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Chat Area => Archives => Topic started by: EDGEER on November 13, 2008, 03:53:37 PM
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Please this is our chance. We need 500 people to leave a comment about our sport. You have to create an account, but it is easy. Here's the link. Click on comments in the upper right corner.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hruby/081110
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good article. IMO foosball would not televise very well because it is TOO FAST to see. unless they use hi speed cameras & slow everything down, it'll be nearly impossible to watch.
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good article. IMO foosball would not televise very well because it is TOO FAST to see. unless they use hi speed cameras & slow everything down, it'll be nearly impossible to watch.
Even the smallest local TV vid crew has "Slo-Mo" and stopaction replay capability. Even thousands of people on YouTube and other portals already do an instant replay in slow motion, a very basic feature of all editing software nowadays.. even in camphones! This is in use especially for trickshots and "how-to" demos. Have you ever had one of Jim's Inside Foos videos? Why wouldn't that format transfer instantly to broadcast, since they ARE DESIGNED to be watched on your boobtube? Netfoos has even already begun live netcasts of events! Televised pro table tennis is a lot faster, but have a rabid following in Asia and Europe.
Foosball as a televised sport would do better if the interviewers were non-morons who actually foos. And IMO, there are several others from ESPN who have played foosball in high school and college, and are completely familiar with what's out there media wise. What they need is to follow Eric Clapton and similar foosmaniacs on their tour with their foostable, and similar other "sporty" themes, like the World Cup matches where the US team is playing. And if they make foos an X-game, ESPN would surely show those, too.
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Eric Clapton is a foos-maniac??? Has anybody ever seen him play? Is he good?
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Eric Clapton is a foos-maniac??? Has anybody ever seen him play? Is he good?
He and his crew definitely are... When they request the accomodations, libations, and ready rooms while on tour, it is strictly stipulated that a private room for their foosball table is included. Even as a guest, as when he stepped in as tour lead guitar for Roger Waters after the Pink Floyd split with David Gilmour, those stipulations were still included. Mid-80's I had the chance to play them backstage in Philadelphia He and his drummer were pretty good then, on that Roberto (I think). Dunno what they play on nowadays, and Eric's a lot older, of course. The old tour supergroup, Journey with Steve Perry and Neil Schon, were also foosers from the TS days.
What we need is for Barack Obama to get a new foostable into the White House. There has been, and will always be, a long long line of celebrities invited to the White House, and the "foosit or loose it" test would be a great photo-op. Perhaps some enterprising Bonzini exec or Tornado/Brunswick exec (took them 4 years to upgrade Chandler and Joey's table to a Tornado) would gift a table to the White House, for the 2 girls to play on. With our luck, some French or German or Chinese mfr will send them a TecBall, Fireball, Medalist or P4P way before an American table.
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He and his crew definitely are... When they request the accomodations, libations, and ready rooms while on tour, it is strictly stipulated that a private room for their foosball table is included. Even as a guest, as when he stepped in as tour lead guitar for Roger Waters after the Pink Floyd split with David Gilmour, those stipulations were still included. Mid-80's I had the chance to play them backstage in Philadelphia He and his drummer were pretty good then, on that Roberto (I think). Dunno what they play on nowadays, and Eric's a lot older, of course. The old tour supergroup, Journey with Steve Perry and Neil Schon, were also foosers from the TS days.
Very interesting! Thanks a lot!
What we need is for Barack Obama to get a new foostable into the White House.
That would be so cool! By the way, has race ever been an issue in the world of foosball? I only know US foosball from some videos, and I've never seen a player of African descent on them. Is foosball a "white" sport?
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It is up to 70 comments let make it over 100 make sure to email this article to all foosers and tell them to post a comment.
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72 now :)
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That would be so cool! By the way, has race ever been an issue in the world of foosball? I only know US foosball from some videos, and I've never seen a player of African descent on them. Is foosball a "white" sport?
One thing I learned in junior high, high school, college, and bars all over the country here is that foosball has a curious magic like modern sports. Players may bring racism, socio or economic and various dislikes to a venue, but once playing foosball, especially in pickups, they seem to forget them once they're playing.
But you are right, except in collegiate play, where I played many blacks (not just African, but American blacks, too) and a multitude of other ethnically diverse players, there just didn't seem to be many foosing minorities except Asians (including Middle-East Asians) in the bars and other places I played. I guess the others tended to keep to themselves at their own venues. Obviously they didn't get the same exposure to the national and regional tournament promotions that we got, and they didn't get to go.
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Up to 76 keep posting.
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But you are right, except in collegiate play, where I played many blacks (not just African, but American blacks, too)
I meant black people in general, but I wasn't sure if that sounds racist or something. Every black person has Arfrican ancestors if you go back in time far enough, right?
and a multitude of other ethnically diverse players, there just didn't seem to be many foosing minorities except Asians (including Middle-East Asians) in the bars and other places I played. I guess the others tended to keep to themselves at their own venues.
