Curious about things you dont know what they are talking about???
 

I thought this would be a good thread for questions about things you dont know about.... When "slangs" or Traditional things are said, and you dont know what they mean....

I'll start it off....

First of all, why are nebraska referred to as "blackshirts"? where does that come from?


Keep this thread going...could be fun and informative...

Everything out of Bill Walton's mouth confuses the hell out of me.

Most notable: "Matt Geiger has been a real <b>Rock of Gibralter</b> this season."

Right, Bill... right.

Re: Curious about things you dont know what they are talking about???
 

That's cuz they wear blark jerseys in practice.

and after years of dominance, they came to be referred to as the blackshirts.

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and anything that comes out of bill walton/dennis miller is shit.

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Why is notre dame called "fighting" irish? i dont get it.

I think he's saying that the guy's solid. (In other words, dependable.)

Yeah... but... Matt Geiger, come on!

Okay, I have one. I should know this from years of football digestion...both real and video...however, what exactly is a 'hot route'??

i can take a guess on this one.

when your wr is lined up against a lineback, your wr can pretty easily smoke the slow lb. this streak is the hot route.

I could be wrong... but I always thought that a "hot route" was a quick route by a receiver to the inside for a quick easy dump-off for short yardage.

Hot route is a route by a receiver that a QB can change by an audible. It doesn't effect the entire team, just that one receiver, so the QB knows where he's going, but not the defense and hopefully the defense sees something that's not there and bites and you have a big play on your hands.

A hot route is the Key route that a QB can go to... its the one that the play is built around... where the QB will most likely go to...
or so i think

Where do all the newly drafted players go? Seems like about a 100 people get drafted every year, but what happens to all these people?

Obviously, some make it. Others just dont make it? Do they get cut? Do they quit?

there are about 200 people drafted... about half make the teams some make the practice squad, others go to the CFL, or NFL europe to gain experiance... and others just dont make it and are out of the NFL....

are the CFL/EFL like the farm teams for mbl? meaning that the nfl owners own teams in canada/europe?

for NFL europe yes, NFL teams have the rights to most of the players over there... CFL is the canadian football league... so those players have no affiliation with NFL unless they are under contract with a team and go over there for practice

A hot route is an audibalized call at the line based on the QB see'n a blitz that the assigned blockers can not handle. most often the hot route is to the slot, or TE, being a flat or slant. has to be fast so that the QB can read it and throw off of a 3 step or less drop.

Ok, in baseball, what the hell is "slugging" and "slugging percentage", I can't quite work it out.

Oooh, oooh, I can answer that one. Slugging percentage is a calculation involving total bases and at-bats.

Lets say I go 4-4, hitting for the cycle. Well I add 1 for the single, 2 for the double, 3 for the triple, and 4 for the homerun. Then I divide the total 10 by the number of at-bats (in this case 4) and voila, my slugging percentage was 2.500.

Or I go 1-6 with a double. Then its 2/6 which yields a .333 slugging percentage.

I'm pretty sure walks count as a base but not as an at-bat. So in the same exampe as above if I went 1-6 with a walk my new slugging percentage would be 3/6 or .500

Ooh, thanks! :D

Also, why are the Montreal Canadiens also referred to as the "Habs" ? The only explanation I can come up with is perhaps the "Hasbeens" :p

Ha, I like your interpretation much better.

Verbatim from a web-site:

"Habs is an abbreviation of "les habitants," the informal name given to the original settlers of New France, dating back to the 17th Century. So it seems a natural nickname for the Montreal Canadiens, established in 1909 as a French-Canadian hockey team appealing to the city's Francophone community."

Actually, walks are subtracted from the root number to calculate slugging percentage. Walks, hit-by-pitch, and sacrifices are subtracted from the total number of plate apperances and then follow the formula TitleFight gave.

Slugging Percentage = ((HRx4)+(3Bx3)+(2Bx2)+1B) / (PA-(BB+HP+SAC+BSAC))

Ok, I've been watching baseball a long time, and have just recently been hearing the term 'walk off homer'. Can someone help me out with what this means?

