Iraqis thrash U.S. Marines in soccer match

Reuters Via CNN ^ | 04/29/2003

[DuncanWaring]

Soccer.

In the U.S. it's the sport of the future.

And always will be. ;-)

[Tallguy]

The Japanese were actually playing baseball before WW2. Both Lou Gehrig & Babe Ruth used to tour Japan during the off-season to promote "The Game." That being said, the US Occupation probably had more to do with the expansion of the game in Japan.

[Tallguy]

Did somebody say "Boys from Company C?"

[Steve_Seattle]

"I am really sick of the inter-sport bashing that goes on"

I agree. People aren't content to say "I like _________"; they've got to add a put-down of whatever it is they don't like.

[safeasthebanks]

Great point about the foolishness of arguing about which sport is "better". It's all just opinion.

For what its worth (and to all you "soccer is not an American sport" types), with a full compliment of players, our National Team would be favored to beat the Iraqi Nationals, especially at home or on a neutral field.

[Mr. Mojo]

We probably would've been better off playing barefoot than in combat boots.

[Snickersnee]

When Doolittle's planes roared over Tokyo in April, 1942 at 500 feet above the deck, one of them reported going over a big-league ballpark, full of spectators. In the brief window of visibility, they said that some of the fans jumped up in their seats and could be seen giving the "Banzai" salute (both arms in the air.) They presumed that the fans mistook the red circle inside the white star of their insignia for the Imperial Meatball of the IJAF. Surpriiiiiise!

[neither-nor]

I love this. As an Asian who supports the US in Iraq, I love this! Give them some pride, the next thing you know they'll be talking democracy...( long shot, but its a start). Well done people!!!

[AmishDude]

But why would you ruin a couple of perfectly good 10K runs by placing a ball amongst the runners? The truth is that soccer will never (within the next 4 generations, at least) catch on as a spectator sport in the US for a number of reasons:

• No upper body strength involved. Americans love upper body strength -- hitting a ball (like chopping a tree), tackling someone to the ground -- and demonstrations of power.
• No short term goals. Many soccer matches have long, unsatisfying interludes. A rush down the field often results in a turnover, or worse -- offsides. Baseball has intermediate steps to scoring as does football. Basketball has scoring constantly.
• Watching soccer, you are more likely than not going to miss the crucial scoring opportunity. It cannot be watched casually and "updates" on the game are useless. Many visitors to the US complain that commercials make soccer on TV impossible. This isn't true. Most Americans watch TV as a secondary activity. They know when a crucial moment in American sports is coming. With soccer, they will miss the big goal until it gets put on replay.
• No in-game strategy. There's no coach to second-guess. No elaborate game plans, no crucial decisions. Sports talk radio can't really exist for soccer.
• Very little individuality. Baseball and football have almost absurd degrees of specialization. Basketball has very few players. It is very hard to keep track of 10 players who all, in a broad sense, have the same job.

Don't get me wrong, this is also why the NHL is still a cult sport in the US. Still, it's a pleasant way to spend a dreary Sunday afternoon, as our English friends remind us.

[neither-nor]

And, also congratulations Americans for your grace in reacting to this story. But then, I EXPECTED this of you ( You are Freepers, after all)

[al_c]

Back during the fighting, the Brits took on the Iraqis in a friendly and the Iraqis whooped up on them, too.

[neither-nor]

Hey, what do you mean 'dreary Sunday afternoon'?:). you infidel you?

FYI: Soccer= the greatest game in the world( And dont you try to get baseball, american er er er football, baskeball in)

[dakine]

Very well thought out....

[Remole]

I am a huge fan of soccer, and I think your analysis is correct. That is why I never follow football, except for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and in that case I videotape the game and watch the whole thing in 60 minutes; I only watch college basketball during March; and I only watch a little baseball at the playoffs. Your point is well taken: to really appreciate soccer, you have to watch the whole thing, follow the entire drama from beginning to end and not be distracted. When I lived in Europe, and a big game came on the telly, everything would just come to a screeching halt during the 90 minutes of the match.

[AmishDude]

As to baseball, I've got George Will on my side. But then again, baseball isn't just a "game". It is poetry on dirt with sticks.

[Nachoman]

U.S. Marines - Winner 2003 Intramural Ass-whupping

[Sam's Army]

"Sure, it's OK for nations that only have rocks, skulls and rusty tin cans to play with. {ggg}."

Like England?

[AmishDude]

Being a "football supporter" is a huge commitment. That's why the Brits tend to follow one team. In the US, there are fans of the sport who follow closely only when the playoffs start.

[neither-nor]

I won't even pretend to know who George Will is. But you want to know what poetry on dirt with sticks ( and that is fair poetry my friend)is? It is the wonderful game of Cricket ! (thats another debate)

Bless you and bless your baseball ( could NEVER understand this game)

[AmishDude]

George Will is the most intelligent columnist in newspapers today. Check my profile page.

I think there's a black, cold place in my heart for cricket. At my school, they have pick-up cricket games on the (American) football field. There's a track around the field where people can run, but the damned cricket game takes up so much space, that they're fielding the ball all the way at the edge of the track.

Besides, it's so easy to hit the ball with that incredibly wide paddle!