Go West Coast Eagles!

Watched the grand final of the Aussie Football League today on TV, with the Sydney Swans against the West Coast (Perth) Eagles. The Eagles jumped out to a huge lead, but in the second half Sydney kept chipping away, until they got within one point. The Eagles would pull away, and Sydney would again come within a point. Then again. At the siren, the Eagles won, 85-84, in the closest football final since 1966. It was really exciting (even Susan got into it a bit, though she'll never admit it). This would be like a Super Bowl where one team led 24-3 at the half, only to hold on at the end, 31-30.

Tickets to the game were going for thousands of dollars, even though scalping is illegal in Victoria.

American football never really caught on here as a spectator sport. It started to get traction in the 90s, until some kind of exhibition game was held. When people realized that everyone just stands around most of the time -- George Will once described football as combining the two worst aspects of American culture: violence interrupted by committee meetings -- that was it. Well, that plus maybe Terrell Owens.