I don't have anything to add right now, except to link in my earlier sports language question "Off the Schnide?" for further reference.

Paddyjoe - I've always thought that a walk off homer is a home run that gives your team the lead/win in the bottom of the ninth. if your team is down by one run with one out in the bottom of the ninth and you hit a two run homer the game is over you win. I would guess it's called a walk off because you get to walk off the field as soon as you touch home. something like that.

I may have heard it for home runs that give a team the lead in the top of the ninth, but those wouldn't end the game on the spot, so im not sure if they count.


I have a question.

squeeze bunt vs. sucide squeeze bunt?

I thought suicide squeeze bunt referred to bunt up the third-base line while a runner was being forced home. I could be wrong though.

Several NFL team owners also own part-interest in some Arena League teams. Jerry Jones owns the Desparadoes and the Crush are half-owned by the Broncos and the other half by Jon Elway.

While the Arena League isn't true football, it's close enough to get an idea as to how someone would play true football. I predict in ten years all NFL teams will have part-interest in an Arena/AF2 team. This would be the NFL "farm system".

I thought a walk-off homer was when your first hitter of the inning knocks a home run.

I would call that a leadoff home run. I think soriano has the record for those in a season with 13. I would guess that Henderson has the career record, but I'm not sure.

Leadoff homerun - leading off the inning with a homer
Walkoff homerun - ending the game with the homerun, as in the bottom of the ninth.

You can have a homerun be both, like Bill Mazaroski's homer to win the '60 Series leading off the bottom of the ninth.

Squeeze bunt - when a runner is on third, using a bunt to score the runner.
Suicide Squeeze bunt - when the runner on third starts for home as soon as the pitcher pitches it, hoping the batter gets the bunt down.
Safety Squeeze bunt - when the runner waits for the bunt to be put down before starting for home.

The Arena leagues have no "official" connection to the NFL outside of NFL owners owning AFL teams. NFL Europe teams aren't traditional "farm" teams like in baseball: the NFL teams send players over who are distributed among teams.

why do the cowboys and lions always play on thanksgiving? just tradition?

oh! WHY ARE THEY CALLED NOSE TACKLES! I WAS one in high school and i don't know why i was called one! help!

the Cowboys and Lions have ALWAYS traditionally played on thanksgiving... here's the links

http://www.detroitlions.com/document...cument_id=3259

as for nose talkles...

http://mb7.theinsiders.com/fbroreade...picID=43.topic

Ok, what does the "skins" refer to in a "skins match" in golf? I've heard it a few times, but don't have a clue.

from http://www.worldgolf.com/wglibrary/history/skinsgme.html:


...it all started at St. Andrews centuries ago. Fur traders from other countries would stop at seaport towns and sell furs to the furriers. When they came to St Andrews, instead of going straight into port they would anchor offshore, row in, and play the eleven holes over The Old Course from the sea to the town. To make it interesting, they would meet the furrier at the shore, play in together, and gamble along the way. Since they were both dealing in furs, they would play for those on the basis of who won the hole. They played for 'skins'.

I have a couple of mascot questions....

What is a "brown" i.e. Cleveland Browns.

What is a Sooner?

What is the "crimson tide"? (no PMS jokes please).

The Cleveland Browns were originally named after their owner, whose last name was...you guessed it, Brown.

(From my memory, so it might be a little off but I believe the general idea is correct) Sooner was a term from way, way, way back in the 1800's. I'm a little shady on the exacts, but when the United States was "expanding" people could claim the land in these new states (like Oklahoma). The people were supposed to wait so everyone would have a fair chance of getting the land they wanted, however some people cheated and went ahead sooner than everyone else, giving them the name, Sooners.

Crimson Tide is a great movie staring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman.

Oh, THAT Crimson Tide.

"In early newspaper accounts of Alabama football, the team was simply listed as the "varsity" or the "Crimson White" after the school colors.

The first nickname to become popular and used by headline writers was the "Thin Red Line." The nickname was used until 1906.