Oh, so the ethnic groups still go to their own seperate places? Like someone would give me a funny or even hostile glance if I went into a "black" club?
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I meant black people in general, but I wasn't sure if that sounds racist or something. Every black person has Arfrican ancestors if you go back in time far enough, right?
Black or African-American (not Afro-American, which is more of a modifier) is acceptable to Americans, IMHO. It is now scientifically accepted and proven via DNA analysis across the world, that ALL people, including YOU, have African ancestors, with DNA all tracing back to the hominim humanoid, "Sally". We are all African, unless your ancestors visited in their UFO after Sally and her companions started migrating across the former land bridges of Pangeia.
Oh, so the ethnic groups still go to their own seperate places? Like someone would give me a funny or even hostile glance if I went into a "black" club?
In larger cities, the clientele at clubs with foosball tables is definitely much more diverse, but your neighborhood "black" bars with foosball tables, particularly those I've gone to with black friends or workmates, (been to ones in eastern Ohio, Michigan, southern NJ, northern California, and south-side Chicago) just give a quizzical look to study Caucasian men the first time they appear. Caucasian women are not ignored, but widely accepted anyway. Hispanics and Asians merit a glance, but that's usually all. Unless you came in with a beautiful black woman on his arm, then yes, they do have "funny" but not necessarily hostile glances, of course.
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Black or African-American (not Afro-American, which is more of a modifier) is acceptable to Americans, IMHO. It is now scientifically accepted and proven via DNA analysis across the world, that ALL people, including YOU, have African ancestors, with DNA all tracing back to the hominim humanoid, "Sally". We are all African, unless your ancestors visited in their UFO after Sally and her companions started migrating across the former land bridges of Pangeia.
Making it perfectly obvious how stupid racism really is...
In larger cities, the clientele at clubs with foosball tables is definitely much more diverse, but your neighborhood "black" bars with foosball tables, particularly those I've gone to with black friends or workmates, (been to ones in eastern Ohio, Michigan, southern NJ, northern California, and south-side Chicago) just give a quizzical look to study Caucasian men the first time they appear. Caucasian women are not ignored, but widely accepted anyway. Hispanics and Asians merit a glance, but that's usually all. Unless you came in with a beautiful black woman on his arm, then yes, they do have "funny" but not necessarily hostile glances, of course.
Good to know. Maybe some glances would turn hostile if I told those guys where I'm from. Most ethnic minorities tend to have a dislike for the country with the most racist history of all...
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What's up bodygroove? Did you make it to the p4p tourney? If you did, did you introduce yourself to the InsideFoos crew that was there?
Let me first say I would never give you a hostile glance because of where you are from. I speak from personal experience in that I have been racially oppressed all of my life. Mind you things are not as they were but racism and prejudice still live. They are both a waste of time and the waste of the joy of life. Now on the other hand, if you exhibit the same prejudices as past or present people, then there would be a problem. It wouldn't be my problem because I don't have time for it.
Much like the wall coming down, the ignorance of racism is SLOWLY crumbling. Granted the stars were aligned for it to happen, but never did I think I would see a black president of the US in my lifetime.
What's really ironic is one of Germany's best players, Chris Marks, came to the US and played the open doubles event at the Worlds with me, a black man. I didn't care that he was German and he didn't care that I was black.
As far as why there aren't many black players, I think it's more exposure or lack there of than anything else. I didn't discover the game until my mid 20's. If kids are not shown an ultimate level of play in a sport, they will move on to the next one looking for that level. What's funny is the handfull of us who choose to compete at the tournament level all compete at the pro level.
So there you have it, black people do play foos, just not many. Some even know enough to teach others about the game,lol.
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What's up bodygroove? Did you make it to the p4p tourney? If you did, did you introduce yourself to the InsideFoos crew that was there?
Iceman, good to read from you, man! I haven't made it anywhere so far, except that I spent a weekend at pro master Oktay Mann's place and had him torture me at the table. Learning consists of pain and humiliation...
Let me first say I would never give you a hostile glance because of where you are from.
That's because you're smart and open-minded, you've travelled a lot and know better, which I appreciate. But I still wouldn't blame anyone for having prejudices against Germany.
I speak from personal experience in that I have been racially oppressed all of my life. Mind you things are not as they were but racism and prejudice still live.
The fight is still going on, but after a few victorious battles (Ha! YES WE F***ING CAN!) one thing is getting more and more obvious: In the end we will prevail! It might take a few more generations, but eventually racism will vanish from this planet.
They are both a waste of time and the waste of the joy of life.
