[Roccus]

To me, soccer is like veeeerrrrryyyyy slooooooooow hockey with no intentional contact and totally indeterminate timing constraints.

[ml/nj]

I was a big hockey fan too. I used to attend 30-35 games a year at MSG, while living more than 100 miles from NYC. But eventually I realized that I was watching other people work. I cared more than Vic Hadfield did. It was stupid. So I stopped. But I still think hockey is a great game.

Soccer is too. You're right. It is slower than hockey. But at almost any point, except when one side is trying to kill the clock, either side might score within ten seconds. (And no commercial breaks!) Shots on goal in soccer rarely depend upon a hoped for lucky deflection. Goals are almost always artistic.

Give it a chance. Watch Ronaldo on Saturday. He won't leave the field after 60-90 seconds. He'll probably play all 90 minutes.

ML/NJ