Why Do We All Hate Soccer? Any Euro FReepers?

Me

[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!!

[Bob Quixote]

I don't hate soccer, except for its most odious contribution to American culture.

I speak, of course, of the soccer mom.

[honeymagnolia]

I have no doubt you have little in common. Can you imagine the Americans playing real football?

[MadIvan]

The entire team is getting its arse kicked in the press lately. They have the talent to win. The question is do they have the will, or are they too busy maintaining their egos.

Regards, Ivan

[July 4th]

Just because you might see it as boring doesn't mean that it's some wuss sport. Take a good look at the next time a star player has the ball. The athleticism and footwork are unparalleled.

That said, the real reason to like soccer is all of the fun the game causes in the fans. Case in point:

[JimSEA]

I enjoy most sports and occasionally watch all of them. However, I usually only watch soccer when I am overseas. The reasons? For me, watching sports is, at least in part, social. No one watches it here so there is nobody to argue with. A second point might be, you cannot get much out of something you basically do not understand. Most Americans do not understand to rules or strategy in soccer.

[al_c]

You film an entire game of active plays into 12 minutes.

Wow ... it's worse than I thought.

[AGreatPer]

"it's because of the folks that don't care to understand the game for what it is,".....BINGO

Americans are so used to instant and multiple gratifications that they don't have the patience for a truly overall, beautiful game.
I understand that, gees I'm the same way sometimes.

Watch the stands and watch the crowds that are at the game. They are looking at the overall picture.

[MadIvan]

I have no doubt you have little in common. Can you imagine the Americans playing real football?

You actually do:

Team USA News

I find it disgraceful that so few Americans on this forum are actually raising their voices in support for the team, particularly since they have a tough match tomorrow against Portugal, one of the best sides in the tournament.

American players have done well in England too - not too long ago you had a player who was on Manchester United, no less.

Regards, Ivan

[July 4th]

The entire team is getting its arse kicked in the press lately.

If they're not careful, it's going to get kicked by their remaining opponents. England has world-class talent, but they always seem to squander it. The Germans, on the other hand, can lose to England 5-1, and come back only a few months later to trash the Saudis in an amazing display.

Best of luck to England. After the USA, it's the team I support. But seeing Italy yesterday, I think they've got the best chance.

[MadIvan]

However, I usually only watch soccer when I am overseas. The reasons? For me, watching sports is, at least in part, social. No one watches it here so there is nobody to argue with.

I don't understand why that is either, when I have been to America, I see kids playing a lot of soccer. Why this love as a child doesn't translate to adult fans is odd.

Regards, Ivan

[al_c]

Nobody here including me knows anyone on the US soccer team (by the way, good to see you're being vigilant and referring to it as "soccer," just for us Americans.)

Coby Jones, Brian McBride, Earnie Stewart, Claudio Reyna, Frankie hejduk, Jeff Agoos, Eddie Pope, Casey Keller and Brad Friedel ... just to name a few off the top of my head ...

GO USA!!

[Nate505]

I find it disgraceful that so few Americans on this forum are actually raising their voices in support for the team, particularly since they have a tough match tomorrow against Portugal, one of the best sides in the tournament.

Yeah, that's the way it goes here. Oh well, I'll be staying up tonight to watch this game. And contrary to Gulliver's assertion, I actually know all the players on the US squad. I do believe we have a chance to get a point if Figo and Costa are out of form, and Friedel is on top of his game....hell, maybe Mathis can even get a goal for us.

[codebreaker]

I read all of the English papers online and no one seems to be bringing up the wobbly nature of the captain of the English side.

It is that they need him on a pedastal to cover him and sell papers... I almost think he begged off becuase he was saving himself for the next two games which is an even worse sin to an American-being a quitter.

[KarlInOhio]

I've seen that in football. Back when the Bungals were pretty good and Mike Brown's only job was to get his dad a drink and leave running the team to the adults, Cincinnati started using the hurry up offence to keep opposing defenses from changing players between plays.

The Oilers countered with the trick knee defense. If the situation was third down and long, one of the Oilers would grab his knee, fall over, and wait for the trainers (and the extra defensive backs) to come running out. Cheating is always bad, but it is especially bad when it is against your favorite team.

[GulliverSwift]

It just boggles my mind that people proclaim they don't care about the sport, then go out of their way to bash it, like this thread starter.

What I don't like is that the liberal media tries to foist soccer down our throats. See this thread about how liberals love soccer and conservatives don't.

I said I don't care who wins the World Cup, and I certainly do not.

[Hostage]

I thought the same before I went to SAFECO Field here in Seattle. There is not a bad seat in the whole place. There are lots of fine restaurants, a really really nice playground for small kids with all kinds of baseball themes, exhibitions of glass art (again with baseball themes) and on and on. There is baseball history lining the walls everywhere, the concessions and bathrooms are clean, and there are TV monitors everywhere so that one can see the game from all points.

So the place has a great feel to it, but then I noticed that baseball in this setting allows people to socialize in much the same way as sitting in a sports bar. You leave the game with a sense that it was great fun to either see the home team win or to be with friends.

Not so with soccer, basketball or American football. Those games require one's attention for almost the entire duration.

In a baseball park like SAFECO Field, you can strike up a business discussion and feel relaxed at the sametime. All of a sudden Ichiro will steal a base and the crowd will roar, and you're like, "Oh, there's a baseball game here!".

I've done a 180 as far as my baseball attendance. Now I think of going to the ballpark with friends, coworkers or family. It's become fun again. It's also distinctly American.

[mr1776]

Is the US in the World Cup? I haven't seen a thing in the paper here.

But the news has been the NCAA baseball regional thats in town.

[PieroC]

Because you can't use your hands

[MadIvan]

What I don't like is that the liberal media tries to foist soccer down our throats. See this thread about how liberals love soccer and conservatives don't.

Oh for God's sake. Footie is not a left wing, right wing thing. I am to the right of Atilla the Hun and I love footie. So do many Conservatives. It's a good excuse for a flag waving display.

You need to find a better excuse than this lame nonsense about the lefties to ignore the fact that America's team is actually in the World Cup. Why a Brit has to beat your head in about supporting your own team is beyond me.

Ivan