The name "Crimson Tide" is supposed to have first been used by Hugh Roberts, former sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald. He used "Crimson Tide" in describing an Alabama-Auburn game played in Birmingham in 1907, the last football contest between the two schools until 1948 when the series was resumed. The game was played in a sea of mud and Auburn was a heavy favorite to win.
But, evidently, the "Thin Red Line" played a great game in the red mud and held Auburn to a 6-6 tie, thus gaining the name "Crimson Tide." Zipp Newman, former sports editor of the Birmingham News, probably popularized the name more than any other writer." - http://www.rolltidefan.net/tradition.htm

Ok, I've got a couple of questions:

Why do the Ohio State Buckeyes football players have those stickers on the side of their helmets, what do they exactly represent, and how come some have more than others ?

Also, in college football, why do some coaches whine about other coaches "running up the score" ? As margin of victory isn't taken into account when deciding the BCS rankings (as far as I know, feel free to prove me wrong ;) ), who cares ?

Those are stickers of Buckeye leaves. That's where they get the name: the Buckeye tree.

MoV isn't taken into account anymore, but if you are on a team, would YOU want the other team to keep trying to score the entire game once it is in hand? It's humiliating for the loser, and it's arrogent for the winner.

the stickers on the helmets are given to a player for either A) starting a game, or B) making a really good play. I've heard both explanations but do not know which is correct.

as for running up the score, as dj suggested, its a matter of pride. when the game is late in the 4th quarter and the other team holds 30 point lead on you, it is considered bad sportsmanship for them to continue to try to score, as the game is, for all intents and purposes, over. you are correct that the BCS no longer recognizes margin of victory in calculating its standings. However, this was not always the case. Also, before the BCS, when the two polls (AP and USA Today/Coaches poll) were used to decide the national championship, margin of victory definitely played into the voting process. Teams that scored tons of points, regardless of who they played, tended to rank higher (and still do in those polls).

as for running up the score, what goes around WILL come around. everything is cyclical and a sorry team today might win the national championship in 10 years. u dont wanna be humiliated as a revenge.


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sooners = land grabbers.

I've got a good question. What is a Wahoo?? That is what I hear the University of Virginia called sometimes. I'm definitely no fan the wahoo's after the halftime band stunt at the Continental Tire Bowl last year against my beloved WVU Mountaineers. But I am curious why they call themselves the Wahoo's instead of the Cavaliers.

Why is Tennessee called the volenteers? That makes no sense to me.

The Volunteer thing comes from the War of 1812 when the state was asked to provide something like 5000 volunteers for the army and 75000 men tried to volunteer, so they became the Volunteer state, and that transferred to the university, I guess.

Virginia calls themselves "Wahoos" because that's all the opposing fans say upon kicking UVA's ass ;)

in basketball, if a player shoots the ball and it's an airball.. does the person who catches it get a rebound?

I think that would be a "pass", albeit not a good one.

I just assumed that the mouth-gaurd I wore in football was to protect my teeth, but it's not. They absorb impact and therefore stop concussions.

What the hell is the rubber rectangle on top of a pitchers mound used for?

And what the hell is a balk or baulk? It's something a pitcher does but that's all I know.

That's the place that the pitcher must stay in contact with at all times while pitching to a batter.

Balks are a little more complicated...

Simply put, once you start your pitching motion towards home plate, you aren't allowed to stop it. If you do, it is a balk and any runners on get to advance one base.

It's there so that pitchers can't act like they are throwing home, keep the ball, then pick someone off base.

In reality, it can get more complicated. You can start to pitch, for example, and throw to a base as long as your leg that you picked up hasn't gone forward.

The rule is strict too. There have been instances of pitchers who have started to pitch and get knocked over by a gust of wind, and get called for a balk.

Here is the official rule for what a pitcher can and cannot do:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/of.../pitcher_8.jsp

haha i love it!!!

I think it is a bastardization of Schooner, the boat. During the migration, a trail of Conestoga wagons looked like ships on land.

