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Why Americans needs to embrace soccer (football)
19/08/12 | Phil.K

Posted on 08/19/2012 10:47:26 AM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat

I have just finished watching an absolute scorcher of a game between Manchester City and Southampton (the current league champions won 3-2) and would like to state my case why America needs to embrace this game ASAP.

1) Football (soccer) is THE premier spectator sport in the world.

This doesn't mean baseball, basketball, Ice Hockey, cricket, American football, rugby, Australian rules etc don't have a place at the table. But week in and week out, the thought that David can and does beat Goliath makes it genuine.

2) It can be played anywhere.

Unlike most team sports, no equipment is required to play except a ball. And I don't necessarily mean a football. The kids at my school use "paper" balls, and when I was a kid, we used sweaters for goal posts.

3) It is an international language.

With the chances of our children traveling internationally becoming far more frequent, to be able to communicate with others is a huge asset. Yes learning languages is important, but that's no good if you have nothing to talk about. The EPL is represented by almost half the world. Moreover it is the most watched league in the world. Having some knowledge of its stars and traditions does no harm.

Once again, I'm NOT saying other spectator sports are boring ( well ok basketball and baseball). But in this shrinking world, if you don't know Rooney from Drogba, Pele form Maradonna, or Juventus from AC Milan...you are left with talking about ....


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Sports
KEYWORDS: yougottabekidding
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To: AmericanSamurai

GO A’S!!!


141 posted on 08/19/2012 6:40:04 PM PDT by AmericanSamurai
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To: Jakarta ex-pat

Here’s a game that’s just as exciting. Like rugby only players used to be able to punch each other in the face;

http://www.economist.com/node/2204483?story_id=2204483


142 posted on 08/19/2012 7:05:43 PM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult (Liberals make unrealistic demands on reality and reality doesn't oblige them.)
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To: Jakarta ex-pat
Or how about Pro Thunderball where a fully loaded gun is placed on a gun circle which the players are forbidden to use. Hot chicks and wild dogs roam the outfield to distract the players. Also a car runs over some players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15m_i6QPAXE

143 posted on 08/19/2012 7:17:35 PM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult (Liberals make unrealistic demands on reality and reality doesn't oblige them.)
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To: Lancey Howard
"By the way, aren’t you glad you started this thread?"

Why not?

As I said to another poster, I may have reworded the title, and put more effort into 3, which was the main reason for writing the piece.

Nevertheless, I come to FreeRepublic to keep up with the news, remind myself that conservatives have generally the same views as myself, and to join in the "conversation" once in a while.

From time to time, I go further and "post" an opinion.

That the majority of posters will agree or disagree is unimportant. (though it's nice when they do!)

One can't take replies too personal, or you'd never "join in."

As always,

keep smiling,

Philip

144 posted on 08/19/2012 7:50:38 PM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
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To: Pox

I agree with you. Soccer is BORING. DULL. A little kid’s game until the boys can play football.

Football is a religion in Texas. I don’t see us becoming athiest anytime soon.


145 posted on 08/19/2012 7:51:41 PM PDT by 1scrappymom
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To: Jakarta ex-pat

Good post!

FRegards,
LH


146 posted on 08/19/2012 8:36:32 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Jakarta ex-pat
Well, my 'spectator sport' of choice is Drum Corps.

Spirit of Atlanta

Here's an idea of what it's like on the field:
Euphonium Cam

Guard Cam

This ain't 'marching band', any more than high school soccer is Colorado Rapids soccer.

147 posted on 08/20/2012 7:39:06 AM PDT by real saxophonist (CTHULHU 2012 - Why vote for a Lesser Evil?)
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To: Jakarta ex-pat
But week in and week out, the thought that David can and does beat Goliath makes it genuine.

In matches that end with scores of 2-3, even a squirrel can find a nut once in awhile.

That's not to say games with high scores are any more decisive. You can tune into the last 10 minutes of a basketball game, and either find it to be a blowout, or a matched score of 89-91.

148 posted on 08/20/2012 9:48:30 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Only Obama put a dog on the roof of his mouth. Dogs are friends, not food.)
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To: Reily

You have it wrong, That cheating Ellis picked up the ball and was penalized for it, Rugby came about when a guy twice his size tackled him, pushed his face in the mud and told Ellis never to touch the ball again. Then he picked up the ball and scored a try!


149 posted on 08/20/2012 12:04:23 PM PDT by Docbarleypop
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To: EricT.

Rugby is growing faster in the US than soccer is, in St Paul/MPLS we have 12 mens club side teams, almost all of the colleges in MN has both mens and womens sides and its growing even faster in the high schools. Recently, in Texas of all places, 30k fans came out to watch our national team


150 posted on 08/20/2012 12:12:24 PM PDT by Docbarleypop
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To: x

agreed, this year for the 1st time in 6 years I get to play in a league match against one of my best friends, he fish-hooked me while on the bottom of a ruck back in 2004 while we were on the same team, I keep reminding him of pay back! in 2 weeks it will happen, then we will all go to the bar drink, and brag about it!


151 posted on 08/20/2012 12:20:39 PM PDT by Docbarleypop
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

we still do! just have to do it first


152 posted on 08/20/2012 12:28:33 PM PDT by Docbarleypop
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To: Docbarleypop

Don’t know & don’t care!


153 posted on 08/20/2012 2:56:37 PM PDT by Reily
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To: real saxophonist
if you like DC, you know who RONDON/Steve Rondinaro is, i marched with him from the beginning of the Squires till 1972
154 posted on 08/20/2012 3:00:27 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Jakarta ex-pat

I agree with Rush Limbaugh when he says that the most exciting thing about a soccer game is the riot by fans of the losing team.


155 posted on 08/24/2012 7:22:55 PM PDT by Fiji Hill (Deo Vindice!)
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To: x

Very interesting map. According to it, basketball predominates in the Baltic states, of all places.


156 posted on 08/24/2012 7:33:44 PM PDT by Fiji Hill (Deo Vindice!)
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To: Fiji Hill
The way to measure the popularity of a sport in most countries isn't through a map.

Just go into the urban areas of a country, or rural for that matter, and count the names of famous sports players on the kids' backs.

157 posted on 08/24/2012 8:47:02 PM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
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To: Jakarta ex-pat
he way to measure the popularity of a sport in most countries isn't through a map.
Just go into the urban areas of a country, or rural for that matter, and count the names of famous sports players on the kids' backs.

That is, indeed, true. One can also note what they're wearing on their heads. In Southern California, the baseball caps one usually sees are Cardinal and Gold (University of Southern California Trojans football), blue (Los Angeles Dodgers baseball) or red (Anaheim Angels baseball). I'll be wearing my Cardinal and Gold cap this fall as well as well as my Orange and Black Occidental College cap.

At a recent family reunion in Ohio, my relatives, virtually to a man, were Ohio State Buckeyes fans--and not big fans of the Trojans, off-and-on rivals since 1936. Over the border in Pennsylvania, I saw a lot of Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers hats and t-shirts.

158 posted on 08/24/2012 9:15:26 PM PDT by Fiji Hill (Deo Vindice!)
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To: Fiji Hill

Keep smiling and wearing yer cap!


159 posted on 08/24/2012 9:23:02 PM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
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