Is the NHL More Physical Than the NFL?
NFL, NHL March 31st. 2009, 5:45pm
A blogger postulates as much. His defense centers around the No Fun League enacting rules to protect players: WRs, kickers, and especially QBs. The NHL scoffs at rules and does little (or nothing) to prevent fighting.
This year, the NHL debated on whether or not it should make it illegal for players to target one another’s heads when checking them. Fearing concussions of the players, the league considered cracking down on headhunters in the NHL…and decided AGAINST it.
An interesting point, but we’ll disagree. While the NFL attempts to protect players – not just now, but so they can walk when they’re 50 – there’s really no comparison. When you’ve got 300-pound lineman colliding on every play, and freakish defensive athletes acting like missiles toward unsuspecting QBs or WRs, it’s not even close. There’s probably a reason you see hockey players in their 40s; meanwhile, outside of a couple positions, NFL players bodies begin to break down much earlier.
Somebody Needs To Say It: The NHL Is More Physical Than The NFL. (60 Feet, 6 Inches via Puck Daddy)
267 Responses to “Is the NHL More Physical Than the NFL?”
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March 31st, 2009 at 5:48 pm
The NFL has more contact in a few plays than an entire NHL game.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Who cares, they’re the only two pro sports where you actually get to hit each other (save boxing and MMA, I guess) repeatedly. That alone makes them awesome.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:54 pm
when a hockey player who weighs 320 pounds but moves like a dude who weighs 100lbs less hits someone then the rules will come.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:58 pm
how often are hockey players out for the year?
March 31st, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Scott Stevens thinks the NFL is for pussies.
When someone tells Tony Romo they’d fight him if he didn’t have a facemask on, and then he tells the equipment manager to take off the facemask when he goes back on the field, call me.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:59 pm
With turf toe and broken fingers, not very often.
Sidney Crosby played the last three months of his second season with a broken foot and won the MVP and scoring race.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
agree w/ bsanders on this one. Hockey is a great sport. Wish it was more popular in the US.
Check out these hits, if you like…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI-jrlaJTgQ&NR=1
March 31st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
i liked that
March 31st, 2009 at 6:02 pm
there may be another post tonight. depends on the halftime score of the UConn-Oklahoma women’s game. Courtney paris-related, obviously. Would love for Conn to go down, obviously.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Again, you seriously lack understanding of hockey. Allowing fighting prevents more cheapshots from happening. By allowing fighting, the NHL is keeping the league safer. And turning people like Chris Pronger into extinct breeds.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:03 pm
how often are hockey players out for the year?
You don’t get a lot of knee injuries (ACL tear type) in hockey
you’ll see an NHL guy get cut on the face and lose three teeth. He’ll go to the bench, get 30 stitches ON THE BENCH, and go back out.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:04 pm
A best hits video starts and stops with this, the best of Scott Stevens. The Devils can kiss my ass, but that man was the best hitter to ever play a sport. And he was clean, five elbowing penalties in his entire career.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:05 pm
quite possiby the dumbest movie i’ve spent more than 10 minutes watching this week:
“Moving McAllister”
saw that Mila Kunis was in it, so im giving it a chance … but wow is this bad.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:06 pm
there may be another post tonight. depends on the halftime score of the PURDUE-Oklahoma women’s game
/Dangerfield’d
March 31st, 2009 at 6:06 pm
never heard of it
March 31st, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Lets put it this way, the NFL may have more collisions overall, and sure there are a bunch of crippled old dudes (granted most 300+ pound people in their fifties aren’t the portrait of health). But you can get by in the NFL being a pussy. See: Kickers. See: Vince Young. See: Eli Manning. But in hockey you have to have your head on a swivel at all times and every guy out there is tough as shit. Except Gretzky, that mother fucker was softer than a liqour shit.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Ronnie Lott had his pinky amputated during a game so that he could keep playing.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Nobody, in any sport, gets hit harder than quarterbacks. You cannot play quarterback if you’re a pussy.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:11 pm
So, does this count as a hockey post? More hockey, less soccer. I respect hockey and hockey players’ toughness, I just think NFL players – save QB’s, kickers and punters – take a lot more pouding, in general.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Yes. Yes. And Yes.
Matter of fact, I will advance it a step farther by suggesting that hockey players are the best athletes in all sports.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:12 pm
$64,000 question?
March 31st, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hockey players are definitely tougher. However, it comes at the expense of also being gayer.
So not sure if the trade off is worth it.
/nttawwt
March 31st, 2009 at 6:15 pm
wrong.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Well put, mrejr.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Hey Cassino…Eli Manning has taken some of the hardest hits I’ve ever seen a QB take and has gotten right back up. Lots of you might think the guy is a pussy, pansy, wuss, what have you, but the fucker is not only a Super Bowl MVP, but is tough as nails, and if Favre stays retired, he’ll be second behind his bro in most consecutive starts at QB.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I agree with everything Moleman says. The NHL allows hitting and fighting and in most cases you have one day fo rest and have to do it again.
