Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2008 May 18

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May 18

Name of a Sport

I saw somewhere on TV a sport that was like rugby and football (not the soccer). But the guys where alowed to give punch on others, and when someone gets injuried the game dont stop, the medic goes to the filed while the game is still playing. To make points the guys had to run into the end of the field. What is the name os this sport??? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.79.22.120 (talk) 00:06, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

It probably isn't this, but it does sound remarkably like Australian rules football. -- JackofOz (talk) 00:43, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

I was reminded of calcio storico (Italian for "historical football") as played in Florence, but the article on Calcio Fiorentino doesn't reflect the brutatility I remember from news reports on this annually held tournament. The article links to a youtube clip though: kicking 'em while they're down, medics and all. ---Sluzzelin talk 05:31, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

I could be mistaken but in rugby, if a guy is injured they just take him off the field and the game doesn't stop, does it? Zain Ebrahim (talk) 13:03, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Sounds like Aussie Rules to me. Was the playing field oval in shape with four posts at each end? Astronaut (talk) 13:21, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

No I think that was not, I saw australian football on a program called mans work, and was not like the other sport. I think that the sport was being playing in spain. 201.79.22.120 (talk) 16:44, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Well Aussie Rules is played outside of Australia, but if you're sure that's not it then perhaps it is either Rugby League or Rugby Union. The players (who don't wear body armour like in American football) are allowed to push off a tackle in a way that could look like a punch. The two sports have their differences, but both are played with an oval ball, on a rectangular field with "H" shaped posts at each end. Unfortunately, I don't think Rugby League is played much in Spain. Astronaut (talk) 20:01, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

No the sport didint had H shaped posts. If i remenber the sport had many players on each team, more then 8 i think. 201.79.22.120 (talk) 00:14, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Was going to suggest Gaelic football but they use H shaped posts too--Shniken1 (talk) 04:00, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Is it an organised, international sport, or a local variant, such as the Eton field game, Kirkwall Ba game, the Colditz "stoolball" (etc)? Gwinva (talk) 04:29, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

I dont know. 189.97.77.58 (talk) 19:42, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

I was watching tv today and saw some part of the show again, the show said the sport was played in florence italy. I search on google and found. This is the sport calcio storico ( http://www.calciostorico.it/news/csf06_layhome_01.php?id_cat=4 ). There are videos of this sport on youtube. Thanks for the help. Guys.

Historically inaccurate movies

What are some really great movies that are historically inaccurate? Reywas92^Talk 01:57, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Spartacus, but you're better off asking if there are any that are accurate. Clarityfiend (talk) 02:08, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Titanic, for starters. Hollywood and other places used to make an art form out of historical inaccuracies, and to an extent still do. Biopics routinely presented a sanitised version of the subject’s life, with some episodes completely made up purely for cinematic effect, with total lack of regard for the historical record. I'm very surprised we don't seem to have a list already - but maybe it would be so long it would blow the Wikipedia servers out of the water. There are so many examples, I just don’t know where to begin. But these sites may give you a laugh: [1], [2]. -- JackofOz (talk) 02:31, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Concur. You'd be better off assuming any movie you see based on historical events or set in a certain historical time period has inaccuracies without proof to the contrary. Exxolon (talk) 02:42, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

The real problem is that from the point of view of the movies, real life is spectacularly dull. That's why you hardly ever see anyone doing the mundane things in life like using the bathroom unless, it is a plot device. Astronaut (talk) 13:17, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

That's not quite it, with respect. There are a huge number of people who led exciting lives and achieved many different wonderful things - most of the subjects of WP's biographical articles, for example. A movie could show at least some of these episodes, and do so as faithfully as possible to what actually happened. Their biggest problem would be deciding what to cut out in order to not make it into a 10-hour epic, while maintaining the narrative flow and keeping it cinematically effective. -- JackofOz (talk) 23:36, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

U-571 (film) has a very meaty inaccuracies section for you to sink your teeth into. - X201 (talk) 14:05, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

I'm just watching First Knight, awesome bad there,lolhotclaws 08:37, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

Why can't pro football be played seven days a week?

