[Labyrinthos]

And the main problem with soccer (from an American perspective) it’s that it’s too hard to score.

I disagree. The problem with soccer is that the teams don't play to win; rather, they play not to lose. Sitting on a 1 to 1 tie makes for a really boring game. Indeed, I've often thought that points in the standings ought to be subtracted from both teams so that a tie is more painful than a loss.

In addition, all the fake falls and crybaby crap gives the perception that soccer is only one step away from professional wrestling.

[Ransomed]

I agree about the floppage in soccer and basketball. But at least you aren’t going to see chest pounding, hulk rage poses and celebratory gyrations 40 times a game like in football and basketball. I certainly didn’t dig the fruity running around crazy crap after a goal in the WC but at least they didn’t break it out constantly.

I think the sports with the most casual US fans are probably football and basketball, there’s a lot of folks out there that at least seem to love the decline in defense and rise in offense in those sports.

Freegards

[mikrofon]

RE ties, I’d thought in Hockey at least, they should award 3 points for a regulation win; make it a 10-minute OT with the winner getting the 2nd point, and only 1 apiece if the end result is a draw. It would provide more incentive for the ‘W’ w/o resorting to a “shoot-out.”

It’s been said that if NBA games were like Elections, most of the time there’d be a demand for recount ....

[dfwgator]

I disagree. The problem with soccer is that the teams don't play to win; rather, they play not to lose. Sitting on a 1 to 1 tie makes for a really boring game. Indeed, I've often thought that points in the standings ought to be subtracted from both teams so that a tie is more painful than a loss.

Not the case since they instituted 3 points for a win and 1 point for a tie. Which means it takes 3 ties to equal 1 win. In a title race, ties are devastating because it's a drop of two points.