Ask a defenseman how he likes the newish rules where you can’t interfere with anyone and forwards have free runs at them when they’re trying to dig out a puck in the corner. Some D-men get hit drilled 8-10 times a night. For 6 months.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Ronnie Lott had his pinky amputated during a game so that he could keep playing
Yeah, and Jack Youngblood gives 300 interviews every Super Bowl week so he could talk about playing on his broken leg.
Bob Baun scored the Stanley Cup winning goal for the Maple Leafs in 1964 playing defense on a broken leg, and nobody even knows
March 31st, 2009 at 6:19 pm
ok, mrejr…who?
March 31st, 2009 at 6:21 pm
you’ll see an NHL guy get cut on the face and lose three teeth. He’ll go to the bench, get 30 stitches ON THE BENCH, and go back out.
Ronnie Lott had his pinky amputated during a game so that he could keep playing.
And Bobby Baun scored the winning goal in overtime of Game 6 the 1964 Stanley Cup on a shattered ankle.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
It’s not the NFL’s fault the NHL has a shitty publicist.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
As a hockey fan, I won’t even say they are the best athletes, as I have shared MANY a post game beer or five with them after a game, and then they play the next night.
I WILL say, they are the toughest, and, by far, the nicest athletes of any professional sport.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Bob Baun scored the Stanley Cup winning goal for the Maple Leafs in 1964 playing defense on a broken leg, and nobody even knows
You beat me by 3 min JPQ. Thought I was going to be the first to mention Bobby Baun.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I’d buy this argument if you were saying they’re the toughest, but in terms of athleticism, I’d at least put football and basketball players ahead of hockey.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:23 pm
basketball players, football players, hockey players, baseball players
and it has been said that hitting a fastball at the major league level is the hardest thing to do in all of sports. so i could even see moving baseball players up ahead of hockey players. just my opinion.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Mrejr let me answer this for you. Its sad but Soccer players are the best athletes in all sports. All that goddamn running and bicycle kicks.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:24 pm
In baseball pitching is athletic, and playing up the middle defense is athletic, the end.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Obviously someone knew. I would say the amount of people who know about Youngblood to the amount of people who know about Baun, is in proportion to the amount of people following the relative sports.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:25 pm
You beat me by 3 min JPQ. Thought I was going to be the first to mention Bobby Baun.
@ms621: You and I are
March 31st, 2009 at 6:26 pm
That’s the funniest shit I’ve heard in a while. I mean, who ever said strength or explosiveness were athletic traits?
March 31st, 2009 at 6:26 pm
best athletes:
- soccer (no timeouts, constant running for 90 mins)
- basketball
- football
- hockey
- mlb
i’d say there isn’t a massive difference between 3-4
March 31st, 2009 at 6:28 pm
there was a safety in the nfl who intercepted two passes in a game with 2 broken hands
March 31st, 2009 at 6:29 pm
soccer (no timeouts, constant running for 90 mins)
You’re forgetting about the orange slices and Juicy Juice!!!!!!!!
March 31st, 2009 at 6:30 pm
You guys who think soccer players are the best athletes are on Duffy pills. No fucking way.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
being able to run forever does not a good athlete make.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
ESPN: Calipari accepted Kentucky offer
March 31st, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Put it this way — Nnamdi Asomugha could train his ass off and in a few months be conditioned well enough to run around like a queer for 90 straight minutes and kick around a soccer ball and not get totally embarrassed.
Which soccer play, I ask you, could train for a few months and learn how to play cornerback and not get abused?
March 31st, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Preface: I don’t watch hockey, don’t want to, don’t care.
That said, you guys aren’t giving these guys enough credit for the size of the rink, the sprints, the line changes, the physicality, etc. It’s a sport of quick bursts and contact (similar to football, lacrosse) and endurance.
But I’ll stay out of it from here. Hockey sucks.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:33 pm
@ms621: You and I are I’m not actually old enough to have seen that game (not even close), but I read about it when I was younger and thought it was about the most badass thing I ever heard.
bsanders, you try running around constantly for 90 min next chance you get. It’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s a different kind of pain from hockey or football just like getting hit in the ribs with a fastball is different from getting swiped across the head by a defender on a breakaway in basketball.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:33 pm
@Mike – lol
March 31st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I dunno…the season, for 16 of the NHL playoff teams lasts from October through the third week in April (the longest of any major pro sport season); the last two teams standing play into June. 82 games with hitting, skating, and the like; when a player plays 20 minutes, he actually PLAYS 20 minutes, as opposed to all the standing around in an NFL game. Basketball players do not absorb the physical punishment that NHL or NFL players do, and soccer is NOT 90 minutes of constant running.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Best athletes period.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:35 pm
those soccer players arent running around contantly they stop every time the ball is kicked out of bound every penalty kick they do get breaks.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Were not talking about who is the best at exercising TBL. We are talking real sports.
