why is soccer the #1 sport in the world?

[Blake]

anyone want to take a stab at it?

I don't get it myself. I've tried to watch it and I think it sucks.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

because all you need is a ball to play it, you don't need equipment you don't need anything but a ball, you could use a wall as a net you could stick rocks on the ground and use it as a net

[DAF86]

It's a matter of taste. For example, I can't understand how Basseball is so popular in some countries but it is, people have different interests.

Also football like no other sport it's a matter of passion, I usually find myself enjoying more a basketball game or a tennis match than a football encounter but the joy I get when my favorite team wins in football it's ten times bigger than when a favorite of mine wins in any other sport, it's something cultural.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

soccer is by far the most boring sport to watch, 90 minutes of passing with a chance of someone scoring a goal, i don't understand how watching it is fun, but i did play it all 4 years of highschool lol

[DAF86]

qRmQ-J6tsio

[Brazil]

because all you need is a ball to play it, you don't need equipment you don't need anything but a ball, you could use a wall as a net you could stick rocks on the ground and use it as a net

pretty much. You always have something to kick into, it's a wonderful sport.

[sonic21]

most sports are boring if u dont understand them. You probably base your opinion of soccer by comparing it to a high scoring game. But people who enjoy soccer not only enjoy the scoring part but also the 'in-between'. maybe if you played soccer you might enjoy watching it more.

[Cane]

It is a horrible sport to watch, much like baseball or curling.

Its number one since its about as cheap as it gets, everyone around the world plays it, and its been around for a long time and ingrained into most societies across the world.

[resistanze]

It is a horrible sport to watch, much like baseball or curling.

Its number one since its about as cheap as it gets, everyone around the world plays it, and its been around for a long time and ingrained into most societies across the world.
I think it's a great sport to watch (better to play). America apparently thinks baseball is a great sport to watch, so you're in the minority there as well. It all comes down to taste, exposure and understanding of the game.

I watched baseball religiously from ages 5-15; now I can't bear to watch more than a few innings here and there.

[Blake]

I think it's a great sport to watch (better to play). America apparently thinks baseball is a great sport to watch, so you're in the minority there as well. It all comes down to taste, exposure and understanding of the game.

I watched baseball religiously from ages 5-15; now I can't bear to watch more than a few innings here and there.

Baseball is a nice sport to watch live, since you are outdoors and are close to the sights and sounds.

On tv, it's boring as heck. I don't really know anyone that likes watching it on TV.

[Blake]

most sports are boring if u dont understand them. You probably base your opinion of soccer by comparing it to a high scoring game. But people who enjoy soccer not only enjoy the scoring part but also the 'in-between'. maybe if you played soccer you might enjoy watching it more.

I played about 6 years of it from 2nd-9th grades.

I've tried to watch it on TV and just don't see anything interesting about it. Seems to be very little strategy involved.

Same with hockey, but at least in hockey they fight it out which at times can be entertaining.

I wonder if everyone had the same means to play football if it would be the #1 sport in the world instead.

[in2deep]

because all you need is a ball to play it, you don't need equipment you don't need anything but a ball, you could use a wall as a net you could stick rocks on the ground and use it as a net

very good point. I agree.

It's the ideal "poor man's" sport and you know how many poor ppl are out there.

Another reason is the "World Cup" it is the biggest, most legendary competition in he history of the world. Yes, bigger than olympics. During certain world cup games, countries shut down. Ppl in the most remote places imaginable die to watch these games.

[in2deep]

I played about 6 years of it from 2nd-9th grades.

Seems to be very little strategy involved.



:lol

whatever you played for those 6 years, it wasn't soccer

Soccer is all about strategy, do you realize a play for a goal could be so long and complex. No other sport has that quality

[Spurstro]

I wonder if everyone had the same means to play football if it would be the #1 sport in the world instead.

Soccer involves a ball. Football involves a ball.

So, no need to wonder if it would ever be the #1 sport in the world...It isn't and won't ever be.

[resistanze]

Baseball is a nice sport to watch live, since you are outdoors and are close to the sights and sounds.

On tv, it's boring as heck. I don't really know anyone that likes watching it on TV.

Yeah ,the environment of a baseball game is pretty nice (haven't been in over a decade though), but the environment for a live soccer is even better IMO. And baseball does well in the TV ratings, so I'm people somewhere apparently love watching it.

Soccer has plenty of strategy though, almost like a faster paced chess match. It's just one of those things you come to realize if you follow the sport long enough. Seeing a team build up an attack from their own end and scoring a goal is some of the most amazing shit you can watch. Just like before I played poker, I thought it was just a card game based on plain chance.

Football IMO could probably never catch on worldwide like soccer or even basketball. It's one of my favorite sports but it's probably one of the most convoluted sports out there. I also can't really imagine African, South American or Asian kids buying all the football shit :lol. And it Europe and Australia, they already have Rugby.

For me it goes:

Soccer
Basketball
Football
...
...
Baseball
Hockey

[peter_slb]

What kind of games do you usually watch? For example, I've never watched a MLS game, and I will never do it, because I'm sure it would suck, but when the best teams in the world play, it's the best sport. Watch tomorrows game between Barcelona and Arsenal, Thursday game between Liverpool and Benfica and next weekend game between Real Madrid and Barcelona, all those teams play an attacking attractive football, maybe you'll change your mind about this sport.

[Cry Havoc]

I went to my first soccer game this past week (DC United vs. New England). The fans are absolutely RABID. They even had a cheering section in the men's bathrooms, complete with drums and chants.

I had a blast. Soccer isn't appreciated by many Americans because they don't take the time to learn the intricacies of the game. It's more of an extended conflict between two full teams rather than a one on one showdown that we're used to in basketball, baseball, or football (wideouts vs. corners, halfbacks vs. linebackers, etc.).

