Russian Birth of the American Football

The most popular question is why do they play? It’s not easy to answer. It is very difficult to explain why do grown up, healthy and prosperous men are playing slightly known in Russia sport? No income, no fame, extra traumatism and extra hard game rules.

Those, who came to Ural American Football Cup game on October 30^th, spectators, reporters and especially medical staff who fixed a lot during the game, were asking the same question.

I don’t really know what kind of emotions hundreds of millions fans of American football in Europe and USA are looking for during the game, what thousands of different people are expecting.

American football is quite different from the soccer; there are no long passes to rest or to win the time. One delay or indecision and you will be met by the whole “mountain” of big guys running towards you like locomotives.

The whole point of the game is concluded in the couple of “golden” moments, which are so real, so “hot and spicy”, so entertaining and which are of course worth hard and killing trainings.

American football is as real as life: couple of seconds of the impetuous run to the end zone and the last five inches, when the player totally dropped down with 3-4 furious guys over 200 lbs each attacking him is bringing the ball to the end zone. These seconds, are probably worth life lasting trainings.

For sure, none can get such an adrenalin and motivation, like the player running with the ball to the end zone, when the whole bunch of the rivals breathing down on his neck, which can do whatever they want to with the player carrying the ball. The instinct tells to drop the ball, because it kills your whole security.  Holding a ball in your hands in American football means that you are going to have a lot of troubles. The most unsecured player is the one holding the ball. But the man’s will and character don’t let the fingers loose the ball. So there is only one thing the player can do is to bring the ball to the end zone.

Take it or leave it.

Why do people play American football and why do so many of them are falling in love with it from the first sight?

I am sure, there is only one answer – this is a lifestyle. This is a way to express yourself. This is the way to hold the pressure from almost dozen of strong guys, who are ready to tear you into the million pieces. This is the way to improve yourself, to check how brave and strong you are. This is how to legally solve your problems. The battle and the intellect are the main characters in each sport. American football is the most expressive way to show this atmosphere, when the real men are on the field to honestly, openly and seriously check each other out and they are still friends out of the field by the way.

Spectators love it. Everyone understands that huge amount of rules doesn’t matter and the game demands not only good physical skills but the strong nervous system and intellect.  And then they come, they come to live with the team several most priceless moments. They come to see the miracle, how does the impossible become possible. People are coming to find their heroes. And the most usual and calm in their everyday life people are becoming them.

It is well-known; there are no traditions, culture or nation to express yourself. There is a huge desire to make it on your own special way. Teams that met one Saturday night did show their desire at full capacity and made their aspiration happen. All we have to do is to wait for the next game, wait to see impossible becoming possible with your own eyes.

See you next game.