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Ten Rules To Follow When Building a Successful Fantasy Basketball Team | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

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Dan Schultz@DSchultz89Twitter LogoContributor IOctober 22, 2010

Ten Rules To Follow When Building a Successful Fantasy Basketball Team

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Although not as dominant the fantasy sport that football is, fantasy basketball leagues have been able to acquire a relatively loyal following throughout the years. While football will always be number one due to its gigantic fan base and almost excessive coverage from various mainstream media angles, fantasy basketball will always be an undeniable, lesser force which will attract many NBA fans.

Fantasy leagues are basically heaven for stat geeks, where points are assigned to different statistical categories for sports gurus to breakdown in hopes of putting together the master team. What makes fantasy sports so compelling, like sports in real life, is the unforeseen changes that occur throughout the duration of the season, such as injuries (sometimes nagging, other times season-ending), players struggling to find their groove, or random figures emerging from obscurity to become coveted chips for any fantasy owner.

Here are ten rules to follow for putting together a team that should have an undeniably solid chance at being awarded champions of their league at year’s end.

No. 10: Staying Confident In Your Team

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Sure, there will be times when your guys have off nights or show signs of regression, but you should attempt to stay confident with who you pick, even if they suck for more than a few games. I cannot even tell you how many times I have benched a player after a bad game and he goes off for 30 points and seven boards on my bench.

This is what happens in fantasy sports. You have these guys for 82 games and most of the time, they do a great job. So I would stress having confidence in your guys. Only when you are one hundred percent certain that a player will not return to original form or is going to be out for a while due to a nagging injury—waiving him might be a good decision.

Otherwise, stay patient, no matter how hard it might be sometimes.

No. 9: Don't Overvalue Scoring

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Sure, scoring threats inside and outside are ones to be desired, but never underestimate other categories such as rebounds, assists, and blocks. That’s why guys like Gerald Wallace and Rajon Rondo are such awesome players to have on your fantasy teams, because even when they do not light up the scoreboard, it is still very important to have players that will fill up each category (except for turnovers) each night.

I am not saying that scorers who do not really do much else besides hit threes are horrible (Kyle Korver), but I would definitely advise against taking players who just specialize in scoring in a high round, since they will be around on waiver wire or during the last rounds most likely.

No 8: Beware Of The Rookie Wall

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Sure, guys like John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Derrick Favors look like they are going to be very nice NBA players. However, one must always take into consideration the dreaded “wall” most first-year players run into during the later part of the season. Since all of these players are not as well adjusted to an 82 game schedule as other veteran players in the league, this might make for an erratic season for some.

Take for example Brandon Jennings or DeJuan Blair, who were both phenomenal to start the year and had overall good years for their respected squads, but both players crashed hard into the rookie wall last year. It happens to most rookies, it takes a special talent to hop over it (maybe Wall fits in here? We’ll see…).

No 7: Make Sure At Least One Of Your Big Men Is a Nightly Double-Double Threat

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Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, heck even Zach Randolph are names that pop to mind when one is searching for that coveted double-double nightly threat. Maybe one of your forwards or centers is a rebounding/shot-blocking machine, but make sure one of the guys you pick in the draft will at least be a consistent menace on both the low-block and glass.

It is important to have a low-post scorer with a high field goal percentage on any team if you have to be successful.

No 6: Aim to Have Atleast One All-Around Player

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Take for example my team—I made Rajon Rondo fit into this category. He does everything generally well and can be a triple-double threat any given night. However, he is not alone in this category. Guys like Andre Iguodala and Gerald Wallace also possess the ability to fill up the stat sheet on random nights.

If you can, try to get a guy who is balanced across the board, since double-doubles and triple-doubles are definitely desired by anyone who is enamored with fantasy basketball.

No 5: Make Sure Your Guards Are Not Turnover Machines

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Just like in real life, turnovers in fantasy suck and cost your team. Since guards handle the ball considerably more compared to the rest of the positions, it is absolutely important that your guards have a firm grasp on ball-control.

Although you might be able to get away with guys like Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry since they make up for their high turnover rate with impressive scoring, most of the time over three turnovers is where I draw the line. If you can get Steve Nash, a guy who can shoot from outside as well as have some ridiculous games from an assists perspective, I’d say you’re in good shape.

No 4: Never Discount Veteran Players

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Yes, guys like Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and the like might be getting old and this potentially means they will not be as effective. That still does not mean they are not worth picking in early rounds.

With the current infatuation with young talent and potential, most old vets get tossed aside when it comes to draft time, as one would rather get a player that could really expand during the year instead of an aging star in the league.

Sometimes veteran players are the most driven to put up big games in order to get their team wins and to the playoffs, since their days as a professional athlete are numbered and they want to make the most out of what they have left. I am not saying that you should take a guy like Marcus Camby with your first pick or anything, but just keep in mind that there’s nothing wrong with picking an older player who still has star qualities attached to his name.

No. 3: Try To Predict Breakout Stars

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It is not easy, I know. I would suggest going through teams’ rosters and picking players that will probably slide through many rounds, despite being projected to get a fair amount of playing time through the upcoming year. These guys emerge every year, and almost nobody sees them coming.

My best guess as of this year would be that Jrue Holiday has the biggest chance to shine, seeing he will be given the starting point guard duties in Philadelphia and he has already recorded a triple-double in preseason action. These types of players are usually selected in the later rounds where no one sees anything special in them other than an average contributor.

No 2: If You Are Going to Take One of The Big Three Early, Make It LeBron

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No offense to Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but LeBron has to be the favorite when it comes to picking between the three of them. Unlike Wade, who has to be satisfied in assisting with the huge off season haul, and Bosh who everyone knew was leaving Toronto after the season, LeBron has been doing a lot of talking back to his critics ever since he made the choice to “take his talents to South Beach”.

Let’s face it, if he does not win as many titles as Jordan and Kobe did/does, he is going to be eternally looked as a cheap-shot artist who robbed Cleveland of their pride and identity – all on national TV.

He claims that he is motivated to prove his doubters wrong, and I for one believe him. Despite being surrounded by two other huge talents, LeBron will bust out more than a few huge games that will make his owners proud.

No 1: Your First Pick Is Your Most Important One

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I know, it sounds obvious and cliché, but your first pick in the draft really is your most crucial one. It is hard to define who the best player for this particular setting might be, since names like Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and LeBron James all have very distinct skill sets.

Personally, I would suggest going with Kevin Durant, who is feeling secure after just signing an extension in Oklahoma City and who has the purest stroke in the league. He rebounds at a nice clip and has the ability to run the floor like Lamar Odom. He is without question one of the league’s strongest talents who can score in bunches and take over games when he wants to.

