what people really want to see is the
UFC
If you have guys playing basketball on one corner, football in the other, stickball down the street and a fight breaks out..... where does everybody go???
'nuff said... /sarc... kinda
Posted on 06/06/2006 6:17:29 AM PDT by RayChuang88
Are we too spoiled as a society to recognize the importance of soccer?
I was watching a television promotion for the FIFA World Cup Tournament the other day, and the theme of the spot was that this simple thing — a little round leather ball — can bring so much national pride, so much joy and so much energy to entire nations around the world.
Except ours, that is. Why is that?
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Most Americans have no reference and as a result bask in ignorance.
Agreed, although I would say that they lash out in ignorance.
Shame, too. They're missing a grand opportunity to cheer for their country.
SD
The complaint that there isn’t enough scoring I can understand – even if I disagree with it as the low scoring nature of soccer is what makes it so tense.
What I’ve never really understood is the American aversion to draws. In a league format (which the World Cup initially is), what exactly is the problem with a draw? Sport should be an abstraction of life. There isn’t always a clear cut winner in life’s encounters.
Any sport that determines its champion by a gimmick is unworthy of consideration.
SD
Any sport that determines its champion by a gimmick is unworthy of consideration.
I’m not defending soccer, but how big football games are decided by some odd spindly lightweight kicking a field goal?
So why did Fox itself launch FoxSoccer / Foxsoccer.com ? Ah, well, yes, the demand on the free market made it do so.
So one probably shouldn't read to much into it. Just let the psychobabble stop and the games begin ;-) !
Yep. But anyone who thinks a penalty shoot out is a pure lottery (and it’s a common view to be fair) hasn’t seen enough of them.
Harsh way to lose, no doubt, but for nerve-racking tension I don’t think there’s anything like it (outside a warzone, anyway).
Football evolved as a game with free substitution and specialized players. But you will note that kicking field goals is not an innovation, but an integral part of the scoring system handed down from its rugby progenitor.
Now, if the NFL decided to end tie games by having a field goal kicking contest, that would be a gimmick. The NCAA overtime is a semi-gimmick, and I have mixed feelings about that. But playing sudden death overtime is not a gimmick. It's football.
If you suddenly stop playing the sport you are playing in order to do something else to decide a winner, that's a gimmick.
SD
Regardless, soccer is gaining popularity and now is something that athletes can make a career at. Furthermore, from a business point of view, its a wide open market to be developed, with lots of potential.
Hell, if Tony Hawk can make 10 million a year and turn X games into a real sport, then soccer got more than enough room to grow.
I didn't say it was a lottery. I don't think it's random chance. But it is a gimmick. To play soccer for 100-some minutes and then suddenly start playing something else to decide who wins is ridiculous.
I understand it is exciting to watch, but it is unworthy of a championship level contest. Take the NHL. I think a penalty shot contest is a fine way to keep the fans happy and avoid ties on a frigid January night. But when playoff time comes, they play hockey, and only hockey, until a winner emerges.
SD
You know, I would agree with you to a point. We American like scoring and rig our sports for even more scoring. For example; in football we changed rules in the kicking game, added 2 point conversions, pass interference, etc. In basketball we put in a shot clock and three point line. In baseball we lowered the mound, shrunk the strike zone, shortened the fences, juiced the ball and the players.
You just can’t keep playing for ever. I remember the Italy v Brazil game. Players were collapsing with cramp all over the place. This also happened in the Liverpool v West Ham cup final – the last 10 minutes just weren’t a game as players could barely walk.
If you went on forever than the winning team would be hopelessly out of shape for the next game.
what people really want to see is the
UFC
If you have guys playing basketball on one corner, football in the other, stickball down the street and a fight breaks out..... where does everybody go???
'nuff said... /sarc... kinda
Ahh. I actually like soccer, and was recruited to play keeper by a few Div 1 schools. Just having fun.
I've personally witness every one of those (though not at once) during my years of playing soccer.
i got banned for 1 week for that photo.... I'm gonna tell...lmao
Soccer is not the type of "action" sport we Americans have grown accustom to. There is a certain level of skill and finesse involved (as opposed to the "crush your opponent at all costs and then do a silly dance about it" mentality of American football). From that point of view, the penalty kick endings (which by the way only occur in playoffs or championships ... otherwise it's a draw) are quite a test of personal skill on part of the kicker and the goalie. Much like hockey ... which seems to be one sport you love dearly.
I resumed playing. Now I am on 2 teams and I am in my 30's. Keep me in great shape. As a kid, I played against Brian McBride on my youth traveling team when I lived outside Chicago.
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Soccer? Did Anna play soccer? Does Maria? No? Right, move along . . . |
Ever seen hockey players in the midst of a 4 OT game?
If the players fatigue, someone will eventually win. Believe me.
SD
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