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Iraqis thrash U.S. Marines in soccer match
Reuters Via CNN ^
| 04/29/2003
Posted on 04/29/2003 12:02:41 PM PDT by Phlap
Edited on 04/29/2004 2:02:28 AM PDT by Jim Robinson.
[history]
NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) -- U.S. Marines may consider themselves an elite fighting force, but they were no match for an Iraqi soccer side who thrashed them 7-0 in the southern town of Najaf.
The Najaf Poets devastated a side drawn from 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, their yellow jerseys flashing past Americans who took to the field in combat boots and camouflaged trousers.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: embeddedreport; iraqifreedom; marines; najaf; soccer; usmc
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To: Phlap
Yet another example of failed Bush policy. Quagmire alert.
We need an operational pause.
21
posted on
04/29/2003 12:21:44 PM PDT
by
Guillermo
(Sic 'em!)
To: Phlap
This is part of the "win the hearts of the people." We just showed our military might, let them win a game of soccer.
22
posted on
04/29/2003 12:22:38 PM PDT
by
MP5
To: FeliciaCat
There is nothing wrong with soccer. Outside the US its the the biggest sport in the world and given enough time and promotion it could be here as well. And yes, I love baseball, the flag and apple pie. No flames please. Is soccer a sport??? Was Bagdad Bob keeping score??
Pray for GW and Our Troops
23
posted on
04/29/2003 12:23:07 PM PDT
by
bray
(Old Glory Means Freedom)
To: Doomonyou
24
posted on
04/29/2003 12:24:54 PM PDT
by
E Rocc
(Losing to the Iraqis at soccer is like losing a mime contest to the French.)
To: Phlap
A friendly little pickup game........and the locals SHOULD have won. :)
I'm sure this little game did more to humanize the GI's than any of their other (considerable) efforts with the local citizenry to date. Good stuff, all in fun.
To: FeliciaCat
I think that reason soccer is so popular overseas, especially in poor countries, is because the convenience of setting up a game with limited resources.
Besides a soccer ball, not much else is needed.
A couple of 2x4s can act as a goal posts, and young legs can burn a lot of energy in urban settings with nothing else to do.
To: sd-joe
"Americans who took to the field in combat boots"
Combat boots may have been a hinderance. "You didn't expect me to go into combat with loose change in my pocket!"
27
posted on
04/29/2003 12:25:58 PM PDT
by
jlogajan
To: george wythe
I wouldnt exactly call the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Western Europe "poor countries" and soccer (or "football") is #1 sport.
To: Phlap
Yea, now let them try basketball.
To: Doomonyou
"Time to whip out the footballs (NFL Style!)"And then, time to teach the kids how to play baseball.
30
posted on
04/29/2003 12:29:33 PM PDT
by
redhead
(Les Français sont des singes de capitulation qui mangent du fromage.)
To: FeliciaCat
Don't worry, I love soccer. I love the all-american sports of baseball and football more, but the fact that the wait between World Cups is four years kills me. At least the Super Bowl and World Series are every year.
31
posted on
04/29/2003 12:31:10 PM PDT
by
baseballfanjm
(The Red Sox= 2003 World Champs, Pedro and Nomar= World Series MVPs, Me= forever hopeful)
To: FeliciaCat
Flames?
Compared to baseball, soccer is by far the better sport.
;-)
32
posted on
04/29/2003 12:31:56 PM PDT
by
k2blader
(Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right. - John Donne)
To: baseballfanjm
Whew! Finally you showed up! I was beginning to feel out numbered here....and I'm not even a valid fan! (just appreciate a fast moving game that has men with good legs!)
To: Phlap
I can't believe that some of the people on this thread seem bothered that the soldiers lost a pick-up soccer game, as if this loss threatens the Republic.
To: FeliciaCat
Hey, there are some SERIOUS hotties in soccer (and hockey)....;) Well, that is mitigation of a sort. ;-)
Walt
35
posted on
04/29/2003 12:40:10 PM PDT
by
WhiskeyPapa
(Be copy now to men of grosser blood and teach them how to war!)
To: k2blader
UK, NZ, and Aussies have my utmost respect.
They have, bar none, the baddest, meanest, most fun game on earth(behind hockey, although its getting wussy).
RUGBY. A game for men, played by men.
To: FeliciaCat
Maybe I did not make myself clear on my post.
I know that soccer is popular in Western Europe and Australia, but I was highlighting the reason for its popularity in most of the world, especially poor countries.
For instance, while staying overseas, I have taught Latin American children to play American football, and the kids loved the game. Nevertheless, they ended up playing soccer most of the time because they lacked access to the football logistics necessary to organize school and neighborhood teams.
Most of those kids still follow American football on satellite TV and occasionally send me letters thanking me for teaching them football.
To: jlogajan
Beautiful.
38
posted on
04/29/2003 12:47:55 PM PDT
by
sd-joe
To: FeliciaCat
I agree; I used to not like soccer until I got forced into assistant coaching the soccer team for the little parochial high school I used to teach at. Now I understand the strategies and tactics of the game, and enjoy the game much more. I am really sick of the inter-sport bashing that goes on - all sports are so different from each other and require mastery of different skill sets that no one could honestly say one sport is "better" than another.
39
posted on
04/29/2003 12:49:27 PM PDT
by
egarvue
(Martin Sheen is not my president...)
To: george wythe
I understand your point now, thanks.
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