With your first pick, eye a guy who can just flat out dominate in one area, such as scoring, rebounding, or assists. If you are looking for defense right off the bat, Dwight Howard is definitely the favorite there.

Like Durant, Kobe Bryant will still be a force to be reckoned with. Whatever your first pick is, make sure you get a guy you know can put up big games in certain statistical categories, as this could propel you victories at key stretches in the season.

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Chapter Twenty. Shooting stars. Obscene Talent [Confessions of a male pornstar]

Chapter Twenty. Shooting stars

Working as a porn actor is not sugar. No one knows how difficult it is to get an erection in a room full of people, about having sex with women you don't even like, or how to switch positions in the heat of the moment: "Move your right hand, move your right foot, stick your tongue out!" I'm not saying it's easier for women, but they can pretty much fake everything. But you can't fake an erection or ejaculation. Male porn actors are artists in their own right. We are the survivors of this war. There is a brotherhood we share that is not found in any other profession. But there is also competition. We apply for the same roles. No matter how different we are from each other, most producers and directors consider us almost interchangeable. After all, you are only as good as your last sex scene.

Jamie Gills is a person dear to me. Of all the guys in the business, I have the kindest, most tender feelings for him. He is one of the most charming people I have ever known. I could sleep next to this person, snuggle up to him and not feel that something was wrong. I'm not talking about sex. I'm talking about heartfelt affection. When we were making the film Crazy, we often went to Jamie to be together, to have breakfast, to talk, just to be ordinary people. He was like a brother to me.

Jamie has been in business almost from the beginning. My guess is twenty years or more. Stupid things are said about Jamie. But Jamie is not as crazy as in the movie. And what is madness? No, Jamie is not crazy, he is just not always understood correctly. They expect the worst of him and are surprised to realize that he is not an imaginary monster. Sure, sometimes he looks like the dirty type, but what the hell, isn't all porn about that?

I find him sexually interesting because he is devilishly sure of himself. When I first met Jamie, he liked to go to the Hollywood hills and take pictures of young girls. Here he worked with beautiful women his age and younger and got the sex he wanted. Still, I figured out where he was coming from when I caught myself doing the same thing at places like McDonald's. This does not mean that I was interested in girls sexually. I just loved looking at them because they are beautiful, blossoming works of art. I had already forgotten how I looked at their age and how innocent I was.

Jamie and I made 22 films together. He's a very good actor, but I don't touch the Jamie in the movies. Our relationship is deeper than that. We like each other and I allow myself to accept him as he is.

I first met John Leslie while filming The Four-X Feeling in New York. Joey Silvera, my co-star in Dirty Talent, was the thread that connected us. About five years ago, Joy told me that John thought he was the best actor in the business. I considered myself and therefore I understood that hidden jealousy would be present on the set.

John and I were very polite to each other. We talked about all the topics of real men, like baseball and hockey. John loved good wines, art and golf. I wonder if he consciously acquired these qualities in order to give himself a certain class and contradict the image of a porn actor created by people. Maybe he acquired these interests deliberately. I would like to see what kind of person is hiding under this tinsel. When John and I entered into such a conversation, it was like a competition.

In The Four-X Feeling, we mostly played ourselves. He came to me from the country and, as two porn actors, we decided to earn big money and create our own porn film. My character thought he was in control, but I was a little nervous working with him. Among other things, John worked in business for 15 years. When I opened the door in that first scene to let him into my apartment, I had a bad feeling inside. I had to get rid of it somehow. Suddenly, I yelled, “Damn! Bugger! Shit!" At the time, no one understood why I exploded, and I tried to dispel the uncertainty. But my nervousness did not help me or the stage. After that, everything was fine with me.

John and I became very good friends. He accepts my eccentricity. This is something even King Salami can't argue with. Lisa always asks me what planet I came from.

If you've watched The Four-X Feeling, you may notice a sense of competition in the opening scenes. We improvised all the dialogues. I did everything slowly, and John was as always at ease. During the filming of the film, I went completely nuts and made idiotic comments all the time, like comparing a big, black dildo (an artificial male penis) to a bowling alley trophy. John was my simpleton (comedian's partner) and you can see the fright on his face. At one point he gave up and stopped competing with me, because he could not respond to my witty remarks in the same vein. Few can - even Ron Jeremy, very quick and witty, could not. It's almost like handcuffing them and throwing away the key. This is my way of being funny. I don't want to offend people, but sometimes it happens. My tongue is always ready.

I like John Leslie and enjoy working with him because our dialogues are like playing ping pong. He extinguishes the ball back and forth and keeps it in play. John's only complaint about me was that I was "using other people's energy." I don't want to bully an important person in the industry like John, but he pairs well with me. Although in business I am a middle-aged man, because I have been doing porn for a long time, in life I am still young. John is older than me both in business and in life. We are only eight "old-timers", who are considered the best actors: John, Harry Reems (Harry Reems), Eric Edwards (Eric Edwards), Joey Silvera (Joey Silvera), Jamie Gills (Jamie Gills), Paul Thomas (Paul Thomas), Ron Jeremy and me. We are relics of sex. Because of his world-famous hack, John Holmes is more of an eccentric than an actor.

Joy Silvera is always very serious when working with John, but when we are together, Joy and I are notorious for being recalcitrant on set. Why do we terrorize people? Because it's much more fun to have fun than just working with some boring woman who indifferently performs oral sex, or with some director who exhausts you for many hours. We create our own reality and our own fun.

John cannot be as relaxed with me. He refers to me, for the most part, like Harry Reems. They both try to take a patronizing tone towards me all the time, but I won't let them do it with impunity. Although I am not even thirty, but when we work together, I am almost equal to them. I've made more films than most regular movie veterans (with the possible exception of John Carraline). I know that porn is not the same, but it means something. He has his place. Your film length.

As an erotic actor in his forties, John is concerned about conserving energy. He is worried about the loss of hair and the thickening of the waist. From film to film you can see how time creeps up on him. Every time I find a piece of animal fur on set, I pick it up and say out loud, "Hey, looks like John Leslie did a sex scene here." Once, I gave him a black yarmulke to cover his bald head, but he didn't really appreciate it. His baldness is his weak point. John also insists that the first sex scene be during the day and will not run for more than eight hours.

John Leslie can say whatever he wants about me, but I know how he feels deep down inside. I encourage the desire of people to be liberated, to joke with each other.

One thing I don't like about John is that he never allows himself to relax, to feel at ease. He has a Hollywood Star complex. As for me, it reminds me of expensive Chinese porcelain, which must be washed carefully and handled with care. I prefer plastic plates. Of course, I myself knock everywhere, but they use me more often and they are more happy with me than with chic little things. People feel at home with me. For every nasty thing John Leslie can say about me, he can say three times as many good things, if he doesn't hide his comments deep inside, of course. Many people like it. But these unexpressed feelings give me something to work with.