At least for FSU and a couple of teams it is for making plays, touchdowns, sacks, good tackles, good receptions.

Before 1889 Oklahoma was the Indian Terratory. That year, open settlement was allowed. Supposedly, a lot of peopel didn't want to wait for the hour alloted to go in with the huge crowds waiting, so they went in early. Since they went in too soon, they became "Sooners".

no, it's not a pass.. it counts as a shot.. but does a guy get a rebound is what I wanna know

What's the infield fly rule? I've heard it explained once or twice but never understood.
On a somewhat related note, what happened when a fair ball bounced over the wall before the ground rule double was introduced?

When there are runners on base with one or no outs, and a fly ball is hit in the infield, the batter is automatically called out, regardless of whether or not the ball is caught. This is done so the runners won't be easily thrown out if they try to tag up and they infielder lets the ball drop for a double play. It's really more simple than it sounds.

I'm pretty sure it was still a live ball for the ground rule double thing.

Per the official NBA rules, a rebound is defined as "Gather in and gain control of a missed shot" I personally had always assumed catching an airball would be considered a steal, but the way they define rebounds in the rules makes me think maybe it is a rebound.
I couldn't find any clear answer in the official rules on NBA.com though.

i know the answer and will do so if no one figures it out or knows


whats a hoosier

I love watching/playing football but have no clue on the names, and purposes, of each position.

well... that is gonna take A LONG TIME to explain.... but i will be brief...


OFFENSE

Quarterback... this is the "leader" of the offense, he is the guy that takes the snap and either hands it of or passes it... (Michael Vick, Brett Favre, Dan Marino, etc)

Running Back - the ball carrier, whenever he gets the ball he runs with it, sometimes he catches balls too... and blocks (Ricky Williams, Clinton Portis, Barry Sanders, etc)

Fullback - other running back, but he is used primarily to block for the running back... (Sam Gash, Lorenzo Neal, Rob Konrad, etc)

Offensive Line - These are the blockers the big boys, you have the Center, who snaps the ball to the QB, then the Guards which line up on each side of the center, then two Tackles, which line up on each side of the Guards... they just block.... (Kyle Turley, Larry Brown, Kevin Mawae, etc)

Tight End - Lines up on either side of the tackles and he is used mostly to block but also is used in the passing game as a reciever (Jeremy Shockey, Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, etc)

Wide Reciever - the fast guys that line up outside and catch the ball... (Jerry Rice, Randy moss, Marvin Harrison, Terrel Owens, Mark Duper, Mark Clayton (sorry had to put that), etc)

DEFENSE

Defensive Tackle - the biggest guys on defense, used predominantly to stop the run they line up usually in the gaps between the center and guards, sometimes they sack the QB too... (Warren Sapp, Tim Bowens, Gilbert Brown, etc)

Defensive End - the are also on the defensive front, but line up outside of the tackles, they contain everything inside, prevent runs from going outside, and try to sack the QB (Jason Taylor, Simeon Rice, Michael Strahan, etc)

Linebackers - they take on the fullback, fill the gaps to prevent a big run, key on the tight ends or running backs going out for a pass, and basically make the tackle they are the generals of the defense... (Zach Thomas, Ray Lewis, Takeo Spikes, etc)

Defensive Backs - Consists of Safetys (they roam around the field watch the QB's eyes and try to make the interceptions, they are also the last line of defense against the run (Ed Reed, Brock Marion, Ronnie Lott, etc) Cornerbacks - line up against the WR and basically just cover them, the fastest of the Defensive backs... (Sam Madison, Troy Vincent, Charles Woodson, etc)

Special Teams - Punter he punts the ball away... uh.. thats all...(scott Player, Mark Royals, Reggie Roby, etc)
Kicker - he kicks the ball off, or makes field goals and extra points.... (Gary Anderson, Sebastian Janikowski, Olindo Mare, etc)

Okay, my question isn't terminology, but more of a VH1 "Where are they now?" kind of deals. I saw the Yanks got Javier V. today and it got me thinking about El Duque. Does anyone remember this guy from just a couple of years ago??