Soccer is an amazing sport to see in person. The atmosphere is absolutely fanatic.

Soccer also has the greatest sports game ever created (Winning Eleven 9), so that's bonus for me. I must have put hundreds if not over a thousand hours into that game. It blows away ANYTHING ever produced by EA, and is even better than anything I've played from the 2k sports series.

[DAF86]

anyone want to take a stab at it?

I don't get it myself. I've tried to watch it and I think it sucks.

Watch Barcelona and Messi and you'll get it.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

lol comparing baseball to soccer. Soccer is actually a sport, it requires its athletes to be in extremely good shape and perform physically demanding activities. Arguably the best baseball player ever was a fat piece of shit. imo soccer is 2nd only to football and basketball.

[DAF86]

:wow DoK in strange territory.

[Blake]

imo soccer is 2nd only to football and basketball.

football and basketball are tied for 1st?

[SAtown]

Soccer is an amazing sport to see in person. The atmosphere is absolutely fanatic.

Soccer also has the greatest sports game ever created (Winning Eleven 9), so that's bonus for me. I must have put hundreds if not over a thousand hours into that game. It blows away ANYTHING ever produced by EA, and is even better than anything I've played from the 2k sports series.

I agree. Nothing compares to watching soccer in person, whether it'd be an international friendly, a soccer match in mexico, or a match in Europe. If you see a match in Monterrey (where my fam is from), even if it's the last match of the season and they're in last place, you'll see 10x the atmosphere as ANY american sports event (even college ball). I was at game 7 in 05, great atmosphere, but nothing compared to a Mty vs Tigres match, let alone Milan v Inter, Boca v River Plate, etc... and they play that every year.

And yes, WE 9 continues to be the best in soccer gaming. Can't believe after all this time and much better technology, neither EA nor Konami can come close to it.

[resistanze]

Arguably the best baseball player ever was a fat piece of shit.

:lol

[kuato]

anyone want to take a stab at it?

I don't get it myself. I've tried to watch it and I think it sucks.

You can play it with a lot of friends, even under the rain, and you can play it with just a paper ball. cheap and grupal sport. But the key is the friendship.

[kuato]

soccer is by far the most boring sport to watch, 90 minutes of passing with a chance of someone scoring a goal, i don't understand how watching it is fun, but i did play it all 4 years of highschool lol

Bored ? , just watch argentinian players on Europe, one pass = ones goal.

[kuato]

Soccer involves a ball. Football involves a ball.

So, no need to wonder if it would ever be the #1 sport in the world...It isn't and won't ever be.

Don't call it soccer, it is Football. :nope

[Blake]

You can play it with a lot of friends, even under the rain, and you can play it with just a paper ball. cheap and grupal sport. But the key is the friendship.

playing it is not so bad. watching it on tv is terrible.

[Blake]

Bored ? , just watch argentinian players on Europe, one pass = ones goal.

really? what is the typical score during games where the Argentinians play?

[Blake]

Soccer involves a ball. Football involves a ball.

So, no need to wonder if it would ever be the #1 sport in the world...It isn't and won't ever be.

that makes no sense.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

football and basketball are tied for 1st?


Either or IMO, no particular order. I'd probably rank them the following way, so football has the slight edge:

NFL football
NBA basketball
College football
College basketball

[dbreiden83080]

I think it's the soccer riots..

[RedsLakers24]

lol comparing baseball to soccer. Soccer is actually a sport, it requires its athletes to be in extremely good shape and perform physically demanding activities. Arguably the best baseball player ever was a fat piece of shit. imo soccer is 2nd only to football and basketball.

Albert Pujols isn't fat

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Albert Pujols isn't fat


Pujols still has awhile to go before he's compared to Babe the fat alcoholic Ruth.

[kuato]

playing it is not so bad. watching it on tv is terrible.

It is a boring sport if you just watched it on your tv, or if you watch a match between bad teams, you need to go to the stadium and sing along with the fans, that`s totally different.

[Spurstro]

Don't call it soccer, it is Football. :nope

I know this...just did it to differentiate between the two.

[Spurstro]

that makes no sense.

You wondered if everyone had the same means to play football would they play it.

I'm pointing out that everyone DOES have the same means to play football because all you need is a ball (just like soccer). Granted it might not be a 'normal' football, but you could still play the game.

[Muser]

How did Football ever get called Football in America? The name implies Using your foot on a ball, which "Soccer" does a lot more of than American Football.

[nkdlunch]

I can see why ppl would say soccer is boring.

What I don't get is why so many Americans think American Football is more entertaining. Considering the highlight of the most important American Football game year by year are the commercials.

[Spurstro]

The fact that there is so little game time in American Football (and other American sports) is a huge turn off. This WSJ article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406.html) says there's only 11 minutes of action taking place. This is why MANY people don't like the game.

People like 'strategy' in football, but the time it takes to figure out what strategy (play to call) to use makes the game boring to a lot of people. I think its much more exciting to figure out a strategy (execute a play) on the fly or during a game with teammates that are on the same page. The improvisation in soccer is much better than seeing football players/robots follow pre-determined plays.

[DAF86]

really? what is the typical score during games where the Argentinians play?

Nah, Kuato just beign a little bit of a homer there :lol

[kuato]

Nah, Kuato just beign a little bit of a homer there :lol

Busted !! I'm a declared Argentina fan !!!!. Here you have a couple of videos showing one of the most important part of Soccer (fulbo!!) culture "The hinchada".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n0nksH2JOw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck7fwvbj6wM

[RedsLakers24]

Pujols still has awhile to go before he's compared to Babe the fat alcoholic Ruth.

And Babe Ruth isnt consider the best baseball player ever, he's just consider the best baseball hitter, there is a difference, also u need to realize how much skill baseball players need to have, its the hardest sport to play

[resistanze]

And Babe Ruth isnt consider the best baseball player ever, he's just consider the best baseball hitter, there is a difference, also u need to realize how much skill baseball players need to have, its the hardest sport to play
Really? First time I'm hearing this. Ruth usually tops or is in the top 3 in every greatest player list I've ever seen. He was even an exceptional pitcher.