/Kenny Powers’d
March 31st, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Put it this way — Nnamdi Asomugha could train his ass off and in a few months be conditioned well enough to run around like a queer for 90 straight minutes and kick around a soccer ball and not get totally embarrassed.
Mike, I usually respect what you have to say even if I don’t agree with it, but that’s retarded. Defending in soccer requires a similar amount of body and hip control as being a DB in football does.
You can’t train a marathoner to do what Maradona did to defenders either: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hHhaHSaTlQ
March 31st, 2009 at 6:37 pm
its two 45 minute halfs plus a few minutes stoppage time with a lot of standing around.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
It’s a shitty commissioner, thankyouverymuch!
March 31st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Saying soccer is just 90 minutes running around is the same as saying basketball is just a bunch of guys throwing a ball at a hoop.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I played soccer when I was younger and was a mid-sprinter and football player in college. The latter two were MUCH harder than the first. I never said playing soccer was easy, but their players are not on the same level as NBA or NFL players.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:39 pm
You can’t train a marathoner to do what Maradona did to defenders either:
I think maradona did a lot more of this
March 31st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Best athletes imo, boxers. Most of those guys are freaks of nature. Pure muscle, strength, agility, speed, reflexes, balls.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I’m sorry but a 360 lb offensive lineman doesn’t strike me as a great or even good athlete in comparison to the other major sports. Now, the skill positions plus most of the defensive side of the ball? Totally different conversation.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I played soccer when I was younger and was a mid-sprinter and football player in college. The latter two were MUCH harder than the first. I never said playing soccer was easy, but their players are not on the same level as NBA or NFL players.
Not to nitpick, but I don’t think comparing playing soccer in grade school when 20 of the 22 players on the field chase the ball around is an apt comparison to playing either of those sports you mentioned in college.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
A lot?
/don’t know any names, though’d
March 31st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Soccer players are by far the best athletes. There is a reason they make the most $. You need to realize that you are judging it based on watching maybe 20 minutes of MLS, which is about the 50th best league in the world.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
ok you put the toughest guy from each sport nfl,nba,nhl,mlb in a room. which one comes out alive?
i say nfl..their strenght will over some the nba reach advantage.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Wasn’t second grade, but way to not nitpick. Although now that I think about it, I might agree with Mole that boxers are the best athletes.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
FUCKING CAL!! Bastard.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
This has turned into my worst nightmare.
A soccer post.
/turns and runs away
March 31st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
And that would be because it is the biggest sport worldwide. Not because they are the best athletes
March 31st, 2009 at 6:44 pm
i would have said soccer but we all know they would be beaten and raped and killed in the first 10 minutes.
/soccer players are pussies
March 31st, 2009 at 6:44 pm
It’s because they play the most popular sport.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:44 pm
So that makes Tiger the best athlete in the world?
March 31st, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Lebron
March 31st, 2009 at 6:45 pm
It’s even funnier when you consider what the headline of the post is. Which is more physical?
March 31st, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Wasn’t second grade, but way to not nitpick. Although now that I think about it, I might agree with Mole that boxers are the best athletes.
Mea culpa, I did nitpick a little.
I’m not saying soccer players are the best athletes in the world. I’m not saying football or hockey players are either. I can see the argument for boxers and sprinters and distance runners and cyclists all being great athletes. Merely noting that soccer is a bit more than “running around for 90 minutes” and even if it were that, it would be akin to marathon running which I think we can all agree, requires a decent degree of athleticism.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I would love to see one of these guys run a post pattern with Randy Moss on one play, and then come up and make a tackle on Adrian Peterson on the next.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
You are aware Moss is not a Viking anymore right?
March 31st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
“Best athletes” is a fun but difficult debate. Each sport has a highly specialized skill set that may (or often may not) translate to success in another sport. And some sports are specialized even more by position (baseball and football, especially). First, we need a common definition on athletic attributes. An argument could be made that distance runners are the best athletes. World-class marathoners run sub 5-minute miles for 26 miles. That’s 12 m.p.h for over 2 hours.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:49 pm
You just said “not embarrass themselves.” Deion was allergic to tackling too. I don’t think anyone said he was out there embarrassing himself.
And I would add that the CB you cited may not embarrass himself in our eyes, because we (at least I) know nothing about soccer. He may actually embarrass himself in the eyes of a soccer fan.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Bruce Jenner. Dan O’Brien.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Taking it a little too literally YYSA, right?
March 31st, 2009 at 6:52 pm
All while remembering that they can use their hands. Yikes.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
bo jackson. was the best athlete of all time…dominated two sports until he got hurt. just a freak.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I was just giving you a hard time Mike,
/Soccer is for pussies
/USA! USA!
