said that cricket was a popular sport and it was like “their baseball,” so then I realized he probably knows more about American sports than I thought he just came across as not being a huge sports watcher even though knowing about the different sports. He told me he didn’t really have a favorite sport to watch but that futbol or soccer was really big here. I then asked him since he brought up American football, what sport he could compare that they have here to American football and he told me rugby would probably be a good comparison.
I knew nothing about rugby so I decided to do some research and from what I read, rugby is similar to football but in my opinion much more free flowing with less rules. It is also older than football and in fact, basketball was s invented by a rugby coach in 1891. A rugby coach named Dr. James Naismith was looking for a way to keep his players conditioned during the winter season so he invented an indoor sport and the first sketched the game we know today as one of the most popular watched sports in America. I was very surprised to learn that basketball which I thought was solely started as an American past time, was actually founded so to speak, but a rugby coach keeping his team trained through winter.
The ball used for rugby is probably what is most similar to football. It looks just like a football in the pictures I found except it is actually bigger than a football with rounder edges. Rugby is played in two 40 minute intervals or halves and the clock never stops except for any injury, then that time is added on to the half. I have a short attention span at times so I could probably get into watching rugby more than football because with all the time paused for penalty calls and time outs, an average football game usually lasts 3 hours and that was always too long for me. Every time I’ve gone to see a football game at my university, I’ve dozed off a bit throughout the middle and usually don’t really get into the game unless the score is really close. Also similar to football, each game starts out with a kickoff and the object of the game is to score more points than the other team by carrying, passing, and kicking the ball like what happens in football. It is also played on a grass field which they call pitch. Rugby has many less players than football. Where the quarterback is almost irreplaceable but the other positions have many “trained” substitutes, rugby is played by two teams of fifteen players with only six substitutes. Rugby also only has one referee where there is always more than one referee in the game of football. Rugby has been described as Rugby has the speed of basketball, the contact of football and the strategy of chess.
Janaye Asher
Throughout the week I have been asking random Londoners what the most popular sport is. I got the same response from every person. They all stated that football was a very familiar sport here. I also asked them what sports they personally like to watch or play. With this question asked I would get a variety of answers. There was one that intrigued me the most, polo. A nice lady that works at a local pizza place explained to me how she enjoyed watching polo. I immediately wanted to know more because I just bought a polo ticket and am going to go to a match myself next weekend. She told me that she wasn’t always into the sport but one of her friends had a boyfriend that was and she ended up going to a few with her friend and has been following the sport ever since then.
Through talking with the locals I have concluded that British games are a little more laid back and not as rough as what American sports are. I also decided that the main sports here in the UK are football (soccer), tennis, and cricket. In the US its football, basketball, and nascar. The two may have different sports they follow but the US and the UK seem to both have loyal fans and players. In any country sports are always going to be a hot topic.
Through talking with the locals I have concluded that British games are a little more laid back and not as rough as what American sports are. I also decided that the main sports here in the UK are football (soccer), tennis, and cricket. In the US its football, basketball, and nascar. The two may have different sports they follow but the US and the UK seem to both have loyal fans and players. In any country sports are always going to be a hot topic.
Lauren Lyons
I interviewed two men that live here in London about the games here in Britain. The first guy that I talked to said that his favorite sport is Cricket. I have heard of Cricket before but have never seen it played and did not know how to play it. The other guy that I interviewed said that his favorite sport is football (soccer). I asked them some questions about American sports. I asked if they knew about baseball, and they started laughing, so I guess they didn’t like baseball. I went on to tell them that baseball is my favorite sport and that I like the Chicago Cubs. They didn’t know about them. I then asked them if they liked basketball, and the guy that liked football here in Britain, likes basketball, he said that his favorite team is the Chicago Bulls. I found this interesting. I really enjoyed talking to them about their sports here, and I think that they enjoyed it too.
I decided to compare Cricket with the American sport baseball. Cricket is a game that consists of two teams of eleven. Baseball is a game that consists of two teams of nine. Cricket uses an oval field to play on. Baseball uses a diamond shaped field. Cricket is a bat and ball game and so is baseball. Cricket uses the same terms in their game like baseball does. Cricket also plays in innings like baseball. Cricket also uses a in field and an outfield, and so does baseball. The two sports are played different but they use a lot of the same terms, a ball, and a bat to play the game. I also found it interesting that baseball started here in England, and I always thought that it started in America.
