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!!
That is a key point. A number of years ago my son and I put a stop watch on a regular season NFL game. We timed only from the start of a play until the whistle or a score. I thought we came up with less than 12 minutes of play-action. The last World Cup averaged around 80 out of 90 minutes per match.
Of course the major networks and the NFL are in the middle of their 8-year, $17,000,000,000 contract, so, not only are they hyping football, the cable and satelite companies are passing the cost along to us . . . whether we go to a game or not.
BTW, we also did the math on that 17 Billion. Each team is guranteed around $4.5 Million for every game. That's before the first fan pays 20 bucks for parking or buys a ticket or a $5 box of popcorn.
If I'm going to put money out for action, make mine professional, college or even high school soccer, or NASCAR.
I can't stand that. I don't like it in any sport, and I don't tolerate that on my football teams, and neither do any of the players. If there is a real injury, that's one thing, but if it's a tap, get up and fight it out.
Yes, we see a lot of hockey here. In the summertime, though, I'm noticing a lot of soccer games being played by children. Baseball equipment is fairly minimal, and that seems to be not as common in the lots near my house. I believe that soccer is much more of a players' game, rather than a spectators'. I expect to see an increase in the interest in soccer shortly. The advertising issue is one that the networks will be forced to deal with. They will not like showing continous, uninterrupted soccer action without being able to sell adverts.
In graduate school, the Commonwealth students would have cricket games nearly every evening on campus. It was interesting to watch, and amusing to listen to several Ph.D.s try to explain it to me... (grin) I'm not interested in athleticism, so I never played.
The only offensive thing about soccer, to me, is the soccer mom.
Just curious...I'd hate to think you were calling people weenies without knowing what you'd be up against in a game....
Any Game
In America he would be crucified in the New York papers for 'lack of mental toughness.' England needed a win in the match to survive the 'Group of Deat' and Mr. Sporty Spice begged off..that kind of thing comes back to haunt a team
I imagine the English papers to be tough, ie the Sun especially.
In Detroit, he'd probably be driven out if it was the Red Wings(hockey). Keith Primeau got driven out for his 'lack of toughness' and inconsistant play (although whining too). Tim Cheveldae was booed out for not winning the big one. Chris Osgood for choking some big games.
I don't know how it is in England outside of a few newspapers, but Beckham seems to be about as big in England as Barry Sanders (who will be a Hall of Fame Lions runningback) was here, I can only imagine that there will be headlines like "England Chokes, Beckham hurt", etc.
Soccer has made inroads in America despite the lack of money, advertising and support that automatically goes with the big three.
It is great you've noticed what apparently has escaped these posters. The US has a team that qualified for the World Cup. You'd think even if these people dislike or hate the sport, they'd be appreciative of that:-)
I can imagine the Euro-weenies playing American football, and it's a beautiful picture. Same goes for rugby players. NFL players are ten times tougher than rugby players. One hit from an NFL player would kill a rugby guy.
I agree, and I'm not a big soccer fan. I may watch the Americans though. From what I've heard, we have a really strong player in Clint Mathis who is being looked at from European clubs, including Bayern Munich(According to Sports Illustrated).
If you're only talking 'bout France, no argument! :)
No other sport can you say that pentalies are not to the benefit of the victim. Baseball: if you hit the ball as a runner you are out. If you block a player from running he is safe.Football USA:The other teams gets Yards or downs as pentalies. Hockey is the best with making the bad boy sit in a box and your team is short a player, YIKES. Basketball: you will be given the ball.
Soccer is not a good team sport. It lacks structure. you are placed on a field in position but that where it ends. Start running after the kickoff. Anyone can kick the ball anywhere on the field. The rest is history.
Colour, centre, 1.000.000 Dollars, pfth!
There apparently are no rules for grammar, either!
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