So what ever happened to Orlando Hernandez??

"el duque" didnt play at all last year, He's with the Montreal Expos, he tore his rotator cuff, during spring training, and was out for the year....

I dont think he will recover well from that... it could mean his career... but we'll see

My sister went to UVA and she told me that a Wahoo is a type of fish that can drink two or three times its own weight...not unlike students in Charlottesville, is the idea.
Also, a little bit of trivia...you know Dr. Seuss's "How The Grinch Stole Christmas"? All the little Hoos in Hooville? Dr. Seuss actually lived on a hill right near the UVA campus in Charlottesville, and the name for the characters the Hoos and the town Hooville refer to the unofficial Wahoo mascot of UVA.

Here's a good Question:

Where did the tradition start of cutting the net after a team wins the NCAA College Basketball Finals?

No clue on the net cutting....

However I have an observation. Why do the announcers try to make these bowl games seem significant? Sure, I know its their job. But we as common sports fans (excluding those who are alums) know that these games simply don't mean dick. It's hilarious how story/game lines are created and they make it feel like it's the matchup for the ages. Okay, maybe this post was more to vent. Or was it a bump?

I still want to know the answer to the net cutting....

I consider myself a very knowledge kinda guy with sports, but could someone explain how one wins a set in tennis? I get the scoring and individual game winning, but I don't get how they decide the set scores. Like sometimes its 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 or its 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.

This crap has always perplexed me and an explanation would be grand.

the 6-4, 7-6.... those are the number of sets that you win. In tennis (im not quite sure how exactly it goes) but the scores in a set are 15, 30, 45 and set. (i think)... but anyways when you win a set then you get a point. and those numbers are the points

sorry if the explanation is so vague...

1. Players serve for an entire game, and switch every other game. Game scoring is "Love", 15, 30, and 40, then you win the game. If the score is 40-40 it is called "duece". If the score is duece, a player must win by two (in a sense), so they need to win a serve/volley to take it to "advantage [player]", and then win another, before the other player wins a serve/volley and takes it back to duece.

2. A set is won by reaching six games, and you must win by two (sort of). If the score is 6-6, then a tiebraker game is played. The serves in this game goes 1-2-2-2-2-2-and so forth until someone reaches six points, and again you must win by two. That is why you will see a score of 7-6 (10-8) meaning that the winner of that set won the tiebraker 10-8. If it is the fifth set, there are no tiebrakers games, the match continues until a player wins by two games.

3. A match is won by winning 3 sets (males) or 2 sets (females). If a player wins the match in 4 sets, you could potentially see a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 which would mean that the eventually winner lost the second match. The eventual winner's score in each set is always listed first.

So to sum up, if a player wins in 5 sets, with the third and fifth set going to tiebrakers, you could potentially end up with a score of 6-3, 0-6, 6-7 (15-13), 6-3, 9-7.

Game, set and match.

Ps. "Love" comes from the French for egg "l'ouef", which looks like a zero.

ok tennis is played to 6 but you must win by to


to win a set you out score your oppent that gets you a point


if the game is tied at six they play sudden death

Watching Christmas basketball sparked this one that I've always been curious about...

Why in the hell do they tag hands after every single free throw. Seriously, has anyone ever noticed this? If the guy makes the gimmie they all give 5's. And even if the freebie is missed they all tag. What's the deal with this? When did it start??

What does bonus & 2x bonus mean?

Bonus/Double bonus:
Normally, if a player is fouled, he only gets to shoot freethrows if he was shooting while he was fouled. However, starting with your seventh team foul of a half, your opponent gets a one-and-one on ANY foul. Starting with the tenth, he gets an automatic two freethrows.
Sometimes, when a team is behind 5+ points with a minute left, and their opponent isn't in the bonus, they have to start fouling just to get them in the bonus so they can make them take freethrows.
I hope that was coherent....

It's just teammates saying "Good shot" or "Nice try, you'll get the next one".

