The big football vs. American football argument—round vs. oval, foot vs. hand has sparked friendly debates for ages. One camp calls it the beautiful game played with accuracy, talent, and, of course, feet. The other? A show of helmets, pads, and strategic combat where “football” often involves hands. From time to time, a new voice shakes things up, throwing a curveball into the long-standing dispute. This time, it wasn’t an expert, trainer, or superfan—it was Casper Ruud, a guy known more for smashing winners on clay than weighing in on football semantics, albeit in a playful banter.
But before cracking jokes, Ruud battled past Australian lucky loser James Duckworth at the Dallas Open, securing a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory. World No 12 dished out a masterclass under pressure in the last set to come back after two service errors to make a comeback. And off the court too, Casper Ruud’s humor was just as sharp as his forehand.
After his match, Blair Henley, host at the Dallas Open, shared Ruud’s playful take on American football’s name. With a smirk, the Norwegian aimed the sport’s terminology—not its rules, but its shape—“We have a foot ball. You guys have a foot…egg.”
“We have a foot ball. You guys have a foot…egg.”
– Casper Ruud
: @k__h__r pic.twitter.com/eXGUCU2uqh
— Blair Henley (@BlairHenley) February 5, 2025
In one sport, feet call the shots, and scoring happens through clever footwork. In the other, hands take center stage, and scoring with feet is uncommon. So what’s the reason for all the mix-up? Back in 19th-century England, people used “soccer” as a nickname for association football, to tell it apart from rugby. The Brits stopped using it, but Americans kept the term—to set it apart from their very own NFL.
Despite the playful jabs at American football, Casper Ruud is no stranger to the NFL. The Norwegian follows the league whenever his schedule allows pledging allegiance to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While tour commitments make it tough to attend games, Ruud is adamant about watching the Super Bowl next weekend and hopes to catch more games in the future.
NFL may be one part of it, but Norwegian ties to American culture run deeper than one might expect.
Casper Ruud’s American Connection: Family, Football, and a Lone Star Surprise
Casper Ruud may hail from Norway, but his ties to American culture have been long. Right from the childhood trips to Florida to his growing love for the NFL, the world No. 5 has made a personal connection with the U.S.—one that goes beyond just tennis tournaments. Ruud’s affinity for American football is rooted in family tradition. His grandparents owned a house in Tampa, where he spent many Christmases, naturally gravitating toward the city’s NFL team, the Buccaneers.
“My grandparents had a house in Tampa, and we went there almost every Christmas,” he shares. Though his ATP schedule keeps him away from stadiums, he makes it a point to follow the league and plans to watch the Super Bowl next weekend, he shared during Ta ennis.com media day interview for Tennis Channel.
His American experience doesn’t end with football. Ruud has also been drawn to Texas, a state he first visited in 2019 when he reached his maiden ATP final. Now competing in Dallas, he’s discovered a quirky link between his home country and the Lone Star State.
“It’s funny because we have a saying in Norway about Texas. When something is very chaotic or big or not in control, you would say that it’s like something is completely Texas,” he reveals. Ruud, a player long associated with the red clay of South America, has made a surprising shift—choosing the hard courts of Dallas over his usual February schedule, where he faces Michael Mmoh in the 2nd round.
The post American Football Gets Hilariously Roasted by 26YO ATP Pro With a Witty Remark: ‘You Guys Have a Foot Egg’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.
