Posted on 07/05/2006 2:13:36 PM PDT by Ebenezer
Father William Maestri with the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana makes this damning (at least to soccer moms nationwide) remark in his latest column on The Clarion Herald, the Archdiocese's newspaper. The quote is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg as he rants in no uncertain terms against this sport which he mockingly calls "kickball".
But then, what is the Padre's sport of choice? Not basketball, not football, not even "the national pastime" of baseball. It's tennis; Wimbledon tennis!
The article is available only in .pdf format, so I urge fellow FReepers to access it through the source URL, read it, and reach your own conclusions. While I agree with Father's disdain for fútbol, "take me out to the ball game".....anytime.
I agree. Not enough violence. Americans should play Rugby.
its a nancy game played by pencil necks
I wholeheartedly agree. In this country, we have baseball, football, and basketball. The only folks who go nuts for soccer are eurotrash in Manhattan and third-world immigrants. Even the children of the latter can't stand watching the boring and TOTALLY GAY game of "futbol."
What's the worst thing about being a soccer fan?
Having to admit to your parents that you are gay...
"Kickball." Heh heh.
I prefer to call it by what it induces in me: a nap.
I know, but even though I don't care about the World Cup. I'm going to bring in an Italian flag for a few of my South American coworkers who have been driving me crazy with their antics on behalf of Brazil. A country I must add, that neither of them are from nor have any family ties too.
I'm not a fan of soccer but even I'm not that stupid.
That's just wrong.
It borders on blasphemy.
Odd, because many of the Brazilians I talk to in Newark (which has a HUGE Brazilian population) are rooting for Italy. Many Brazilians, especially those from the south, have Italian ancestors. Even those who don't prefer Italy over their former colonizer, or for that matter, those effeminate guys with the red, white, and blue flag that aint the U.S...
Wimbledon is fun to watch but I have to turn the sound off. All that grunting and screaming they do everytime they hit the ball drives me up the wall.
"Kickball" is a game that uses a baseball diamond and similar rules with the exception that you use a soccer ball, the pitcher rolls it to the plate, you kick it, and may throw a runner out by hitting him with the ball. (like in dodgeball)
I used to play it often as a kid when baseball equipment was not available.
just the first thing I thought of it
Oh, please. Anyone who's ever spent any amount of time watching the sport realizes that soccer requires the highest degree of athleticism. 45 minute halves, no time outs as such, and only three substitutions, which means that most of the players spend the time running over a much larger playing area than any other team sport for the full 90 minutes, plus whatever stoppage time occurs, plus any overtime. "Nancy boys" who can do that are probably in good enough shape to beat the crap out of just about any participant in any of the "more American" sports.
Plus, they have to develop skill enough to use various body parts not designed for such use, to manipulate a moving ball.
I'm American born and raise, proud to be so, and I appreciate the sports you've mentioned; though frankly, hockey is my viewing sport of choice. Ragging on soccer is largely sour grapes by people who get their American pride offended by the fact that we haven't yet developed our skills in that sport to the point where we compete well, unless you count the women teams (which I guess you'll use to back up your comment).
Just because it isn't fast-paced enough for those with MTV attention spans doesn't mean it can't be appreciated for the skills and strategies involved.
I urge you to get a life. It's his opinion, and one that I share. I played "kickball" as a kid, and so did my son. It's a somewhat fun game to play, and torture to watch, like viewing grass growing. I could care less about it or the World Cup.
The padre is wrong. Soccer is a great sport.
All true, but look how many Mini Vans have sold because of it's popularity with the "my life revolves entirely around my kids" crowd.
Kid Soccer saved Chrysler from bankruptcy!
The same goes for the metric system...
Pencil "somethings", is right!
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