This game was most popular and one of the most dangerous games of all!
In 1902 even with rules and regulations 12 people died in this game! While in 1905 the number was 71! 71 people died while playing a game! Let that sink in!
Of course it was not boxing since that can maximally have only two people playing at a time!
This game is one of the most famous games in the world right now though the injuries happened in the Americanised version of the game!
The most famous game in the world of course is football and the violent game with American version of the football; Rugby!
Although technically speaking there is an American version of rugby called American football!
Then again rugby and football and American football have the same origin!
The novel by Bill Bryon called made in America; details about how football came into play!
Bryson details how various forms of “football” were played in Britain for centuries, often as chaotic town-wide matches with few rules. The separation into distinct codes happened in the mid-19th century:
Rugby Football was Named after the Rugby School in England where, according to legend, William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball and ran with it in 1823!
Association Football or Soccer version focused on kicking the ball. The term “soccer” actually originated in Britain as a slang abbreviation of “Association” (from “Assoc.”).
Bryson explains that when these games reached the United States, they were further adapted:
Walter Camp’s Influence: Often called the “Father of American Football,” Camp was instrumental in modifying the rules of the rugby-style game played at American universities (like Yale) to create the distinct American version.
Bryson highlights how Americans retained the word “football” for their specific gridiron game, while the British eventually abandoned the term “soccer” (which they had invented) in favor of just “football,” leading to the modern linguistic divide.
By about 1818 football rugby had permanently parted ways in America.
Now a player is called a jock! Don’t even ask whether the term originated from!
American football and rugby differ primarily in protective gear, player roles, and flow of play. American football uses heavy pads, has 11 players per side, and allows forward passes, resulting in stop-and-go action. Rugby uses no pads, features 15 (Union) or 13 (League) players, restricts passing to backward/lateral, and has continuous play!
So now you have football or convention football, which is soccer, then you have the international rugby or the British rugby, and then you have the American football, which is the Americanised version of rugby!
Cricket seems like a good option right now!
That’s history! A legendary historical figure also was Dr Viswanathan Shanta!
When you can read so much about football; do read about the legendary oncologist!
Praying for peace…
Shubh ratri…
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