Comments on: The Beautiful Game, Part Two http://www.runofplay.com/2008/09/01/the-beautiful-game-part-two/ Attacking Football Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:53:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sunday Selection #3 « Across The Synapse http://www.runofplay.com/2008/09/01/the-beautiful-game-part-two/#comment-10946 Sunday Selection #3 « Across The Synapse Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:36:37 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=1332#comment-10946 [...] Why do we talk about the beautiful game? (Part one, Part two) [...] [...] Why do we talk about the beautiful game? (Part one, Part two) [...]

]]> By: The Un-Choice of Virtue or Effectiveness, Or What I’ll Be Cheering For At The World Cup Final « Hashiell Dammit http://www.runofplay.com/2008/09/01/the-beautiful-game-part-two/#comment-10205 The Un-Choice of Virtue or Effectiveness, Or What I’ll Be Cheering For At The World Cup Final « Hashiell Dammit Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:24:45 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=1332#comment-10205 [...] every so often an individual or a group of people manage to do something crazy. As Phillips himself has noted previously: Compared to other popular sports, there are many forces [in soccer] interacting simultaneously and [...] [...] every so often an individual or a group of people manage to do something crazy. As Phillips himself has noted previously: Compared to other popular sports, there are many forces [in soccer] interacting simultaneously and [...]

]]> By: “The Rhetoric of Artistic Endeavor” - The Run of Play http://www.runofplay.com/2008/09/01/the-beautiful-game-part-two/#comment-8682 “The Rhetoric of Artistic Endeavor” - The Run of Play Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:32:06 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=1332#comment-8682 [...] fine. The tension between utility and aesthetics in football is a fascinating topic; I can’t quite embrace it as the basis of a column that [...] [...] fine. The tension between utility and aesthetics in football is a fascinating topic; I can’t quite embrace it as the basis of a column that [...]

]]> By: Statistics and the Form of the Soccer Match - The Run of Play http://www.runofplay.com/2008/09/01/the-beautiful-game-part-two/#comment-7840 Statistics and the Form of the Soccer Match - The Run of Play Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:38:20 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=1332#comment-7840 [...] a new kind of import to the game's moments of beauty (I've written more about this here, here, and here, among other places). Further, the fact that matches only happen once and the fact that [...] [...] a new kind of import to the game's moments of beauty (I've written more about this here, here, and here, among other places). Further, the fact that matches only happen once and the fact that [...]

]]> By: Statitics and the Beautiful Game - The Run of Play http://www.runofplay.com/2008/09/01/the-beautiful-game-part-two/#comment-3853 Statitics and the Beautiful Game - The Run of Play Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:20:23 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=1332#comment-3853 [...] allow us to experience its specific kind of beauty. Without having statistics in mind at all, I wrote about this in September: So what does football "mean"? One way to answer the question is to [...] [...] allow us to experience its specific kind of beauty. Without having statistics in mind at all, I wrote about this in September: So what does football "mean"? One way to answer the question is to [...]

]]> By: Brian http://www.runofplay.com/2008/09/01/the-beautiful-game-part-two/#comment-1877 Brian Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:10:19 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=1332#comment-1877 That's exactly right, Alan; it's precisely the simplicity of the rules that creates the complexity on the pitch. Is that relation unique to football, or is there a general principle here? To make a comparison, American football is also quite complex for a novice viewer to follow, but in that case it's because the rules are so elaborate, and the choices available to players in different positions diverge so widely. <em>Who's</em> an eligible receiver? <em>When</em> can the cornerback initiate contact? Etc. The freedom players have in soccer is a very different thing, and looms large in the state of things I've been trying to describe in these posts. That’s exactly right, Alan; it’s precisely the simplicity of the rules that creates the complexity on the pitch. Is that relation unique to football, or is there a general principle here? To make a comparison, American football is also quite complex for a novice viewer to follow, but in that case it’s because the rules are so elaborate, and the choices available to players in different positions diverge so widely. Who’s an eligible receiver? When can the cornerback initiate contact? Etc.

The freedom players have in soccer is a very different thing, and looms large in the state of things I’ve been trying to describe in these posts.

]]> By: Alan Jacobs http://www.runofplay.com/2008/09/01/the-beautiful-game-part-two/#comment-1870 Alan Jacobs Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:01:40 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=1332#comment-1870 These are wonderful posts, Brian, but maybe it's worth noting that the game is complex in one sense but simple in others. For instance, the <em>rules</em> of American football or baseball or basketball are much more numerous and more complex than those of football. But the <em>actions</em> that a given player can take at any given time are far fewer. In football, a player — especially the player with the ball — can at any moment do almost anything. Think about one of my favorite players, Cesc Fabregas, with the ball at his feet thirty meters from the opponent's goal; think about how many options present themselves to him, and how the geometry of those options is constantly altering as players move about the pitch. This is why Cruyff was called "Pythagoras in boots," right? -- because of his mastery of this ever-changing geometry. One ball, almost no equipment, few rules, a pitch with few marks on it — and yet at almost every moment a dizzying range of possibility. These are wonderful posts, Brian, but maybe it’s worth noting that the game is complex in one sense but simple in others. For instance, the rules of American football or baseball or basketball are much more numerous and more complex than those of football. But the actions that a given player can take at any given time are far fewer. In football, a player — especially the player with the ball — can at any moment do almost anything. Think about one of my favorite players, Cesc Fabregas, with the ball at his feet thirty meters from the opponent’s goal; think about how many options present themselves to him, and how the geometry of those options is constantly altering as players move about the pitch. This is why Cruyff was called “Pythagoras in boots,” right? — because of his mastery of this ever-changing geometry. One ball, almost no equipment, few rules, a pitch with few marks on it — and yet at almost every moment a dizzying range of possibility.

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