I decided to compare Cricket with the American sport baseball. Cricket is a game that consists of two teams of eleven. Baseball is a game that consists of two teams of nine. Cricket uses an oval field to play on. Baseball uses a diamond shaped field. Cricket is a bat and ball game and so is baseball. Cricket uses the same terms in their game like baseball does. Cricket also plays in innings like baseball. Cricket also uses a in field and an outfield, and so does baseball. The two sports are played different but they use a lot of the same terms, a ball, and a bat to play the game. I also found it interesting that baseball started here in England, and I always thought that it started in America.
Terrance Lewis
Natalie and I were getting on the train to go look at the Children’s Museum earlier this week and we happen to come across this UK man named Sam. He was born and raised right here in London and loved to see people form the States. He thought that our accent was way cooler than his British accent. He explained that his favorite sport was basketball even though he really doesn’t watch it as much as he would like too. He felt like our sports were a lot more competitive than here in the United Kingdom. He also thought that our celebrities, such as Kobe Bryant, are what make our basketball so much popular than here in his country.
Difference between United States basketball and United Kingdom basketball is that Untied States basketball has a bigger market than the United Kingdom does. Basketball also happens to be more popular with the fans then it is in the United Kingdom. A lot of children picture gong to NBA rather than playing in the Euro league but the Euro league is much easier to enter then in the NBA is. They also have a few rules that differ from each other such as their shot clock is a little longer than the NBA’s is and the Euro league’s playoffs are not as long as the NBA’s playoffs are.
Difference between United States basketball and United Kingdom basketball is that Untied States basketball has a bigger market than the United Kingdom does. Basketball also happens to be more popular with the fans then it is in the United Kingdom. A lot of children picture gong to NBA rather than playing in the Euro league but the Euro league is much easier to enter then in the NBA is. They also have a few rules that differ from each other such as their shot clock is a little longer than the NBA’s is and the Euro league’s playoffs are not as long as the NBA’s playoffs are.
Sandy Navarro
A typical sport that is very common to play in the UK is football (soccer). Throughout my weekend I decided to go to the Nike Town and interview someone about the most popular sport they thought it was. A worker named Chris was very generous to answer my questions and provide me with information about the sport. He said that the number one sport in the UK is football, then rugby, and then third place would be tennis or cricket. After his answer I realized that soccer is popular in the US, but not as popular as American football or basketball.
A very popular team that is known all over the world is Manchester United. The team is one of England’s strongest contenders to bring the champions League home (Goal.com, 2011). With great players, the team has been successful in the majority of their games. In the US, Manchester United is also very known and popular, but the majority of the population loves to watch American football. A team that is very well known is the Dallas Cowboys. They are ranked in the top 10 position (NFL, 2011). Soccer is played with two teams and each team consists of 11 players and while they are playing, the goal keeper is the only one allowed to touch the ball. Football is also played with two teams and each team consists of 11 players. The goal in football is to get the ball as close as it can possibly get into the opposing teams end zone to score. The goal in soccer is to get the ball as close as is can get into the opposing teams zone and kick to score a goal. Football and soccer are two popular sports that are known around the world and are also being played around the world. Between these two sports I would say that football (soccer) is my favorite.
References
Goal.com score to live, 2011. Manchester United. Retrieved from
http://www.goal.com/en/teams/england/97/man-utd-news/profile.
NFL, 2011. Dallas Cowboys. Retrieved from http://www.nfl.com/
A very popular team that is known all over the world is Manchester United. The team is one of England’s strongest contenders to bring the champions League home (Goal.com, 2011). With great players, the team has been successful in the majority of their games. In the US, Manchester United is also very known and popular, but the majority of the population loves to watch American football. A team that is very well known is the Dallas Cowboys. They are ranked in the top 10 position (NFL, 2011). Soccer is played with two teams and each team consists of 11 players and while they are playing, the goal keeper is the only one allowed to touch the ball. Football is also played with two teams and each team consists of 11 players. The goal in football is to get the ball as close as it can possibly get into the opposing teams end zone to score. The goal in soccer is to get the ball as close as is can get into the opposing teams zone and kick to score a goal. Football and soccer are two popular sports that are known around the world and are also being played around the world. Between these two sports I would say that football (soccer) is my favorite.
References
Goal.com score to live, 2011. Manchester United. Retrieved from
http://www.goal.com/en/teams/england/97/man-utd-news/profile.