March 31st, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Carl Lewis.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:59 pm
jim thorpe
March 31st, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Were you guys trying to insult soccer when you mentioned it was the most popular sport in the world? I dont think you are helping your argument.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Maybe you weren’t following the argument.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Boxing and wrestling are for kids not coordinated enough to play a real sport. Same goes for Swimming, Biking, etc.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Considering no one in impoverished nations can afford cleats, bats, helmets, pads, or 10-foot rims, I don’t think it’s shocking that soccer’s the world’s most popular sport. It helps when you can play barefoot and all you need is a ball.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
What about Water Polo? Supposedly the best.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I didn’t realize boxing doesn’t require good coordination.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
i disagree. watch roy jones jr in his prime and tell me he isnt atletic. and to be able to wrestle takes strength.agility and endurance.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Who is the best soccer player in the world playing today?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:12 pm
david beckham duh!
/espn’d
March 31st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Freddy Adu?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
well done bsanders. No one can afford “10 foot rims”, that is priceless. Can they afford a regulation size soccer goal?
So your argument is that poor people can not afford to play basketball.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:22 pm
true?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:23 pm
You can kick a ball through any two targets. I cannot believe that you actually think it’s the same.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Can’t they just put two sticks down on the ground? Besides, don’t you need a hard surface on which to dribble a basketball? Or can you just pound it on the dirt? Wait, wait…I’ve seen The Air Up There, I stand corrected.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:26 pm
yeah the dirt poor countries have waaaaaaaayyyy more basketball hoops and courts than soccer fields and something as easy as a goal to make. good point
March 31st, 2009 at 7:27 pm
No hard surfaces in poor areas either? I am learning a lot today.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I’m no soccer aficionado, but I think it’s generally said to be Lionel Messi. It changes all the time though. I remember two years ago everyone was calling Kaka the best player in the world.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Using this criteria, what sport should b the most popular? Handball?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:28 pm
anyone listen to Simmons’ podcast with the ombudsman?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I concede, I’m wrong, whatever it takes to steer the conversation away from soccer.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:30 pm
not yet sponge i bet that will be interesting. she will be able to slam espn as much as she wants sweet.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I heard his podcast with John Walsh, his boss. The guy kind of reminded me of Scorpio from The Simpsons.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
yea its pretty good. Its two parts, the 2nd one is where they talk about espn.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:35 pm
That guy sounded like the most boring guy alive, a.k.a. every old journalism professor/metro editor I’ve ever been around.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Not even sure I will give you credit for being wrong. A stance based on poor people lacking the ability to play basketball is really quite astonishing. I commend you for trying though.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Whoa whoa whoa. There is NO FUCKING WAY basketball players are more athletic than football or hockey players. NO. WAY. Have any of you dipshits ever tried to skate at full speed then immediately skate change direction and skate backwards?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
i enjoyed listening to him walk around the Erin Andrews/sexuality question. He did not want to be anywhere near that thing.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
He kind of had a maniacal laugh. That’s probably
March 31st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I heard his podcast with John Walsh, his boss.
Guy should just stick to being America’s top crime-fighter
March 31st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Random italics. That was weird.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:37 pm
no but i used to have to run 5 yard interval suicides during training camp.
/fuck suicides
March 31st, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Your soccer fan fingers drip condensation across your keyboard. Way to live up to the stereotype.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
The picture on the front page of ESPN.com right now should be used to promote the Special Olympics.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
ladders were worse.
Same with the fucking Auburn drill.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Of course not. We’re not gay.
/stoking the fire’d
March 31st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Are sane people supposed to understand what that meant bsanders? Can you translate for us non-psycopaths?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:43 pm
every hockey shift if basically like running suicides.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Whats an auburn drill? Google failed to tell me in less than 10 seconds.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Michael Schumacher was the best athlete ever. Case closed.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:46 pm
anybody else mention bill simmons and the ombudsman talking about the big lead on the latest podcast?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:46 pm
does this mean figure skaters are better athletes than basketball players?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:46 pm
auburn drill? would that be a Green Bay?
10-100s, 9-90s 8-80s and so on?
March 31st, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Race car driving is not a sport. Try again clown.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:48 pm
If you’re going to call people out, maybe try to keep up.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:49 pm
hockey is definitely a sport to be in shape in, its not as hard on your body in general, which is why mark messier, scott stevens, ron francis, and of course gordy howe can play into their 40s. that rarely happens in other sports nowadays.
/nowadays is a word!
