Watching American football

Next Sunday is opening weekend for the NFL!

NASN (North American Sports Network) has a game starting at 7PM (live): NY Jets vs. NE Patriots
...and another at 10PM (also live): Chicago vs. San Diego

I propose that we meet at Belushi's (Rosa Luxemburg Str. 39-41) at 6:30PM. I've never been there, so i don't know if the place fills up on a Sunday. Although I don't expect a huge crowd for American football.

Anybody else interested?

I'm a maybe, as I have Ben Watson and Donte Stallworth (whom I'll bench anyways in Wk 1) on my fantasy team.

I'm in!

So glad to know there's people watching NFL football here! I'll pass this Sunday, but maybe next week when there's more..interesting teams playing? (yes, I have some partialities towards DC and SF :-))

I think I'm in for football too!

~Rose

If you join me there for the South Africa v Samoa Rugby World Cup match at 4.30 pm I'll stay to watch the American version of the gentlemanly sport known as Rugby Football.

I'd definitely love to watch the Bears game but since I have to work early in the morning I will watch it at home this time (Slingbox). But post if you guys get together again...would like to join.

Go Bears!

Uh.. I might be up for that Marc, but I don't know much about rugby... other than it looks painful...

I'm happy to explain the basics- but someone has to do the same for me for the NFL game.

I think one of us could to that - though I admit that I'm not an expert on American football - by any means.

SO you're just coming fo the beer.

No. I don't drink beer.

I'm coming for the guys in tight pants.

Oh and the opportunity to yell "TOUCHDOWN!" in Berlin.

Mmm. Fooball. I've spent 5.5 years searching Berlin for televised American sports (well, just football and baseball, although college hoops would be cool, too). I'd more or less resigned myself to having to live with live internet streams.

So, Belushi's on Sunday. I'll try to make it. I've never been there, but having walked by once the place kind of rubbed me the wrong way (like most of Mitte does). But I'm willing to give it a try, and it's not like I can be choosy. If my head is recovered from the onslaught of soccer games on Saturday, I'll come down. I'm guessing it shouldn't be too hard to find the people there for the NFL.

I thought it might be a good idea to make a list of other alternative venues. This is a list of where I have seen/heard rumors of American sports being televised:

Oscar Wilde: I've seen them put NFL games on in the past, and their website normally advertises NFL. I have deep personal issue with the place, though, and try to avoid it. Besides, the one time I saw them showing NFL it was with no sound and it got turned off after 15 minutes so some Spaniards could watch soccer.

Emerald Isle: My favorite Irish pub, so I'm surprised I didn't know they showed NFL. I'm in there a lot for soccer and the quiz, but I'd assumed the Sunday night bingo meant no chance for NFL. I'd say it's a good option for the future.

Ceili House: I was there last Thanksgiving and was pleasently surprised. Large projection screen showing the games. A cool bartender from Miami. Their website is down at the moment, but it seems that they show NFL every weekend. A good option, but the location in Charlottenburg is a bit of a pain for those of us on the east side.

Salime, Salami, Selema, whatever it's called: Never been. Read about it. It kind of scares me, but it's not far from my apartment (Treptow), so I'd like to give it a shot.

Baseball options would be cool, but I'm not holding my breath.

Next Sunday is gonna be awesome on NASN!
At 10 am Toronto vs. BC (CFL...I know, I know) and then at 10 pm my fav team, the Dolphins, will obliterate my most hated team, the Cowboys. Too bad it wasn't a 7pm game (but Indy vs. the Titans is OK too!)
I am looking forward to this Sunday, boy do I miss getting together Sundays for a game...no matter where it is being watched.

I am a HUGE Bears fan, desperate to see the Bears on NASN. Is there anywhere in Berlin closer to Zehlendorf than Belushi's where NASN might be on? I called city Sportsbar but they said they'd be showing the Germany-Wales soccer game.

If not, I will definately be there for the Bears-Chargers!

Aww man was last night great. We managed to see the Patriots, the Packers, and the Redskins win.

(Sorry Roman, I've gotta do it ... CHOKE!! CHOKE CHOKE CHOKE!)

In related news...

Belushi's has agreed to play the Red Sox -Yankees game on Friday night (it starts at 1 AM Germany time)... If anyone's up for it.

GO BO-SOX!!

What a disappointment the Bears game was. The Bears defense owned the field but the running backs need to learn to hold onto the ball. Nothing worse than watching your team beat themselves. At least Grossman looked decent, the loss definitely wasn't his fault.

Don't worry about it Rose, I am wearing a Dolphins sweatshirt today and it also has the insult repellant in it...hahaha.
Last night WAS really great, I cried all the way home!
Can't wait for next Sunday and even maybe Friday (if my Dolphins lose to Dallas I will exile myself to Treptow, or somewhere in between)

Ditto on the bears game. I watched the first and second quarter and then was so NOT interested, I began the journey home. Unfortunately that game was what killed the "football party" last eve.