NFL, 2011. Dallas Cowboys. Retrieved from http://www.nfl.com/
Karen Montero
According to Stayen, an individual whom I interviewed stated that football (soccer) is the most popular sport played in the United Kingdom, followed by cricket and rugby. Stayen plays for the Chelsea Football Club which is an English football club based in West London. This club is a premier league that have received many trophy’s and it is said to become an integral part of sporting life in England’s capital city with famous players and a large, often full stadium (chelseafc.com, 2011). The stadium, Stamford Bridge is located on Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS and is easily accessible by tube or bus from the center of the city. Personally, I would agree with Stayen that their popular sport is football because in most of the sports stores that I have been in most of their items are football based.
In the U.S. there are many popular sports; American football, nascar, basketball, and soccer, but the main one that locals seem to appreciate more is American football. This sport is more or less compared to rugby the reason being, modern American football has its roots in rugby, which was a game developed in England (livestrong.com, 2011). The NFL has become a nationally popular sport with enormous television success. People enjoy watching football games on Sunday’s or whichever day it may be especially the super bowl fans go insane with this program. There are many advertisements placed everywhere that promote food, beverages and items regarding the super bowl.
Football and American football are not similar at all. For one football consists of kicking the ball and scoring goals, while American football, throwing the ball and scoring touchdowns is their play. These two sports did not derive from the same roots either even though they are both called football they have different meanings.
In the U.S. there are many popular sports; American football, nascar, basketball, and soccer, but the main one that locals seem to appreciate more is American football. This sport is more or less compared to rugby the reason being, modern American football has its roots in rugby, which was a game developed in England (livestrong.com, 2011). The NFL has become a nationally popular sport with enormous television success. People enjoy watching football games on Sunday’s or whichever day it may be especially the super bowl fans go insane with this program. There are many advertisements placed everywhere that promote food, beverages and items regarding the super bowl.
Football and American football are not similar at all. For one football consists of kicking the ball and scoring goals, while American football, throwing the ball and scoring touchdowns is their play. These two sports did not derive from the same roots either even though they are both called football they have different meanings.
Bruce Morgan
I interviewed Andrew; a security guard here at Kings who was willing to be interviewed
but didn’t want his picture taken.
In football you move the ball down field, pass defenders and into the goalies net. There
are two 45 minute halves with a 15 minute break between. Football teams have 25 players but 18
are allowed to participate on game days. Others can come but not play. Eleven players on the
field, usually in 4-4-2-1 formation but managers can place their players how they chose. Only 2
substitutions are allowed during a game and these usually take place in second half. If more than
two players are injured then the team must play with fewer players on the field. Fields are called
pitches. Top players make 180,000 pounds a week and ticket prices are no less than 60 pounds
which has priced poorer, more dedicated people out of attending games. Most football teams are
not owned locally but by rich investors from U.S. and Saudi Arabia. You become interested in
football at a young age. Usually a hereditary custom passed down from fathers to sons. Team
support is based on the area where you’re born. Fan support is cliquish in nature and if you
weren’t a football fan you would be out of popular circles in school and neighborhoods.
Divisions are called claps and there are 20 teams in each. Top and bottom 3 teams in these claps
drop and rise depending on their year-end success rates. Teams play twice each time and the
scores are combined. If a team wins the first game 4 to 2 but loses next game 1 to 2 the final
score is 2 to 0.
but didn’t want his picture taken.
In football you move the ball down field, pass defenders and into the goalies net. There
are two 45 minute halves with a 15 minute break between. Football teams have 25 players but 18
are allowed to participate on game days. Others can come but not play. Eleven players on the
field, usually in 4-4-2-1 formation but managers can place their players how they chose. Only 2
substitutions are allowed during a game and these usually take place in second half. If more than
two players are injured then the team must play with fewer players on the field. Fields are called
pitches. Top players make 180,000 pounds a week and ticket prices are no less than 60 pounds
which has priced poorer, more dedicated people out of attending games. Most football teams are
not owned locally but by rich investors from U.S. and Saudi Arabia. You become interested in
football at a young age. Usually a hereditary custom passed down from fathers to sons. Team
support is based on the area where you’re born. Fan support is cliquish in nature and if you
weren’t a football fan you would be out of popular circles in school and neighborhoods.
Divisions are called claps and there are 20 teams in each. Top and bottom 3 teams in these claps
drop and rise depending on their year-end success rates. Teams play twice each time and the
scores are combined. If a team wins the first game 4 to 2 but loses next game 1 to 2 the final
score is 2 to 0.