Football in the Olympics?

[Pro]

I mean American football. The NFL is working to make it happen:

"We're already taking steps to gain that IOC recognition," Goodell said.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/ey...-olympic-sport

It would be like shooting fish in a barrel, but I'd watch. And you know NBC would love it, since they have the Olympic TV rights until the end of time.

[wx or not]

Um...yeah...that'll work until the first match with the US against Somalia...

[Ralphie the buffalo]

It will never happen. If the IOC dropped baseball and softball this year what makes you think that American football will be added?

[Pro]

Originally Posted by Ralphie the buffalo

It will never happen. If the IOC dropped baseball and softball this year what makes you think that American football will be added?

I don't think it will. But Roger Goodell does.

BTW, both baseball and softball are under IOC consideration to be reinstated.

[Ping-Pong Ball]

Football will not be in the Olympics (at least in the next 20 years.) It is not played in enough countries to meet the IOC's standards to be added:

A sport or discipline is included in the Olympic program if the IOC determines it is widely practiced around the world, that is, the number of countries that compete in a given sport is the indicator of the sport's prevalence. The IOC's requirements reflect participation in the Olympic Games as well — more stringent toward men (as they are represented in higher numbers) and Summer sports (as more nations compete in the Summer Olympics).

Also, only a handful of countries completed in the last World Football Championships & a team of former college players not even good enough to get an invite to the NFL draft combine totally dominated the championship. Outside the USA, football is only really played in Canada, Japan, Mexico, & Europe (mostly where US military bases are located.) There's almost zero representation in Africa, the Middle East, & Oceania. Plus, it's way too expensive a sport to be played right. One can't make a football out of old plastic bags (like soccer) plus the safety equipment needed to do it right is too much for most developing & even developed countries. Helmets, face masks, shoulder pads, knee pads, hip protectors, cups, & so on for just one player can come close to a grand. So a team would need more than $20,000 just to cover equipment for starters. Once the players' needs are met, practice sleds, tackling dummies, balls, goal posts, & etc mean a team would need over 6 figures for just supplies. Then what about coach's pay, salaries of players, & support staff?

Start up is too much & football is not played in enough countries to be added to the games anytime soon. If a push is made, that could change; however, eveing saying the atmosphere could change so in 20 years so maybe football gets some consideration is still a huge long shot.

[Jane Craig]

And, as with baseball and softball, it requires an additional venue.

Caber toss and tug of war have better odds of being added. And yes, I'd watch Olympic caber toss; it would be the summer games answer to curling.

That said, I am WAY ready for some football.

[Desert Rat]

Roger Goodell can say whatever he wants....

But there is no way any NFL owner will let their players play in the Olympics.

Would you let your 100 million dollar investiment like Drew Brees risk injury in an Olympic game?

I think not....

If there will be football, it will never be with NFL and prosepctive NFL players...

[Kace]

If it happens, the American roster will consist mainly of Arena League, CFL and UFL guys. The only NFL guys on the roster would be the ones allocated there, NFL Europe style.

[cinehead]

The biggest obstacle will be scheduling. The Olympics is only 2 weeks long, how many games would they need for a tournament? Let's say only 8 countries participate, that would be 3 games, in two weeks, okay that's probably doable. One round opening weekend, one the middle weekend and the "medal games" on the closing weekend. But how long will a sport remain an Olympic sport if only 8 countries are competing?

[Pro]

Yeah, I agree. Chances are slim. But it's fun just to contemplate it.

[cinehead]

Originally Posted by Pro

Yeah, I agree. Chances are slim. But it's fun just to contemplate it.

Oh yeah, I agree and it would be fun to watch. What countries could field teams? Can we come up with 8? The U.S. and Canada would certainly be in. Who else? American Samoa? Mexico? Germany? Ireland? Brazil? The U.K.? All have leagues of some sort. I'd actually like to see it.

[Pro]

Originally Posted by cinehead

Oh yeah, I agree and it would be fun to watch. What countries could field teams? Can we come up with 8? The U.S. and Canada would certainly be in. Who else? American Samoa? Mexico? Germany? Ireland? Brazil? The U.K.? All have leagues of some sort. I'd actually like to see it.