Book Adams, the most distinctive looking person I've ever known. I don't know where he got that protruding jaw, that oddly shaped face and that taut, immaculate body, I have no idea where he's from. His manner reminded me of a kid walking out into the schoolyard hoping to be chosen to play basketball with the big boys. Buk and I became friends on the set of Mama's Boy. It had a lot of hooliganism and I liked it. We had a lot in common, although I didn’t have such a huge Adam’s apple as St. Louis.

Together we were a great force. I had madness, buffoonery, companionship, while Beech was calm, firm, the qualities of Charles Bronson. We lived together for several months in a room with one bed and slept in turns on the bed, then on the couch.

We each had our own problems. We had rent, we had bills to pay, but we spent every extra cent on entertainment. Book's sister Amber Lynn used to hang out with us. She was tall and I was touched by the fact that she looked like a Book dressed in a woman's dress. And like Clark Kent and Superman, they never showed up in the same room together.

Both Amber and Buk were adopted by foster parents. Their biological mother died of cancer. They eked out a miserable existence in Orange County, California. Laborers, white trash, they grew up stealing and stealing locked cars. (He claimed to be an amateur boxer and knocked out Thomas Hearns at a meeting in Texas.) So I, a rude Brooklyn kid, really got along with Book. We created our own emotional atmosphere in the film; but later the directors stopped hiring us together because we were causing such chaos.

Buk is a follower. Everything I do, he does, and sometimes even a step more. I am very pragmatic in cursing and practical jokes, while he is impulsive. If I peed in the corner of the hotel room, he would go further and urinate from the balcony as well, and we would be thrown out of the room.

Book has always bragged about how many sex scenes he can do in one day. At the beginning there were five or six. Now this is expected of him all the time. Recently, Book has had problems with sex scenes. (I even helped him out and once released a jet of cum for him.) Along with his wife Jeanette, he still plays. Until you find something special, the penis reacts to everything like a thermometer. It depends on any climate change. But once you've fallen in love and settled down, making porn becomes even more difficult. Guilt is inside you. And the enthusiasm fades. Now Book can rarely do two good scenes a day, but people expect more from him. I always told him - do not brag, do not ascribe to yourself extra sex scenes just like that, but he did not listen to me. He aspired to extra-popularity. In porn, it's always better to let people crave more.

First I will talk about Paul Thomas as an actor. Although he can sometimes overact, PT (as he usually calls himself - his real name has the same initials as the porn name) is one of the most refined and professional actors in the porn business. He did this for what must have been about twenty years, until his new wife forced him to leave. In my opinion, his best work was in the movie Space Virgins. Paul, Herschel Savage and I played three highlander brothers. We were fucking our sister Kimberly Carson, this time without a black wig, when three space virgins visited our farm.

In those days PT was an adult film director and sometimes I thought he forgot where he came from: he was an actor like us and argued with some director about daily quotas. But now he's on the other side of the fence. He probably needs $15,000 to make the film and how much he has left is up to him. I understand everything, but this does not give him the right to underpay talent, especially to him, who knows how unfair this is.

Sometimes I helped him in his work as a director, suggesting the right camera angle and helping to shoot, he was really grateful to me. Even despite the fact that we did not have big clashes, I disagreed with him in many ways. I don't like how he tightens the screws and becomes too demanding on the court. All he achieves with this is the appearance of a complex in the people around him. His business side is tough and arrogant. To see the kindness in him, watch his films, but stay away from his sets.

Every time Harry Reems shows me his shitty superiority, I put him in his place. In general, he is a good guy, but too arrogant. Maybe because he starred in classic films like Deep Throat and The Devil in Miss Jones. Harry's name is well known and I don't think the name "Jerry Butler" will ever become such a "name". But then I'm not a guy on a pedestal, like Harry.

I met Harry at the audition for In Love. He liked my work and, I must admit, I was touched, because the praise came from one of the business classics. I once worked with him and found that he behaved like any other bore. He drank on the set and went on a wild life afterwards. I tried to find something attractive in it. It was hard for him to give up, but in the end it happened. Too often, Harry has been like an old lady waving her wallet all the time while you try to help her across the street.

Have you ever seen a dirty Jewish child work like an Italian? This is Herschel Savage. He always wanted to be Italian, but he had no choice but to challenge the fate of a Jew. Hershel and I are both from Brooklyn and his cousin Willie lives in a house next to my parents' house. Both Hershel and I used to drive taxis at P.D.Q. Car Service, but we never met before porn.

His real name is Harvey. This is a big guy with a hoarse voice, I find his body unattractive and I can't watch him in sex scenes. But I like him as a person, even though he is always on the defensive. Such people are always on guard with me, as if they are always trying to prepare themselves for some trick that might come out of my mouth. First you need to remove the red skin from Hershel before you get to the juicy apple. But if you leave a peeled apple in the air, it will turn brown.

Tom Byron is Scott Hamilton in porn. You know Tom the skater is very skinny. There is a joke in our circles: “What happens if you put an earring on a stick?” "Tom Byron". But he has a huge penis and I envy him.

Tom and I were on good terms, but ever since he came to represent the Jim South Agency and I the Reb Agency, there has been a quiet, hidden feud between us. He was always trying to pick up new women in the business. The only problem is that he didn't stay with them for long. He's not as cold as he tries to be.

I can say so many bad things about Ron Jeremy, but I've never treated him 100 percent badly. You just can't hate him. There was something supernatural about him that made him forgive. Together we spent a lot of time violently and cheerfully. But he is completely transformed when someone else enters the room.

I met Ron about 10 years ago when I was still a puppy in the business. I was always amazed by his sexual abilities. Ron has a 10 inch long penis and incredible muscle control. He can make his penis jump, strike, or move like a snake. She can make her penis hard for any vagina and stay that way until he cums, given that I have to row coal all the time. But if I had to rely on a face... forget it!

As you may have noticed, porn allows me to break up, but I only get to that point as long as the camera is on. When the camera stops, the madness stops. But even off the set, Ron uses his position in porn like a credit card. He is very assertive and persuasive with women. I feel like a small business in business when I see him bring women to tears. Someone told me that there is not a single party with Ron where he does not seduce at least one woman in the bathroom.

Ron just doesn't know when to stop. He was with his girlfriend Tanya Lawson on the set of The Pink Lagoon, but he started courting Lisa Marie, who was John Johnson's girlfriend. Things went so badly that Ron had to be fired. And I was at the hotel when the women just wanted to talk to Ron about business, nothing more. When they, still not having time to figure it out, were in the room, he locked the door with a key. Since Ron has a large penis, he only identifies through his sexuality and cannot be happy until he has taken off his pants.

