re: Sports comparisons to battle

I teach military history for Command and General Staff College for the USAR.

Football, in particular emulates linear warfare from the classic and medieval periods to a great degree. It is physically violent. There is an offense and defense (those terms are direct lifts from warfare) - the goal is ground acquisition. Running the ball is akin to a ground assault. Passing is similar to either ranged weapon attacks or modern attack aircraft, although it is a simple matter to stretch the analogy too far.

We don't use the military terms and make them fit football, the terms are used because they fit football.

Your point is valid to a certain degree, to non-violent, more technical sports, but, again, usually a team is defending a "goal" and another team is trying to score on that "goal".

Have you considered the possibility that sport arose as an alternative to or preparation (because there is very little doubt that this is true) for warfare and that is why common concepts and terminology have evolved?

I really hate made up nouns used by commentators:

aggressiveness (real word: aggression)
comfortability (real word: comfort)
humbleness (real word: humility)

any others?

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aggressiveness (real word: aggression)

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I'm guilty of using that one, but it's incorrect.

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bluestem75

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Athleticism?

The art of war doesn't sell so well because people are preparing for a war. It's the universal metaphor that gets people pumped about something they're passionate about.

Nobody intends to undermine those who risk their lives for actual war.

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I mean, come on, you're not a soldier and its not a real battle so you don't need to be wearing camo (ie kellen winslow and the u). In sports i do understand the field of play being called a battleground and a solid leader being referred to as the general (i've done it plenty myself as a player and coach), but the constant self-comparison to real soldiers and combat does aggravate me.

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Again, I disagree. to each his own I guess, but what those guys are going through is truly very similar to what our guys go through in training for combat, so the analogy is a good one and frankly doesn't bother me at all...

Probably more true than we think. Just like sex sells and we have to watch the commercials over and over during this time of the year for a perfume that has a man in a "bannana hammock" all over the screen.

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I think that's actually a word. Not sure what the alternative would be...

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It wasn't a word a few years ago, but I think the best alternative is actually two words - "athletic ability", so we're probably stuck with this one because its easier for the intellectually challenged arseclowns in the broadcasting booth to say...

I am not sure the goals are exactly the same. To Win - yes, to Die - not so much. Yes I agree that both are competitive but are seperated today by their consequences of bad performance.

I can only wish about making that kind of "bank"