British Expatriate Network

Just been watching a CBC program about Hockey and American Football players, playing on even when in pain ( after a collision on field)

A comment was made regarding how Soccer players roll and writhe around after a trip.

Are some Soccer players Wimps and is it Un-American to show you are hurt?

I think some football players are indeed wimps - but it's mostly gamesnamship when they're rolling on the floor. When there's a lot at stake you'll see football players playing on through injuries.

Also, the type of injuries you generally get in football differ from those in hockey/American football. I say generally because there are always exceptions, but in football, most injuries are to the legs and if you've ever played football you'll know that it's really hard to be effective if you have an injured leg. However, typical hockey/American football injuries occur in the upper body and because of increased upper body strength in these sports it can be less ineffective to continue playing when injured.

Take an American football player, strip him of his pads and put a rugby ball in his hands. Then see how tough he is.

It would look silly for the hockey players to writhe around in pain on the ice when just a few minutes earlier, they were exchanging punches with opponents which seem to be sanctioned by the referees.

I'm glad that football's governing bodies come down heavily on anyone who punches another player or official.

_________________
Footballitis is spreading

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by pilgrim_007 on 2002-06-18 1313 ]</font>

I was watching a fight the other night and a hockey match broke out . :lol:

Pads baby pads !!!

Only Basketball doesn't have pads and that is supposedly non-contact, although actually tends to be somewhat physical. However there are never really any 'tackles' as such, so major field-incurred injuries are limited.

I think that the soccer players are undoubtedly the fittest and best ahtletes...and in some cases, especially those cases originating in Argentina, Italy and Spain.... the wimpiest !!!

Well said Tony!

I wonder if American football, hockey, baseball or basketball players could run continuously for forty five minutes, take a short break and then do it again! And lets not forget the extra thirty minutes in some games!

Also, this week I've seen football players sporting severe cuts, temporarily bandaged, and I believe just last night a player carried on, having had his nose broken during the game!
No they are not whimps! roll

Some players reportedly cover around six miles during a 90 minute game!

I once played an entire 45 minute half in goal with a broken wrist and didn't let any in. My team were pleased but everyone else thought I was really stupid smile Didn't realise it had been broken. roll

a good example of a player playing through injury recently is Steve Yzerman who plays for the Detroit Red Wings.He played part of the play offs with a broken fibula.The club even lied about his injury!! In hockey as in american football the players wear quite a lot of padding.
in football though there are the various south american players and europeans who deliberately embellish their injuries, and as a consequence it gives the more honest players a bad name for it.The usual trademarks are-
the scream
the roll
and the hand up in the air
After a quick drink and a magic sponge the player goes to the sideline as fit as a fiddle ready to continue.
In games like rugby if a player complains of injury he's really hurt!!
I always think of Terry Butcher with all that blood all over his England shirt and with that big bandage around his head.Images of football players like that are lost to players like Rivaldo who roll on the ground and get others sent off.
Did anyone else think that the way the FIFA disciplinary committee handled the punishment of Rivaldo for the Turkish player incident was completely wrong? Here's a millionaire professional player who gets another sent off and admits to guilt and what do they do ? They fine him!! and the turkish player apparently never got his card revoked? When I see incidents like that I can see how football can get a bad name.