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Two, not enough fighting. Hockey is essentially soccer on ice so why is it more popular than soccer? At some point during the game, someone is going to throw off the gloves and knock the crap out of another player.
Even hockey scores more than soccer and technically hockey is the least popular of the big 4 American sports.
Two, not enough fighting. Hockey is essentially soccer on ice so why is it more popular than soccer? At some point during the game, someone is going to throw off the gloves and knock the crap out of another player.Even hockey scores more than soccer and technically hockey is the least popular of the big 4 American sports.
Maybe they need to digitize some kind of flaming streak behind the soccer ball when it is kicked hard. "Zoom!!!"
Maybe if the players were all on flying brooms. No, wait, that is just lame.
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Two, not enough fighting. Hockey is essentially soccer on ice so why is it more popular than soccer? At some point during the game, someone is going to throw off the gloves and knock the crap out of another player.Even hockey scores more than soccer and technically hockey is the least popular of the big 4 American sports.
Actually, as far as things like attendance, TV revenue etc, I beleive soccer has more or less EQUALLED hockey in US popularity and soccer continues to get a little more popular in the US each year. It might actually soon surpass hockey in popularity in fact ...
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You're misreading me....
My bad.
I was really just giving a mini-rant aimed at lots of Americans in general, not you specifically. Most of my friends, like me, live and breathe American football but, unlike me, attack the validity of football as a sport and argue that our (US) football is superior to football. My buddies know my opinions on this; I wanted to make sure I posted them for the Paizonians, too.
. . . .
Regarding the horrible call, I think it's much more similar to what happens in the NBA and NFL.
If one basketball player has a reputation for fouling, refs are more likely to call a foul on him as opposed to a player who does not have a reputation for fouling. Dempsey, according to Dempsey, was pretty "too agressive" earlier in the game during Corners and set pieces and such. The ref was apparently calling out fouls from the past.
It happens in the NFL, too. Defensive Backs will get called for Pass Interference on a close one this play because earlier there was a no-call on a really bad pass interence.
Now, in this case it didn't just take away a touchdown, it cost us two points in Group Play at the World Cup. Not cool.
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Popularity contest?
Hmmm, lets compare.
About 5 Billion people, world wide, in almost every country, love football with their heart and soul.
About 100 million people, world wide, in one country, love American football with their heart and soul.
Now, I don't owe any apology for being one of the 100 million who loves American football with every atom of my body and soul.
But American football doesn't touch football in popularity.
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Two, not enough fighting. Hockey is essentially soccer on ice so why is it more popular than soccer? At some point during the game, someone is going to throw off the gloves and knock the crap out of another player.Even hockey scores more than soccer and technically hockey is the least popular of the big 4 American sports.
Why is baseball popular? Seriously. It has to be the least exciting of any sport I've ever seen -- with the possible exception of golf.
At least we have the "World" series. It really is kind of surprising that America has won a yearly "World" event pretty much on a regular basis.
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Baseball is popular because, um, well,
because I had so much fun playing tape-ball and baseball as a kid that I love it.
I dunno if that helps.
But baseball is my second favorite sport. And I'm not alone.
Me luvs baseball.
Oh, I know you're not alone. I just don't get it. It is incredibly slow, generally rather low scoring, the players don't really interact with each other (like football, soccer, basketball, etc.), and you can condense the entire game into about 3 minutes of footage and not miss a single thing.
Huh, I always thought the Aussies were a soccer-crazy country too.I am sure that along with my Kiwi and American compatriots we will enjoy the watching the game but it will be far down the list of our favourite sports and it wont fully take over the world.
Soccer gaining in popularity in Australia but in the Northern States Rugby League is most popular and in the Southern States it Australian Rules Football. Aussie Rules is making a big move to take on Rugby in the north for popularity.
Soccer is only popular when we are winning on the world stage. This world cup wont do anything for its popularity in Australia (old player with no spark and crap referees).
Soccer was/is considered less than masculine and watching the dives people have been taking in the world cup it confirms it. Also it had a very bad reputation of violence off the field as European immigrants would use the soccer clubs as a reason to carry out brawls because they couldn't leave their old feuds behind in Europe.
Soccer Australia has worked very hard to eradicate that problem and full credit to them they have been largely successful.
The dismissive and far from respectful nature the language used about all other sports in Australia by the representative of soccer in Australia is not winning them any friends.
