American football, not to be confused with the football called soccer, is the American national sport. Games between universities are great social occasions. More than 100, 000 people crowd into the huge stadiums. During a recent college final in the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, California, there were severe earthquake tremors (地震), but nobody noticed.
Players try to carry the ball over the opponents' line, and then to earn more points by kicking the ball between the upright goal posts above the bar. That is the likeness between the two games.
American football has a reputation for being a violent and dangerous game. The players throw themselves at each other fiercely, but today they wear the uniforms and helmets to protect themselves from serious injuries. By comparison, the rugby player has only a thin jersey and a pair of shorts to protect him from his opponents' boots and tackling.
The Americans are addicted to crazes. Jogging is an example of this. The Americans now have another craze, a game which most other countries call "football", but which they call soccer. It is being run by big business and TV advertisers, who are doing everything they can to sell it to the public. They are employing famous fashion designers to design novel uniforms for the players. They have introduced a musical background to the games and there is a big screen in the stadium which explains to spectators what is happening.
A. This reputation is not really deserved.
B. The method of scoring in American football is the same as in rugby.
C. It is spreading like wildfire through all the States and gaining popular.
D. They have also changed some of the rules to make the game more exciting.
E. People around the world don't play American football except the Canadians.
F. Famous coaches and players from Europe and South America are interested in it.
G. It developed from the British game of rugby and it excites tremendous enthusiasm.
