Posted on 12/02/2010 10:36:46 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says FIFA made the "wrong decision" in awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar over the United States.
The U.S. Soccer Federation spent millions of dollars on its bid. Former President Bill Clinton was highly involved in the process and participated in the closing presentation.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
I would have preferred if they had kept as many of the original NASL teams as possible, but there may have been legal reasons why they couldn’t. I don’t think the market here is big enough to support 2 teams (it can hardly support one), but it would make it more interesting.
You gotta love the comment from another article (it may have been from ESPN.com) about the selection processes for the Olympics and the World Cup. The guy who wrote the article described Rio de Janeiro as a place that "resembles a Grand Theft Auto game without the reset button."
“Yes, there is such a clamor in this country for Pro Soccer. Its bigger than the NFL.”
Then why does major league soccer have such a pathetic presence here? If there is such clamor private enterprise would rise to the challenge.
I think the typical soccer fans in this country don’t have the money to pay ticket prices that would support raising it to the status of the NFL.
Because it's a minor league, compared to the European Leagues. Hardcore soccer fans here would much rather watch the EPL, or UEFA Champions League.
ML/NJ
The US team, at this years WC, resembles that remark. Man did they blow chance after chance. The English side says hello, too.
Perhaps...I’m still pissed at their play in the WC...they’ve never had nor will they get, an easier road to the finals than this year, and they blew it I. The very first elimination match....against an opponent they should have been pumped to knock off.
It was brutal. Long ball after long ball, no creativity, no runs. Neither team would make it out of the English Fourth Division.
What an asshole. Sheesh.
Actually, it sounds as if a mother is training a son to be afraid of competition and sport, and perhaps it would be a good thing for her to crouch deeper into a foxhole.
Off topic to your post in a way, but the Euros use relegation in their leagues, I think the same system would benefit American sports...every one of them. Too many teams would rather earn money than win (Clippers, Pirates, and Royals anyone?) and thus refuse to field a competitive team.
I was thinking that it would be cool if we had this in College Football.
Every year you would have Tiers of 13 teams (to allow for 6 home and 6 away games) where each team plays the other teams in their tier. So you would have a “Premier” College Tier with say, Auburn, Oregon, TCU.....(the best 13 teams). At the end the best team is the National Champion, and the worst teams fall to the next level in the following season, and the best teams from the lower division get promoted. I think it would be cool, but of course it would never happen.
That’s why I never understood people when they say soccer is a Commie sport.
It’s the NFL that’s Communist, every team gets the same cut of TV revenue no matter how much they suck, and the worst teams get the better draft picks. The NFL wants parity.
This issue is as close as Obama will ever get to protecting our national security. Pathetic!
It’s not about World Cups lost, but World Cups saved or created.
“a Grand Theft Auto game without the reset button.”
: )
My sons have seen things/been places that many people will never see in their lifetimes when we backpack; it certainly isn’t about that. They play soccer (which is competition), but there is no reason for them to think US football is any more a sport than Wrestlemania.
So says a boring pussy. Sorry to have hit your hot button.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.