Soccer is gay.
downgoesfrazier
Posts: 1,515 ✭✭
in Sports Talk
...nothing else. That's it.
dgf
dgf
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hahahaha
dgf
<< <i>...nothing else. That's it.
dgf >>
I don't agree with that at all. I'm a big fan of Chelsea, a club in the English Premier League. The few times I've attended matches in London it's been great fun and terrific entertainment. Amazing atmosphere, beautiful skill on display, good grub and plenty of pints before and after the match.
Have a happy day
-- Yogi Berra
<< <i>terrific entertainment. Amazing atmosphere >>
Which part? The riots or the random acts of deadly violence? Yeah, nothing says fun at the old stadium like a "pint" in the back of the head while some toothless bald guy with no shirt gropes your woman...ahhhh the memories. I, personally, love the little cards the officials toss and the way the fans react like it matters. Oh, the score will now be 1-0 when the game ends instead of....1-0. Great game. Took a real genius to come up with that one and a bigger one to be a fan. The best thing about soccer is that 3 year-olds can play it and get the concept.
You can also play it at a family BBQ. It requires very little special skill so everyone can participate. Sounds like apple-bobbing.
I, too, recognize the conditioning that chasing a ball around can bring about. It is the "sport" I question.
SteveK,
You're football squad must've been all-world, dude!
dgf
SteveK,
You're football squad must've been all-world, dude! >>>
Hey, I respect soccer as a great sport but I don't follow it. It's football and baseball that I have played, enjoyed and watch.
<< <i>Which part? The riots or the random acts of deadly violence? Yeah, nothing says fun at the old stadium like a "pint" in the back of the head while some toothless bald guy with no shirt gropes your woman...ahhhh the memories. I, personally, love the little cards the officials toss and the way the fans react like it matters. Oh, the score will now be 1-0 when the game ends instead of....1-0. >>
Haven't seen any violence at the matches I've attended in England - and I've probably been to 7-8 Premier League games in total. In fact, I've seen more violence at college and pro football games than I ever did in England. There have also been plenty of goals at the matches I attended, though I would argue that a low-scoring match can be equally, if not more interesting than a high-scoring one. One thing I will say for European soccer clubs is that they have a bond with their communities and fans that a lot of American sports "franchises" could learn from.
And it does matter if someone gets carded. A red card means you have to play with 10 against 11, so you're at a distinct disadvantage.
What I don't understand is why some American sports fans feel the need to denigrate soccer. Fine, you don't like it. There are plenty of sports I'm not wild about, but I don't need to single them out for ridicule - they just don't appeal to me.
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http://members.tripod.com/janesbit/images/ballpark/yanks_mattingly_23.jpg
-- Yogi Berra
<< <i>I played on our High School's football team as a WR and DE (wasn't that good - LOL) and snobbishly most of the football players, including me, looked down on the soccer players as p*ssies. >>
I played High School football too for three years (TE, DE), and we sort of felt like why the hell would you want to run around kicking a ball all day. We respected them though as they always seemed to make it to Championship games. As you said they could run circles around us, but they were tiny so we knew we could rumble them into the ground if we wanted
You usually are far more insightful. If you stay up all night next summer and watch the US World Cup effort I really think even you could become a fan.
Soccer in not an American passion by any means, but if you those who force themselves to watch the World Cup next summer will find an appreciation for it. From the quarter finals on it is basically a Super Bowl atmosphere every game.
As for low scoring. It wouldn't look all that different from American football if football used 1/6 point for the extra point, 1/2 point for the field goal and a full point for a touch down.
To me basketball is tiring because the scoring happens so frequently it is trivialized.
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-- Yogi Berra
<< <i>Soccer is a great sport you just don't know how to play! >>
I can think of a lot of sports that I can't play. Does that mean I don't have the ability to appreciate the sport? Hockey is one of my favorite sports to watch. If I were to lace the skates up and head for the ice you'd gett a pretty good laugh. I'm horrible (probably not as horrible as a guy from Cairo trying to lace them up but still pretty bad).
Did he eat every last morsel of food in Argentina?