[Blake]

I'm pointing out that everyone DOES have the same means to play football because all you need is a ball (just like soccer). Granted it might not be a 'normal' football, but you could still play the game.

All you need is a ball and a net for 'normal' soccer.

You need a whole lot more for 'normal' tackle football.

If soccer was really that much better a sport, we would playing hich school soccer on Friday nights instead.

[Blake]

I can see why ppl would say soccer is boring.

What I don't get is why so many Americans think American Football is more entertaining. Considering the highlight of the most important American Football game year by year are the commercials.

because a 30 yard completion downfield is exciting, even if it isn't a score.

A 30 yard soccer pass.......not so much.

[Blake]

this is not exciting, but pretty funny:

UC6kq9m12Mw

[DAF86]

All you need is a ball and a net for 'normal' soccer.

You need a whole lot more for 'normal' tackle football.

If soccer was really that much better a sport, we would playing hich school soccer on Friday nights instead.

The same can be said the other way around: If American football was that much better a sport, it would be the most popular sport in the world.

[DAF86]

this is not exciting, but pretty funny:

UC6kq9m12Mw

:lol I was going to make a thread about that. However that's not real football, that's "Showball", it's played in a mini-football pitch and by ex-players, the rules are different also.

[Blake]

The same can be said the other way around: If American football was that much better a sport, it would be the most popular sport in the world.

Not everyone has the means to play American football the way we play it.

Everyone has the means to play soccer.

[Blake]

:lol I was going to make a thread about that. However that's not real football, that's "Showball", it's played in a mini-football pitch and by ex-players, the rules are different also.

looks soccerish to me

[DAF86]

because a 30 yard completion downfield is exciting, even if it isn't a score.

A 30 yard soccer pass.......not so much.

Maybe not, but this is


RiYYSradplU

And it's a lot harder to do than anything NFL related.

[DAF86]

looks soccerish to me

It's like comparing the NFL with the "Arena football league", only worst 'cause "Showball" are only friendships.

[resistanze]

Not everyone has the means to play American football the way we play it.

Everyone has the means to play soccer.
I think the 'anyone can buy a ball' argument only goes so far. Soccer is by and far the largest sport in England, Spain, France, most of Europe, where they easily have the means to play football. Hell, they have (had?) NFL Europe. It's still not popular.

My dad to this day laughs whenever he sees football on TV. He doesn't see the appeal on men in tights with 'hunchbacks' crashing into each other. You probably scoff at that assessment, but it's all about perspective.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

I've played football (soccer), basketball and rugby at amateur and semi-pro levels, so I think I can have a go at it.

I believe that soccer is so popular around the world because in order to play it you just need something that resembles a ball, whether it's an orange, a ball made out of newspapers or almost every other sport ball. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vJVykLQrhs)

This means that at grassroots levels it can be played from the poorest kids in Africa to the posh parks in London or Paris, from the shantytowns in Rio to the beaches in the Mediterranean. It gives people one of the few (if not the only) ways to express their creativity without any money invested in exchange. It's also a flexible game, you can play it alone (upkeeps), 1v1, 4v4, and so on. You can play it under the blistering sun, in the heavy rain, on grass, sand or pavement.

It's a great game to play with friends, because it's a sport where both the individual and the group are important. It allows personal expression with individual skills, but collective organization and team play is equally important. Thus, apart from helping the kids express themselves, they connect with their neighbours and their local community through it. It's hard to explain the big role football can play for kids living in war or poverty stricken zones. Many African players who made it into the pros and now earn millions playing in Europe don't forget about this and make huge donations to their home communities.

This doesn't mean that only skilled players who perform tricks enjoy soccer. That creativity can be placed on defending or goalkeeping too, which are equally important for a good team. An excellent striker can score 30 goals in a season, but if his defense and goalie are crap, he will lose all games 4-3.

It's one of the least predictable sports. Upsets happen all the time, where much better teams in paper get beaten by dark horses who had their day. A multi-billion dollar squad can fail to achieve success several times (just look at Real Madrid in the Champions League for the last 8 years).

I think that this is one of the aspects that slightly alienates US audiences from it. You can't really measure football with too much stats. Stats can tell you that a team has had 70% possession of the ball, but they can't tell you if that 70% was effectively used unless you have a good understanding of the game. Otherwise, a team can have 25 shots on target, while the opposition only got one, and yet they are losing 1-0. That unpredictable side makes it so interesting, and also levels the field. A team can get a player sent off after a minute of play and then, bang, all the previous strategies change.

Another factor is cultural preferences. Most football clubs where the sport is followed with fervent passion, have already over a century of history. A vast majority of local clubs NEVER change cities like US sport franchises do, even if we're talking about some 4th division amateurs in Belgium or something like that. The clubs helped to give an identity to many communities and cities in a time when urbanization was developing at fast rates or create new ones in places where immigration was blooming. Nowadays something of that is lost in the top European leagues, where English or Italian teams can field squads with no local players in it. But any given club below the 20 richest in the world still includes a sense of home-grown talent in their squad.