March 31st, 2009 at 7:49 pm
ha! +1
March 31st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
We just called those fourth quarter drills. Not very creative.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Figure skaters don’t ever skate at full speed, dumb fuck.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Ruckmaker I am playing above the rim right now. You think I didnt know that he was “trying” (poorly) to be funny? How old are you? Ten minutes til bed time.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:53 pm
no but they got land some pretty crazy shit and they gotta spin like crazy and carry chicks while they are skating and throw chicks also.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:54 pm
just saw it on Fox news, Cal is going to Kentucky, 5 mil a year.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Something like that sparty, only it was 16 in 60, 8 in 30, 4 in 15 on the basketball court. 55, 25, and 12 for the guards. You miss, you do it again. I also hated the Indian run during preseason soccer…the team jogs around the field, and the back person has to sprint to the front continuously (if more than 15 people were there, 2 had to sprint). 15 laps, 20 if the coach thought we were dogging it. In 90 degree, 60% humidity conditions…I envied the football pansies.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:58 pm
We did the Indian run as well, only a few times though because a couple linemen (me) passed out. I’d rather do 5 gassers than an Indian run.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:58 pm
You sound oddly like Paolo. Ridiculous rants, nonsensical insults, and highly contentious
March 31st, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Usually the group would slow down a little if the guy was struggling to get to the front though. Think overall they made running a little more enjoyable.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:59 pm
False.
/dated a figure skater once’d
March 31st, 2009 at 8:01 pm
We used to do those in track all the time. But you do realize that there are football players doing sprints in that 90 degree, 60% humidity wearing full pads, right? Heavy pads, that get even heavier when weighed down with sweat? Indian runs suck, but football players aren’t pansies doing triple sessions in the dog days of August.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:01 pm
God I hated the indian run. We had to do those for basketball and baseball. Fuck. For bball we also had to do a 23, then a 21, etc. and after every one someone would shoot a FT and if they missed we had to do it over.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
my favorite swim warmup was doing the order of events. that required us to get out of the pool and do a 1 1/2 off the diving board.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Bsanders, specifically, I envied the football pansies at my school. they didn’t do 3 a days, nor did they practice before 5pm during the preseason.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:08 pm
I wouldn’t call hockey players better athletes than any of the other sports. However, they are extremely skilled at their sport and other athletes could not ever just pick the game up and be good at it. Hockey players are also the toughest bastards in any sport. Injuries are the norm and guys just play through them, especially in the playoffs.
On a side, I’ve had many opportunities to throw back a few with a lot of Jacket players. Easily, EASILY, the coolest, most laid back athletes to hang with. As a whole, just plain cool guys that like beer, fishing, the outdoors, golf, and the ladies.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
So you’re saying it’s a league of Brett Favres?
March 31st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
[...] Is the NHL More Physical Than the NFL? – [TheBigLead] [...]
March 31st, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Ah, gotcha. Yeah, that is pretty pansy.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
On a side, I’ve had many opportunities to throw back a few with a lot of Jacket players. Easily, EASILY, the coolest, most laid back athletes to hang with. As a whole, just plain cool guys that like beer, fishing, the outdoors, golf, and the ladies.
@Wally: Mike Peca still play w/ you? I used to hang w/ him, Matt Barnaby (now on ESPN), Alex Mogilny & a ton of other Sabres back like 10 years ago. I have one story of his 21st birthday that I cannot tell here, but it is a classic
March 31st, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Akismet missed that one.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:26 pm
jpq -
Yep. Peca’s still here. I haven’t seen him out. I haven’t been out with a lot of the newer (last 2-3 years) guys. I’ve heard he’s a great guy though…
March 31st, 2009 at 8:31 pm
jpq -
Yep. Peca’s still here. I haven’t seen him out. I haven’t been out with a lot of the newer (last 2-3 years) guys. I’ve heard he’s a great guy though…
yeah, he’s an “old man” now-lol. I used to play golf w/ all those guys at the same club when I lived in Buffalo and they were all w/ the Sabres. Great guys. Hockey players are the best like you and I said. Give me an NHL guy over an NBA guy any day
March 31st, 2009 at 8:31 pm
wow. so soccer’s simple running around? interesting. no skill involved?
remember, NA of the Raiders goes hard for 5-15 seconds on a play … and then gets another 45-ish seconds before the next play happens. then, the offense will get the ball and he’s on the bench for anywhere between 5 mins and 15 minutes.
not downplaying football at all … think you’re just underplaying soccer.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:34 pm
/jpq
/fixed?
March 31st, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Give me a white guy over a black guy any day
/jpq
/fixed?
you got it, Nick. There are no black NFL players, so you nailed it
March 31st, 2009 at 8:39 pm
You said NBA.
There are 1% white guys in the NBA, of course…
March 31st, 2009 at 8:43 pm
You said NBA.
There are 1% white guys in the NBA, of course
The NBA is racist
March 31st, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Attica! Attica!
March 31st, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I don’t think any sport necessarily has more great athletes than another (maybe soccer by sheer number of players worldwide). Athletic ability is a inherited trait and some people are obviously more athletic than others. Those highly athletic people are spread across a wide range of sports worldwide. Every sport has great athletes who standout amongst their piers. You can only teach a person to do so much, the rest is natural ability.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Logic has no place in this conversation. Leave us at once!
