For Americans, soccer fever remains low-grade

Baltimore Sun ^ | June 13, 2002 | Kevin Cowherd

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Like many Americans, I've spent the past few days engulfed in the requisite feelings of guilt and shame over my inability to embrace soccer.

Here the World Cup has taken center stage on the international sporting scene and most of us are treating it as nothing more than a mild curiosity, like an especially good tire sale or a nightclub brawl involving Jennifer Lopez and her new paramour.

Tomorrow at 7:30 in the morning, the U.S. team will play Poland in a game that will be televised on ESPN.

[Mo1]

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[codebreaker]

The Brazil-Costa Rica game was great last night..goals all over the place!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

What a cute bird.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Did anyone win?

[Dog]

Mo that is a good one!!!!

[codebreaker]

Brazil only needed a draw to win the group but both teams came out firing..the final was like 6-2.

Fantastic passing and movement by the 'Samba Kings' and the Costa Ricans plus a magnificent score on a Pele-style bicycle kick by Brazil (the goal of the tournament so far)

Very exciting, even for non-soccer fans.

[Dog]

I find myself watching these games when they come on... I am getting hooked....:-)

[Semper Paratus]

Last year on family vacation in Greece my 19 year old son got to play soccer with the resort's french workers.
He more than held is own. They asked where he played soccer in the US he said
"Haven't played in 8 years, I play American football". Very proud of him.

[Mo1]

LOL ... isn't it ..thanks need to go to Registered for making it

[Remole]

I live in Columbus, Ohio, and the Columbus Crew management has set up a large tent with a half-dozen big screen TVs, couches, chairs arranged in stadium seating. Free coffee, lemonade, soft drinks, donuts, bagels, the whole schmeer. The USA-S. Korea game attracted over 3000 fans, and they showed the game on the Jumbo TV in the soccer stadium. They expect 5000 tomorrow morning for the USA-Poland game, and there is a rumor that the Krispy Kreme donut truck will make an appearance.

I watched the Italy-Mexico game there this morning, and it was great fun: over 250 people, about half rooting for Mexico, lots of flags, banners, young kids blowing horns and twirling whirly-gigs.

Prediction: if USA gets into the round of 8, soccer hits the big-time here.

[Banat]

Soccer, or football as we call it, is a beautiful game. Screw the score! I like to watch the way different countries play; each country has its own unique style. I like to watch the strategy and tactics - how do you get past the 10 players and the goalie? There are a billion different ways and I like to watch the players explore and experiment.

Sometimes, it can be very boring and even repulsive (like the game between Italy and Mexico yesterday, which was a disgrace!) but sometimes goals just rain (as in Brazil vs. Costa Rica). Sometimes a match can be very exciting, but scoreless.

I don't know what to tell you, Yanks. :-) You either love it or you don't. I've been exposed to football all my life (I play it whenever I can) and I can't imagine myself not liking it. I have a closetful of Manchester United and Red Star Belgrade jerseys. 'I am mad fer it!', as the Mancunians would say. :-)

Cheers

[smith288]

Im no big Soccer fan by any means, but Columbus seems to be establishing itself as a hub for soccer.

[Severa]

I agree. I watched the England/Argentina match this past weekend. Excellent match in my view, and it's always entertaining to hear the fans' songs. They bring so much energy to their sport that other sports are sadly lacking.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

....and there is a rumor that the Krispy Kreme donut truck will make an appearance.

That will help.

Prediction: if USA gets into the round of 8, soccer hits the big-time here.

I expect it will.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I play American football". Very proud of him.

Bump!

[smith288]

I would be more proud if he said

"I play baseball" haha (big baseball fan here)

[codebreaker]

If all the games had Brazil and another team willing to play their style against them like the Costa Ricans did last night, the ratings would be like the NBA Finals.

I give the Costa Ricans great credit, they could have sat back played 6 people on defense and stalled the whole game and moved on to the next round.

Instead they matched the footwork and grace of the incomporable Brazil squad, a great match to be sure..

[1rudeboy]

Sometimes, it can be very boring and even repulsive (like the game between Italy and Mexico yesterday. . . ,)

One of the reasons it was boring is because the Mexicans had already advanced to the next round, and the outcome of the game was meaningless (to them).

[Saundra Duffy]

Our kids seem to like to play soccer but most Americans are bored. Sad but true.