Here's a list of countries that have official American/Canadian football professional leagues:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...adian_football

[Another side]

Originally Posted by Desert Rat

Roger Goodell can say whatever he wants....

But there is no way any NFL owner will let their players play in the Olympics.

Would you let your 100 million dollar investiment like Drew Brees risk injury in an Olympic game?

I think not....

If there will be football, it will never be with NFL and prosepctive NFL players...

Im not so sure. I can't really see football in the Olympics ... but if it were, I'd guess there would be plenty of players who would seek to represent their country in a cake-walk to a Gold Medal.

And I'd think a wise owner would let them play ... a public fight with the Player's Union over whether to let the players compete in the World Olympics doesnt seem to me to be in the owners best interest.

[cinehead]

Originally Posted by Another side

Im not so sure. I can't really see football in the Olympics ... but if it were, I'd guess there would be plenty of players who would seek to represent their country in a cake-walk to a Gold Medal.

And I'd think a wise owner would let them play ... a public fight with the Player's Union over whether to let the players compete in the World Olympics doesnt seem to me to be in the owners best interest.

I'd prefer it if the NFL players didn't play. It would be fine with college players. I liked Olympic basketball better before The Dream Team and hockey better before the NHL players started playing.

[Pro]

Originally Posted by cinehead

I'd prefer it if the NFL players didn't play. It would be fine with college players. I liked Olympic basketball better before The Dream Team and hockey better before the NHL players started playing.

As with other Olympic sports, the IOC would allow that's sport's worldwide governing body - such as FIBA for basketball and FIFA for soccer - to decide who would be eligible for Olympic participation in that sport. And, yes, there IS a worldwide governing body for American football.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...rican_Football

[Ralphie the buffalo]

Tebow would look great on the gold medal stand

[wx or not]

Originally Posted by Ralphie the buffalo

Tebow would look great on the gold medal stand

Until he drops to one knee and takes out the bronze winner...

[Ping-Pong Ball]

Originally Posted by Ralphie the buffalo

Tebow would look great on the gold medal stand

Well posted! I couldn't agree with you any more! While not perfect or a dream come true; having to deal with or stomach Tebow only once every four years would be a VAST improvement! To play the devil's advocate, if Football was added to the XXXI Summer Olympics & Tebow was the Team USA QB, would he have time to play? Or would he be too busy circumsizing young tribesmen in the Brazilian rain forest?

[Kace]

Especially shirtless.

[wx or not]

Originally Posted by Ping-Pong Ball

Or would he be too busy circumsizing young tribesmen...?

Hmmm...all that foreskin could be used as padding. Of course, "roughing the passer" could make his uniform grow too quickly...

[22]

My question is ... What would they call it? I don't think you could call it "American" football. You can't call it "Japanese" wrestling or "British" equestrian/

And they already have football.

Besides, if you think the Pro Bowl is a joke, wait til you see this!

[Ralphie the buffalo]

Originally Posted by 22

Besides, if you think the Pro Bowl is a joke, wait til you see this!

No kidding. It is a false dilemma anyway. There is a better chance of Tebow being traded back to the Broncos and beating out Manning for QB.

[Tripe Face]

Originally Posted by Desert Rat

Roger Goodell can say whatever he wants....

But there is no way any NFL owner will let their players play in the Olympics.

Would you let your 100 million dollar investiment like Drew Brees risk injury in an Olympic game?

I think not....

If there will be football, it will never be with NFL and prosepctive NFL players...

It's not about how many countries, whether the NFL players take part... it's about MONEY!

Can the Olympics increase viewership? Can NFL increase it's global exposure? If the answer to those questions is yes, you might as well start designing Team USA's helmets right now (And keep Nike and UA away from THAT process).

[wx or not]

One additional question: Is there room for a few dozen more commercials, so that we can return to highlights only?

[Clever Login Name]

Is this one of those threads with a question in the title that I'm supposed to be outraged about? So hard to tell these days ...