March 31st, 2009 at 8:57 pm
beat me there wally
March 31st, 2009 at 8:57 pm
jpq -
Peca must have sensed our conversation. He just assisted on the go ahead goal for the Jackets… A win tonight and the Jackets are likely in the playoffs for the first time! This is a huge game…
March 31st, 2009 at 8:57 pm
nascar?
/southern white trash’d
March 31st, 2009 at 8:58 pm
What do you value more in your definition of an athlete- someone who is amazing at 1 or 2 sports but below average at other sports or someone who is very good at 4 or 5 sports.
Is the best player on the basketball team who cant hit a baseball, field a ground ball, or kick a ball past 10 feet a better athlete than someone who starts on the baseball, football, and basketball teams but not the best at any of them?
March 31st, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Logic has no place in this conversation. Leave us at once!
Sorry. It just took me 15mins to read all the comments on this thread, I had to throw 2cents in.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:00 pm
jpq -
Peca must have sensed our conversation
He’s playing well so I don’t tell some stories. He better have a hat trick or I might some fly-lol
March 31st, 2009 at 9:07 pm
/Hef’d
March 31st, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Cutler is officially on the block (again).
/broncos take Delhomme for Cutler straight up, please
March 31st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
wow, that was quick
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12040620
everyone get your guesses ready for tomorrow AM
March 31st, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Cavs beat Pistons but played like shit.
Lakers lose to Bobcats.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Let’s say you had to stand there without any pads and get nailed by one of the two:
1. NFL football player
2. NHL hockey player on skates, same size as the football player.
I’d take #2 every time unless I was suicidal. You just can’t hit someone anywhere near as hard on skates.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Cutler for Orton and a second round pick would be great
March 31st, 2009 at 9:29 pm
I will say this…McDaniels will be lucky to be coach next time this year.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I guess I’m suicidal. The hockey player is traveling twice the speed as the NFL player. If they are the same size, then it is a scientific fact that the NHL player will hit harder. There’s no question about it.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:33 pm
as a jets homer, i’ll maintain they should make a run at him. no QB going into this season. defense should be much improved.
there’s nothing more frustrating than having the defense carry the team … and the offense doing NOTHING in a loss.
i’d give up next year’s #1 for cutler. not this year’s, though.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:33 pm
if the lions could only give away one of their 1st rounders that would be my guess.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Cutler would go for more than just Orton and a second rounder. Cutler for Urlacher straight up would be much more plausible.
Apparently athletes enjoy standing out amongst the boating docks.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Tampa I wish I lived in your fantasy world.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Sounds like someone needs to look back in their freshman physics and re-learn force and kinetic energy….
March 31st, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I dunno, watching a team’s defense slowly gashed by a series of third-down, drive-extending conversions is pretty damn frustrating, too.
/Colts fan’d
March 31st, 2009 at 9:37 pm
fuck i would get rid of devin hester,2nd pick and orton for cutler easily.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Everytime this “most athletic” debate comes up, I pull this one up:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills
March 31st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Late to the party, but this is one of the most painful arguments I’ve ever seen. There is no right answer, it’s like a bunch of one handed retards having a clapping contest.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I would be elated if the Bears dumped Urlacher and a draft pick for Cutler.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:39 pm
oops… peers the right one? You’re always being a smart ass.
The better question in this Cutler debacle is, what will Brandon Marshal’s response be? No chance he is content with someone who can’t get him his touches. I’m not going to go out on a limb and predict Marshal gets arrested sometime before the season begins.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Speak for yourself
March 31st, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Cutlers not all that hes just better than Orton.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:40 pm
they wouldnt trade cutler for urlacher and a pick..maybe briggs and a 1st rd pick
March 31st, 2009 at 9:41 pm
i did hence the use of “i”.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Bowling is only 57th?
March 31st, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Wow. That’s shitty. I know he’s pissed, but to not even return a call to both the owner AND the new coach is a really fucked up thing to do.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Not the way I do it.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
They wouldn’t trade Urlacher because Jerry Angelo is a moron. Briggs is night and day better than Urlacher.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Insanity. THis makes no sense.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Why not this year’s one, TBL? Is it guaranteed the Jets will be 9-7 again with the addition of Cutler?
March 31st, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Lions are crazy to fuck this up.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:45 pm
The last one on that list is the most fun.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Dont you have to factor in the number of unathletic nerds that take up boxing. Dont they start taking boxing because they are sick of getting picked last for any real sports. The constant wedgies and getting their asses kicked probably pointed them down the boxing path as well.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Depends on what you’re fishing for, ill. And where you are.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:48 pm
i agree with you on both points but im saying the broncos wouldnt take urlacher(neck injuries or back injuries..whatever is wrong with him and declining stats)
March 31st, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Dont you have to factor in the number of unathletic nerds that take up boxing. Dont they start taking boxing because they are sick of getting picked last for any real sports. The constant wedgies and getting their asses kicked probably pointed them down the boxing path as well.
