Well…it’s Football Season. High School, College, NFL, and even the XFL is set to make a comeback next year. Not to mention Pee Wee Football and Flag Football. But is it just me that has noticed that there is more than one sport that claims the name “Football”? I have often clicked on the name football when using my tv guide only to find I’m watching Soccer or even Rugby.
And after an Internet Search, I find from Wikipedia that there is even a Gaelic football. And the first legal reference to football was 1308 in Ireland where a spectator was charged with accidentally stabbing a player. Sounds like a pretty rough game huh?
Growing up in America I of course always associate football with what is American football in all its many forms. But to be honest the name football maybe should apply to the sports that actually do more with a ball and a foot than our American versions. I mean American Football only has the foot involved in punting and kicking. And even that part of the game has seemed to grow less and less.
So what do you think we should call American Football? Any ideas about how we can describe our version of football that would not get it confused with the many other sports also called football? I know this is not a life or death issue. But it certainly bugs me. What about you? Is it Football or Football?