That community aspect is magnified in the international game between clubs and specially between national teams. I've read somewhere that football is an universal language, but spoken with different accents. For the most part of the 20th century each nation developed a style, a trademark of how we play football that attached itself to the national identity. There's part myth and stereotype, and there's some little truth in it. Here are some examples of the classical stereotypes:

-The Brazilians: are happy-samba-dancing-tricksters who learned to play in the beaches, have a relaxed attitude and care more about playing beautiful than winning.
-The Italians: are a defensive, organized team who everyone else considers dirty and boring. They only look to win by the smallest margins and don't care about the aesthetic side of the game. (Spurs anyone? :lol)
-The Germans: are hard-working, organized, industrious and never give up.
-The English: are fast, no-nonsense, direct, and naive. They also invented the game, but are crap at it :lol
-The Argentinians: are some sort of mix of the Brazilians, Germans and Italians with a local flair touch. A mix of the best and the worst, a magical trick followed by a very violent assault on an opposing player.
-The Dutch: play great attacking football, with incredible flow but they're underachievers and they always implode at the wrong time because of their chaotic chemistry or find someone else to blame for their failure (Suns anyone?)
-The French: are like the Dutch, with less chaos but they surrender easily.

As you can see, many of those stereotypes generally match with those of the nations itself, so that's where football got stuck into the collective self-notion of communities and how they're percieved by other peoples. Which leads me to another point: With football you can start a conversation with anyone, almost anywhere in the world, even if you don't speak a common language. I've been to quite a few places, and if I want to start conversation, I just need to wear my Argentina jersey and someone will approach and say "Maradona, Messi, Batistuta". It's like wearing a t-shirt with Elvis, John Lennon and Bono combined, someone will approach to talk to you.

As already mentioned, in some places also supporting your team is quite an experience, filled with match-day rituals, banners, flags, uniforms, fireworks, chants, etc.. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B9noBPMOnE) This are the Argentina fans in the last World Cup BEFORE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOLukSFOEoc) even entering the stadium. All the Argies around attending the match got together in the town square and walked procession-like to the stadium. In football there's a huge tradition of travelling fans, it's like university American Football fans on (a lot of) steroids.

Also in "soccer" to put in understandable terms, foreplay is as important as the act itself. It's not just about goals, but how is the build-up that lead to the goal, or how your team has been able to defend itself from the other team attacking.

I don't buy the "high scoring" argument, otherwise America would be in love with cricket (which is a lamer version of baseball, sorry, I just can't stand it). I think that US audiences are used to watch sport in a completely different way, both in arenas and through the TV. Football doesn't have timeouts, the only commercial break is a 15 minute gap at half time. During World Cup games the water supply companies have to prepare for everyone in the country going to the bathroom at the same time :lol. As for attending matches, the US crowds need to be "worked", whether it's by cheerleading or PAs. In most countries with long footballing tradition, this would be considered insulting for the crowd, which initiates it's own chants and rituals and the club must adapt to them (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11MQnQ8QjJs). Matter of fact, teams take pride in chanting and following the team the most when they're in their worst moments. I saw the Bucks fans have started something trying to make the fans take the lead on supporting and I think that is great.

Anyways, I hope this mess of a post helps people understand it better.
Cheers.

[ffadicted]

-The Brazilians: are happy-samba-dancing-tricksters who learned to play in the beaches, have a relaxed attitude and care more about playing beautiful than winning.

LMAO fail
Official titles



FIFA World Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup):

Winners (5): 1958 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_FIFA_World_Cup), 1962 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_FIFA_World_Cup), 1970 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_FIFA_World_Cup), 1994 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_FIFA_World_Cup), 2002 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIFA_World_Cup)
Runners-up (2): 1950 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950_FIFA_World_Cup), 1998 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_FIFA_World_Cup)
3rd place (2): 1938 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_FIFA_World_Cup), 1978 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_FIFA_World_Cup)
4th place (1): 1974 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_FIFA_World_Cup)





Confederations Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Confederations_Cup):

Winners (3): 1997 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_FIFA_Confederations_Cup), 2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_FIFA_Confederations_Cup), 2009 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_FIFA_Confederations_Cup)
Runners-up (1): 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_FIFA_Confederations_Cup)





Copa América (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica):

Winners (8): 1919 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1919), 1922 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1922), 1949 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1949), 1989 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1989), 1997 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1997), 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1999), 2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_2004), 2007 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_2007)
Runners-up (11): 1921 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1921), 1925 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1925), 1937 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1937), 1945 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1945), 1946 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1946), 1953 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1953), 1957 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1957), 1959 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1959), 1983 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1983), 1991 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1991), 1995 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1995)





Panamerican Championship (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamerican_Championship):

Winners (2): 1952 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamerican_Championship_1952), 1956 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamerican_Championship_1956)

[DAF86]

LMAO fail
Official titles



FIFA World Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup):

Winners (5): 1958 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_FIFA_World_Cup), 1962 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_FIFA_World_Cup), 1970 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_FIFA_World_Cup), 1994 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_FIFA_World_Cup), 2002 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIFA_World_Cup)
Runners-up (2): 1950 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950_FIFA_World_Cup), 1998 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_FIFA_World_Cup)
3rd place (2): 1938 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_FIFA_World_Cup), 1978 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_FIFA_World_Cup)
4th place (1): 1974 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_FIFA_World_Cup)





Confederations Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Confederations_Cup):

Winners (3): 1997 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_FIFA_Confederations_Cup), 2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_FIFA_Confederations_Cup), 2009 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_FIFA_Confederations_Cup)
Runners-up (1): 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_FIFA_Confederations_Cup)





Copa América (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica):

Winners (8): 1919 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1919), 1922 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1922), 1949 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1949), 1989 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1989), 1997 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1997), 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1999), 2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_2004), 2007 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_2007)
Runners-up (11): 1921 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1921), 1925 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1925), 1937 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1937), 1945 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1945), 1946 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1946), 1953 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1953), 1957 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1957), 1959 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Championship_1959), 1983 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1983), 1991 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1991), 1995 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_1995)





Panamerican Championship (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamerican_Championship):

Winners (2): 1952 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamerican_Championship_1952), 1956 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamerican_Championship_1956)




Tbh, he didn't say Brazil never won anything just that they don't betray their offensive style in search of results, I would consider that as a compliment.

Although Dunga right now is sure aplying some catenaccio with the NT.