<< <i>Manchester United !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>
Of course you're a fan of them....you're a yankee fan, so you're going to a fan of the most popular, most successful soccer franchise.
<< <i>Soccer will always have a difficult time in the U.S. for one reason above all others. Television sponsorship. In soccer there is no clock stopage. There is almost constant play for 2 45 minute halves, thus taking away from precious commercial time and $$ that American sports rely on so heavily. >>
That's also one of the things that makes it great to watch in person. 90 minutes, two halves plus stoppage time and that's it. Football games take an entire afternoon or evening and don't get me started on the ridculous number of time outs taken at the end of your average NBA game.
<< <i>
<< <i>Manchester United !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>
Of course you're a fan of them....you're a yankee fan, so you're going to a fan of the most popular, most successful soccer franchise. >>
Not that I have to justify myself to an A$$ like you Axtell, but I am a fan of Man United because of my father. He was born and raised in Ireland, played football ( he never much liked me calling it soccer) and actually had offers to play for them in the late 50's before emmigrating to the U.S. I have a great deal of family still there, who are all United fans, and who I have visited frequently from childhood until now. It is that which has made me a fan for life.
Maybe for a change you could speak about something you DO enjoy, or a team you are a fan of instead of the same nitwitted bashing of others interests.
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-- Yogi Berra
if the shoe fits....
And no need to justify to me, yet you do. Comical.
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-- Yogi Berra
Steve
<< <i>You guys have to give Diego some love. >>
That was an incredible goal, but I think that Carlos Alberto's goal at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico tops it, though it's more of a team effort.
<< <i>What does strike me as strange is how sensitive people become when one of their favorite sports is put down like this. People get ultra sensitive and question DGF about his ability to play the sport. >>
All i'm saying is that if he knew how to play and understod the game he would probaly enjoy it more. Not that he sucks and it and therefor doesn't like it.
<< <i>All i'm saying is that if he knew how to play and understod the game he would probaly enjoy it more >>
How do you know he doesn't understand it? That's my point. Right away you just assume he can't stand it becuase he knows nothing about the sport.
I don't care how much you explain rythmic gymnastics or synchronized swimming to me, I'm still not going to like them.
I'm just stirring it up a bit. I don't actually care if someone likes or dislikes soccer...or bowling. I lost a KEY player for this spring as a result of an indoor soccer game this week. Soccer is a favorite sport to make fun of for many baseball coaches--even the ones who like it. "Soccer is gay" is our ignorant rallying cry. Fact is, two of my best and most loved players I've coached have been tremendous soccer players who have participated at the HS Varsity and collegiate ranks. I was tongue-in-cheek reacting to the loss of a kid who was likely to hit .400+ and steal 30 bases when he somehow rolled his ankle and required surgery. For the record, I GET soccer AND bowling...I just don't like them and think calling bowling a sport is a stretch. I like it when threads like this evoke a bit of passion and am fully aware that an insensitive statement like "soccer is gay" will ellicit some backlash. Sometimes you have to put the hammer on the nail to make noise. That beiung said..."Bass fishing"...uh.......no.
dgf
<< <i>Guys,
I'm just stirring it up a bit. I don't actually care if someone likes or dislikes soccer...or bowling. I lost a KEY player for this spring as a result of an indoor soccer game this week. Soccer is a favorite sport to make fun of for many baseball coaches--even the ones who like it. "Soccer is gay" is our ignorant rallying cry. Fact is, two of my best and most loved players I've coached have been tremendous soccer players who have participated at the HS Varsity and collegiate ranks. I was tongue-in-cheek reacting to the loss of a kid who was likely to hit .400+ and steal 30 bases when he somehow rolled his ankle and required surgery. For the record, I GET soccer AND bowling...I just don't like them and think calling bowling a sport is a stretch. I like it when threads like this evoke a bit of passion and am fully aware that an insensitive statement like "soccer is gay" will ellicit some backlash. Sometimes you have to put the hammer on the nail to make noise. That beiung said..."Bass fishing"...uh.......no.
dgf >>
No offense taken by me dgf. I appreciate that soccer is not some people's bag. I dig it. Unfortunately, MLS is a very poor league and not a great advertisement for the game. It's not so much the players, 'cause there is some good skill, but the atmosphere at a place like Giants Stadium is terrible - and the TV commentary is pretty bad for the most part as well.