Still, Ron is very smart when it comes to money management. He has been in business for about 10 years and has been in a lot of films. I can only dream of also managing my affairs. But again, despite all the stupid things I did, all the mistakes I made, I met and married the woman I love. On the other hand, look where Ron is now. As far as I know, he doesn't have anyone special in his life.

Here is a typical Ron story. I was at a restaurant called Stanley's (a big popular place in Los Angeles). The owner, Barbara, was lovely. I couldn't believe she was coming towards me - she was wearing a wedding ring. "Have you already fucked her?" Ron asked.

“Look,” I replied, “I can fuck on screen. We may even participate in the same sex scene, but my personal life is none of your concern.”

I told Ron that I really liked Barbara. He shrugged, raised his hands and said, “I'm not going to do anything. I just thought she might want to go to the Comedy Store. This was his ploy. He thinks he will be more respected if he knows people like Sam Kinnison, Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. He thinks so because they are his friends and this does and its is more attractive. But I always thought it was good to be with Ron on his own, whether he knew anyone there or not. He is too vulnerable to understand this.

Anyway, that night I went to see Barbara after I found out she was wearing her wedding ring just for the sake of it; she wasn't really married, but it helped her fight off harassment. I couldn't believe that this magnificent creature was going to give herself to me! While we were making love, the phone rang. I knew it was Ron! I was damn sure! And when Barbara said that she didn't want to go to the Comedy Store, I was already absolutely sure. Ron was shocked when I grabbed the phone, scolded him and hung up.

Regardless, I feel sorry for Ron. He had to learn a lot about himself and about women. He was afraid to marry. If he were to stay with one woman, it would cut off all the mechanisms necessary to convince him that he is a man.

Book Adams and I worked in San Francisco on a film directed by Ron. We were joking as usual, and Ron tried to remain serious. He stood at the bottom of the hill, and Buk and I were at the top. And here is Ron shirtless, his belly hanging over his shorts. He's trying to act like a pro by getting the team together for a meeting. Watching him from the top of the hill made me damn bored. I turned to Buck and said, "Time to play." I started masturbating. Still holding the penis in my hand, I ran down the hill and cummed on Ron's leg. While he was trying to win the respect of the team. Buck laughed so hard he literally rolled down the hill. Everyone burst out laughing. I said to Ron, "Why don't you stop this shitty 'meeting' and start making this fucking movie." Because Ron couldn't control the shoot, we all took control of it.

Another time we were filming in one of these canyon towns near Los Angeles. Ron had already finished his sex scene and I was about to start mine. Ron had time throughout my sex scene to take a shower, but he used up his time. I was hot and sticky, so I took off my clothes and started rubbing against him in a small, two by four, booth. It didn't seem to bother him. Then I slowly moved back and began to urinate on his hairy back. Ron didn't leave. All he said was, "Butler, is this really necessary?"

Mike Horner (alias Don Hart) as screen door. It is not durable, does not keep heat in the house, but protects against bugs. Like this door, Mike is a very solid, professional actor in the business, but he is not what we call a host. He plays somewhat theatrical and sometimes seems over the top in the film. But if I was making a film, I would like to have Mike on the cast, because he is reliable and efficient.

Mike is a harmless guy, he will never say anything bad about anyone. I see that my recklessness often belies his cold, reserved manner. It puffs at a speed of 55 km/h and reaches its destination at a leisurely pace. I accelerate until I reach 85, make sharp turns and get more chances. Sometimes he seems out of place on the site, like a giraffe on a lift. Mike gives the impression of a tall, ungainly creature who doesn't know what to do with himself.

On March 13, 1988, John C. Holms died of colon cancer. Maybe it has to do with AIDS. For many months he was in the intensive care unit at the Veterans Hospital in Los Angeles. You already know that the first time I saw John was when I was using my father's projector. John was like an idol for me. Because of his huge penis, I almost worshiped him, worshiped him passionately. The pleasure he gave women was almost painful. And yet, I admired so much not so much the real John Holmes as his ... weapons. I was intrigued.

In the movie Rocky X (a parody of Stallone's movie Rocky), I finally met John in person; he played a ring rival, executive Book Adams. (I was "Rocky") I told John how much he meant to me as a child, it was a real blow to him. I was surprised that it was so simple. Sometimes people with such a reputation behave like a block of marble - cold and indifferent. I don't care, I have my own hammer and chisel. I want to find out where the veins and arteries are hidden, what is human in them. And here I am, shaking, shaking, shaking. And they tell me, "No, no, no." I remove some more shavings and they are grateful to me for digging out of them. But John Holmes is fine, he's real.

John also had a "Ron Jeremy Complex" except that his penis was even bigger: thirteen or fourteen inches - when it's that big, does 1 or 2 inches matter? It becomes redundant. How good does it feel to have such a big penis? In porn, it's the most valuable thing about you, but it doesn't even have a brain. After some time, people simply stop noticing anything in a person other than him. But what really suffers is the person himself, in this case John.

As you can imagine, I have never suffered from "large penis syndrome". I wasn't hired for my penis, it's average. I knew that I had a lot of things besides him. Ron's Treasure Chest is a bag with money between his legs. Mine is an excess of emotions. On the scales are gold doubloons and strings of pearls.

This text is an introductory fragment.

Want to start watching the NFL but don't understand anything? Here everything is sorted out for you

From the editor: you are in the blog " Hail Mary " - the main blog about the NFL in Ukraine. Its author has been keeping us up to date with all the news of American football for several years now. Support him with pluses and comments.

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I've been covering NFL games, events and history for two years now. I am eternally grateful to everyone who reads my blog, leaves comments and creates our awesome community on Tribuna.com. Every time I got an unreal boost of motivation to keep doing this, when I saw people's comments that they started watching American football and chose their favorite team thanks to the entries on this blog.

Given the ever-expanding audience and repeated requests for comments, it's time to make a detailed post about what American football is all about. There was a similar post two years ago, but now I understand that it can and should be finalized and improved. Yes, there have been some changes in the league. So a month before the start of the new NFL season, I roll out an updated and improved version of my American football guide.

I have tried to include as many terms, rules, and features as you might encounter when watching NFL games. But it is worth remembering that American football is such a complex and diverse game that it is almost impossible to describe absolutely everything. So if this guide doesn't answer any of your questions, feel free to ask it in the comments on this or any other blog post. I will always answer with pleasure.

I also tried my best to illustrate game situations and terms with videos from NFL matches so that you can clearly see what was described in words.

Yes, and you understand that this is a longread, right? I warned you. And now about everything in order.

