Any sport whose once in 4 years world championship can be decided by a penalty kick shootout has got serious problems.
That is like the Super Bowl being decided by a Punt, Pass, and Kick competition, the World Series decided by a home run derby contest, or the NBA title given to the winner of the HORSE competition.
Equally frustrating is that if a team has a one goal lead (inevitably 1-0) with 15 minutes to play, the game is essentially over. Scoring is an aberration, and the chance of overcoming an insurmountable one goal lead in that time is remote at best.
However, so I am not viewed as the ugly American (both of which I am), I offer the following subtle rule modifications in an effort to get this actually decent sport out of its embarrassingly bad rulebook dilemma:
1) Make the goal slightly larger. Not a lot - perhaps a meter wider, and/or half a meter taller. (See, I know my metrics system equivalents - I know how to go the extra 1.609 kilometers).
2) Relax the offsides rule. Maybe allow one player to violate it, or even one player by 3 meters or so. Breakaways are exciting - encourage their occurrence.
3) Limit the area in which the goalie is allowed to use his hands.
4) On free kicks, limit the number of players allowed as part of the “wall”. Or make them at least take their cups off. 8^)
I would rather have bamboo shoved under my nails than be forced to watch soccer. Unlike some native Texans, I have embraced the glorious sport of hockey. Fast, hard-hitting action all in wonderful air-conditioned comfort.
I watched the last 15 minutes of the game yesterday. why the hell do I want to watch a game that ends in a tie. It is a waste of time.
At least I did not see any of those horrible soccer injuries where the player writhes on the ground for eternity.
I think its amusing how the MSM trys their best to browbeat us into caring about Soccer every time the World Cup rolls around. They say we’re just being stubborn and anti-global by not caring about something that means so much to the rest of the world. They try to convince us that, “Soccer really is fun! It really is exciting! Heck, soccer players are the best athletes in the world! They tell us to just give it a try... Americans have never cared about soccer, and will never care about soccer. It will always rank below Football, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Golf, Hockey and Nascar in the American Psyche.
In the World, yes, but in America, if soccer and Libertarians were completely removed, who would give a damn? Not I.
I’m a Steelers fan, but that’s it. The other sports are dull as hell. Last year, I was almost forced to watch Pittsburgh pursue the Stanley Cup. I was in this rehab facility with only one tv, and the other patients insisted on watching the game. When I went to my room to plug in the CD player and listen to some music, I was labeled as anti-social. Big wup!
I’m even souring on the Steelers. Major sports have tons of overpaid, underworked participants, many of whom must have too much time on their hands because they are constantly getting in and out of trouble. Ben Roethlisberger, for example. The guy sneezes and every local station has to cover it. And people call these guys heroes. Something is wrong.
“World Cup Fever”
Didn’t the Chicago Ballhawks win? I thought that was all over.
I haven’t been following womens sports.