<< <i> don't care how much you explain rythmic gymnastics or synchronized swimming to me, I'm still not going to like them. >>
you are comparing rythmic gymnastics or synchronized swimming to soccer the most popular sport in the world. You have got to be kidding me. It's like comparing Michael Jordan to Donta Smith. Get real!
<< <i>you are comparing rythmic gymnastics or synchronized swimming to soccer the most popular sport in the world. >>
I'm really not comparing the two. I guess you missed my point.
Your point was that if someone understood soccer they'd like it better. You can say that about any activity or any sport. I'm saying I don't care how much better I understand something. If I don't like it I don't like it.
And please don't tell me that because its the most popular sport in the world that alone should make me like it. Its popular in every country but here. If it were so popular we'd all be playing and watching it. We aren't. People have been saying for the last 25 years that soccer is going to take off and it hasn't (I'm talking professionally of course). I can drive down my street and see all the 12 and 13years olds playing oraganized soccer at the local park. That doesn't translate to the professional level.
Not everybody likes what you like and that's ok.
<< <i>And please don't tell me that because its the most popular sport in the world that alone should make me like it. Its popular in every country but here. If it were so popular we'd all be playing and watching it. >>
The USA doesn't have enough star power to promote the MLS. They will never get the big name players from overseas here because of conflict with their schedules. The MLS needs more soccer specific staduims so that they can change their season to better fit the overseas players. The US is making progress, you may not know it but it is slowly growing. It has come a long way.
<< <i>I can drive down my street and see all the 12 and 13years olds playing oraganized soccer at the local park. That doesn't translate to the professional level. >>
That's called grass roots. Where kids were playing football and baseball are now playing soccer. That's how it goes.
<< <i>If it were so popular we'd all be playing and watching it. >>
Just because you are not watching it or playing it doesn't make it not popular.
<< <i>That's called grass roots. Where kids were playing football and baseball are now playing soccer. That's how it goes.
>>
Daddy43,
Do you HEAR yourself? Soccer is popular because it translates nicely where no equipment is required nor skill to begin participating. Further, I don't know ONE kid...not ONE who is playing soccer INSTEAD of football or baseball. Not a single friggin' one. I know some that didn't cut it in baseball or football and turned to soccer as a last resort. Not a single breathing, red-blooded American male at the grass-roots or any other roots has spurned the big three for soccer. It just ain't happenin'. You're entitled to your opinion here, but please be a little realistic.
dgf
dgf
<< <i>Soccer is popular because it translates nicely where no equipment is required nor skill to begin participating >>
The same can be said about football (all you need is a football), basketball (all you need is a basketball and something you can use as a hoop). Everybody starts off with no skill.
<< <i>Further, I don't know ONE kid...not ONE who is playing soccer INSTEAD of football or baseball. Not a single friggin' one. >>
I guess you know everybody in the USA. You are one popular guy.
Grass roots means early start, beginning, not the ending. So give it some time. Chad Johnsons favorite sport is soccer. No one will pick soccer over the big three until it pays like the big three. Would you do something you like for $10,000 dollars or something you love for $1. Benchwarmers for baseball and basketball make millions of dollars, benchwarmers for football make at least $50,000. MLS's maximum salary is only $236,750 Big differance in pay. And the USA is all about the money!
Sorry, it's never going to happen. The pacing of the game just isn't akin to what americans want in their sports. Add in the possibility of (gasp!) a tie, and Americans simply cannot fathom the thought of a tie. Why do you think hockey was (even prior to the strike) a distant 4th in popularity?
The lack of popularity of soccer in this country has nothing to do with people not understanding it. I would suspect most americans have either played in or watched soccer at some level.
Now, do they not appreciate it? That's certainly a valid point of debate...there are some incredible athletes who play the game. In these other countries where soccer rules (most every other country not named the USA), there are few if any national sports of importance. In the US, we have football, baseball, and basketball all of which offer fortune and fame. These other countries don't have those distractions for it's top athletes.