[ffadicted]

Tbh, he didn't say Brazil never won anything just that they don't betray their offensive style in search of results, I would consider that as a compliment.

Although Dunga right now is sure aplying some catenaccio with the NT.

Yeah I guess I kinda misunderstood what he meant if that's the case. But at the same time, you'd be hardpressed to find a squad that loves to win so badly, evidenced by some brasil players shedding tears after winning the confed cup last year, so I still don't agree that we put style over winning

[xaxtoo]

Soccer is a weird mix of appreciating the sublime that leads up to opportunities and seizing those opportunities.

[RedsLakers24]

Baseball is way more popular than Football, if you notice its pretty big, not as big as soccer but i would say its almost world wide too, just look at the baseball classic

[TDMVPDPOY]

Baseball is way more popular than Football, if you notice its pretty big, not as big as soccer but i would say its almost world wide too, just look at the baseball classic

no, only americans and countries that play the sport are interested, while europe, asia, south america football/soccer is very huge...

i think also when you compare population demographic usa is a huge market to penetrate, but outside of usa you got urself a diverse range of cultures to penetrate ur sport to....

i think soccer in america aint big, but when the national side plays, alot of ppl go out of there way to support them filling up stadiums compared to ur domestic league matches, its the same as down here...some ppl could care less about local comps...

[mountainballer]

Here are some examples of the classical stereotypes:

-The Brazilians: are happy-samba-dancing-tricksters who learned to play in the beaches, have a relaxed attitude and care more about playing beautiful than winning.
-The Italians: are a defensive, organized team who everyone else considers dirty and boring. They only look to win by the smallest margins and don't care about the aesthetic side of the game. (Spurs anyone? :lol)
-The Germans: are hard-working, organized, industrious and never give up.
-The English: are fast, no-nonsense, direct, and naive. They also invented the game, but are crap at it :lol
-The Argentinians: are some sort of mix of the Brazilians, Germans and Italians with a local flair touch. A mix of the best and the worst, a magical trick followed by a very violent assault on an opposing player.
-The Dutch: play great attacking football, with incredible flow but they're underachievers and they always implode at the wrong time because of their chaotic chemistry or find someone else to blame for their failure (Suns anyone?)
-The French: are like the Dutch, with less chaos but they surrender easily.


nice summery!:tu
stereotypes sure. but true more often than not.

btw. The Spanish?
a balanced mix of offensive and defensive potential, always ranked among the top favorites, show great potential in the qualifying tournament and group stage and still somehow manage to lose against an inferior opponent in the knockout phase.

(well, this stereotype luckily didn't fit at the last Euro)

[Spurstro]

All you need is a ball and a net for 'normal' soccer.

You need a whole lot more for 'normal' tackle football.

If soccer was really that much better a sport, we would playing hich school soccer on Friday nights instead.

When I was a kid my friends and I would play football (touch and sometimes tackle) all the time....I''m sure you did the same. Hell, most American kids grow up playing football at sometime in their childhood. No one had pads, but we had a ball and that was enough.

You previously wondered if they had the 'means' to play. If by 'means' you are referring to a public school system that will provide the students with the proper equipment and fields, I personally don't think it would happen. I would see the money being spent on soccer instead.

It really is just a matter of taste and culture. I don't think money has as much to do with it, as some other posts talk about countries with plenty of money that don't enjoy football. I enjoyed football more than everyone else, but over the past few years soccer has just taken over for me. Football works for America, and that's fine.

Your original question had to do with why soccer is the #1 sport in the world. Do you feel you have a better idea why that is after reading the posts in this thread?

[Blake]

I think the 'anyone can buy a ball' argument only goes so far. Soccer is by and far the largest sport in England, Spain, France, most of Europe, where they easily have the means to play football. Hell, they have (had?) NFL Europe. It's still not popular.


80k+ that show up to watch NFL football every year in London might disagree.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if London gets an NFL franchise before San Antonio does.

Hell, the record attendance at any one NFL game is not even held in a stadium in the US.

[Blake]

When I was a kid my friends and I would play football (touch and sometimes tackle) all the time....I''m sure you did the same. Hell, most American kids grow up playing football at sometime in their childhood. No one had pads, but we had a ball and that was enough.

difference here in America is that kids also grow up playing in full pads.


You previously wondered if they had the 'means' to play. If by 'means' you are referring to a public school system that will provide the students with the proper equipment and fields, I personally don't think it would happen. I would see the money being spent on soccer instead.

In public school systems outside the US, I think the money is mostly spent on education rather than sports.

Our school districts, especially in Texas, spend an ungodly amount of budget money on football.


It really is just a matter of taste and culture. I don't think money has as much to do with it, as some other posts talk about countries with plenty of money that don't enjoy football. I enjoyed football more than everyone else, but over the past few years soccer has just taken over for me. Football works for America, and that's fine.

I think money has a lot to do with it.

We can agree to disagree on that.


Your original question had to do with why soccer is the #1 sport in the world. Do you feel you have a better idea why that is after reading the posts in this thread?

my opinion of why it's #1 has not changed at all.

I guess it won't at this rate.

[Spurstro]

Sorry for the confusion, but I live in S.A. and grew up in the Valley. I understand the amount of money school districts spend on Football and that more and more elementary kids are playing in leagues with full pads than in years past.

I think that because football is enjoyed by so many Americans there's a lot of money involved in it. I don't believe that because there's money involved with it that's why Americans like it. The game of Football came first then the money followed...I don't think its the other way around.

It's the end of the day and I'm not even sure I made sense, but we'll agree to disagree.

[Goran Dragic]

And Babe Ruth isnt consider the best baseball player ever, he's just consider the best baseball hitter, there is a difference, also u need to realize how much skill baseball players need to have, its the hardest sport to play


:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

1) It's not a sport if this fat piece of shit is able to play it

http://atssportsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/CC-Sabathia.jpg


2) It's not the hardest sport to play. You can fuck up 7 out of 10 times and make the all star team.