Basic principles

Field

Let's start from the very basics, namely the field. The main unit of distance in American football is the yard (0.91 meters), so everything will be in yards. The field is 100 yards long and 53.3 wide. At the two ends of the field are end zones (end zones) 10 yards long. So technically the field is 120 yards long, but when they say "football field" they mean exactly 100 yards. Directly in the center on the back line of each of the scoring zones is a goal in the form of a slingshot. The distance from the field to the crossbar is 3 meters, between the bars - 5.64 meters. Thanks to the scoring zones and gates in American football, points are earned.

The field itself is lined across its entire width with lines every 5 yards. Every 10 yards from the end zone to the middle of the field, the lines are marked with numbers from 10 to 50. Then the countdown goes in descending sequence. In the center of the field and on its sides there are small serifs that mark every yard. They are not numbered. These lines and serifs are needed to help referees and players navigate, since 10 yards is a sacred number for American football, and below you will understand why.

Also in American football there is such a thing as "own" and "foreign" yards. Everything is simple here - when the team is in its own half of the field, they say that it is in its own yards. When she crosses the middle of the field and hits the opponent's half, she is in other people's yards. Although usually commentators simplify everything and simply name the yards along with the team. For example, "ball at 18 yards" Atlanta ".

Rosters

Each NFL team has 53 players in its active season roster. This composition is called a roster. The limit of 53 people must not be exceeded under any circumstances. If a player suffers a serious injury that puts him out of action for a long time, then the team may move him to the injured reserve (IR) list. Then the place in the active roster becomes free and a healthy player can take it. Healthy players are taken either from the free agent market or from the practice squad. These are the players who take part in the team's training but cannot be registered for the official game. Also, the team can simply expel a player from the team (waive), freeing up space for a new player. Also, teams can exchange players, but this option is available only in the first half of the season.

As for direct matches, the team can enter 46 out of 53 players, which are divided into three groups - attack (offense), defense (defense) and special team (special team). There are 11 players from each team on the field at the same time. The number of substitutions is not limited, so coaches are free to change squads between draws, releasing almost all of the new 11 players.

Playing time

The match consists of 4 quarters of 15 minutes. Time in American football is hybrid. It can either be paused (as in hockey or basketball) or keep going (as in European football). Although the latter happens much less frequently. Time is not paused only when the ball carrier is stopped inbounds. In all other cases, after the end of the draw, the time stops.

There is a so-called two-minute warning at the end of the second and fourth quarters. When there are 2 minutes left in those quarters, time stops regardless of what happened on the field. Also, the match may be interrupted for commercial time-outs and time-outs taken by head coaches. Each team has 6 timeouts. They are divided in half. 3 time-outs can be taken in the first half of the game, 3 - in the second.

There is a big break between the second and third quarters. It lasts approximately 12 minutes. Between the remaining quarters, the pauses are symbolic and last a couple of minutes. Despite the fact that the net playing time in American football is only an hour, get ready for the fact that, taking into account all the pauses and stops, it will take you about 3 hours to watch the match.

Purpose and process of the game

Keper to the most important of the basics. The main goal of American football is to score more points than your opponent. To do this, the attack must bring the ball into the end zone and make a touchdown, and the defense must prevent them at any cost. Although there are quite a few ways to score points, I will talk about them below.

Almost any attack (except special cases) begins with the fact that the defending team knocks the ball into the attacking half of the field. Then there are two options. If the ball flies into the end zone and is not caught by a player, the attacking team starts from their own 25 yards. If the player catches the ball and starts running with it, then the attack will start from the place where it was stopped. Theoretically, this may not happen, so the attacking team can score points in literally 10-15 seconds. Although usually they still have to carry out a full attack.

The team's attack is called drive. The drive consists of draws (plays). The main task at each draw is to go as far as possible. To do this, the attackers can run forward with the ball in their hands or throw it forward through the air. Also, the attackers are allowed an unlimited number of times to throw the ball to the partners running behind, but the ball can be thrown forward only once per rally.

Attackers have 4 downs to go 10 yards. If they succeed, the down count starts from the first. If not, the ball goes to the opponent. If the team used the fourth down and did not go 10 yards, then the opponent will receive the ball at the place where the attack stopped. Usually teams do not take risks like that, on the fourth down they punch a punt (punt) - a special blow, the main purpose of which is to knock the ball as far as possible into the territory of the opponent. Sometimes a team may play a fake punt to gain the necessary yards. But this is a risky move, which is used in exceptional cases. After the punt, the right to attack passes to the other team.

Separately, I will dwell on the conditions under which the player with the ball is considered to be stopped. The attack rally ends if the player with the ball:

- ran out of bounds;

- touched the lawn with any part of the body, except for the feet and hands, after contact with an opponent player;

- lost all chances to move forward with the ball (referees fix this moment).

A small note to the second point. If, for example, a player slips and falls on the lawn, but is not touched by an opposing player, the attacker can get back on his feet and continue to run forward with the ball.

To sum up the basics, the main goal of the attack is not to lose the ball and get to the end zone. The main goal of the defense is to force the attackers to punt or take the ball away from them.

And a little more about overtime. If at the end of regular time the score in the match is equal, then a 10-minute overtime is played. If either team scores a touchdown in overtime on the first drive, they win. If both teams failed to complete this task, then the one who scores points first will win. If neither team manages to score points in 10 minutes, then a draw is recorded. But this happens extremely rarely. In the playoffs, overtime is played until the winner.

How to earn points

In American football, both attack and defense can score points. And here's how.

Touchdown (6 points) - the most valuable action in American football and the main goal of attack. For a touchdown, you need to bring or catch the ball in the end zone. In the case of bringing the ball into the zone, the player himself does not have to run into it. It is sufficient for the ball in the player's hand to cross the end zone line. If a player catches the ball in the end zone, he must put both feet in it. If on landing one foot steps out of the end zone, there is no touchdown.

Extra point (1 point) - immediately after a team scores a touchdown, it is entitled to an extra point. To score points, you need to shoot the ball into the goal from the 15-yard mark. If the team succeeds, it gets 1 point.

Two-point conversion (2 points) - also after a touchdown, the team may play a two-point conversion instead of breaking an extra point. To do this, she needs to score another touchdown from the 2-yard mark. There is only one attempt. If it fails, the team gets zero instead of two points. It remains 6, which were counted for a touchdown. Most often, a two-point conversion is used by teams that need to close the minimum gap at the end of the game.

Field goal (3 points) - If a team fails to score a touchdown but is not too far from the end zone, they may score a field goal. To earn points, you need to score the ball into the goal from the place where the team's attack stopped. If it succeeds, the team gets 3 points. If not, the opponent will start his attack from the place from which the field goal was made. Generally acceptable distance for a field goal starts at 40 yards. But there were cases when they scored from more distant distances.

