If you prefer your athletes furry and four-legged, the longest running call-to-adoption television event is back for another year with Puppy Bowl XXI this Super Bowl Sunday, February 9. “Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl serves as an annual pop culture programming event that continues to expand in reach, awareness, and, of course, puppies, every year,” Howard Lee, Chief Creative Officer of U.S. Networks and President of Discovery Networks, said in a press release. “Win or lose, Puppy Bowl XXI will have the cutest players in the game on Sunday, February 9, and will inspire families across the country to adopt a new furry friend.”
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To the untrained human, the Puppy Bowl may look like aimless cuteness. But there are ground rules that govern the annual event. Here's what to know as Team Ruff and Team Fluff face off on Sunday ahead of the human Super Bowl.
The Puppy Bowl loosely follows the basic gameplay of human football. Points, penalties and even overtime, if necessary, are all part of the rulebook. Pun-heavy calls include "unnecessary ruffness" and "pass inter-fur-ence."
The Underdog Award goes to the worst-performing dog of the game — "perhaps a dog that sat on the sidelines and slept the entire game but is still adorable," the ref said.
Pre-recording and editing the event allows for a cleaner game, without all the disruptive bathroom breaks.
When the dogs need to do their business, Schachner told People in a recent interview, the cameras stop rolling and, much like a "NASCAR pit crew," puppy handlers come in to clean up the mess.
"I've never seen betting on the Puppy Bowl in any legal market," Doug Greenberg, who writes about sports betting for ESPN, told USA Today. "This is a pre-taped TV program. It's a known result. That's never allowed in sports betting."
Still, Schachner says bettors will flood his direct messages looking for insight into a game that is neither live nor involves any apparent strategy.
"It's funny that people ask straight up, 'Who looks good for MVP? Does Smoosh have a shot? Does Team Fluff have a chance of winning?'" the referee told the outlet. "I have to delete every one of them. Because people are somewhere making prop bets on the Puppy Bowl."
Smaller breeds take the field in the first quarter, and the lineup shuffles to play the larger breeds in the fourth quarter.sdsssfdsadsad
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To the untrained human, the Puppy Bowl may look like aimless cuteness. But there are ground rules that govern the annual event. Here's what to know as Team Ruff and Team Fluff face off on Sunday ahead of the human Super Bowl.
How to watch
The Puppy Bowl will air on Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. ET, on Animal Planet.Rules govern the ruff-and-tumble
Not just any pup gets drafted to the big game. The canine roster must pass a combine and skills test before they hit the gridiron.The Puppy Bowl loosely follows the basic gameplay of human football. Points, penalties and even overtime, if necessary, are all part of the rulebook. Pun-heavy calls include "unnecessary ruffness" and "pass inter-fur-ence."
The Underdog Award goes to the worst-performing dog of the game — "perhaps a dog that sat on the sidelines and slept the entire game but is still adorable," the ref said.
Pre-taped for pee breaks
The Puppy Bowl broadcast isn't live. This year's program was shot a few months ago over the course of five days.Pre-recording and editing the event allows for a cleaner game, without all the disruptive bathroom breaks.
When the dogs need to do their business, Schachner told People in a recent interview, the cameras stop rolling and, much like a "NASCAR pit crew," puppy handlers come in to clean up the mess.
Can you bet on the Puppy Bowl?
State regulations typically prohibit betting on events that have already occurred."I've never seen betting on the Puppy Bowl in any legal market," Doug Greenberg, who writes about sports betting for ESPN, told USA Today. "This is a pre-taped TV program. It's a known result. That's never allowed in sports betting."
Still, Schachner says bettors will flood his direct messages looking for insight into a game that is neither live nor involves any apparent strategy.
"It's funny that people ask straight up, 'Who looks good for MVP? Does Smoosh have a shot? Does Team Fluff have a chance of winning?'" the referee told the outlet. "I have to delete every one of them. Because people are somewhere making prop bets on the Puppy Bowl."
A televised adoption service
The event is meant to encourage people to adopt rescue animals in need of a forever home. This year's broadcast will star a record 142 rescue puppies from dozens of shelters across the U.S., according to Warner Bros. Discovery.Smaller breeds take the field in the first quarter, and the lineup shuffles to play the larger breeds in the fourth quarter.sdsssfdsadsad