I remember thinking that American Football was the most complicated game in the world when I first came to the US. I grew up for 18 years in India, and the only thing I knew about the sport was the OJ Simpson trial which made front page headlines in India. So naturally, my opinion of the sport was.... colored.
I was working at Larkins Hall during my undergrad, and that is where my education in American Football commenced. I remember it was really difficult for me to learn. I just blame the quote under question on lack of knowledge of the game.
I was so bad at understanding what happened at the line of scrimmage. It seems like everyone was crowded there (and they are), and nothing really happens there that is important, (which is completely incorrect... games are won in the line of scrimmage). I remember thinking that someone dropped their yellow handkerchief when a flag was thrown in the game.
India is crazy about Cricket, even more than England, who invented the game. So much so that I've heard it be said that Cricket is an Indian sport, accidentally invented by the British. India is more crazy about Cricket than America is crazy about American Football. India is crazier for Cricket than Argentina and Brazil are about Soccer. In Cricket, the team 11 is exchanged before the start of the game (which can last for 4 hours, or 7 hours or 5 days) is final. So final that, if there is an injury, you cannot substitute the batsman. You can substitute fielders for injured players, but the subs can't bowl. So as you can imagine, the concept of there being 54 (NFL) and (more than) 85 (college) players on a team was alien. I had to think long and hard for the concept to sink in, and the reason for that to happen.
Now Football is unique in that it is a sport where the coaches in the booth, the 11 players on the field, and the coaches on the sideline, along with the staff on the sideline have to be on the exact same page on each and every play. Otherwise it is chaos and the play breaks down. It is the ultimate team sport. There is no other sport like this. And the nuances associated with the tactics are second to none. It took me a while to understand all that (and I still am not an expert in it). But now I've changed my opinion that American Football is the best sport in the world, especially college football. Again, I reiterate that I attribute this quote by the Dutch to a simple lack of knowledge.
Almost every single friend from my country, whom I met during my period at Ohio State have fallen in love with the sport. Except the girls... who I am afraid, are a lost cause. :) I jest. So instead criticizing the quote, let us revel in the awesomeness of American Football. Just my 2c.
