<strong>Besides, it's the sport where, over the years, I've seen the absolute WORST sportsmanship. I just have this mental image of fuzzy/bushy-haired, quasi-rock star sissy Euro twits running around, over-emoting, faking injuries, getting a little TOO happy should someone manage to score a goal in 50 minutes, etc.</strong><hr></blockquote>Agreed. That aspect is TOTALLY absurd. Football does not even have universal standards of the "interpretation of the rules", and why they resist the use of cameras for the sorting out of controversial decisons truly beats me.
Having said that, I think it is cool enough sport for kids to play as a fun sport, but when it gets to the professional level it begins to lose its way. Mind you it's not the only sport that does that.
Installer is exactly right. It will *never* gain equal status on teh TV networks because the advertising whores can't stop the show and force us to watch their crap every 8 or 9 minutes.
And THAT is one of the very reasons I like watching big-time soccer matches. NO COMMERCIALS. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I wish hockey would do it. Baseball it wouldn't make sense because of the break between innings. Football it wouldn't either because there are lots of time-outs and delays between plays.
But for hockey it could work well. I hate media whores and their ad-sluts. Rat bastards....
<strong>We have other sports we like better. </strong><hr></blockquote>
The perspective of a soccer fan:
- American Football: Boring. Three seconds of action, then two minutes of discussing, re-arranging, sorting out yellow flags.
- Baseball: Same case here, but without helmets.
- Hockey: Wheres the puck? Five men stumbling before the goal, suddenly some of them raise their arms. You need slow-mo to see what has happened.
- Basektball: On a global scale the most popular sport anyway. Perhaps because its "flow" is comparable to soccer.
These points are not necesserily my PoV. In fact, I like American Football very much for its strategical possibilities. And a sport in which people smash their heads against each other can't be too bad.
I don't get to see what's so funny in Baseball, after all ... but in fact I never learned the rules.
Falko has succinctly and expertly described what I dislike about every "popular" american sport.
and moogs hit the nail on the head with what makes soccer so great...45 minutes of no commercials. it's like sports heaven! mabe some people see soccer as boring, but i find the constant clock-stopping of most sports positively mind-numbing.
I should clarify that I'm not much of a sports person myself. I hate football, soccer and hockey. NEVER watch them.
Basketball, I can watch if I'm with someone and/or it's a particularly important game/series or match-up. I enjoyed the Lakers vs. Nets thing last week.
Baseball, used to LOVE it. But it doesn't hold my interest for the most part. I'd rather see it live (hot dogs, peanuts, beer, socializing, etc.), but the major leagues are too expensive and a hassle to go to.
And I DEFINITELY don't give a flying damn about skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding (or any other sport with "boarding" in the name), as well as skiing, arena football, rugby, lacrosse, lumberjack contests, etc. And none of that "X-TREME" crap either: motorcycles, bicycles, roller blades, street luge, BMX freestyle, etc.
Which leaves me with 3 hours on Sunday that I can watch NASCAR Winston Cup racing. I genuinely enjoy it and it's the only thing I look forward to, sports-wise. I dig watching cars go 180mph and only 1-2 feet apart!
Its also the only sport where you can be a total spaz and still look like you're doing something.
As for the Mexicans, I wonder how long they have to be American citizens before they actually root for the U.S.A.? Glad they lost............................
I think they do. I've only seen one game from Germany so far but they didn't seem dominating - not like they were in the early 90's anyway. That Spain - Ireland game yesterday was great btw, but, even though they aren't what they used to be I think Brasil clearly has the best talent in the field. If they play hard / smart, I doubt anyone stands a chance. If they lolly-gag around like they do sometimes, expecting an easy victory, they will fall.
As for the European perspective on hockey and not being able to follow the puck, that's a common problem for someone who's never watched before. If you watch a couple games closely (and don't have a small TV), you should be able to pick up the puck just fine once you get used to it. Also, some networks do hockey better than others (use more close-in shots, ice-level shots). Also: try going to a game - you'll be able to follow the puck fine and will see there are actually a fair number of similarities to soccer, except there's not nearly as much diving and whining and acting.
I think we have a chance with Germany. It's crazy, but Senegal beat France, we beat Portugal, and stranger things have happened. It's not like we haven't beaten them before. Not in the world cup, but we beat them nonetheless.