Fail. Try taking boxing lessons.
@Hawkeye – you and I will disagree on this: I know you’d prefer the mountain or freshwater fishing over my choice, ocean fishing.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:51 pm
ftw. And boxing is awesome.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:53 pm
ill – Never been ocean fishing, but heard it’s a blast. I was more talking about walleye, panfish or (ugh) ice fishing.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I love freshwater fishing. Well, I should probably say I like being out on the boat and occasionally casting.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:56 pm
i have only been fishing in ponds,lakes and streams but i would love to do ice fishing,ocean fishing,mountain and fresh water fishing(if fresh water fishing is fishing in ponds,lakes or strams excuse my ignorance). sounds like fun
March 31st, 2009 at 9:57 pm
@ill – surf fishing for puppy drums is my favorite.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Hawk – never been ice fishing. I’d like to give it a try though. I’m more familiar with yellow fins, sailfish, white marlin, etc.
And I guarantee anyone who shits on boxing hasn’t or couldn’t go one, three minute round of sparring.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:59 pm
is that what hush puppies are made of?
March 31st, 2009 at 10:01 pm
ice fishing usually involved sitting on a 5 gallon drum in the cold jigging a small bait with a very short rod. Drinking is usually involved. As is lots of clothing.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:01 pm
the best thing on ljs’s menu
March 31st, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Tallguy – you in NC? The only surf fishing I’ve done was off the Outer Banks.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Sad day for us Broncos fans.
Maybe hiring a fucking little kid for a coach wasn’t such a good idea. Fuck this is bullshit. We have become what we used to mock…the Raiders.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:04 pm
so nothing about Calipari offically coming here?…Nothing?!…
March 31st, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Maybe hiring a fucking little kid for a coach wasn’t such a good idea
Maybe drafting the pussy Will Leitch wannabe wasn’t such a good idea, either
March 31st, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Man, this Cupid is going to totally blow compared to the original. Or in general.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Ocracoke is my area of choice…or at least it was until they basically outlawed driving on the beach.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Thunder up 16 on the Spurs in the second half, and OU’s women surely will pull ahead of and beat Purdue.
/ Who needs men’s bball and BCS wins’d
March 31st, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I’m more interested in what Wall, Cousins and Henry are going to do now.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Hush puppies are made out of a cornmeal batter dropped into hot oil and fried until gold brown and delicious.
/jmorris
March 31st, 2009 at 10:10 pm
My vote goes to Rugby. It has the power and violence of football and hockey without the breaks and standing around. Substitutions are like soccer (if you’re subbed out, you can’t come back in), which emphasizes endurance and playing hurt. I think ESPN shortchanged the sport on that stupid list that someone linked to (behind gymnastics and baseball for power? Really?).
March 31st, 2009 at 10:10 pm
OU’s women surely will pull ahead of and beat Purdue.
Nope. Bubba’s gonna be writing that tuition check next year
March 31st, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Wall to Duke, Cousins to UK, Henry (and his bro) to KU. My guess(es)
And he’s right, there should be a story about a crooked coach going to an irrelevant program.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Tyreke Evans to enter the draft.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
shatner, i try to limit work to 6-6 … any more than that and i’ll kill myself, or my brain will be fried
but this cutler news bumped him out of the 9 am slot
March 31st, 2009 at 10:18 pm
As irrelevant as UNC during the Guthridge/Doherty days? That turned out okay.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:18 pm
bsanders strikes again.this show is horrible.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:19 pm
but this cutler news bumped him out of the 9 am slot
and if Kaka or Ronaldinho get caught having gay sex again, tyduffy is pushing the Calipari story past Ballin’ to the afternoon
/onion bag’d
March 31st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Or if they decide to go with a HOF class of 2017 debate, it might get pushed post-CRM’s roundup.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
+1,000 WAG’s
March 31st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Ziegler named closer for the A’s. Grab him in your fantasy leagues.
/already got him, fetch’d
March 31st, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Did Guthridge make a final four? Yes. Two in three seasons. So no I’d say more irrelevant. See you next time when you try to look like the smartest guy in the room.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I have no one to drop. Just dropped him in my other league for Gregg though. I’ll have to go pick him back up.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:24 pm
See you next time when you try to look like the smartest guy in the room.
MEOWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 31st, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Where did you see that Nick? It’s not on MLBTR.
/mikeyzone’d?
March 31st, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Okay, just Doherty then.
/doesn’t give a shit
March 31st, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Updates in my cbs sportsline league
March 31st, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Joey Devine is headed to see Doc Andrews.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Damnit. I shouldn’t need any help to win my other league but the MLJ league will be competitive and my bullpen is pretty much dogshit.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:30 pm
this why i go the dumb route. because when i make a actual good point or have a good idea. everyone is schocked and happy that im not a total idiot. nick im not dissing you at all i get comments like that all the time.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:31 pm
which MLJ league, cosmo?
