Freddie Adu - yet another failed attempt to sell soccer to Americans
Michigan
Posts: 4,942 ✭
in Sports Talk
Remember when he was touted as the catalyst that would propel soccer to a whole other level in America and everyone was expected
to go ga ga over him?
Turns out his experience with the team in Washington was pretty bad and he is being traded to a team in Salt Lake City. He has expressed
a desire to leave the US and play for one of the premiere European soccer teams, they are very interested in him and he is expected
to make the move when he turns 18.
Soccer is America is still struggling to move to the next level in the US.
to go ga ga over him?
Turns out his experience with the team in Washington was pretty bad and he is being traded to a team in Salt Lake City. He has expressed
a desire to leave the US and play for one of the premiere European soccer teams, they are very interested in him and he is expected
to make the move when he turns 18.
Soccer is America is still struggling to move to the next level in the US.
0
Comments
When a sport's greatest, most memorable event was when one of your female players ripped her shirt off........well, the game just isn't going anywhere!
<< <i>Millions of kids in America play soccer every day..................until they are old enough to realize what a stupid game it is, then they switch over to real American sports like football and baseball.
When a sport's greatest, most memorable event was when one of your female players ripped her shirt off........well, the game just isn't going anywhere! >>
Come on now, that was a great moment in sports history. Just like that one time when that guy kicked the ball and then chased it for 90 minutes, plus stoppage time, and no one scored. Classic!
(It is called stoppage time, isn't it?)
<< <i>Millions of kids in America play soccer every day..................until they are old enough to realize what a stupid game it is, then they switch over to real American sports like football and baseball.
When a sport's greatest, most memorable event was when one of your female players ripped her shirt off........well, the game just isn't going anywhere! >>
Although I agree it's a boring sport to watch, it's affecting your so called 'real' sports. I know my high school used to be great in football. Not so much now. More of the kids are interested in soccer than football. I don't think this is something that is limited to my former school. I drove by a school by my house a few months back and there were about 5-6 different soccer practice sessions going on. Nothing else, just soccer. They were even practicing on the baseball field!
<< <i>Millions of kids in America play soccer every day..................until they are old enough to realize what a stupid game it is, then they switch over to real American sports like football and baseball. >>
Harsh, but probably more true than you think.
Also, I agree with Sagard. Just because one doesn't like a sport, it doesn't mean they have to put other people's interests down because they aren't the same as theirs. One can like their own sport and live in enjoyment, just as the others can with theirs. Many American sports fans save this type of thinking for Soccer specifically. Does it stem from the old Anti European leave us alone, we are better than you sentiment? Who knows.
And often, it is win at all costs. A parent puts his kid in little league and the kid NEVER plays the infield because the coach has no self confidence(or a small pecker) to handle losing a game. It isn't the kid that has a problem, it is the coach with the poor self esteem. He fears he may be looked at in a bad light or something. So great, the coach or the parents of the 'star' athletes get to go home feeling good about themselves to be 'master' of the universe because they won a game...but at what expense?
I also agree that lots of kids play soccer who could be doing something else.
<< <i>I'm one of the bigger baseball nuts around, and I agree with the previous poster who said that soccer is affecting the other popular American sports. This has been going on for over a decade. I deal with youngsters, and have dealt with them. I see kids with tremendous athletic ability that are tailor made to play baseball...BUT THEY NEVER EVEN PLAY IT! They play soccer during in season and out of season. I try to get some to play baseball, but they just aren't interested. It most certainly has had an affect.
Also, I agree with Sagard. Just because one doesn't like a sport, it doesn't mean they have to put other people's interests down because they aren't the same as theirs. One can like their own sport and live in enjoyment, just as the others can with theirs. Many American sports fans save this type of thinking for Soccer specifically. Does it stem from the old Anti European leave us alone, we are better than you sentiment? Who knows. >>
This goes both ways, a number of non US soccer fans can't understand why Americans haven't fallen
in love with the game and then proceed to put down American sports which in turn gets Americans angry
who shoot back at soccer and around and around it goes. This often happens during the World Cup on
various sports message boards around the internet.
<< <i>I also agree that lots of kids play soccer who could be doing something else. >>
Like laying around and watching Spongebob, eating chips and playing their gameboy? Just be glad they are out there doing something. Plenty will go out for football and baseball as they get older.
<< <i>all im saying is that kids need to learn about winning and losing. not keeping score doesnt teach them anything. It's ok to lose it teaches you something. Playing for the sake of participation is .
I also agree that lots of kids play soccer who could be doing something else. >>
My kids baseball program goes like this. All players bat once per inning. Baserunners are to advance one base only. If the kid can't hit it after a dozen swings it is declared a walk and the kid is sent to first. You know what the kids do? They keep track of outs and runs anyways. They figure out a way to determine a winner without our help. Teach them to be respectful if they win and be proud if they gave their best effort and lost.
Soccer and hockey is a lot easier. The kids know who wins and loses because keeping track of goals is easy.
<< <i>If the kid can't hit it after a dozen swings it is declared a walk and the kid is sent to first. >>
Its the end of the world as we know it.
One thing I don't like is the forced snack after every game. I'm going to sound like my old man here but here goes:
I remember back when I played little league baseball, the only snack we got was the one at the end of the year when the coach would take us out for a slurpee at 7-11. If we were lucky we'd get a cool collector cup. The only one I ever remember getting was Quicksilver from Marvel Comics.
OK, I'm done.
: crickets chirping :
<< <i>Houston 1836 won the MLS Championship
Cool!
<< <i>
<< <i>Houston 1836 won the MLS Championship
Cool! >>
:shakes fist:
Dang you political correctness.
Think I found my new icon
<< <i>Soccer and hockey is a lot easier. The kids know who wins and loses because keeping track of goals is easy. >>
LOL this is just too easy. yeah easy to keep track of those 1-0 scores, or 0-0 ties
Another reason.....we like to score! If I'm running back and forth for two hours and the game ends in a tie with no scoring, what is the point? I may as well join the cross country or track team.
<< <i>The Houston Dynamos won the MLS Championship
: crickets chirping : >>
Do they still have MLS in this country? I'm being serious, I really don't know.
(I was going to say the same thing about kids being able to count up to one, an essential soccer number in addition to zero).