I like to play baseball alot. BUt watching it is boring sometimes. I like to watch and play football. hate bball. But soccer is a sport that i like to play but I have a hard time watching also except when the WC comes along.
''It hurts us here,'' Jose Luis Luviano, a fan in Mexico City, said as he punched his chest. Tears melted the Mexican flags painted on his cheeks. ''There has to be an end to this disgrace where (Americans) treat us like rats and idiots."
Try not acting like rats and idiots by driving up and down the streets honking your fvcking horns and disturbing our peace of mind, you bastards.
First off, who are you and what have you done with Shanny?
Shanny usually cruises in, calls us "lamers" (or worse), informs us who currently "rools" us, says something kinda insulting or smart-assed (or both), then bolts. Somebody check his temperature. He's obviously not feeling well today...
But seriously, folks...glad to know he views the car honking pinheads the way I do. Color me shocked.
<strong>It's not like we haven't beaten them before. Not in the world cup, but we beat them nonetheless. </strong><hr></blockquote>
You have used a smiley here - many others don't. I hate war metaphors about soccer. Especially the English press is great in talking about "German tanks" or "Blitzkrieg" after a game. Imagine USA lose against Germany, and someone writes something like "another September 11th" or "Pearl Harbor revisited" etc. It's just displaced.
In Toronto we have a few contigents of rabid soccer fan. If the Greeks, Portuguese, Brazilians, Argentines, or especially the Italians win, then there is pandemonium. Dancing in the streets, ALL NIGHT HORN HONKING, flag waving, passionate kisses from anonymous girls! (100% serious) and sometimes a little streaking. But NOTHING gets broken or trashed.
When Italy won in '82, little Italy (there are many many Italians in T.O.) had over a hundred thousand people lining the streets. When Brazil won in 94, little Italy got very quiet and a huge party errupted just to the east (in the portuguese speaking section of town) Fans didn't start angry fights, there wasn't any destruction of property, mobs, riots etc etc... Fans of the losing side went home or took the party inside, and the fans of the winning side took to the streets. But, in Toronto at least, European and South American fans have NEVER trashed anything. I remember, years later, reading commentary about the '82 celebration in TO's little Italy (comparison to some recent sporting riot) and how the streets were literally jammed and yet the whole proceeding went off without a hitch, no injuries, no crimes, just some litter. Contrast to the Chicago Bulls and LA Lakers. Our soccer fans, at least, have been great! They like a big party, they infuse games with a melodramatic flair, but they RESPECT property and people if not (for one night only) sleep.
Comments
<strong>Besides, it's the sport where, over the years, I've seen the absolute WORST sportsmanship. I just have this mental image of fuzzy/bushy-haired, quasi-rock star sissy Euro twits running around, over-emoting, faking injuries, getting a little TOO happy should someone manage to score a goal in 50 minutes, etc.</strong><hr></blockquote>Agreed. That aspect is TOTALLY absurd. Football does not even have universal standards of the "interpretation of the rules", and why they resist the use of cameras for the sorting out of controversial decisons truly beats me.
Having said that, I think it is cool enough sport for kids to play as a fun sport, but when it gets to the professional level it begins to lose its way. Mind you it's not the only sport that does that.
- T.I.
<strong>Agreed. It's too fluid.
2 times 45 mins of uniterrupted action. What are the poor T.V. advertisers to do?
- T.I.</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
And THAT is one of the very reasons I like watching big-time soccer matches. NO COMMERCIALS. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I wish hockey would do it. Baseball it wouldn't make sense because of the break between innings. Football it wouldn't either because there are lots of time-outs and delays between plays.
But for hockey it could work well. I hate media whores and their ad-sluts. Rat bastards....
<strong>We have other sports we like better. </strong><hr></blockquote>
The perspective of a soccer fan:
- American Football: Boring. Three seconds of action, then two minutes of discussing, re-arranging, sorting out yellow flags.
- Baseball: Same case here, but without helmets.
- Hockey: Wheres the puck? Five men stumbling before the goal, suddenly some of them raise their arms. You need slow-mo to see what has happened.
- Basektball: On a global scale the most popular sport anyway. Perhaps because its "flow" is comparable to soccer.
These points are not necesserily my PoV. In fact, I like American Football very much for its strategical possibilities. And a sport in which people smash their heads against each other can't be too bad.