This always bothered me. If baseball can do it, then why cheat us football fans who want action on a daily basis also? 16 games is a pretty short season, and while it does make it tight, and every game important, us football fans would trade it all for some daily bone crunching. Yes, injuries would increase, but these guys are supposed to be macho! They should be tough eneough to get a leg amputated one day, and be ready to play the next. This is why we pay them a lot of money. Just as much as baseball players. And they play every day.

They should also get weapons, but I wont go there.--Baseball and and and Popcorn Fanatic (talk) 03:22, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Baseball players do a lot of standing around, and the pitchers, who actually do a lot of work, play once every four days or so. If soccer players stood around and scratched themselves for 90% of the game, they could play every day too. Adam Bishop (talk) 04:15, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

I think in this case the OP is talking about American football with it's overpaid stars and short 16 game season. However both American football and proper football are hard physical games without much standing around "scratching themselves". Even with the modern levels of fitness in both games, I doubt many players would be able to stand the pace of play if they had to play 7 days a week; their performance would drop and the audience not enjoy seeing their favourite players struggling to play effectively. Astronaut (talk) 13:12, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Even now, with the 16 game season, many teams make it through to the postseason, but with rosters that have been decimated by major injuries. I also remember reading an interview with a former NFL running back who was describing how much pain he was in every Monday after a game, and how he would only feel back to full strength towards the end of the week. I'm not sure I would want to watch a game that featured a bunch of players limping around or a postseason with teams devoid of first string players. AlexiusHoratius (talk) 13:44, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Just a note about "overpaid stars" -- the NFL has the lowest average salary of the major American sports, and, taking present exchange rates with 2-year-old data, is slightly lower than the average Premiership salary. — Lomn 14:10, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Okay then, they play one day a week. But only if we get to give them guns, knives, etc. and shoot em up with a whole bunch o' PCP!Baseball and and and Popcorn Fanatic (talk) 15:38, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

Follow up question: Why is all american football played in autumn and none in spring? Surely, 16 games can't require 8 months of recovery. And for college football, new students arrive mere weeks before the season starts, with no chance of establishing themselve. Wouldn't it make sense to play in spring instead? /85.194.44.18 (talk) 18:46, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Tradition, mainly -- and while 8 months downtime probably aren't required, another 4 month schedule with only 2 months downtime between each likely would be unsustainable. At the professional level, the offseason only lasts a month or two from the players' standpoint. — Lomn 19:35, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

On the other hand, the Arena Football League operates during the spring, as do several other indoor football leagues (the AFL being the predominant one with a national TV deal). There was also an attempt this year to start a pro football league in the spring in major college football markets, hoping to capitalize on the seasonal lack of football. The league did not run this year due to inability to secure sufficient financial backing. — Lomn 19:40, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Lonely Are the Brave movie

I just saw the movie "Lonely Are the Brave" on TMC, and I really enjoyed it. I just couldn't quite figure out the ending. I know the sheriff's deputy kills Jack's horse, but I wasn't sure if Jack himself dies. Is anything implied, or is there no way to tell if he lives or dies? Thanks!

Mike MAP91 (talk) 15:43, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

The Arabian Nights,The Musical

Maybe I`m wrong,or maybe It`s too long but I think The Arabian Nights,would make a great Broadway Musical.Just wanted to see what you thought of the idea. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.161.91.96 (talk) 17:25, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

It would certainly be a long musical, given its seventeen 200+ page volumes when translated into English. It would likely work better to pick one or two stories from within it and turn those into a musical. ···日本穣^{? · Talk to Nihonjoe} 17:48, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

With that idea there's room for The Musical, The Movie, prequels, sequels, spinoffs, series and metaseries -- not to mention infraseries and eventually, rebranding. Without doubt, it's got legs, Julia Rossi (talk) 00:21, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Why not, there is a very long Indian TV movie about the Mahabharata! Adam Bishop (talk) 00:59, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Anybody knows who is the actor that appears alongside Helena Bonham Carter in this image? David Pro (talk) 18:36, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

• Tom Hulce? Exxolon (talk) 19:10, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

2008 IIHF World Championship

Is the Russian hockey team considered to be the same entity as the Soviet Union hockey team? Just wondering, because there's an argument going on over the medal count for the tournament. Matt Prystie (talk) 21:19, 18 May 2008 (UTC)