Great evidence of the fact soccer is more of a sport is career span. MLB players can play well into their 40's, soccer players peak in their 20's and don't make it much past age 30.

[diego]

i grew up in washington DC and I played a lot of (american) football and baseball growing up, in the neighborhood and in school. football was a lot of fun, in the neighborhood. but in school it was very boring with the constant timeouts and lineup changes. in the neighborhood, with no refs and no coaches it was a blast. same with watching it- so slow that it sucked all the joy out. whoever said that the highlight of the superbowl is the commercials nailed it.

baseball sucked pretty much no matter what, though it is true that some positions are better than others (pitcher/catcher at least get to do something most of the time). i can appreciate the tradition around it, and the cerebral aspect of pitching/hitting. other than that baseball sucks.

a lot of people have already touched on some of the things that make soccer great and misunderstood by americans, but I'd like to add a couple:

-most american sports have timeouts and the coach can make substitutions as often as he likes. In soccer, there are no timeouts, you only have 3 subs and a subbed player cannot go back. once the game starts, there is very little the coach can do to control the game. The players have to improvise and endure, whereas in american sports there is a lot of micromanagement by the coach and i think american fans enjoy this aspect a lot- it makes for a lot of debate.

-this also affects the commercial/broadcasting aspect which is very important, in soccer you watch 90 minutes of action and it takes 105 minutes of real time. For me this is more intense. most american sports the games take much longer and there is less action, but it is broken down to digestible bits. a 48 minute basketball game takes easy 150 minutes to watch! but in between you can serve a drink, have a bite to eat, go to the bathroom, smoke a cigarette etc. (eh, most of you are too sophisticated for the cigarette but I'll smoke it for you). baseball is the worst, i remember going to orioles games that lasted 4+ hours. sometimes with bball games, I dont even bother to watch the first half, its the 4th quarter that counts. soccer is not like that, 10 seconds at any point can seal the game.

-to further debunk the cost argument- tennis is also a very costly sport, but it is quite popular in south america- chile has had a number 1 and currently (or has he slipped?) top 10 player, argentina has several players in the top 20, brazil has had a number 1, etc. but how many brazillian/argentines are there in baseball and american football? as far as I know the only one was the NFL kicker from argentina.

[FkLA]

sons, for those of you that think soccer is boring catch Barcelona vs Real Madrid this weekend...arguably the biggest rivalry in all of sports, with two very offensive teams for whom the current two best players play for. if you dont enjoy that game than you have no hope and have unfortunately been programmed to dislike soccer by the american media.

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[resistanze]

80k+ that show up to watch NFL football every year in London might disagree.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if London gets an NFL franchise before San Antonio does.

Hell, the record attendance at any one NFL game is not even held in a stadium in the US.

You mean the once a year NFL event? Of course people will go to that, based on the novelty. The World Cup hosted in the US had the biggest attendance in WC history (I know foreigners contributed, but it was attended by sizable amount of Americans).

Anyways, the three London teams play their home games in front of 60K, 40K, and 25K weekly. Old Trafford (where Manchester United play) has about 70K fans for every home game. So you can see how football still comes nowhere near soccer in England. MLS teams in Seattle are averaging 35K for each league game, which I find at least on par with 80K of a once in a yaer event.

[Blake]

Isn't that Once per year? How many fans would show up to any sporting event if it was held once per year?

so people will go not because they like it, but because it only comes once a year? that makes no sense unless you are saying they are stupid and will fall for anything that comes along once a year.


And London isn't getting a team, imagine trying to fly to London to with all that travel and time zone difference doesn't help the cause either.

the travel isnt as bad as that. NY-LA 2400+ miles, NY-London 3400+ miles. Every 1000 miles in the air is roughly just over 2 hours of flight time. That's nothing.

16 games + preseason + possible playoff, that is maybe 10-11 trips to the US on average for the London team.


The World Cup hosted in the US had the biggest attendance in WC history (I know foreigners contributed, but it was attended by sizable amount of Americans).

Exactly. Foreigners and larger American stadiums contributed.

It's also a different thing when it's a team representing your country.

Why in the world would any Londoner want to see the 49ers play Denver this year? I'm not sure myself, but I bet they get at least 75+k again at Wembley.


Anyways, the three London teams play their home games in front of 60K, 40K, and 25K weekly. Old Trafford (where Manchester United play) has about 70K fans for every home game. So you can see how football still comes nowhere near soccer in England. MLS teams in Seattle are averaging 35K for each league game, which I find at least on par with 80K of a once in a yaer event.

No I don't see. How exactly is 35k on par with 80k?

[resistanze]

I don't see why this is hard to understand, but I shouldve used a clearer example.

The world football challenge took place in the US last year and featured Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America. Let's look at the attendance numbers:

81k at Rose Bowl
70k in Baltimore
57k in Dallas
53k in Atlanta

Why would 80k in America want to see an Italian and English team play each other? So do you agree about the novelty aspect playing a role or do you now think that soccer should be the number one sport in America, but just hasn't had a chance at proper exposure?

[Spurstro]

Why in the world would any Londoner want to see the 49ers play Denver this year?



Don't you think that because it happens once a year over there makes a difference?

[Muser]

Because it's fuckin' awesome.

/thread

[Blake]

I don't see why this is hard to understand, but I shouldve used a clearer example.

The world football challenge took place in the US last year and featured Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America. Let's look at the attendance numbers:

81k at Rose Bowl
70k in Baltimore
57k in Dallas
53k in Atlanta

Why would 80k in America want to see an Italian and English team play each other? So do you agree about the novelty aspect playing a role or do you now think that soccer should be the number one sport in America, but just hasn't had a chance at proper exposure?

You said yourself foreigners contribute to those numbers.