I don't get to see what's so funny in Baseball, after all ... but in fact I never learned the rules.
and moogs hit the nail on the head with what makes soccer so great...45 minutes of no commercials. it's like sports heaven! mabe some people see soccer as boring, but i find the constant clock-stopping of most sports positively mind-numbing.
Basketball, I can watch if I'm with someone and/or it's a particularly important game/series or match-up. I enjoyed the Lakers vs. Nets thing last week.
Baseball, used to LOVE it. But it doesn't hold my interest for the most part. I'd rather see it live (hot dogs, peanuts, beer, socializing, etc.), but the major leagues are too expensive and a hassle to go to.
And I DEFINITELY don't give a flying damn about skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding (or any other sport with "boarding" in the name), as well as skiing, arena football, rugby, lacrosse, lumberjack contests, etc. And none of that "X-TREME" crap either: motorcycles, bicycles, roller blades, street luge, BMX freestyle, etc.
Which leaves me with 3 hours on Sunday that I can watch NASCAR Winston Cup racing. I genuinely enjoy it and it's the only thing I look forward to, sports-wise. I dig watching cars go 180mph and only 1-2 feet apart!
Go #88!
Its also the only sport where you can be a total spaz and still look like you're doing something.
As for the Mexicans, I wonder how long they have to be American citizens before they actually root for the U.S.A.? Glad they lost............................
Obviously you did not watch Spain vs. Ireland. Down to the last shot of the shoot out. That was some sh*t right there man!
Does the U.S. stand a chance against Germany?
As for the European perspective on hockey and not being able to follow the puck, that's a common problem for someone who's never watched before. If you watch a couple games closely (and don't have a small TV), you should be able to pick up the puck just fine once you get used to it. Also, some networks do hockey better than others (use more close-in shots, ice-level shots). Also: try going to a game - you'll be able to follow the puck fine and will see there are actually a fair number of similarities to soccer, except there's not nearly as much diving and whining and acting.
[ 06-17-2002: Message edited by: Moogs ]</p>
I think we have a chance with Germany. It's crazy, but Senegal beat France, we beat Portugal, and stranger things have happened. It's not like we haven't beaten them before. Not in the world cup, but we beat them nonetheless.
''It hurts us here,'' Jose Luis Luviano, a fan in Mexico City, said as he punched his chest. Tears melted the Mexican flags painted on his cheeks. ''There has to be an end to this disgrace where (Americans) treat us like rats and idiots."
Try not acting like rats and idiots by driving up and down the streets honking your fvcking horns and disturbing our peace of mind, you bastards.
Shanny usually cruises in, calls us "lamers" (or worse), informs us who currently "rools" us, says something kinda insulting or smart-assed (or both), then bolts. Somebody check his temperature. He's obviously not feeling well today...
But seriously, folks...glad to know he views the car honking pinheads the way I do. Color me shocked.
I'll be better tomorrow, I promise.
If it makes you feel better, I'll do this.
TOOL fvcking ro0ls you, you bastard lamer.
[ 06-17-2002: Message edited by: Shanny ]</p>
<strong>It's not like we haven't beaten them before. Not in the world cup, but we beat them nonetheless.
You have used a smiley here - many others don't. I hate war metaphors about soccer. Especially the English press is great in talking about "German tanks" or "Blitzkrieg" after a game. Imagine USA lose against Germany, and someone writes something like "another September 11th" or "Pearl Harbor revisited" etc. It's just displaced.
Three days! Go USA!
Ouch...
- D.I.
When Italy won in '82, little Italy (there are many many Italians in T.O.) had over a hundred thousand people lining the streets. When Brazil won in 94, little Italy got very quiet and a huge party errupted just to the east (in the portuguese speaking section of town) Fans didn't start angry fights, there wasn't any destruction of property, mobs, riots etc etc... Fans of the losing side went home or took the party inside, and the fans of the winning side took to the streets. But, in Toronto at least, European and South American fans have NEVER trashed anything. I remember, years later, reading commentary about the '82 celebration in TO's little Italy (comparison to some recent sporting riot) and how the streets were literally jammed and yet the whole proceeding went off without a hitch, no injuries, no crimes, just some litter. Contrast to the Chicago Bulls and LA Lakers. Our soccer fans, at least, have been great! They like a big party, they infuse games with a melodramatic flair, but they RESPECT property and people if not (for one night only) sleep.