But if a side dropped out Newland they’d get shunted around.

Of course, this is the first time I've ever seen a penalty…

They could be a bit more creative though, stop so obviously copying another sport, and make it less embarrassing for forwards.

For extra time drop 8 players from each team and play a game of sevens.

@Naly,
If a team took off a prop first up they’d lose. After it got down to 10-a-side sure, but not straight away.

As above, but played solely by each team's cheerleaders.

Ridiculous! The Highlanders' cheerleaders are too drunk to stand, let alone play a match.

By 'remove' a player, would it be done by lucky draw or what? Because what's to stop a team faking an injury to a prop or something…

Or golden point period where only a try counts (ie no poxy drop-goals) and 1 man is removed from each team every 7mins.

As above, but played solely by each team's cheerleaders.

Lastly: dumbest idea ever. Take something quintessentially American and instead play it in England.

Cough... Cough... COUGH

But nowhere near as gladiatorial.

A set of attempted pushover tries from 5 metres out etc..

Or golden point period where only a try counts (ie no poxy drop-goals) and 1 man is removed from each team every 7mins.

Only in the UK would they let a tied game be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Wouldn't it have been less painful for all concerned to have just tossed a coin?

Except for the fact it was the English team that went through.

It might have been less painful, but…

"He should have retired". That ought to be the epitaph of every boxer.

Except Rocky! I can't get enough of that guy!

Wouldn't it have been less painful for all concerned to have just tossed a coin?

Anyway, London’s perfect. Spoilt for choice in the Aging Rock-star department for Half Time Entertainment.

Why do Man U play warm-up games in Asia every season?

Why wouldn't Man U ever play a cup final in Asia? It's one thing to play exhibition or pre-season matches in another market, but not…

But soccer is big in Asia

In recent years, yes. That’s not a coincidence either.

And you can’t expect TV update to grow in just 2 years. These things take time, and it’s not as if it’s a sport that will appeal instantly.

Basketball is a world sport. Has been for…

Why do Man U play warm-up games in Asia every season?

But soccer is big in Asia. There's big money for Man U to go play in Asia, and it suits Man U. to go there and raise their profile and sell craploads of red shit. Not the case with…

European basketball is pretty big (they even try to steal NBA players now) but the NBA didn't have to play games in Europe for that to happen.

Yeah, but basketball was big in Europe before the NBA reached its current popularity.

If you were wanting to grow your sport in…

So run the Air NZ Cup with a Ranfurly Shield knockout tournament (by the way I don't want to change the way the shield is won, this is just…

Why do Man U play warm-up games in Asia every season?

By staging games elsewhere you generate interest in that country and they’re more likely to watch not only the dislocated match, but other games too.

I don't think it follows. I'm fairly sure that TV viewership of the previous NFL matches played in the UK for the last two years…

Would have been vastly improved if the other team were allowed to scale the posts like Chinese circus performers…

But the TV interest for the superbowl is strongest in the US. Sure, it'll get watched in a bunch of places around the world. But why would you shift timezones away from your primary base? I don't see how TV benefits.

OK then, TV interest outside the US.

By staging…

I think the FA Cup is played strictly on sufference by the Premier League clubs

Not so sure – if you had said League Cup (or whatever it is called these days) I would agree with you.

I certainly agree about the element of chance – there wouldn't be many…

Besides, I think the FA Cup is played strictly on sufference by the Premier League clubs, and often by a 'B'…

Video of the shoot-out

"I don't know how long we've been doing this but I've been carrying around a penalty shootout card in my jacket, and here it is"

Most of the teams would spend 3 or 4 of those weeks sitting on their butts having been knocked out.

Not at all. Because like the Champions League (and the Heineken Cup) you run it simultaneously with other tournaments.

So run the Air NZ Cup with a Ranfurly Shield knockout…

I have often wondered why the NZRFU hasn't made the Ranfurly Shield a knockout competition.

Because you'd have a premiere rugby competition start with 32 teams = 16 games.

Then next week 8 games. Then 4, 2, 1.

It'd be a 5 week competition that teams would have to prepare…

TV interest.

But the TV interest for the superbowl is strongest in the US. Sure, it'll get watched in a bunch of places around the world. But why would you shift timezones away from your primary base? I don't see how TV benefits.

Doesn't matter where it's played, it'll still…

in a knock-out style tournament.

Definitely.

The FA Cup must be one of the most watched sporting competitions in the world (no research on my part, just a guess) – and it's a knockout competition.

I have often wondered why the NZRFU hasn't made the Ranfurly Shield a knockout competition.…

]]> Mon, 04 May 2009 12:22:43 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/field-theory-must-be-some-guy-that-lester/?p=106836#post106836 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/field-theory-must-be-some-guy-that-lester/?p=106836#post106836

Also raises the question of "what's the benefit?" It's not like there's an American football league over there you're going to help grow. They have some stadiums in America that can hold the game.

TV interest.

Remember who pays for sport.

Take something quintessentially American and instead play it in England.

Also raises the question of "what's the benefit?" It's not like there's an American football league over there you're going to help grow. They have some stadiums in America that can hold the game.

The great white hope...

There's a phrase that has lost some of its kudos in the past decade.