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The dismissive and far from respectful nature the language used about all other sports in Australia by the representative of soccer in Australia is not winning them any friends.
To be honest I haven’t seen a great deal of that attitude here. When I do see it, it is usually from my Italian or Croatian friends, and I always have the sneaking suspicion it is said as much to rile up ‘footy loving aussies’ as pure conviction. I’ve seen just as much panning of other football codes from League, Union, or Aussie Rules fans.
I think the dives and the dubious ref calls are much more of an issue. We Australians like to think of ourselves as very fair when it comes to sport (and most other things – whether true or not), and shenanigans like that do not sit well with us.
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That was the most incredible thing I've ever seen!
For all the casual US fans that have been sorta following the US team, watching at least parts of the US-ENG game and then watching parts of the US-Slovenia game and joining in the conversation about the bad call in that one -- the ones who watched this game -- you gotta be hooked on football now.
Football don't start until August.
Congrats to the US Team. Now Germany just needs to win and it's a perfect day!
Oh and just to give you Aussies and Americans an idea how important this sport is here in Germany/Europe... In a few minutes, if I were to walk through the city (which obviously I won't) I wouldn't encounter a single soul (except in cafes and restaurants/bars with TV sets)...
The streets are as we say "leergefegt"...
Sonofagoddagnabbit!!! I have my DVR set to record the game today so I could watch it tonight when I got home. I stayed out of this thread so I would not accidentally stumble over the results…but CNN had to plaster them all over the front page. Looks like it was a real nail biter too.
I was rooting for USA the whole way throught simultaneous matches! Top of the group! Way to go!
As an Irishman, all that matters to me is that the French team (Thieves!) under-preformed so drastically that they'll all be taken to live on a farm.
I've got World Cup fever! Adn you guys aren't playing Germany, I'd say, which is nice, my money is on them obliterating england. You could win against ghana or serbia, and get into the quarters!
Pheeeeewww! Talk about nail-biting... We did it! Schland O Schland!
Also seems like the ozzies made the ghanaians quite a present.
I did not watch any game yesterday (been working till near the end of the first two matches, and building LARP stuff during the German game), but we had the radio running and were relieved when Germany scored, and a short while later the Aussies scored one and then the second goal, it was all well.
Congrats to the US for winning and being the first in their group. Go for it! The US team well deserved it, they played very well (AFAICT).
So, it is Germany-England this sunday afternoon. Talk about a classic match! The overall statistics speak against Germany, however - 10 victories,6 draws, and 15 losses (the legendary 1966 Wembley World Cup final among them)... So, the time for another victory is nigh!
Stefan
As an Irishman, all that matters to me is that the French team (Thieves!) under-preformed so drastically that they'll all be taken to live on a farm.
Heartfully agreed. Their presence in South Africa after such blatant cheating was a shame.
The right and gentlemanly thing to do would have been to concede the victory to Ireland; alas football (ok, soccer) becomes more and more a business, and less a sport. I guess the french federation would have lost a lot of money doing so. Their main concern was the amount of advertisement contracts reaped.
I go back watching rugby...
...all that matters to me is that the French team (Thieves!) under-preformed so drastically that they'll all be taken to live on a farm...
G**#&~n frenchies.....Grrrrrrrrr
Well, uhm, ok, well, *looks off-stage*, do I have to?
Fine, fine, gracious in defeat and all that. Congratulations to the USA on topping the group. You deserved it much more than us, although I do feel somewhat sorry for Slovenia. Although from the reaction you'd think we'd won the bloody thing already rather than just scraped through a knock-out stage we should have won.
Now, we meet Germany. So, we'll probably go out. On penalties. Again.
Now, we meet Germany. So, we'll probably go out. On penalties. Again.
That´s all the revenge for Wembley :-)
I do hope for a good game, no matter who wins in the end.Stefan
Yeah me too. Anyway whoever wins is gonna have an awfully hard quarterfinal against Argentina.
Flagpoles all over Scotland will be sprouting German flags soon.
..and if England manage to scrape through there they face 'The Hand of God'...oh my..life sometimes isn't fair is it:)
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Sonofagoddagnabbit!!!
LOL
Dude, that sucks.
Last Friday morning, our game against Slovenia -- my friends and I went to the Dali Museum in St Pete; it had been planned for months. I tried to get 'em to go in the afternoon, but no, we left 1/2 hour before game time.