And this is the reason for it.
Granted the stars were aligned for it to happen, but never did I think I would see a black president of the US in my lifetime.
Did you know that if Germans were allowed to vote for a US-candidate, Obama would have gotten 89 percent of our votes?
What's really ironic is one of Germany's best players, Chris Marks, came to the US and played the open doubles event at the Worlds with me, a black man. I didn't care that he was German and he didn't care that I was black.
Not ironic at all! You will hardly find a country with less racism than today's Germany. We've learned from the past. Not all of us, that is, but a vast majority.
So there you have it, black people do play foos, just not many. Some even know enough to teach others about the game,lol.
Should we ever meet, I'll beg you to teach me some US-style table soccer! That would be great!
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What defines a person is what is in their heart and mind and the work of their hands, at leat that is the way I see it.
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So there you have it, black people do play foos, just not many. Some even know enough to teach others about the game,lol.
Should we ever meet, I'll beg you to teach me some US-style table soccer! That would be great!
You won't have to beg, just ask. A funny story, to me at least, in Austria at the Garlando Worlds, I was showing about 10 guys the fundamentals in shooting a pull. I kept noticing this guy kind of looming in the background never saying anything or even approaching the table, just watching. After some of the guys left, he finally comes up and tries to do what I have been showing the other guys. At first he has a little trouble but I show him a few adjustments to make and in about 5 minutes, he's starting to figure it out. I can tell from the expression on his face he is amazed at his ability to execute a shot that only 15 minutes earlier he had no clue about. He looks at me with a smile on his face and says to me is his best English, " Iceman, you very good trainer. From now on I call you the " TRAINER ". You be here tommorow, I want to learn more about pull shot." I say sure if you see me walking around just ask.
So if plans pan out, I will be in France twice, and the Netherlands for the Tecball Worlds, and maybe in Austria for the Garlando Worlds so come on out and I'll see you there.
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The fight is still going on, but after a few victorious battles (Ha! YES WE F***ING CAN!) one thing is getting more and more obvious: In the end we will prevail! It might take a few more generations, but eventually racism will vanish from this planet. They are both a waste of time and the waste of the joy of life.
I think that may be a very long time coming. It is a good fight, but evil will always take advantage of human insecurities and "Us versus Them" and the capability to stop recognizing (suspension of humanity?) others as humans deserving of consideration. Part of the human genome is the desire to differentiate oneself and one's individuality, and demagogues and tyrants will always mix that with the "mob" and "hysteria" mentality from our animal beginnings to try to get what they want. I don't think racism will ever really vanish from the planet, and the fight should be eternal.
Granted the stars were aligned for it to happen, but never did I think I would see a black president of the US in my lifetime.
Did you know that if Germans were allowed to vote for a US-candidate, Obama would have gotten 89 percent of our votes?
Yes, but the way the economy was, I believe if a piece of dog turd, still steaming, was running to replace Bush, and Germans were allowed to vote for a US-elect, 88 percent of Germans and the whole world would have voted in the turd. Still, all-in-all, Obama (who is Hawaiian-born, from MY HOME STATE = PARADISE, BTW !!!! :) ) was the best candidate, although this US president, sadly, couldn't and will never have an open-air motorcade through the lower 20 states, some parts of Michigan and the Ruby Ridge area ... too many grassy knolls. And the fact that he was raised wealthy and very white, except for his controversial and "cool" 60's acquaintances and his maverick minister mentor, Rev Wright of many many years, that he denied and distanced himself from for politics sake, didn't stop them in Dallas, either. JFK and RFK, despite being Catholics, were pretty dang white, and were still erased.
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I don't think racism will ever really vanish from the planet, and the fight should be eternal.
But take a look around and see how far we've come since the end of World War 2! But of course there's still a lot of work to do and a lot of battles to be fought. I can't speak for all the "good guys", but I don't care if you're a pessimist as long as you are on our side...
Did you know that if Germans were allowed to vote for a US-candidate, Obama would have gotten 89 percent of our votes?
Yes, but the way the economy was, I believe if a piece of dog turd, still steaming, was running to replace Bush, and Germans were allowed to vote for a US-elect, 88 percent of Germans and the whole world would have voted in the turd.
*LOL* Did you also know that no one over here gives a f**k about the US economy? And why should we think that Obama knows anything about a solution for this crisis? But you're right: Everyone in Europe would have been glad if Bush had been replaced in time by a piece of steamin' dog turd. But now he would have been replaced anyway, and McCain seemed to be quite okay for a Republican.
But a black guy named Barrack Hussein Obama conquering the Oval Office is a totally different story. He won't even have to do something useful, just having made it there makes him some kind of messiah. I don't know a single person here who doesn't adore that man.
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89 comments lets get over 100 before the end of the month