Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

An NFL fan's guide to the World Cup
Sporting News ^ | By Vinnie Iyer

Posted on 05/31/2002 8:29:58 AM PDT by wallcrawlr

That "other" football championship is kicking off in Japan and Korea this weekend.

Just because soccer called itself football first doesn't mean that the World Cup offers a better game than the NFL. . . .

Cases in point:

No NFL game would never be dubbed as a "friendly."

Slovenia vs. Paraguay, June 12. Don't mark your calendars.

That's called a tackle?

No team should carry more than one kicker.

A "side" should only be something an offensive lineman consumes many of at KFC.

Five of those offensive linemen -- now that's a real "wall".

Why do you think there is an NFL Europe, but no Bundesliga USA?

A "header" hurts a little more in the NFL.

Without TV timeouts, you can't benefit from the exercise of running to the bathroom and hitting the fridge without missing any action.

Entertainers other than Brazilian (news - web sites) soccer stars who go by just one name: Madonna (news - web sites), Cher, Liberace.

Red and yellow cards. Ooh scary. I better behave.

The NFL has Jerry Rice.

The World Cup has someone who married Posh Spice.

Halfbacks shouldn't mean they are half-sized.

Touchdowns over touchlines, any day of the week.

"Throw-in" should refer only to NFL contract incentives.

The NFL's version of the "equalizer": the salary cap.

The World Cup's most exciting play: "Goooooooooal!"

Times that happens in an average World Cup match: 0.5

Excitement on almost every NFL play: "Boom! Whap! Thud! Crunch!"

Tunisia vs. Belgium, June 10.

It should take a lot more than touching the ball to qualify as "Illegal use of the hands."

If your sport somehow lets France win something, that's just embarrassing.

Don't worry -- there are only 99 days until the real football season starts.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-48 last
To: stillonaroll
Soccer also displays true athletic talent: no time outs and near-constant running.

This is the one thing I dispute about your post. If you watch a soccer game today (especially at its highest levels), you rarely see more than two or three of the eleven players running at any given time.

41 posted on 05/31/2002 12:14:04 PM PDT by Alberta's Child
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Victoria Delsoul
Bump for a laugh. Now you'll know what a "Neezer" is if you ever hear it from a Canadian.
42 posted on 05/31/2002 12:14:53 PM PDT by Alberta's Child
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child
If the game had ended in a scoreless tie, and the Patriots and Rams determined the winner by having everyone stand around while their kickers went out and tried five 50-yard field goals apiece, you might have a point.

Agreed. The shootouts in soccer are pathetic. They should make them play until someone wins, like an 15-inning baseball game. See who wants it more.

The shootouts were invented purely for the benefit of European TV networks. Of course, TV also dictates a lot of what goes on in U.S. sports.

43 posted on 05/31/2002 12:16:41 PM PDT by stillonaroll
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child
I did notice that come to think of it. Even books in the giftshops were printed in Japanese; kinda scary!
44 posted on 05/31/2002 12:18:32 PM PDT by Sam's Army
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Hegewisch Dupa
If they can control the ball and score, why not?
45 posted on 05/31/2002 1:30:27 PM PDT by cruiserman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child
LOL! OK.
46 posted on 05/31/2002 2:00:45 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Bikers4Bush
Your post just seemed a little defensive.

Fair enough. Have fun this weekend enjoying whatever sport you like.

My indoor soccer game this evening was cancelled, so I'm stuck with yard work.

47 posted on 05/31/2002 2:52:29 PM PDT by cruiserman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: cruiserman
I've been looking for an indoor team to play on around me.

All the teams that have openings are either beginner or co-ed and the thought of accidentally booting one into some girls face scares the hell out of me.

I'll drink one to them not cancelling your game next week.

Have a good one.

48 posted on 05/31/2002 3:20:46 PM PDT by Bikers4Bush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-48 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson