pigskin

アメリカンフットボールのことを俗に"pigskin"というそうです。

初めて知ったのですが、以下の記事がきっかけです。


The number of pigskin fans in the US plummeted from 67 percent in 2012 to 57 percent this year, according to a Gallup poll taken Oct. 10-11.

It was the biggest drop in support of any sport and follows the heated controversy over football players kneeling in protest during the National Anthem.

Republicans and independent voters led the defectors — down 15 and 12 points respectively. Backing from Democrats fell just 3 points.

“The anthem situation is the latest, but not the only, controversy that has dogged professional football. In recent years, the NFL has come under fire for its handling of domestic violence cases involving players and its response to research on the effects of concussions on brain health among former players,” the Gallup analysis said.
(Carl Canpanile. Americans are passing on pro football: poll. New York Post. October 13, 2017.)


なぜ"pigskin"がアメフトを指すかについては、アメフトで使用されるボールが豚の革でつくられているからだそうです。

アメフトの試合でアメリカの国家が演奏される際に、跪いて抗議の態度を示した一部の選手が批判される事件が最近ありました。

それだけが理由ではありませんが、アメフト人気が下降しているそうです。