I know it’s true that for most of the countries in the world football is a sport which we Americans call soccer. I like soccer too, and I also like rugby, Australian football, and even touch football1, but in mid-autumn the Midwest, and most of the U.S. is in pursuit of2 football victories for the hometown high school team, the local or state college or university, or even the regional professional teams. This afternoon I’ll go to our Central College football game, rain or shine3, and hopefully it will be sunny by then. At this moment it is raining lightly, but it should clear off soon. Maxine is what is called a “fair weather fan,” meaning that she never goes unless the weather is nice.
American football begins in the heat of summer’s end, follows the transition4 from early to late autumn, and ends as winter brings snow and cold conditions. High schools and colleges or universities end football season with state and national championships in November and December, but professional football continues, ending its playoffs5 in late February.
People who come from other countries often have the impression6 that American football is a dangerous and aggressive sport7, something of a carryover from the Roman “lions vs. the sacrificial humans”8 who fought to death in the arenas of Roman rule. In fact, all of the types of football have a taint9 of aggression and competition in them, but American football players do have protective pads10 and equipment including helmets11, face guards12, teeth pads, shoulder pads, rib pads and hip pads as well as cleated shoes13 to give better traction14 on grass or artificial turf15. In all types of football, the players suffer knee, foot, ankle and concussion16 injuries at about the same level in each type. Most football teams now have excellent physical training and trainers, and usually a team doctor on hand17 for every game.
In addition, despite the angry shouts from some football fans, there are well trained officials to make sure that fair play in accordance with the complex rules is adhered to18, and there are severe penalties19 for rough play20 which might lead to injuries. Also, the four officials on the field are responsible for keeping good sportsmanship21 during the game, and they give penalties for taunting22, excessive celebration, or foul language23 by the players or coaches.
I know some people will disagree with me, but I think that collegiate football is the most interesting of all football competition. Granted24, the large university games use mostly athletic scholarships to lure25 the best athletes, and often give them many rewards not available to other students. But, at the small college level athletic scholarships are not permitted, and the players are representative26 of the student body27 in academic skills and abilities. The game I will attend today will be between Central College and Coe College, both small liberal arts colleges who have very competitive athletic programs. I hope that Central wins and remains undefeated this year, but even so, it is enjoyable to watch the efforts of truly amateur28 student athletes as they compete on the field. It is nice to know that nearly any team can beat any other team in this type of competition. Nobody can accurately determine in advance who will win, but as they say in the U.S., “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game29.” Still, winning is often more fun than losing, and “That’s why they still play the games30.”
Notes:
1. rugby, Australian football, touch football: all variations of the game of football (不同形式的足球).
2. in pursuit of: in hopes of trying to win or gain something or some goal (追求).
3. rain or shine: whether the weather is good or bad (风雨无阻).
4. transition: the movement from one thing to another, or one type of weather to another, etc. (过渡)
5. playoffs:（常规赛季后的）夺标决赛
6. impression: a feeling, or first thought after seeing something (印象，感觉).
7. dangerous and aggressive sport: 危险又进攻性强的比赛
8. carryover from the Roman “lions vs. the sacrificial humans”: 这是古罗马的“狮子与作为牺牲品的人的决斗”的继续。“Roman lions vs. the sacrificial humans” referrs to ancient Rome when one favorite type of spectator sport was that of putting a ferocious lion into an arena with an unarmed human and causing them to fight to the death of one or another. Usually the humans were slaves or prisoners, and most of them died in the fighting.
9. taint: a small amount of aggression; having at least some aggression (玷污).
10. protective pads: a number of types of padding placed over parts of the body which might be injured without padding (护垫).
11. helmets: headgear to avoid concussion from blows to the head (头盔).
12. face guards: plastic shields mounted to the front of a helmet to avoid injury to the eyes, nose or teeth of the player (防护面罩).
13. cleated shoes: 加了防滑钉的鞋子
14. traction: movement without slipping or sliding (附着摩擦力).
15. artificial turf: grass-like surface made from plastic or rubber attached to matting (人造草皮). This provides a reliable playing surface in all types of weather and should reduce injury to the players.
16. concussion: blows to the head which cause some damage to the tissue surrounding the brain (脑震荡).
17. on hand：在场，到场
18. fair play in accordance with the complex rules is adhered to: 遵照复杂的规则坚持公道。
19. penalties: punishments given because of wrongdoing (惩罚).
20. rough play：野蛮踢球
21. sportsmanship: desirable conduct, such as fairness , respect for one’s opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing, when one is participating in a competition (运动员品格).
22. taunting: mocking or challenging in an insulting manner (嘲笑，奚落).
23. foul language: language that is offensive in nature; it may be abusive or obscene and certainly is not acceptable when used by athletic participants (下流话).
24. granted: something is assumed to be true in a particular situation (承认，即便如此).
25. lure: attract strongly (引诱，诱惑)
26 representative: serving as a typical or characteristic example (有代表性的)
27. student body: the group of students enrolled at a college or university (全体学生)
28. amateur: 业余的
29. “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you played the game.”: An old adage (saying) that stresses the fact that one does not always need to win and that the important thing is to try hard and to be a good sportsman while doing so (不在于输赢，而在于你在运动中的表现).
30. “That’s why they still play the games.”: an idiomatic phrase/old adage. Even though most people think they know who is expected to win in an athletic contest, it is never certain, so we often say that a game must be played to see who will actually win the game. Often there are .surprises and luck may cause different results than expected. The weaker team on that particular day may beat the stronger team. This is why athletic events are interesting to people who play them and who watch them,. And this is the reason why they must be played to determine the winner.
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