Ok I've got one, since its gonna be a free agent bonanza in the NFL this offseason (Manning, C Woodson, Champ Bailey, TO etc).

What does it mean exactly when a team puts a "franchise tag" on one of their players ?

Basically, a team can negotiate with that player, and any team trying to sign them has to give up their top draft pick to do so, and the original team can match any offer.

I'm pretty sure that's it.

You are correct. A team can offer a franchise player a contract. If that players goes to that team, that team must also give the team a draft pick for that player. Kinda like a trade, but not really.

It's actually the team's next two first round draft picks. I have the unfortunate experience of being a Carolina Panthers fan and watching our team sign Sean Gilbert away from the Redskins for the highest contract ever given to a defensive player, AND losing our first rounders for the next two years.

Thank you Dom Capers you ignorant fool.

so did anyone figure out why they cut the damn net after winning the NCAA final four?

To keep it as a memento of their great victory ?

Like cricketers pulling out and keeping the stumps after a big win.

I don't know :/

I have a question.

Lets say PlayerX is a really good football player from Texas ;) and will likely be the 1st pick in the draft.

But, PlayerX doesnt want to go to the team that has the first pick for personal reasons (lets say he grew up a cowboys fans or something).

why cant playerx go straight to the cowboys?

Because when a team drafts a player they own his rights and the player becomes a commodity of that team (?).

Besides, if PlayerX is the 1st overall pick, mostly likely he will be offered a large contract, and I think most college players will pick money and pro football regardless of whatever team they play for.

But if draftees could chose what team they play for, do you think anybody would join the Bengals (this year excluded) or the Cardinals ?

I got a question now :]

In baseball how does the whole pinch runner/hitter thing work ? I mean when can you swap a player for a pinch hitter/runner ? And how often can you do it ?

lets say playerx doesnt go to the draft and instead would like to sign with his favorite team. can this happen?

It doesn't matter. All eligible players in the NFL and NBA must go through the drafts of those leagues. If a player goes undrafted, they become free agents, and can go where they want.

The draft is a safety measure against a team with money gaining all the talent. Otherwise, the best teams can sign whomever they wish, and keep winning.

This used to happen in baseball. The Yankees used to sign every amatuer player they could, and in this way kept building their team.

The baseball draft is different then the others. Most players have to go through the process, except college seniors, who are allowed to sign with whomever they wish during a period before the draft, or go into the draft.

Anytime when there is no action. You can pinch hit/run for anyone at any time. However, once a player is taken out of the game, they can't go back in.

so in effect, eli manning could forgo the draft and sign with the dallas cowboys?

No, that was my point.

If he went through the draft and wasn't taken, he could. The college senior thing is baseball only.

no, I meant if he doesnt enter the draft (i know that he prolly has, but lets say he didnt)

If he doesn't enter the draft, he'll be playing in Canada next fall. You HAVE to go into the draft to play in the NFL.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4047

check out priest holmes' draft status.

it says he didnt come out of a draft.

I'm pretty sure the Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent.

Yup priest holmes was not drafted out of college.

Priest still entered the draft, he was just not drafted. There is no way a player can play in the NFL without entering a draft at least once...then if he goes undrafted the player is free to sign with any team.

what penalties are distributed for fighting in the NHL... is it just two mintues? or what? or does it depend on how bad the fight is?

5 minutes (I think), also they can give you a game misconduct and throw you out (I think).

OK Heres an easy one. Somebody explain Cricket.

I know it would take a full day but is there any good site out there that gives an understanding of the structure of the game.

Also what are the differences between the types of Cricket Matches. Why are some over in one afternoon and others go for days.

Also how is the scoring kept. It often seems that Fox Sports world will give the results from a three day test by using the term runs and then give the results from another match in overs.

It's a five minute major (no power play, still five-on-five hockey) and I think the rule is that if you fight for two games in a row, it's a match penalty and you're out for the rest of game. Three times in a row and you're up for suspension.