[Blake]

Don't you think that because it happens once a year over there makes a difference?

sure, but 80k every year is still 80k

[resistanze]

You said yourself foreigners contribute to those numbers.

No, I was referring to the World Cup, which is one of the biggest tourist events in the world. Even with the World Cup in 1994, the fact that it had the biggest attendance in history would suggest even Americans came out to watch.

The World Football Challenge was nothing like the WC. It was a mostly American-attended event.

[RedsLakers24]

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

1) It's not a sport if this fat piece of shit is able to play it

http://atssportsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/CC-Sabathia.jpg


2) It's not the hardest sport to play. You can fuck up 7 out of 10 times and make the all star team.

Great evidence of the fact soccer is more of a sport is career span. MLB players can play well into their 40's, soccer players peak in their 20's and don't make it much past age 30.

Have you ever try to hit a basball going 95 mph fast? not only that, its all reaction, you only have little time to guess if its a ball or a strike, or if its a Breakin ball or a fastball. For pitchers they have to work on location, how to move a ball, and stuff. The reason soccer players peak in their 20's is because they use only their legs, and as you get older you get slower, and baseball is about skill not speed, and the reason you could fuck up 7 times of 10 is because the sport is so hard no one has little success in it. And CC Sabathia is only a pitcher, he doesnt do anything else

[Blake]

No, I was referring to the World Cup, which is one of the biggest tourist events in the world. Even with the World Cup in 1994, the fact that it had the biggest attendance in history would suggest even Americans came out to watch.

The World Football Challenge was nothing like the WC. It was a mostly American-attended event.

Well sure, Americans went to watch. Especially since Americans had a team playing.

What was yor point again? I lost track.

[peter_slb]

Have you ever try to hit a basball going 95 mph fast? not only that, its all reaction, you only have little time to guess if its a ball or a strike, or if its a Breakin ball or a fastball. For pitchers they have to work on location, how to move a ball, and stuff. The reason soccer players peak in their 20's is because they use only their legs, and as you get older you get slower, and baseball is about skill not speed, and the reason you could fuck up 7 times of 10 is because the sport is so hard no one has little success in it. And CC Sabathia is only a pitcher, he doesnt do anything else

Michael Jordan, at the age of 30, after playing basketball all his life, played one season of baseball, even scoring home runs, do you think he would be able to play soccer? He sure would have legs to do it.

There's no sport that requires as much ability as soccer, you could put yourself in a closed box of 10 feet diameter with Messi and you wouldn't even be able to touch the ball.

[resistanze]

Have you ever try to hit a basball going 95 mph fast? not only that, its all reaction, you only have little time to guess if its a ball or a strike, or if its a Breakin ball or a fastball. For pitchers they have to work on location, how to move a ball, and stuff. The reason soccer players peak in their 20's is because they use only their legs, and as you get older you get slower, and baseball is about skill not speed, and the reason you could fuck up 7 times of 10 is because the sport is so hard no one has little success in it. And CC Sabathia is only a pitcher, he doesnt do anything else

You're describing a skill, not athletic ability. You can still be a fat piece of shit and do all the things you said above.

[jack sommerset]

It's the greatest sport on earth! I just contracted a job with FC Burn and can't be any happier!!!!!! Long live soccer and GO BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[resistanze]

Well sure, Americans went to watch. Especially since Americans had a team playing.
:lol

What was yor point again? I lost track.
I know.

[resistanze]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Am%C3%A9rica

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

LMAO fail


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JXZ60T8CL._SS500_.jpg

[RedsLakers24]

Michael Jordan, at the age of 30, after playing basketball all his life, played one season of baseball, even scoring home runs, do you think he would be able to play soccer? He sure would have legs to do it.

There's no sport that requires as much ability as soccer, you could put yourself in a closed box of 10 feet diameter with Messi and you wouldn't even be able to touch the ball.

Jordan didnt do shit playing baseball, haha, he didnt even have an at bat in the pros, what makes u think he was successful playing baseball?, Jordan was playing baseball with 16-18 yr old kids, haha come on, it was in low ball A, not even Triple A, which is the closest thing to the Majors, and When he was in double AA he hit 202. only 3hr, and struck out 114 times, while making 11 E's, haha

[RedsLakers24]

You're describing a skill, not athletic ability. You can still be a fat piece of shit and do all the things you said above.

I never said the most athletic guys played baseball, did I?, i just said it was the hardest sport to play

[RedsLakers24]

Baseball is, by far, the hardest sport to master. Rarely do the same players stay good throughout their career, rarely do the same teams get to the world series year after year, and rarely do players keep their stats up. Their are very, very, very few that can do so, and those players have either taken steroids or are the best baseball players in the world.

The pitching aspect requires pitchers to throw 3-5 different pitches about 100+ times a game to guys they have never seen before in their life. The odds of them getting all of the players out one game is very rare; they will give up a run or two. To do that for an entire season.....impossible. An average pitcher will have 7-13 bad games a year. Not to mention they have to do this for years and years.

From the batting aspect, you have to try to hit a round object (a ball) with another round object (the bat) in which the round object is coming at you between 85-100 mph. Did I mention that the ball can curve, drop out of nowhere, run into you, and so on? The number of different pitches are amazingly effective. You haven't even seen most of these pitchers, and you have 3 chances (strikes) to hit the ball while figuring out the pitcher while trying to hit a round object with a round object while trying to see where the ball is going and how fast it is going. Great players only hit 30% of these balls. Not many players do that. Do this for an entire season for many, many years.

[timvpimp]

Baseball is, by far, the hardest sport to master. Rarely do the same players stay good throughout their career, rarely do the same teams get to the world series year after year, and rarely do players keep their stats up. Their are very, very, very few that can do so, and those players have either taken steroids or are the best baseball players in the world.