Safety (2 points) - the way in which points can be earned by the defense. If a defending player succeeds in knocking down an attacking player with the ball in his end zone, then the defending team is awarded 2 points. A safety is also awarded if an offensive player commits a foul in his own end zone.

Two-point defense conversion (2 points) - the rarest way to score points that only appeared in the NFL in 2015. If, during an extra point or a two-point conversion, the defense manages to take possession of the ball and run with it to the opponent's end zone, they receive 2 points.

Positions on the field

All positions on the field are divided into three groups - attack, defense and special team. Let's consider each in detail.

Offense

Quarterback (QB) - in 99% of cases - the main star and the undisputed leader of the team. Most often, this guy is responsible for the success of the attacks. The quarterback, together with the coach, chooses the scheme in which the team will attack, and then implements this scheme on the field. After receiving the ball, the quarterback can hand it to a teammate, throw a pass, or run with the ball himself. A successful quarterback must have a huge range of qualities, but the key ones are decision-making speed and shooting accuracy. The quarterback often has no more than five seconds to assess the situation on the field, make a decision and throw the pass. And very rarely does a quarterback throw a pass to a standing player. Most often, passes are thrown on the move, so you need to calculate exactly where on the field to throw the ball so that the running player catches it. In general, the quarterback is an incredibly difficult and responsible position. Therefore, these guys are insanely appreciated and usually they get the most money in the team.

Wide Receiver (WR) is the quarterback's main pass target. Most often there are three receivers on the field. Two take places on the flanks, and one gets closer to the center of the field in the so-called slot. They are called slot receivers. The receiver must run a route, during which he needs to get rid of the guardianship of the defender and receive the ball. After receiving the ball, the receiver needs to run the maximum distance before being stopped. Key stats for a wide receiver are speed, agility, and, as dumb as it sounds, the ability to catch the ball (Philadelphia fans can tell you more about that).

Tight End (TE) - an enlarged version of the receiver. Tight ends are more powerful and taller than receivers, but also slower. They can also run routes and open up for passes, but are more commonly used as blockers to clear a path for the ball carrier. A really good tight end is equally good at passing and blocking. Usually there is one tight end on the field, but there may be two. In exceptional cases - three.

Running back (RB) - the player who most often receives the ball from the quarterback and then runs forward with it. Located immediately behind or to the side of the quarterback. Although the position has evolved recently and some running backs may well act as an additional receiver. The running back tries to find a gap in the opponent's defensive line and slip into it. Some running backs are a kind of cannonball, stupidly fly into the defenders, trying to ram them, others rely on dexterity, trying to deceive the opponent and get away from contact with him. Running backs are used in situations where a team needs to secure a few yards. They usually go 4-5 yards per try, although with a well-played combination they can run through the entire field. There is one running back on the field. Sometimes there are two.

Fullback (FB) is a position that is gradually disappearing in modern football. Fullback is located in front of the runningback and is an icebreaker for him. The fullback clears the way for the runningback, tries to block the opponent's players who are trying to get to the runningback for as long as possible. Sometimes a fullback can get the ball and run forward with it, but this happens quite rarely.

Center (C) - This player stands in the center of the line protecting the quarterback and starts each play by kicking the ball back to the quarterback. Once the play has started, the center can either stay in place and block defenders trying to get to the quarterback, or go forward, pushing defenders out of the way and opening a hole for the running back to break through. The key to the center are strength and size. Because the larger the closet, the more difficult it is to move it to the side.

Guard (G) - the main task of the position is inherent in its name. These are the quarterback's guardians, who should give him maximum time to make a decision and play the combination. Ideally, they should not give the opponent a chance to get to the quarterback at all. There are two guards on the field and they stand on the sides of the center. Depending on the side, they are divided into left and right. After the ball is played, they move back and slightly to the side, forming a so-called "pocket" around the quarterback. From this "pocket" the quarterback performs passes. Key characteristics for guards are similar to the position of the center.

Offensive Tackle (OT) - These guys are on the edge of the quarterback's defensive line. There are two of them, as well as guards, and they also protect the quarterback. But they can also go forward aggressively, pushing through the opponent's defense to give space to the running back or receiver. Tackles are also divided into left and right, and the left is considered the most valuable of them. It protects the quarterback's blind spot, that is, it protects him from danger that he simply does not see. If the left tackle fails to do his job, then the quarterback will not be very sweet, up to a serious injury.

Center, guards and tackles are combined into one group - offensive linemen or, as they are also called, the offensive line (offensive line). These guys rarely become heroes of highlights and cuts on YouTube, but their importance on the field cannot be overestimated. If the team does not have normal linemen, it will never succeed.

Defense

Defensive Tackle (DT) are the biggest guys on defense. They stand opposite the center, their main task is to push the opponent and get to the quarterback. They also need to catch and stop the running back if he tries to run past them. There are usually two tackles, but there are schemes with one tackle. It is called Nose Tackle (Nose tackle, NT).

Defensive End (DE) - no less big guys, who at the same time have explosive speed. They're quarterback hunters. Their main and only task is to get to the quarterback and tear off his head. Okay, you can keep your head on, but you need to fill up the lawn. There are two of them on the field and they stand on the sides of defensive tackles.

Tackles and ends form a group of defensive linemen or defensive line.

Linebacker (LB) - the central zone of protection. Linebackers are behind the defensive line and perform a huge number of tasks. They can go into the gap and try to take out the quarterback. They can move to the line and catch a running back. They can stay in the zone and cover it from passes to receivers. These are the most versatile and smart defensive players. And athletic, because they need to strike a balance between strength and speed. Most often there are three linebackers, but the number varies from one to four. Linebackers are divided into outside (outside linebacker, OLB) and middle (middle linebacker, MLB) linebackers. Outsides are closer to the edge of the field, and the middle is in the center. Outsiders can also replace defensive ends in position and perform their functions.

Cornerback (CB) are the fastest defensive players. Their main task on the field is to prevent the receivers from taking the pass. Ideally, intercept the ball. Usually they play personally against their receiver and are located on the field just opposite them. There are always at least two corners, their number can increase up to four (depending on the game scheme).

Safety (S) is the last line of defense. If the offense manages to get through a safety, it's practically a guaranteed touchdown. Safety is closest to the end zone and must clean up the flaws of his partners. If the corner overslept his receiver, he is insured by safety. If the linebacker misses the running back, he is also insured by a safety. The safetys themselves are divided into two groups - free safety (Free safety, FS) and strong safety (Strong safety, SS). The first is faster and more mobile, which covers the receivers and helps the corners in protecting from passes. The second one is more powerful and is more often put forward to help linebackers. There are one or two safetys on the field, depending on the game scheme.

