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 ....
What attack was that? I must have missed it.
OK, how’s this. Soccer sucks. There now I am like the majority of posters on this thread. Happy?
Anyone who has followed the antics of the NHL, NCAA, and the NFL in trying to eliminate a draw result, closely, is amused by the efforts.
Precisely my opinion, as well. American by their nature generally use every tool at their disposal to get a job done. If the proper tool or equipment wasn't available, someone invented or developed it. We have always wanted a bigger/better/faster way to get things done. With no equipment, the game doesn't progress. There are always equipment improvements in our popular sports - football, baseball, tennis, etc.
And, what's the point of handicapping players by not allowing them to use the best tool they have, their hands? Just doesn't make sense to me.
So, since the whole world seems to love soccer, we must embrace it?
No thank you, I don’t care what the rest of the world likes, I like what I like and the rest of the world can enjoy whatever they please.
I think what they should do to stop PKs in tournaments is allow unlimited substitutions during Extra Time, players can go in and out as they wish, that would eliminate the fatigue factor.
I think you’d have an easier time justifying Rugby to an American audience.
Rugby players don’t wear padding and helmets, and don’t stop playing every 2 seconds.
Make no mistake, I watch NFL football--the breaks in the action allow me to catch-up with my reading.
You might be right!
And I think I made a mistake with my title ( it upset people where it wasn't supposed to)
My main thrust was point 3.
Knowing "Soccer" can and does help people in all sorts of situations abroad. It's pretty late now, so I'm going to sign off, but I might try to be more succulent tomorrow (presuming those death threats don't materialize!)
Keep smiling,
Philip
Kick the ball, feign a severe injury, look to see if the ref is looking, get up and kick the ball, and repeat.
One of the soccer moms on my daughter's team is from Colombia. She says her favorite variant back home was playing pickup without the offside rule. That would really spread the field and open up the offense. But I don't know what it would do to the texture of play at elite levels.
I tried to watch two different kickball games recently and fell asleep both times. The term ‘scorcher’ simply doesn’t fit in my opinion. For some reason I can completely enjoy to suspense and strategy of a no-hitter in baseball, but kickball doesn’t grab my attention. Maybe it comes from growing up in America.
That's a very good way to get yourself Red Carded and suspended for a few games.
Soccer is a girls sport.
Strange I never mentioned the NFL, NBA, NCAA, etc. Glad to see you are a fan of the NFL and know how to read.
Any sport, baseball anyone?, is boring when you are not vested in one of the teams playing.
You want boring? A 9-6 Field Goal Fest between the Cardinals and the Titans, if you’re not a fan of either team.
At the elite level, you would have a bunch of specialists standing around in front of the goal, waiting for a long pass to arrive.
Which is why hockey also has their offside rule.
That represents my sentiments exactly.
Once upon a time when I lived in Alabama, a farmer was talking to his friend in the local diner about how “we” (meaning University of Alabama) were going to win the championship. All I could think of is that this guy never graduated high school, let alone attended the U of A, let alone played on their football team. Sheesh, how lame do you have to be to feel pride in the feats of others?
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