Ok, I will do my best here:

The basics:

You got 2 teams of 11 players. Each team has about 6 bowlers, a wicket keeper and the rest are batters.

The game is played on an oval field, with a rectangular strip of clay in the middle (called a "pitch" or a "wicket"), with 3 wooden stakes (stumps) with 2 round pices of wood atop of them (called bails), at each end.

An over is 6 bowls (deliveries, basically "pitches").

At the start of the game the captains toss a coin, the winner chooses whether to bat or to bowl.

The batting side sends out its first to batsmen (usually their best 2, called opening batsmen).

The bowling side picks a bowler to start, the wicket keeper lines up behind the wicket, the rest of the fielders take positions in the field, here are all the possible positions:

http://www.abcofcricket.com/cfb1/cfb2/cfb3/blfield.gif

The aim of the batter is to score runs, the aim of the bowler is to eliminate the batters by dismissing them (also known as getting them out).

The scoring:
After the batter hits the ball, he can run across the pitch, a run is scored every time the batters cross over. If the batter strikes the ball so it rolls all the way to the boundary rope around the oval, he earns 4 runs. If the ball crosses the boundary rope on the full, the batter earns 6 runs. For 4s and 6s no extra runs are added for running between the wickets.

You can be dismissed for the following:
- bowled out - the bowler's delivery goes through and hits the stumps causing the bails to fall.
- caught - if you hit the ball up high and it is caught on the full you are dismissed. You can also be caught behind, if you swing but only touch the ball slightly, and the wicket keeper catches it.
- run out - the bails are knocked out before the batter's bat crosses a clearly marked line on the pitch. Most runouts happen as a result of poor communication between the batters.
- lbw - Leg Before Wicket. You will be dismissed if the umpire judges that the ball would have knocked the stumps had not your body got in the way (usually its the leg pads that get in the way).

Then there are some obscure methods of getting dismissed like handling the ball or interfering with the fielders. But that doesn't usually happen.

Ok.

Then there are two basic types of cricket played: Test Cricket, and One Day Cricket.

There is no difference in players that play the game (unlike say Rugby Union and Rugby League).

One Day Cricket is more exciting, imo, basically, the batting team must try to score as many runs as they can. The sides change when either: 10 batters have been dismissed, or a limit of 50 overs has been reached (remember 6 deliveries = 1 over). The winning team iis the team that scored the most runs.

Test Cricket is played over 5 days, basically the main difference is that there is no limit on overs, one team bats until 10 batters have been dismissed or until they reach an acceptable total and decide to "declare", basically give up and let the other team have a go at batting. If the match does not finish in the 5 days permitted the match is declared a draw.

That's about it really.

Also this page here:

http://www.abcofcricket.com/cfb1/cfb4/cfb4.htm

will probably do a better job of explaining cricket than I have :p

Wow Spartak. That was actually a very good explanation. Thanks much. Also the sight you linked was great. I would recommend it to anyone.

One thing. Does "on the full" mean the same thing as "on the fly" as in the homerun crossed the fence on the fly. From context I woulod assume so but just checking.



My next question then. In Rugby why do they sometimes kick the "point after" a try (I believe that is the term) from right in front of the posts and other times they do it from the sidelines at an almost impossible angle?

BTW Spartak I preferred the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Yeah, basically "on the full" is before the ball hits the ground.

Oh, yeah and I think I forgot to add in test cricket each team has to bat twice.

In rugby the extra point (called a "conversion") is to be taken roughly in the same place that the try was scored.

If the try was scored right under the posts the conversion will be an easy chip shot straight in front of the goal posts. If the try however was scored close to the sideline, the kicker is going to have to kick from the sideline. This in theory encourages the team to run up the middle, as it is more difficult to score tries there.

But yeah, basically it depends where the ball was grounded.

Oh Yeah, I liked The long white cloud thing too, but I needed a change :p

Ah so that explains when they get an easy try on the side they still run to the middle and ground the ball there. That makes sense now. Man, Spartak, you are just a wealth of knowledge. Thanks.