[Sleeper]

Maori, this is a football board for officials of the American Football game. I know nothing about the Maori version of rugby, nor do I care to. Not that it is bad, it just doesn't interest me.

On another note, you need to get your facts straight before casting perjorative comments about the U.S. role in world politics.

First, the U.S. doesn't need any more oil. If we did, it would be far easier to get in Russia, around the Caspian Sea and in our own Alaskan and Gulf of Mexico reserves, which are estimated as some of the biggest in the world. Second, the U.S. didn't ask to be the world's policeman. We fill the role for the U.N., as we are the only country with the armed forces to do it. The Iraq issue is very simple. They invaded a country illegally. The U.N. (not the U.S.) removed them from that country, decimated their military and negotiated 16 resolutions over a period of 10 years as a way to keep from having to take over the Iraqi infrastructure. Saddam Hussein and his government have broken every resolution, each of which would be a justification for the U.N. to complete the war that the resolutions postponed. Finally, Iraq has a bunch of nasty stuff, which they have no problem using, that has yet to be accounted for in accordance with the resolutions they violated. In other words, they are hiding it. They agreed to give it up and didn't. They also happen to be in bed with terrorist groups that are trying to kill western (US, EU, Austrailia, etc.) people.

If you feel better demonizing the U.S., then go ahead. We have made our share of mistakes as a country, just like the rest of the world. But please get your facts straight and do some research before you regurgitate what the media is feeding you.

As to equipment in football, it is pretty simple. Players are an investment in time, effort and money. Equipment protects the investment and allows for a better product on the field. Rugby is rougher, but the collisions in American Football are much more violent, because of the strength, size and speed of the players. The are very different games, and it's kind of like comparing apples to oranges.