Is Soccer Un-American?

Denver Post ^ | August 03, 2004 | David Harsanyi

[Edit35]

I hate soccer.

It is the most boring thing to watch.

Back and forth, back and forth for two hours. And then the score is 1-0. Big Woop.

[Lexington Green]

Guess I should of put a big fat SARDONICISM sign on that... for the humor-impaired among us

[thePilgrim]

So, vote against it and encourage others to do the same. But, to call soccer unAmerican is just plain stupid. I thought we celebrated our diversity, not just try to cram people into the same baseball/ football mold.

In the Service of the Lord,
Christian.

[Revolting cat!]

What is it with all the anti-soccer threads and comments lately?

Oh, it's just an outlet for xenophonbia, nativism, parochialism and plain old chauvinism, all to live up to the Leftists ugly stereotypes of conservatives.

Besides, no sport can catch on in this country in which we can't call every championship "World Series" or something with "world" in it, pretend the world is competing and always win against the world of our imagination! "Super Bowl World Champions!" Yeah, sure!

[BlueLancer]

I absolutely refuse to watch any more soccer until they change that stupid $@^#%!&?^&+# offsides rule.

[flashbunny]

For 20+ years, they've been promising that soccer is the 'next big thing'. All these kids who played soccer were supposed to grow up and be hungrey for professional soccer.

That never has happened. But it's still 'the next big thing'.

Always will be.

[1rudeboy]

To give baseball some credit, it is planning on having a World Cup . . . maybe as early as next year.

[thePilgrim]

I soured on watching football when it became aparent that it was nothing but a bunch of money grabbing thugs who seem to be more interested in where to find their drugs than exhibit any kind of American ideals. Baseball is better, but, and perhaps this is just me being a closeminded male, I can't stand watching 9 innings of guys adjusting themselves on national TV.

Christian.

[TheBigB]

It's a...game. That's all. Just like football, baseball, basketball, and every other one. It's not worth one minute of time debating whether or not a game is "un-American."

Have we solved every other problem in America then, that this is actually important?

[Choose Ye This Day]

The brand I like is called fútbol, not footie, butto each his own.

:o)

[tjwmason]

Well, it's definitely socialist... you gotta play with both hands tied behind your back.

The other socialist element is that everybody cheats, and tries to hide the fact.

You're lucky as far as soccer is concerned, over here in England throughout the season (which now lasts about 10 months per year) vast swathes of television is rescheduled for the d*mn games. On some occasions they dump an entire evening's television on one of the main channels for a game which involves 2 foreign teams.

Rugby and cricket are the only sports worth thinking about.

[horatio]

Bears repeating.

Soccer threads tend to bring out odd stereotypes of conservatives.

[1rudeboy]

The other socialist element is that everybody cheats, and tries to hide the fact.

Oh, please do explain.

[GOP_1900AD]

Essentially, with some slight regional exceptions, the group who as youths played soccer in large numbers are younger than the Baby Boomers. Once the demographic effect of the Boomers starts to diminish, I reckon a much larger percentage of the adult population will want to see pro soccer.

[tjwmason]

Remember chaps, "Football" is what the great game is called, not "soccer".

The real football is rugby.

Soccer is for wimps.

[TLI]

Nope, but it damn sure is boring.

Good couch sleeping sport . . .

[thePilgrim]

***Besides, no sport can catch on in this country in which we can't call every championship "World Series" or something with "world" in it, pretend the world is competing and always win against the world of our imagination! "Super Bowl World Champions!" Yeah, sure!***

To be honest, when any country in the world can field a team to beat the Americans in football or baseball, then they are entitled to call it a world championship. Notice that the Stanley Cup Finals is not called a world championship. The know there are plenty of countries that can compete at that level. Of course, the teams are full of those players right now, so maybe they should call it a world championship.

Christian.

[tjwmason]

Oh, please do explain.

The main tactic is to fall over and lie on the ground in faux agony whenever an opponent comes near. The hope is to get a foul awarded. If you can get a penalty from it, that could win the entire game given the 1-0 is a very common score.

[dljordan]

They don't attack them because at present the Mexicans are outnumbered. They're working on that.

[truthandlife]

Soccer is a niche sport in the U.S. and will always be a 2nd tiered sport in this nation. It is a great game (if you understand it) and the passion for the game is bigger than any sport in the world.

It will continue to grow gradually in the U.S. as these soccer specific stadiums keep being built. As the the Latino population continues to increase as well as the U.S. team continues to improve in world competitions, soccer will replace hockey in popularity. It will never supercede football, baseball or basketball but it will always have a niche in American society. Get over it.

How many people said they would never ever watch guys doing left turns all day. Now there are many that are die hard NASCAR fans.

If you ever get a chance to go to a soccer game overseas (especially an English Premiere League game), you will be amazed by the passion of the game. You might even start watching Fox Sports World.