Cornerbacks and safetys are united in a group called sekonderi (secondary), that is, the second line of defense. You can also find such a thing as a defensive back (defensive back, DB). Usually this is the name of players who can equally successfully play both cornerback and safety. Sometimes this term is used as a synonym for sekonderi.

Special Team

Kicker (Kicker, K) - the kicker performs almost all hits on the ball. He hits field goals, extra points and starting kick-offs. As you might guess, the main requirement for a kicker is the ability to hit the ball strongly and accurately. Although these guys do not spend much time on the field, the result is affected by nothing less than attack or defense. They can both bring victory in the last seconds, and destroy all the efforts of the team. So this is a very responsible and stressful position.

Panther (Punter, P) - the panther breaks the punts, which I have already mentioned above. The requirements are similar to the kicker, only if the kicker hits the ball on the lawn, then the panther knocks the ball out of his hands, like a goalkeeper in European football. The Panthers can also be used to play tricks and turn into a passing quarterback, or they can run the ball themselves and get the right yard or two. While this is risky, the team must clearly weigh the pros and cons before doing so.

Kick returner (KR) and Punt returner (PR) are similar positions that perform almost the same functions. The reapers must catch the ball after a kick-off or punt, and then run the maximum distance with it. Usually, backup receivers and running backs act as reaters.

Long snapper (LS) - like a fullback, a gradually dying position. The long snapper takes the place of the center when hitting field goals and punts. His main quality is the ability to accurately throw the ball to a farther distance than the center does. Not all teams are ready to allocate a place in the roster for a player just because of this skill. But there are still snappers in the league, so it's worth mentioning them.

Basic terms of the game

American football has quite a lot of terminology. Almost every action has its own name. It makes no sense to learn all the terminology, but you need to know the most important concepts for comfortable viewing of the game.

Tackle - a power hold with which the defender stops the advance of the attacker with the ball.

Tackle for loss - the same power hold, but the defender manages to stop the attacker before he gains even one yard. Most often it happens when the defender breaks through the offensive line and knocks the running back with the ball.

Sack - a situation in which the quarterback manages to knock the quarterback to the turf before he throws a pass or disposes of the ball.

Blitz - A tactical defensive scheme in which the maximum number of defenders go into the gap, trying to push through the offensive line and bring down the quarterback.

Snap (Snap) - every draw starts with it. When the center hits the ball to the quarterback, it's a snap.

Line of scrimmage - an imaginary line separating two teams and on which the ball lies before the start of the rally.

Interception or Pick - a situation in which the defender manages to catch a flying ball before it is caught by an attacking player or it falls to the lawn. Therefore, sometimes such interceptions happen. After the interception, the defender can run a certain distance with the ball and earn a better position for his attack to start the attack. A defender can also run to the end zone by scoring a touchdown. Such an interception is called a pick-six (pick-6).

Pass deflection or Pass defended - a situation in which the defender manages to knock a flying ball onto the lawn with his hand or block its flight with his body in order to prevent the attacking player from catching it.

Incomplete pass - if the quarterback throws a pass, after which the ball was not caught by the attacking player and fell on the lawn or flew out of bounds - an incomplete pass is called. The attack loses one down.

Fumble - loss of the ball by a player. If a player receives the ball, walks with it for some distance, and then, as a result of a forceful reception, contact, or for any other reason, drops it on the lawn, this is a fumble. After the fumble, the ball is considered free and the teams must take it for themselves. If the attack does it first, the attack will continue from the place where the ball was picked up. If the defenders are the first to have time, the right to attack will pass to their team, it will start from the place where the defense picked up the ball. Also, after the fumble, it is quite possible to score a touchdown. It is important to note that if a player catches the ball and the defender immediately crashes into it, because of which the attacking player drops the ball, then the fumble is not fixed. An incomplete pass is recorded. There is also such a thing as a forced fumble. They call those situations in which the defender knocks the ball out of the hands of the attacker.

Arbitration and the rules of the game

Many uninitiated people think that American football is a fun mess without special rules, in which you can fly into an opponent with two legs. Unfortunately (or fortunately), this is not the case. The rules in American football are higher than the roof, even arbitrators are sometimes confused in their interpretation, what can we say about the fans. That's just with the arbitrators and start.

Each match is officiated by a team of seven referees (officials). Fans call them "zebras" because they wear black and white striped uniforms. Each referee has his own position on the field and his area of ​​responsibility, in which he monitors compliance with the rules. If the referee fixes a violation, he throws a yellow flag on the field. The game does not stop. Only when the draw is over, the chief referee goes to the center of the field and announces what violation and from which side (attack or defense) they recorded. The injured side has the right to refuse the violation if the rally did them more good in the end than the foul. For example, the defense made a foul on a play where the offense scored a touchdown. In this scenario, the attack will refuse to fix the foul and ask them to count a touchdown.

The head coaches of the teams may challenge the decisions of the referees. To do this, they have a challenge (challenge). If the coach believes that the referee made a mistake by fixing the violation, or vice versa, he overslept it, he throws a red flag on the field. Then the arbitrators review the repetition of the episode. If the arbiter really made a mistake, then the decision is changed. If the arbitrator was right, then the team that demanded a revision of the episode loses one time-out. During the game, the coach can only use the challenge twice, so they are valued and cherished for decisive moments.

American football has its own counterpart to VAR. A special arbiter in the press box watches controversial episodes and, if necessary, sends a signal to the chief arbitrator that he should watch a replay of an episode. Not every episode of the game can be reviewed, but video replays cover all key decisions.

General rule violations and penalties

American football rule violations are punished with yards. If an attack fouls, they are moved away from the opponent's end zone by a certain number of yards. If the defense fouls, the attack, on the contrary, approaches the end zone. If a defender fouls in his own end zone, then the ball is set a yard from the end zone, regardless of the type of foul.

For some types of violations, a player can be removed from the field, and then after the fact soldered a suspension for several matches. As you understand, these are very serious violations like a fight or an attempt to intentionally injure an opponent. Let me clarify that if a player was disqualified until the end of the game, this does not mean that his team will play the remaining match on the field with ten men, as in European football. The game will continue in an 11-on-11 format, just the coach will not be able to use the suspended player.

Also, for some defensive fouls, the offense may receive an automatic first down even if they did not go 10 yards including the foul. Consider the most common violations of the rules and punishments for them.

Face mask - I think it's clear and without explanation. If a player grabs an opponent by the helmet mask, it is a foul. Penalized 15 yards.

Holding (Holding) - is fixed if a player holds or pulls with his hands an opponent without the ball. Most often, offensive linemen sin with it. In football, it is allowed to push away your opponent with your palms, but in no case should you hold him by the body or hands. If the offensive player delays, it is a 10 yard penalty. If defender - 5 yards and automatic first down for offense.

