Why Americans Don't Like Soccer

American Thinker ^ | 6/25/06 | Steven M. Warshawsky

[RepublicanPatriot]

My theory is that Americans have neither the belief system nor the temperment for such a sisyphean sport as soccer. We are a society of doers, achievers, and builders. Our country is dynamic, constantly growing, and becoming ever bigger, richer, and stronger. We do not subscribe to a “zero sum” mentality. We do not labor for the sake of laboring. And we like our sports teams to score.

[1rudeboy]

OMGLOL
How many pages is the NFL Rule Book up to now? I simply love staring at a bunch of athletes standing around and scratching their butts while a replay official tries to determine "whether the block was below the waist within the twenty yard line and the ball was tipped by a who stepped out of bounds while the ball was still in the air." Now, that is socialist.

[leadpenny]

Probably true. Same reason C-SPAN will never be mainstream. Peeps got to have their advertising.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

yea..or as I saw it explained once...

TV shows aren't interrupted by commercials..commercials are interrupted by TV shows..

[leadpenny]

stop-and-go action that creates tension & anxiety as its supposed to?

Not for me it doesn't. I speak only for me.

[Lady Heron]

After watching todays game of Portugal and the Netherlands, all I can say is that it has got to have the sissiest men of any sport(I do not watch basketball which my husband says is just about as bad).

What man goes into a fight slapping and pushing, lets not even talk about all of the diving to draw a penalty.

Thank God for hockey!

[defenderSD]

They do need to change the rules. There's not enough scoring in soccer. It seems like they decided on the size of the goal back when goalies were not as fast and athletic as they are today. The soccer authorities need to make the goal about eight feet wider and one foot taller. They could move the penalty kick back ten yars so the penalty kick isn't too easy to make. With a bigger goal, then you'd have more games with a 7-5 score that would be a lot more interesting to watch.

[Marius3188]

The writer is confused on some aspects of the game.

Someone wins. Bottom line. You score more points than the other team and you win. No zero sum.

But they key thing that really separates the US from other countries in regards to Soccer is the fact that it's a "poor nations game".

We have been so successful as a capitalist country that we have other sport options. Sure, one could consider basketball a poor mans sport but it requires a goal and a ball that bounces.

While with soccer, all you need is a "object" that can be kicked and a somewhat open area. Which would make it a perfect game for a developing country.

Another thing is the fact that it's a British game. Naturally we will reject that. Also, if it's popular in Europe also means we will object to it.

[Toby06]

Soccer is gay, and we have cool games, like Lacrosse.

[Political Junkie Too]

Naah...

It's the relativism of the constantly moving offsides line that contrasts with American sports played on rigid fields where everyone knows what's fair and foul all of the time. Europeans love things where fair and foul are constantly moving situational judgments; Americans love knowing the boundaries ahead of time and sticking to them. < /tomgue-in-cheek>

-PJ

[muawiyah]

There is no point at all in soccer.

Robert Rauschenburg's fans would understand this completely.

[Reagan Man]

Soccer, aka. "foot ball" = boring sport.

[Stoat]

 

 

[righttackle44]

"Now, that is socialist."

How much more exciting it is to watch those cute little Europeans playing that cute little game in their little cute shorts.

How thrilling to watch said cute litle European running to take off his shirt when he scores. (And he doesn't score often.)

[Loud Mime]

I played soccer in College. Even at that level, it was boring. But, I loved the rugby that followed. There the tackles are REAL.

[1rudeboy]

You might think they're cute, but you are probably more into spandex and pads.

[Sometimes A River]

Actually, the soccer rule book is a fraction of the NFL handbook.

All other team sports require teamwork.

Successful military operations require teamwork.

What's socialist about teamwork?

If it were socialist, they wouldn't let the best players play.

[Smedley]

"That soccer may be “the most popular sport in the world” speaks volumes

Soccer is a very popular sport because it takes so little equipment, and most of the third word struggles to get shoes. Maybe golf would be the most popular sport in the world if every child on Earth had a free set of clubs and free access to Agusta.

[stop_fascism]

Just get rid of the idiot Goalie. From what I've seen in these world cups, these teams couldn't score in double digits even if there was no goalie.

After that, get rid of "offsides".

[Mr. Brightside]

Soccer never made sense to me because you could not use your hands.

Reminds me of how the English fought the Revolutionary War. They wore red coats while fighting in green forests and marched in straight lines in stead of hiding behind trees. They did not use camouflage, no sneak attacks, etc. because it was "against the rules."

Americans are more resourceful. And they don't like following rules that don't make sense.

[mtbopfuyn]

It probably makes more sense that jogging as exercise.

At least when one jogs, one knows he'll make the destination goal at the end.