GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAL

[tiberion02]

edgarfigaro's post fucking wins for being both insightful and levelheaded.

[Tyche]

Now, to why Americans haven't warmed to soccer...I think the main reason is the arbitrary nature of soccer. The fact that the best teams can lose, and it's not unexpected. An unlucky bounce, a cheap goal, and suddenly the better team is done. The same thing happens in March Madness, but in that situation, you can't point at a single mistake that causes a heavy favorite to lose, it's the overall game that they lost.

The reason americans hate soccer is the reason american's hate hockey, and the reasons that baseball rating are startng to deteriorate. The games are slow, and in the case of soccer, theres not a whole lot of action. We'd start watching hockey and soccer soon as they start scoring 10-15 goals a game. Didnt the NHL implement some kind of new rules that was supposed to increase scoring? I think another problem with it is the stars. The most viewed sports in america, football and basketball, we get to know the players when they are teens in college. They get a ton of media attention, the draft, etc etc. You kind of grow up with the players. You don't really get that with hockey, soccer, or even baseball (at least in the states). Of course that's a media problem, but its the way it is.

[Eaglestrike]

Now, to why Americans haven't warmed to soccer...I think the main reason is the arbitrary nature of soccer. The fact that the best teams can lose, and it's not unexpected. An unlucky bounce, a cheap goal, and suddenly the better team is done. The same thing happens in March Madness, but in that situation, you can't point at a single mistake that causes a heavy favorite to lose, it's the overall game that they lost.

The reason americans hate soccer is the reason american's hate hockey, and the reasons that baseball rating are startng to deteriorate. The games are slow, and in the case of soccer, theres not a whole lot of action. We'd start watching hockey and soccer soon as they start scoring 10-15 goals a game. Didnt the NHL implement some kind of new rules that was supposed to increase scoring? I think another problem with it is the stars. The most viewed sports in america, football and basketball, we get to know the players when they are teens in college. They get a ton of media attention, the draft, etc etc. You kind of grow up with the players. You don't really get that with hockey, soccer, or even baseball (at least in the states). Of course that's a media problem, but its the way it is.

Bend it like Beckham!

[Tyche]

Lol, that brings up another good point. How many big-screen hits has there been on playing soccer released in the USA. Ok, now football and basketball.

[Eaglestrike]

Ladybugs!

[Tyche]

lol, i loved rodney dangerfield.

[Andarvi]

Ladybugs!

fucking win. game set match.

[weaponx]

Long post but w/e lol. I only started paying attention to soccer in the last month, before then I always thought the sport was on the same level (pansy-wise) as tennis.

Regardless of how much propaganda and advertsing is involved with american football today, I still believe those are purely skilled athletes on that field every Sunday. All I can say is it takes alot to sprint as fast as you can for 20 yards, make a sudden cut, leap high into the air, focus on catching the overthrown football, take a huge hit from a roaming free safety who wants to put you on the espn highlight reel, then concentrate on maintaining possession of the football. Not to mention some of those corners (defenders) are keeping up with world class sprinters-while running backwards.

I'll admit I never was into soccer much. As mentioned at one point, I thought of the sport as being primadona-ish. After watching the NBA finals this year, I knew there was a 2 month void to come between now and he start of the nfl season. So I started to watch some world cup action. Not knowing much about the sport except that Brazil was supposed to be the team to beat this year, I decided to closely watch Brazil and catch what the buzz was about. All I can say is, I was impressed. I never knew people were capable of juking their defenders so hard with a soccer ball. Watching a few highlights and freestyle videos on youtube.com of some star soccer athletes, I was reminded of those And1 playground basketball players. Some of the moves (Ronaldhino comes to mind) they could make and the shakes they put on their defenders are just >lethal< to say the least, and having 80,000+ people in the stadium all saying "damn!" is just There is alot of finesse involved, but also sheer athlecism to run up and down that huge field for 100+min. I'm suprised there weren't that many muscle cramps, because I'm sure the average non-trained individual would be having leg cramps after 20 min. of that intensity.

Unfortunately, there is some diving though and complaints about fouls. However, it's nothing like those 6'8 280lb guys in the NBA that roll on the floor because they barely got slapped on the wrist while trying to take a jumpshot, then cry about not getting a call. At least in soccer, ppl actually get knocked on the floor and have something to complain about, and even the legit fouls don't get called.

With all that being said, Italy 1-0 over France.
Both teams are similiar, France has the Zidane factor, but Italy has a stronger defense and deeper bench, not to mention one stellar goal keeper.

[GRT]

im not saying american football players are not athletic at all, me and my roomate had an argument about this too, what i am saying, is that they are trained to do one job and only one job, whereas a soccer player can do all the jobs, im talking overall athletisism

All the positions in soccer revolve around kicking a ball, of course every player can play every position.

LOL

that's like me saying "all you do in life is eat and shit"

[GRT]

Both types of Football are intense physical battles that are enjoyed by some.


there, arguement over.

both types of football huh

hmm, something's itchy in there.....

oh yah, where does "foot" and "ball" connect in american football, or maybe there's some sort of "american" anatomy that foreigners just don't get

[tiberion02]

Both types of Football are intense physical battles that are enjoyed by some.


there, arguement over.

both types of football huh

hmm, something's itchy in there.....

oh yah, where does "foot" and "ball" connect in american football, or maybe there's some sort of "american" anatomy that foreigners just don't get

While it is widely believed that the word football, or "foot ball", originated in reference to the action of a foot kicking a ball, there is a rival explanation, which has it that football originally referred to a variety of games in medieval Europe, which were played on foot. These games were usually played by peasants, as opposed to the horse-riding sports often played by aristocrats.

While there is no conclusive evidence for this explanation, the word football has always implied a variety of games played on foot, not just those that involved kicking a ball. In some cases, the word football has been applied to games which have specifically outlawed kicking the ball.

[Eaglestrike]

Or maybe Americans use football so they could replace a rival sport of a similar name (Futebol!) much like religions have taken on Pagan special dates and replaced them with special dates related to their own religion.

[Correction]

Or maybe Americans use football so they could replace a rival sport of a similar name (Futebol!) much like religions have taken on Pagan special dates and replaced them with special dates related to their own religion.

Soccer is no rival to Football in the USA in any aspect.

And Americans as a rule do not really enjoy watching or playing games that can end in a tie. This explains why ice hockey is only high profile in maybe 3 out of 50 states.

Not saying soccer sucks, just explaining American tastes.

[SephYuyX]

All right, this thread still lives.

Correction brings up a good point. WHY THE FUCK ARE THERE TIES?

Seriously, I dont understand why competitive sports have ties, isnt the point of the game to win? Is this like nascar where no matter what place they get, it just adds on to their total score? It still doesnt make any sence why the game itself should end in a tie.

Its like being it pee-wee sports "OMG GRATS GUYS, YOURE ALL WINNERS!"

[Gilanth]

All right, this thread still lives.

Correction brings up a good point. WHY THE FUCK ARE THERE TIES?

Seriously, I dont understand why competitive sports have ties, isnt the point of the game to win? Is this like nascar where no matter what place they get, it just adds on to their total score? It still doesnt make any sence why the game itself should end in a tie.

Its like being it pee-wee sports "OMG GRATS GUYS, YOURE ALL WINNERS!"

There called "Draws" kthxbye

[SephYuyX]

All right, this thread still lives.

Correction brings up a good point. WHY THE FUCK ARE THERE TIES?

Seriously, I dont understand why competitive sports have ties, isnt the point of the game to win? Is this like nascar where no matter what place they get, it just adds on to their total score? It still doesnt make any sence why the game itself should end in a tie.

Its like being it pee-wee sports "OMG GRATS GUYS, YOURE ALL WINNERS!"

There called "Draws" kthxbye

Same diffrence.

[GRT]

All right, this thread still lives.

Correction brings up a good point. WHY THE FUCK ARE THERE TIES?

Seriously, I dont understand why competitive sports have ties, isnt the point of the game to win? Is this like nascar where no matter what place they get, it just adds on to their total score? It still doesnt make any sence why the game itself should end in a tie.

Its like being it pee-wee sports "OMG GRATS GUYS, YOURE ALL WINNERS!"

although such comments yield responses such as "lol what simple minded bunch of people" and "no wonder americans can't do math", i'll avoid offending someone and settle for "well, guess it's a difference of taste"

[SephYuyX]

I hope the Iraq war ends in a tie

[Tyche]

NFL can end in a tie >.>

Anyway, i agree, i hate ties. Makes me feel like there was no progress what-so-ever at the end of the game. Difference of taste, yeah, but it feels like such a waste.

[Byrd]

I bet you more people watch the Super Bowl for reasons such as 1) Someone is having a party and they're going to hang out with friends 2) Commercials 3) Halftime show.

Nobody gives a flying fuck about the Halftime show.