I have a question: What's with the 'football' in NFL? Not only do they rarely use their feet, but when they do, it isn't kicking, it's punting?
That's a good question. This is quoted straight from wikianswers. Not exactly an authoritative source, but it mirrors some of my other research, since it's a question I was wondering myself recently since my father-in-law from Ireland is visiting and the World Cup is on the t.v. frequently. It's also a nice short answer:
Some might say, simply, "because they kick the football." But the real story is deeper. The origin of Gridiron (American football) is in the history of the world's most popular sport: Football (soccer). When soccer -- more universally known as "football" (which of course makes sense because football players use their feet) -- players decided to change their centuries-old game with restrictions such as the no-use-of- hand rules, people who disliked this broke away to create rugby. In the states we have created our own version of the game under the same old name "football" (Gridiron) with more of a rugby style, the whole time forgetting why we call it that. Here are other answers: * Gridiron (American football) is a derivative of rugby football, and while the feet are used more often in rugby than on the gridiron, much of the game is still played by handling the ball.It would be appropriate if they called it Gridiron, but, of course, that will never happen. I have noticed a slight culture change, since soccer, or the real "football," is becoming more popular in the states, in that people are using the word "football" less in relation to American gridiron football. I hear people say NFL more and more, or just "I'm watching the Patriots/Lions game."
On a similar note, I also wonder why we American's have sports that are exclusive to the USA, yet call the victors of the culminating championship competition "World Champions." There is talk that baseball will still have a MLB championship, but that there may someday be an actual world competition between teams from countries with an established baseball culture, such as Japan, Mexico, or the Dominican Republic. I would welcome it.