Pass interference - detected if the defender makes physical contact with the attacker before he has caught the ball. If the defender intentionally pushes the attacker, pulls him, tries to hit his hands or knock him out of the trajectory of movement, it is a foul. But! If the defender himself tried to catch the ball and at the same time crashed into the attacker or made any other physical contact, there is no foul. The main thing in determining the violation is the intent of the contact. Players are also allowed to push and make physical contact within five yards of the play. There is no pass obstruction. The attacker can also interfere with the pass. Most often this happens when he tries to push the defender away from him with his hand. Penalties for interfering with a pass vary. For an attack, it's 10 yards. If the defense fouls, the ball is carried to the place where the foul was committed. That is, it can be 30 or 40 yards, and even more.

Roughing the passer - Called if a quarterback runs into a quarterback who has already thrown or disposed of the ball. Also, the passer's attack can be recorded if the defender deliberately touched the quarterback with his hand, for example, hit him on the mask or in the neck area. Penalized by 15 yards and automatic first down.

Roughing the kicker/snapper - similar to the previous offense, only the kicker or snapper is not the quarterback. If the kicker has already kicked the ball and then the defender deliberately bumps into it, it is a foul. In the case of the snapper, a foul is called if the defender attacks him before the snapper has regained balance and is in a position that will allow him to defend himself. Penalized by 15 yards and automatic first down.

Running into the kicker - the conditions for calling a foul are identical to those for attacking the kicker, but with one significant difference - running into is called if the defender ran into the kicker by accident and he had no opportunity to slow down or avoid contact. Penalized 5 yards.

Targeting - deliberately striking an opponent with the top of a helmet. If a player bows his head and uses his helmet as a weapon, it is a foul. And a very serious foul. It is penalized with 15 yards and sending off the player who made it. The rule protects both potential victims (getting hit on any part of the body with a helmet is a dubious pleasure, believe me) and aggressors, because an unsuccessful technique can lead to serious injury to the neck or spine (see Ryan Shazir). A subspecies of this violation is helmet-to-helmet contact. It is punished similarly and can also lead to disqualification of the violator.

Unnecessary roughness - is fixed if a player applies force to an opponent when the game did not require it. For example, if the opponent has already run out of the field or is far from the game episode and does not take part in it. It is a subtype of unsportsmanlike conduct and is punishable by 15 yards.

Unsportsmanlike conduct - here, I think, is also clear. If a player allows himself to say too many not-so-nice things or commits actions on the field aimed at ridiculing or humiliating an opponent, then unsportsmanlike behavior is recorded. If a player makes a mahach, then this also falls under the category of unsportsmanlike conduct, although technically this would be considered a personal foul (personal foul). Even something as harmless as dancing after a touchdown as a celebration used to fall under the category of unsportsmanlike behavior, which is why the NFL stands for No Fun League, but now the rule has been relaxed a bit. And by the way, despite the existence of this rule, trash talk on the field in the NFL is sacred. You just have to stay out of the way. Unsportsmanlike conduct is penalized with 15 yards. For particularly severe cases, such as a fight, the offender is removed from the field.

Block in the back - is fixed if a player pushes an opponent who is not in possession of the ball in the back. Penalized 10 yards.

Delay of the game - is fixed if the attack does not have time to put the ball into play in the allotted time. Penalized 5 yards.

Horse-collar tackle - fixed if the defender, while trying to stop the attacker, grabs him from behind by the T-shirt or protective frame in the neck area and pulls him towards himself or down. Penalized 15 yards.

Illegal hands to the face - most often used by offensive linemen. If a player pushes or punches an opponent in the helmet or mask, it is a foul. Penalized 10 yards if offense fouled and 5 yards with automatic first down if defense fouled.

How the NFL works

And finally, let's talk about the structure of the league. There are 32 teams in the NFL, which are equally divided into two conferences - the National (NFC) and the American (AFC). Within each conference, the teams are also equally divided into 4 divisions, named according to the geographical principle - North, East, South and West.

The NFL regular season consists of 17 game weeks, during which each team plays 16 games. The difference in the number of matches and weeks is due to the fact that each team has a "bye week" in which it does not play a regular season match. The team plays 8 games of the season at home and 8 away.

The NFL does not have a scoring system, and places in the standings are distributed according to the number of wins. With equal victories, additional indicators come into force, of which there are a lot. But the most important of them is a personal meeting. Whoever wins in a head-to-head match gets a higher place. One important point should be noted. When distributing places in the conference standings, the first 4 places will always be distributed among the winners of the divisions. That is, if one team wins its division by winning 9victories, and a team from another division will score 11 victories, but will take second place in it - it will be in the conference table below, even despite more victories.

By the way, one more term for you to note. The number of wins and losses of a team in a season is called a record. It is written as two digits separated by a hyphen. For example, a record of 13-3 means that the team has won 13 games and lost 3.

The playoffs begin after the regular season. There will be changes from this season. Now 7 teams get into the playoffs (previously there were 6). These are 4 division winners and 3 best teams from the rest. The winner of the regular season, that is, the team that took first place in the conference standings, misses the first round of the playoffs, which is called the wild card. The rest of the teams play on the principle of "best with the worst". That is, the second place plays with the seventh, the third - with the sixth and the fourth with the fifth. The winners of these matches advance to the next round, which is called the divisional round. The regular season winner begins his playoff run and will play the worst team that made it to that round. That is, if the second, fourth and sixth teams entered the divisional round, the winner plays with the sixth. The rest of the teams play each other. The winners of the pairs advance to the conference final. The winner of the conference finals receives the title of champion of the conference and goes to the main sporting event of the year in the United States - the Super Bowl (Super Bowl).

A very important clarification - all stages of the playoffs consist of one match. No series and reciprocal games. There is no room for error. Lost - out. Because of this rule, the playoffs always turn into a separate story that has nothing to do with the regular season. The champion of the regular season can easily be eliminated after the first game (like Baltimore last season), and the underdog, who jumped into the playoffs at the last moment, can take everyone out and win the Super Bowl (like Green Bay in the 2010 season). Finally, it's worth adding that home field advantage in the playoffs is held by the team that finished the regular season in a higher place, and the host city of the Super Bowl is always determined in advance. Super Bowl venues have already been booked through 2024. The next one will be in Tampa, Florida.

***

That's it. If you are suddenly a little scared of such a volume of information, then you should not do this. Take my word for it - while watching the game, you yourself will understand everything and fully understand all the basics of American football, sufficient for its comfortable viewing. 3-4 games plus basic knowledge of English - and you are already a confident user, so to speak. And I repeat my introduction - if you have any questions, then feel free to ask them in the comments.

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