March 31st, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I have 4 very shitty closers in our league.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:31 pm
One of those final fours was as an 8th seed, in what was the weakest year ever in terms of talent (congrats on winning the special olympics of college basketball MSU, you’re still retarded). Guthridge KILLED UNC basketball, period. He’s exhibit A on why to never turn over a program to a long time assistant unless that assistant is under the age of 45. Roy knew what he was doing in turning down UNC the first time…let some poor schmuck take over and get the program back in gear, then come in and take all the credit.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:33 pm
In support of my vote for rugby.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7d4I-HR6iw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lWA_9AKCb8
March 31st, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I wasn’t wrong, though. The program was as “irrelevant” as Kentucky is now when Roy took over, coming off a 8-20 year and an NIT berth.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:34 pm
That’s about right. Approximately 23% of the guys I draft end up on the DL during the season.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:34 pm
The one with the authors, tampa bo and pkiguy. And one more guy maybe? I dunno.
/doesn’t give a shit
And tallguy, I know it was an 8th seed, but 2 Final Fours in 3 years doesn’t suck. I’m sure Duke would kill for that right now.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:34 pm
So late in the game. But, RE: best athletes, I would go with:
-Basketball
-Tennis (mens)
-Hockey
-Football
-Soccer
March 31st, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I have one good closer, 3 guys who are pretty meh and a setup guy.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Joey Motte named Cardinals closer.
/already got him, fetch’d
March 31st, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Jason*
March 31st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
lacrosse is a pretty rough sport…jim brown(he played and was a all-american at syracuse) is in the lacrosse hall of fame.
tennis is insanely hard to play.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
I beg to differ. The chicken planks rule the roost (pun intended).
March 31st, 2009 at 10:40 pm
He’s exhibit A on why to never turn over a program to a long time assistant unless that assistant is under the age of 45.
Exhibit B was Larry Coker at The U. Fucker left those cupboards empty
March 31st, 2009 at 10:42 pm
+1 their chicken is the shit.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Wouldn’t surprise me. Cousins to Washington though.
/wishful
March 31st, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Cosmo, Gut in all rights should’ve won it all in ‘98, after returning a stacked team that lost only the immortal serge zwicker, and the ‘00 season was pure luck getting to the final four. He didn’t recruit at all (Neil Fingleton…) and basically just used up the remaining talent Dean brought in and then retired.
And yeah, I’d like to return to the final four…we haven’t been to 2 in three years since 99 and 01…but duke’s missed on some major recruits recently. Ebb and flow, ebb and flow…if duke gets wall (I put it at 75% now…family is really, really pushing him to stay in state), Duke starts next year in the top 5…if henderson stays (10% chance at best), make that top 2.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I don’t know enough about the game structure of Lacross to put it in the list, but you are right that tennis is a bitch to play. I played a 5 set, 4 hour match in high school and I thought I was going to die.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:47 pm
gotg i have never played that much tennis but i have just hit tennis balls back and forth and its difficult just to get the ball where you want it to go. i could only imagine what kind of shape you gotta be in to actually play competitive.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Can’t say I know much about that whole thing, haven’t paid too much attention. Katz is saying both of the Henrys to KU, Bilas thinks they’ll go to Kentucky, so we’ll see. I just hope one of Henry or Stephenson comes to Lawrence. And obviously I hope Cole and Collins stay.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:56 pm
JPQ: Looks like the Lady Sooners are in good shape. And, the Thunder beat the Spurs. Man, Oklahoma kicks ass.
/ Oklahoma sucks’d
March 31st, 2009 at 11:04 pm
@gfunk: yeah, the Boilersnappers are going the way of their male counterparts, it appears. Pretty typical for my old school.
/close but no cigar’d
March 31st, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Kobe has another game of missing as many shots as Pau takes. Oh yeah… Add in the 2 boards and 2 assists to his total and that was a total team effort in the loss to the Bobcats.
April 1st, 2009 at 3:32 am
Not many soccer players could physically play corner back in the NFL. Physically, NFL cornerbacks could play soccer. Of course, they wouldn’t have the skills to compete, but David Beckham is physically able to play at a high level.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:07 am
Had this argument with a Canadian friend a year ago. There’s a reason football is much more popular, and when an NHL highlight reel for the season show hits that regularly happen in a football game, it’s pretty obvious.
BTW- He also argued hockey players are traveling faster than football players, and the hits by definition must be harder since they have more velocity. I told him to get seats as close to a sideline as possible for an NFL game- every hit sounds like a train wreck.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:29 am
a bit late, but someone just emailed this in.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills
boxing 1
hockey 2
football 3
basketball 4
baseball 9
soccer 10