Hopefully they'll get better and offer up a couple interesting games in the coming weeks.

~Rose

Last night was great! Thanks to all who came out. The games were entertaining and I think that we were all pleasantly surprised by Belushi's. It's a nice place.

So, I would like to officially propose that we meet next Sunday same time (6:30PM), same place (right in front of the big TV in the back of Belushi's).

A quick check of the NASN website shows that they actually do plan to show live games next Sun. rather than just college football highlights (like last night). Here's what's on tap next week:
7PM - Indianapolis vs Tennesee
10PM - Roman's Dolphins vs (the hated) Cowboys
If NASN fails us again, there's always the other network, SKY I believe it was. We WILL have our football.

Hope to see everyone out again. For those sitting on the fence, perhaps the 2 for 1 Becks special or free Jager shots will entice you.

Now now - that was last Sunday's special... we can't guarantee that's going to be next Sunday's special.

Although I will note that the Aussie Bartender who kept walking around cheering on the Jets was quite amusing...

It was a good time indeed (and I have to admit to feeling a bit crapulous today as a result). I was definitely pleasantly surprised by Belushi's. I wanted so much to hate the place (I'm a cynic by nature), but I just couldn't.

Some options for watching at home (assuming you have a broadband connection):

Go to this site:
http://www.myp2p.eu/
and click on NFL (obvious, I know). The NFL games are all pretty reliable. Baseball less so. For NCAA, you're best off going into the forums and looking for links in there. You will need to have Sopcast installed on your computer as well (http://www.sopcast.com/download/). I got home last night and used this to watch the end of the Bears-Chargers and start of the Cowboys-Giants (I couldn't sleep), and the signal was great.

Another option is here:
http://www.tenyardtorrents.com/
You can download games after the fact. Not ideal, but if you can avoid hearing the score (not too difficult over here), it's not too bad. And the picture quality is generally better than the above option. You will also need a torrent client installed on your computer. I use this one: http://www.utorrent.com/ .

Or you could just go down to Belushi's and watch it there.

That Fins-Boys game looks like a good one. Shame about the late start.

I'd be interested in Indy v Tenn, being a Colts fan, but unsure if I can make it as a friend from Aus in in town for a few days.

It only took until the 4 PM EST games for my fantasy season to be ruined, when Brandon Jacobs went down...now I have to use Cedric Benson or LenDale White...Plus I pulled a 0 when Lee Evans got shut down by Denver's Champ Bailey. It's now going to be a long season.

IND, DEN, NE looked good. ATL, KC, CLE looked bad. "They are what we thought they were."

Thanks Ami, I'll definitely check that out. It's good to have another option for catching some games. Going to the bar is a lot of fun, but I don't bounce back from a night of drinking like I used to...

BTW, for all of the Patriots haters, check out this story about last night's game. Could this be the secret to their success?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012989

OK, here's a stupid question for all of you TT veterans: How do I change the description of this topic so that it is more general, as in, Watching American football, every Sunday, 6:30PM @ Belushi's?

Thanks in advance for helping out a newbie.

To change the topic - you've gotta hit one of the moderators. Thing is that Belushis may or may not play it every sunday - we need to check with them beforehand.

Meantime - I don't know if anyone saw the article on Kevin Everett 's broken neck from Sunday? Looks like he it's career ending and from the sound of it he may be paralized from neck down - though they did surgery yesterday...they're not sure if he'll ever recover...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-b...p&type=lgns

According to reports, 2/3 of a ton of compressive force during an incorrect tackle attempt compressed his spine... All I can say is OUCH.

Hmmmmmmmmmm... (what more can one say?)

The easiest way to do this is to "report" a post in the thread, including an explanation of the desired change. Well, the second-easiest way. The easiest way is to start a new thread each week.

OK..I'm in for this Sunday 6:30 (I think I can get Aaron to join in again)

See y'all there!

I'm in as well, but I'll be late (this is my weekend to work). I might make it about 7 or 7:30 since I get off of work at 5.

Anyone know if I can bring the pup to Balushi's with me? I saw one there last week but it was unclear if he was the owner's dog or not.

~Rose

Bump for those of you who need a reminder about tomorrow.

Same bat-time, Same bat-channel...

Games are (ROMAN... HELLO! Will they CHOKE again?!?)

Indianapolis vs Tennessee (1900 Germany time)

Dallas vs Miami (2200 Germany time)

San Diego vs New England (0200 Germany time)

I'll be late, but for sure appear and be squishing some of the Cowboy's heads in the second game.

See y'all at belushi's tonight, Sept 16.

I'll be down in time for kickoff. Not sure if I'll get the missus to come yet. I wish they'd get the Seahawks on soon. I had to endure watching the Huskies on the computer last night. Not pretty.

what games are playing? Just the Bears?