British Billy muses on football

  • Published
  • By British Billy
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  I do not wish to upset anyone but, in my humble opinion, the term 'football' can only be used in its truest sense to refer to the British game. On the American football pitch, the ball seems to be in the hands of the players so much of the time that I had to do some research to discover why it was ever called 'football' in the first place.

We Brits play rugby football, which I see as having more in common with the American game, although, as hardy Brits, we do not pad ourselves out and don helmets, preferring to wear our blood, mud and bruises as badges of honour. Apparently, rugby football is the origin of the American game.

Football is a hugely popular game worldwide, and invokes great loyalty in the hearts of its fans. It seems to be only the Americans and Canadians who are determined to call football 'soccer'. There are a couple of theories as to the origin of the word 'soccer', but the favourite is that it's a nickname derived from 'Association Football', the proper name for the true game.

Although not generally a great fan of football myself, there are certain occasions when my heartbeat quickens and my whiskers tingle. The FIFA* World Cup begins in June 2010 in South Africa, and I shall be loyally following England, as they are the only team from the U.K. to qualify.

England last won the World Cup in 1966, and national optimism overwhelms us as each tournament comes around. Our first game on Jun. 12 is against the U.S.A., so I shall be waving my little flag frantically on that day.

Of course, I dare not make any disparaging comments about how incomprehensible we Brits find American football, with all its stopping and starting. After all, compared to cricket, it's all over in the blink of an eye. Cats in glass houses had better not throw stones - or cricket balls, for that matter.

I hope that you all have a great time watching the Super Bowl this weekend, whatever you call your game. You can never have enough fun, if you ask me.

Personally, my idea of a super bowl is one filled to the brim with salmon!

*Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Translation:  International Federation of Association Football)