I had to go that whole day avoiding ESPN, Headlines, this Thread, everything -- until 2:00 in the morning I watched the replay on ESPN.
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Before Group play began I picked ENG and US to advance against Germany and Serbia. I picked Eng to lose to Serbia and US to get humiliated by Germany.
But we WON the FRIGGEN Group and play Ghana.
I actually think we have a shot at winning another game.
Holy SH!T.
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And I gotta see the ENG vs GER match!
For all my fellow Americans who are trying (like me) to comprehend the importance of football to the rest of the world -- England views 1966 as among their most important dates in history -- they believe in it's supernatural connection to 1066; 66 is their lucky number. My good friend, a history professor from London (who is teaching me about football and ARSENAL's greatness) tries to hammer that in to me; it's hard to grasp.
But when one hears thousands of Englishmen chanting
at the German fans, one finally gets the idea.
Now, we meet Germany. So, we'll probably go out. On penalties. Again.That´s all the revenge for Wembley :-)
Stefan
Yup, England is still cursed because of Wembley
just admit the ball wasn't over the line and send the trophy over the channel and we may lift the curse, than you can learn how to shoot penalties ;-)
But without kidding: What a match! Classic, just classic. I already get goosebumps when I think about it.
Both teams hav not played very well so far, but I think that match will bring the best out of both.
Only problem: the winner will face Argentina :-(
Well, uhm, ok, well, *looks off-stage*, do I have to?
Fine, fine, gracious in defeat and all that. Congratulations to the USA on topping the group. You deserved it much more than us, although I do feel somewhat sorry for Slovenia. Although from the reaction you'd think we'd won the bloody thing already rather than just scraped through a knock-out stage we should have won.
Now, we meet Germany. So, we'll probably go out. On penalties. Again.
I'm not sure German team is all that good. Sure they are good but they have been lucky. Now that England have made it to the next round they are dangerous.
Congratulations to the USA! I'm really happy americans starting to like soccer. And american audience behave better than us europeans. ;-)
Only problem: the winner will face Argentina :-(
Argentina have no flank players (or whatever you call it in english).
That will be their undoing!argh, argh, argh
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Well, uhm, ok, well, *looks off-stage*, do I have to?
Fine, fine, gracious in defeat and all that. Congratulations to the USA on topping the group. You deserved it much more than us, although I do feel somewhat sorry for Slovenia. Although from the reaction you'd think we'd won the bloody thing already rather than just scraped through a knock-out stage we should have won.
Now, we meet Germany. So, we'll probably go out. On penalties. Again.
I'm not sure German team is all that good. Sure they are good but they have been lucky. Now that England have made it to the next round they are dangerous.
Congratulations to the USA! I'm really happy americans starting to like soccer. And american audience behave better than us europeans. ;-)
Oh, we'll forget all about soccer after the world cup. And, trust me, American fans can be evil too. Just look at L.A., Detroit, Philly, and a few other cities whenever their teams win something.
Now that England have made it to the next round they are dangerous.
Well, that could be said for all teams that are in the next round. But indeed, Germany was not that strong overall, but then, England was neither. I guess it is probably even now, which should make for a good game.
Afterwards, most probably Argentina, although the Mexicans are not that bad - but still, my bets would be on Argentina.Anyway, this World Cup is interesting - France out, Italy out, South Korea advancing, the USA, Ghana, the Netherlands going strong, Japan... Not only the usual suspects like Brazil and Argentina, but a few teams that are not that often advancing beyond the first round.
Stefan
Before Group play began I picked ENG and US to advance against Germany and Serbia. I picked Eng to lose to Serbia and US to get humiliated by Germany.
But we WON the FRIGGEN Group and play Ghana.
I actually think we have a shot at winning another game.
Holy SH!T.
--------------------------
And I gotta see the ENG vs GER match!
For all my fellow Americans who are trying (like me) to comprehend the importance of football to the rest of the world -- England views 1966 as among their most important dates in history -- they believe in it's supernatural connection to 1066; 66 is their lucky number. My good friend, a history professor from London (who is teaching me about football and ARSENAL's greatness) tries to hammer that in to me; it's hard to grasp.
But when one hears thousands of Englishmen chanting
at the German fans, one finally gets the idea.
