Posted on 06/04/2002 10:08:50 AM PDT by GulliverSwift
I remember watching an episode of the Simpsons where the family saw an advertisement on TV for an exhibition soccer game at Springfield Stadium. The whole family was excited: "Yeah!!!"
So they went to the game, and all the characters, Crusty, Moe, the Simpsons, etc, were there. The teams were South American and you could hear the announcer calling the play-by-play with a Spanish accent.
The crowd was excited and cheering at first. And the Mexican announcer was excited the whole time as he said,
"He kicks the ball to Sanchez! He kicks the ball to Rodrigez! He kicks the ball to Sanchez! He kicks the ball to Rodrigez! He kicks the ball to Sanchez!"
The announcer's voice was shouting with anticipation as he described the exciting action of Sanchez and Rodrigez passing the ball back and forth (sounds like great World Cup action). The crowd was excited at first, but after four minutes, they fell silent. Then Homer shouted out, "Boring!!!"
To any of you Eurotrash, now you know why we can't stand soccer, or "football" as you Euro-femmes call it. It's BORING. Our football, the real football, is an improvement on the feminine type. Basketball is inovative, baseball is inovative, but soccer.... You kick the @$#&% ball back and forth for two hours--lots of drama!!!!.......and the score is 1-0.
Whew, with action like that, I don't know if I can keep from fainting!
The only reason why soccer is around the world is because of British and Spanish colonialism. We booted the Brits out before the bland game could be invented, and Brits being the boring females that they are, invented a game where you are required to kick a ball for 30 minutes before scoring a point.
So you may be wondering why the soccer "craze" hasn't caught on in the only country where men have more swimming clothes on their body than women. It's because we've got games that actually took creativity and innovation to invent.
If we wanted to be bored with something that's two hours and results in a score of 1-0, we'd watch a featherweight boxing match. Or a debate between Al Gore and George Bush.
Who do I want to win? Portugal or the U.S.?
I DON'T CARE!!
Our Major League Soccer is very weak because of our biased media. When our media can instantly make millions on the traditional sports in America, there going to do it.
Oh, it is going to happen Ivan. It is just a matter of time.
Who am I rooting for? ENGLAND!
Good points. Also keep in mind that NFL football players are unable to play both sides of the ball: when possession changes, all eleven players go to the sidelines and are replaced by another eleven. Wide receivers are too wimpy to play defense and defensive linemen are too slow to play on offense. And don't forget special teams--the starters can't be bothered running punt or kickoff coverage.
Yep. They're first game is early tomorrow morning (our time). That's another problem with World Cup this year as far as the US goes. With it being on the other side of the world, the games are on in the early morning here, so only the loyal fans will tune in. Yes, I'm setting my alarm a bit earlier tomorrow morning.
hmmm. Name one US sport in which we crown a "world champ" that any other country could beat that team in...
Soccer players should wear tons of armor, since getting hit with other players' shoelaces, hair, jersey, breath and shadows seems to incapicatate them for several minutes at a time.
Football didn't use to be all about passing...
I appreciate your sentiments. I myself am supporting England (of course) and America (since some Americans apparently would rather ignore the fact that the team exists in the first place).
I hope America shock the hell out of Portugal tomorrow.
Regards, Ivan
We traveled all over the UK, visiting the shrines - Anfield, Wembley, Stamford Bridge, Maine Road, The Baseball Ground, and of course our own beloved Elland Road. In 1972, we were treated to one of the best games ever played: the best Manchester United had to offer against Leeds. We saw George Best, Bobby Charlton, Dennis Law, Marty Buchan, inter alia. I can't remember all of them, but it was one of the classics.
Further duty took me to Italy and Argentina where I saw the best those countries had to offer as well. We lived 20 minutes from the Olympic Stadium in Rome. My sons and I went there regularly to see AS Roma and Lazio take on the cream of Italy. We also saw that 1977 European Cup Final where Liverpool dismantled Borussia Monchengladbach. I went a couple of times to different parks in Buenos Aires, but it did get a bit dangerous there.
I wish that they were playing the current championship in the early morning hours there instead of us having to watch it taped or get up with the chickens ourselves.
Give me a break. The media, liberal or conservative, doesn't give a rat's ass about soccer. If you avoid the sports section in the paper, you probably wouldn't know the event exists.
The irony is that article was written by a conservative. And the other irony is he was pointing out that liking a sport has nothing to do with one's political beliefs, even though I know that idea is hard for some people here to grasp.
I said I don't care who wins the World Cup, and I certainly do not.
And I don't care if you do or not. You certainly care enough to start a thread about why you don't care about it. I don't care about NASCAR, but don't start threads about how I'm sick about hearing about it in the media, which you hear far, far, far more in the US media than soccer.
I'm a little surprised to hear an ignorant comment like this from ESPN. Anyone with a passing knowledge of hockey knows that fighting is almost nonexistent in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Best Regards, Ivan
Bwhahaahahh. Right. In an endurance contest, I'll take 100 defensive backs over 100 soccer players anyday of the week. Not only can we run fast, we can also take a HIT instead of bawling after some weak slide tackle. Owwwwwwwwww. Reffffff Call a penalty. I'm hurt...wahhhhhhhh. ROFL.
I take it you've never been to a Raiders/Broncos game. Surprising, since you are such the accomplished traveler...
Especially baseball. That has to be the dumbest spectator sport ever. (I'd include golf but it was never intended to be a spectator sport. Although, if you know how to play golf, it's not really all that boring to watch. But, if you know how to play baseball, it's still boring as hell to watch.)
The most exciting spectator, mainstream sport we have is basketball. Not that I'm into watching it. But, if I had to sit and watch a sport for 3 hours one day it would be basketball.
Still...soccer requires a level of athleticism no major American sport requires.
It is that they need him on a pedestal to cover him and sell papers... I almost think he begged off because he was saving himself for the next two games which is an even worse sin to an American-being a quitter.
Beckham's foot probably hurt like hell...running four or five miles just six weeks after breaking it. They need him at 100% to face Argentina. If he's not at full strength, the English side is toast.
They lost EVERY game last time and finished last IN THE WORLD.
In America, you win or go home dead trying. The difference between our cultures is that Americans would have given Becks a standing ovation for trying to score the winning goal against the Swedes by staying in the game the other night instead of quitting. (and he would have been a hero maiming himself in the process)
Instead the Euros are happy with a tie.
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