AMERICA'S FAVORITE NATIONAL PASTIME: HATING SOCCER (ANN COULTER)

Ann Coulter Webpage ^ | June 25, 2014 | Ann Coulter

[dragnet2]

Demonrats?

I like it.

[fhayek]

Couldn’t agree more with Ann.

[Terry L Smith]

There have never been any references, by any American military figures in history, using any terms from soccer.

Soccer does not have a ‘hail Mary pass’; a ‘4th down and 10 to go’; or any other terms that can immediately describe the situation.

Soccer is the game of European POW’s, not something Americans need to embrace.

[Crazieman]

He probably likes the metric system too.

[Crazieman]

He probably likes the metric system too.

[octex]

What about pretending to get hit hard to win fouls?
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Just saw on Wednesday afternoon that Brazil has more of those flops pretending to have been fouled than any other team.

[octex]

Kids like soccer because everyone gets a chance to kick the ball, and it takes very little talent to do so.
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When I was in elementary school in the early ‘50s, we still had PE. In good weather, we sometimes would play “kick ball” on an area of the playground that was about 60 yds. long with goals at each end. .....We were aged about 9-12 at the time and most everyone (boys) took part in all the PE sports, including dodge ball in the gym when it was raining.

In kick ball, there were probably 20-30 players on the field for EACH side. The big ball would be kicked to start and then mayhem would ensue, as everyone tried to get to the ball and kick it toward the opponents’ goal. ....Lots of bloody noses, split lips, skinned elbows, etc.

I think it all helped us boys to grow and be competitive. I’m sure the teachers loved the fact that we were burning off all that energy before they had to have us in their classes.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I’ll grant Ann her wittiness...but talk about grabbing the low hanging fruit. It’s easier, as a political writer/novelist, to go after soccer than lets say weak kneed spineless RINOS (oh wait...that’s who she ENDORSES!)

A lot of kids participate in youth soccer...for a number of reasons. In my families case, soccer was where the nonpolitically connected kids (no grand parent on the school board or parent who “volunteer coaches—wink, wink” and just “happens” to own the local batting cage/indoor baseball facility) went to “play.”

All politics is local, correct? And nothing is more “local” than the club mentality of who PLAYS HS sports. I’ve seen a tiny HS QB who could NOT see over the offensive line, but who was ordained (probably back in kindergarten) to play the position “because his dad did.” And our HS baseball players MUST play “travel ball” (ie, here is the flight schedule to Dulles, “we have games in NoVa this weekend) ...so does those politically charged rosters win? No! It’s the secondary team sports (soccer, volleyball) along w/true talent sports (swimming/track—stop watches don’t lie!) that win because they truly get “athletes.”

I get a lot don’t like soccer, but in many cases it’s a “secondary” HS sport or NOTHING for many kids. They play, they have parents that watch, and we learn to ENJOY the game...and in that spirit I’ll say “USA! USA! USA!”

[ballplayer]

Thank You Ann Coulter!I have been saying the same thing for years,these people cant have their kids playing baseball and strike out! They cant stand the failure! Just go run around and maybe kick a ball once in awhile,its easier than trying to learn to pitch a baseball over the plate,or learn to field a ground ball,throw it accurately,never mind hitting it.

[southern rock]

Baseball, any day.

Not a big soccer fan, but how is baseball interesting or entertaining in any way?

[Goldsborough]

Every time I hear that argument, I want to ask (and I am a NFL fan): how do you feel about spending 3-1/2 hours watching 15 minutes of action during a NFL game?

Soccer fans who claim there is "continuous action" in a match are so delusional I don't even know where to begin confronting it. In a 0:0 draw the very lack of a conclusive result rather proves that exactly nothing meaningful happened. In a 1:0 result barely anything happened.

Yes, soccer fans will say there is more to the game than scoring. Really? I guess I can't actually take issue with that because soccer is the only game I am aware of where a team can set out with no larger objective than to end a game in a tie. The entire sport is a flippin' waste of time.

[McBuff]

Here's how I win every "soccer is a great sport" argument:

Describe for me a highlight from football, baseball or basketball that does not involve scoring. . .The answer is varied and numerous. . .the catch of a fly ball at the fence, a pick-off play, the double play. . .the intercepted pass, a QB sack, a receiver lays out for a finger tip catch. . .a blocked shot. . a steal, a no look pass. . .Now describe a similar highlight for soccer. . . .crickets, crickets, crickets. . . hello? End of argument.

Watch the "highlights" on ESPN of the day's World Cup matches. . .ball accidentally rolling into the net. . .guy goes nuts. . slides on his knees!!. . .over and over and over!. . The only interesting thing related to soccer EVER was that announcer guy that would scream, "GGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.. GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL every time the ball accidentally went into the net.

[Fuzz]

“I’ve been enjoying watching the U.S. games. American pride and nice to see a sport where the players ‘look like America.’”

And yet 5 of them and their coach are German.

[Fuzz]

“There should be a shootout like in hockey if there is a tie.”

There is.

[Goldsborough]

Not a big soccer fan, but how is baseball interesting or entertaining in any way?

Baseball, unlike soccer, actually has this feature called "scoring." In modern professional baseball a tie is an impossible result too.

Aside from the above, baseball is the quintessential American ball sport. Half of the game, you have to play as a cooperative team on defense. The other half, you are pretty much the rugged individualist during your turn at bat, because no one else can help you get on base.

Apart even from any of that, undeniably great athletes such as Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, and Michael Jordan, have found that playing high level football or basketball was easier than was playing professional baseball because consistently hitting a baseball that can move dramatically at speeds as low as the mid 60s, or be whizzed straight by you like a thunderbolt at 101mph, is one of the hardest feats in all of sport.

[Scoutmaster]

Sorry, Ann.

I grew up in a baseball family and still consider it the King of sports.

I had no interest in soccer until I was given a pair of tickets to watch Switzerland play Colombia (and Carlos Valderrama) in a knock-out round game of the 1994 World Cup.

In person, I saw how large the field was, could see how plays were being set up, how long passes were curved around defenders, how European soccer differed from South American soccer, and so on.

You won't find me watching college soccer, but at the World Cup or Olympic level? I'll take it over a NBA game, a golf tournament, a NASCAR race, or tennis any day. Personal preference and the right of FReepers and Americans to have differening opinions.

[JRios1968]

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Makes total sense to me. For example, I can’t stand tacos because of illegals or something. Also, Selma Hayek’s pooper isn’t attractive because of border crossing criminals. Get with the program dude.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

‘Salma” you doughhead

[infool7]

I coached my son’s and daughter’s soccer teams when they we in grade school and I have no great dislike for soccer. I think it’s good physical exercise however it does not seem to build any useable skills. It attempts to foster teamwork and comradery but I didn’t notice it having any lasting effects.

The one thing Ann missed here is the dishonesty built into the games rules. If the ref didn’t see it, it didn’t happen and it seems that the number of ref’s is purposely limited to prevent flagrant violations of the rules from being noticed by the officials. The fans however see all of this and it seems to encourage the players to compete for a shadow game of revenge that plays out behind the officials backs.

All this is a mockery of rightful authority and encourages breaking the rules if you can avoid getting caught, which is not one of the values I was taught as child in America.