Why Soccer Is Better Than Football

The Wall Street Journal ^ | May 18, 2012 | BRUCE ORWALL

[MinorityRepublican]

LONDON—Words can barely describe the jaw-dropping season finale staged by England's Premier League last weekend, but that didn't stop every pundit, Twitter wag and pub crawler in Britain from searching many beers into Sunday night for new ways to say "best season ever."

The day started at 3 p.m. with seven of the league's 20 teams still playing for something important: not just the championship, but also to secure berths in a prestigious Europe-wide competition and the right to stay in the Premier League at all, under rules that annually demote the weakest teams.

It wasn't settled until minutes before 5 p.m., when two improbable late goals delivered Manchester City—the world's only underdog lavishly bankrolled by an Abu Dhabi sheik—its first title since the late 1960s. Former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher described the feeling that swelled up in City supporters when he told the BBC: "I just swore a lot. I cried, I cried like a baby." Celebrating in a Santiago, Chile, bar, he "may have tried" to rip a TV off the wall.

Observing the mayhem from my usual perch at the Gunmakers pub in London's Marylebone, I left the television undisturbed, but marked a personal milestone of my own: I've made the switch from American football to real football. After years of trying to sneak away from the National Football League—with its weaponized linemen, bounty-hunting defenses and periodic bursts of action to break up the commercials—I am finally, completely finished with it. You may be ready for some football, but I'm so bored with the NFL.

As an American, this puts me at loggerheads not just with my countrymen—this year's Super Bowl was the most watched program in U.S. history—but also my colleague and boss, Wall Street Journal deputy editor in chief Gerard Baker.

[copaliscrossing]

the time on the clock expires, but the game continues for some secret period of time until all of the unannounced penalty seconds tick off the REAL clock, which is apparently somewhere in the ref’s knickers.

Oh, check this out.

My son was in a High School State tournament game and had to go "on the road" across the state (about a 5 hour drive) and ended up playing on a natural grass field which was not mowed low enough and was lined smaller than a regular field turf field. Anyway, the other coach did this because our team had not played on grass all year long and wanted a competitive advantage.

Here is the part that is to your point. The game ended up tied at 3-3 after regulation so they played two 5 minute overtime "golden goal" (think sudden death) periods. Mind you, usually during High School soccer in our state the scoreboard clock is the official clock and there is no "stoppage time". There was no scoreboard clock in this game. Towards the end of the 2nd overtime period, my son had beat the last defender and was heading for a one-on-one with the Keeper and had the angle on the Keeper and was loading up put the ball in the net and the ref BLEW THE GAME ENDING WHISTLE!! You NEVER do that as a ref and so we ended up getting homered by the home town ref. Sucks. Ended up losing on PK's.

The state organization that runs High School sports here should be prosecuted under RICO statutes for some of the crap they have pulled over the years. This whole situation should not have happened.

[kearnyirish2]

During the last world cup I did that at work with a co-worker who is a soccer fan (we would go out and watch some of the games together at lunch); he handed me a report, and I brushed against it and threw myself on the floor clutching my arm as though I’d been bitten by a cobra. I like the infrequent occasions when players get yellow cards for being “gay” about that (feigning a foul).

[pricilla]

"Well, I'd finally riot too if made to sit still through 3+ hours of that mind-numbing display."

Very well illustrated that you don't know what you're talking about.The only way you would sit through 3 hours would be if you watched TWO games back to back.45 minutes play,10 minutes half-time intermission,45 minutes second half,plus maybe 5 minutes injury time,105 minutes max.They don't break every 5 seconds for commercials.

[vladimir998]

This is better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEAbWrdB9XU

[dfwgator]

The only answer is for the US and Canada(since they have 3 MLS teams) to join UEFA, and align themselves with the European soccer season...this would allow MLS teams to compete in the UEFA Champions League. That way they could attract the superstars in the prime of their careers, instead of at the tail-end of their careers, ala Beckham. But that’s probably never going to happen.

[kearnyirish2]

The worst is watching an NFL game in the stadium, and they go to a TV timeout. People just standing around; ridiculous.

Soccer isn’t the most exciting sport (I really can only watch full games when it is the World Cup, and that is every 4 years), but having no commercials is a great selling point.

[freedumb2003]

The state organization that runs High School sports here should be prosecuted under RICO statutes for some of the crap they have pulled over the years. This whole situation should not have happened.

Your kid leaned that bad calls happen and life ain't fair.

Best lesson he/she could learn.

[kearnyirish2]

“That way they could attract the superstars in the prime of their careers, instead of at the tail-end of their careers, ala Beckham. But that’s probably never going to happen.”

There is no money to pay superstars in their prime; even Beckham had to be paid by the league itself as opposed to one team.

[dfwgator]

That looks totally awesome! Wonder why it never took off outside of Ireland.

[Dysart]

You’re right. Watching soccer only feels like 3 hours a pop.

[copaliscrossing]

Your kid leaned that bad calls happen and life ain't fair.


Best lesson he/she could learn.

You got that right. He has learned it well over the years he has been competing. He actually takes it very well.

I just wonder when it's going to happen to the other guy....lol

[Vermont Lt]

Because European soccer is boring and endless. American Football is exciting, high scoring, and has scantily clad cheerleaders.

[free me]

Well said and spot on.

[vladimir998]

Apparently it’s catching on (in a limited way of course) here in the U.S.

[dfwgator]

American Football is exciting, high scoring, and has scantily clad cheerleaders.

I'll see your scantily clad cheerleaders and raise you

[MCSP2008]

Salve I don't want to make some American friends angry, there is no such a thing as soccer, American football is American hand ball in internationals sport, football you use legs to kick a ball touch with hand you are finish, especially close in goalie arena, in American of football is rather rugby in England. No offense to my friends in America. Merci. [Romanian native > ESL]

[dfwgator]

The term "soccer" came from the "socc" in Asocciation Football, which was the original English term.

[Third Person]

Read this book to understand what European soccer is all about:

Scary stuff.

[SeaHawkFan]

The wives and girlfriends are much hotter than in any other sport; much hotter.

[dfwgator]

Not so much a problem in England anymore, but it’s still pretty bad in parts of Central Europe, like Poland.