Got the quote slightly wrong, WE, it's TWO WORLD WARS AND ONE WORLD CUP, DOO-DAH, DOO-DAH! The doo-dah doo-dah is absolutely essential to understand the true meaning of the jingoistic nonsense. ;-)
And Zark, one recent result notwithstanding, England has an unfortunate histroy with its meetings with Germany in big football events. We go out. On penalties. Because, for some reason, our national side doesn't practivce the bloodty things!! So regardless of germany's actual strength, and ,as Stebhil pointed out, England aren't exactly setting the world on fire. So hopefully it will be a good match.
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Sincere apoligies to Paul and my other friends across the Pond.
I'm sure you can accept the blunder from an American trying to learn your game.
Yet still, for an American to hear that: Two World Wars and one World Cup, DooDah, DooDah! That's pretty frickin intense.
. . . .
But Derek is right, once World Cup is over, heck, once USA gets eliminated, Americans will stop talking about football. A small few of us will try to continue to learn the game -- I have a close English friend and a number of students from South America and Europe. Oh -- and I've got the English Premier League to look forward to. (Go Arsenal!)
But I am very much in the minority.
Even if the US team wins a couple more games and it becomes a real big deal here in the States, With the second half of MLB coming in another couple months -- not to mention American football, the sport that we live our lives to -- y'all's football will soon be forgotten. We're still a good generation or two away from really being able to join the rest of the world.
But just you wait. Give us another 20-25 years!
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Sincere apoligies to Paul and my other friends across the Pond.
I'm sure you can accept the blunder from an American trying to learn your game.
Yet still, for an American to hear that: Two World Wars and one World Cup, DooDah, DooDah! That's pretty frickin intense.
. . . .But Derek is right, once World Cup is over, heck, once USA gets eliminated, Americans will stop talking about football. A small few of us will try to continue to learn the game -- I have a close English friend and a number of students from South America and Europe. Oh -- and I've got the English Premier League to look forward to. (Go Arsenal!)
But I am very much in the minority.
Even if the US team wins a couple more games and it becomes a real big deal here in the States, With the second half of MLB coming in another couple months -- not to mention American football, the sport that we live our lives to -- y'all's football will soon be forgotten. We're still a good generation or two away from really being able to join the rest of the world.
But just you wait. Give us another 20-25 years!
This is the 4th time we have made the semi finals. 4Th! give us another 100 years.
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This is the 4th time we have made the semi finals. 4Th! give us another 100 years.Sincere apoligies to Paul and my other friends across the Pond.
I'm sure you can accept the blunder from an American trying to learn your game.
Yet still, for an American to hear that: Two World Wars and one World Cup, DooDah, DooDah! That's pretty frickin intense.
. . . .But Derek is right, once World Cup is over, heck, once USA gets eliminated, Americans will stop talking about football. A small few of us will try to continue to learn the game -- I have a close English friend and a number of students from South America and Europe. Oh -- and I've got the English Premier League to look forward to. (Go Arsenal!)
But I am very much in the minority.
Even if the US team wins a couple more games and it becomes a real big deal here in the States, With the second half of MLB coming in another couple months -- not to mention American football, the sport that we live our lives to -- y'all's football will soon be forgotten. We're still a good generation or two away from really being able to join the rest of the world.
But just you wait. Give us another 20-25 years!
CJ,
You haven't made the semi finals yet. You haven't even made the quarter finals (although you have a better draw than the UK), you're just out of group stages and into the knock-outs. If you win, you'll go to the quarter finals. Then the semis. Then the final. Let me guess, too many rounds for Americans to pay attention through? ;-)WE Ray,
I'm surely not offended and I doubt most people would be. The ones who would aren't worth worryign about as they're clearly insane. Although I can certainly feign outrage as the Captain if you wish.
What's a 'world cup'?
What's a 'world cup'?
I think it's got something to do with those Harry Potter books.
What's a 'world cup'?I think it's got something to do with those Harry Potter books.
It's a sporting tournament with the word "world" in it, but more than one country competes in it. I can understand why you wouldn't understand given you seem to reserve the word for things that only your country plays.
I also can understand that using the word "football" to refer to ,well, football, rather than the bastard offspring of rugby you, for some silly reason, refer to as football might add to the confusion.
Still, I'm sure you'll catch up with the rest of the world someday.
Toodlepip.