The pitching aspect requires pitchers to throw 3-5 different pitches about 100+ times a game to guys they have never seen before in their life. The odds of them getting all of the players out one game is very rare; they will give up a run or two. To do that for an entire season.....impossible. An average pitcher will have 7-13 bad games a year. Not to mention they have to do this for years and years.

From the batting aspect, you have to try to hit a round object (a ball) with another round object (the bat) in which the round object is coming at you between 85-100 mph. Did I mention that the ball can curve, drop out of nowhere, run into you, and so on? The number of different pitches are amazingly effective. You haven't even seen most of these pitchers, and you have 3 chances (strikes) to hit the ball while figuring out the pitcher while trying to hit a round object with a round object while trying to see where the ball is going and how fast it is going. Great players only hit 30% of these balls. Not many players do that. Do this for an entire season for many, many years.
hey mate, could you please bother to change your sig to some new pic other than the updated version of your same old self? You look ugly as shit TBF.

[timvpimp]

a dog comprising a dog's torso, a head of a donkey and a tail like one of the rabbit, which apparently is one offspring of incest I tell you.

[resistanze]

Baseball is, by far, the hardest sport to master. Rarely do the same players stay good throughout their career, rarely do the same teams get to the world series year after year, and rarely do players keep their stats up. Their are very, very, very few that can do so, and those players have either taken steroids or are the best baseball players in the world.

The pitching aspect requires pitchers to throw 3-5 different pitches about 100+ times a game to guys they have never seen before in their life. The odds of them getting all of the players out one game is very rare; they will give up a run or two. To do that for an entire season.....impossible. An average pitcher will have 7-13 bad games a year. Not to mention they have to do this for years and years.

From the batting aspect, you have to try to hit a round object (a ball) with another round object (the bat) in which the round object is coming at you between 85-100 mph. Did I mention that the ball can curve, drop out of nowhere, run into you, and so on? The number of different pitches are amazingly effective. You haven't even seen most of these pitchers, and you have 3 chances (strikes) to hit the ball while figuring out the pitcher while trying to hit a round object with a round object while trying to see where the ball is going and how fast it is going. Great players only hit 30% of these balls. Not many players do that. Do this for an entire season for many, many years.

It's all subjective. The truth of the matter is, a person growing up playing baseball will acquire those skills to play, just as a person who grows up playing basketball, soccer, football, and so on.

I've played all these sports my entire life, but it's safe to say you and me will never be able to shoot like Steve Nash. Or curl a soccer ball around a human barrier of 5 people from 30 yards away into the top corner of the net like Ronaldhino. Or hit a golf ball from 180 yards out accurately with backspin like Tiger. Or return a 130 MPH serve into a narrow field of play like Rafa Nadal (this is probably technically 'harder' than hitting a baseball).

Like you said, you're discussing a skill. So it shouldn't come as any surprise that baseball players play for years and years. Golf players compete until they're 70. What they both have in common is that they're not the most athletic 'sports' in the world so they don't have to retire early like tennis, soccer, basketball, etc.

[Blake]

:lol

world cup?


I know.

obviously your point is poorly made if it is this easily forgettable.

[Blake]

ftr, hitting a 90+ mph baseball is the hardest thing to do in all of sports, imo.

[resistanze]

world cup?



obviously your point is poorly made if it is this easily forgettable.

World Cup? You were responding to the my post about The World Football Challenge. There was no American teams playing. I was showing the attendance numbers from last summer. 81K went to the Rose Bowl to see Inter Milan face Chelsea.

But really, you think soccer sucks because you do. You don't need to justify yourself and no one needs to convince you otherwise. That's the point.

[peter_slb]

ftr, hitting a 90+ mph baseball is the hardest thing to do in all of sports, imo.

How many players can do that? Honestly, I don't know anything about baseball, I basically know what's a home run, I don't even know how long does a game take. Because stuff like this, only 1 per decade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5XpXU8TBoo

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Have you ever try to hit a basball going 95 mph fast? not only that, its all reaction, you only have little time to guess if its a ball or a strike, or if its a Breakin ball or a fastball. For pitchers they have to work on location, how to move a ball, and stuff. The reason soccer players peak in their 20's is because they use only their legs, and as you get older you get slower, and baseball is about skill not speed, and the reason you could fuck up 7 times of 10 is because the sport is so hard no one has little success in it. And CC Sabathia is only a pitcher, he doesnt do anything else

"only use their legs" :lmao

In sports, you generally have to use your legs. You are retarded if you think there's no skill involved in soccer. Maybe it's just me, but when I watch sports, I want it to be people who are physically superior to me and in better shape, not some fat piece of shit who's in way worse shape than I am.

[RedsLakers24]

"only use their legs" :lmao

In sports, you generally have to use your legs. You are retarded if you think there's no skill involved in soccer. Maybe it's just me, but when I watch sports, I want it to be people who are physically superior to me and in better shape, not some fat piece of shit who's in way worse shape than I am.

I guess the only sports you dont watch are baseball and American Football, and also it came out wrong, but i didnt mean to say they only use their legs, i meant to say they rely on their legs and speed more then baseball players, i never meant to say they dont have to use skill, i just meant to say that baseball is a sport that relys on skill more then anything else, and im talking about the big sports like Basketball, Soccer, Football, an Hockey, not sports like Ping Pong and etc.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Baseball isn't a sport. If someone as fat as CC Sabathia can play baseball without his weight hurting him in some way, it's not a sport.

[RedsLakers24]

Baseball isn't a sport. If someone as fat as CC Sabathia can play baseball without his weight hurting him in some way, it's not a sport.

Do u consider American Football a sport? and theres only like 3 fat people in the Majors so i dont see what the problem is, like i said the onlyl thing Sabathia does is pitch

[kuato]

Sorry but "American football" is the pussy version of rugby. Real football is the king, period. :hat

[DAF86]

Sorry but "American football" is the pussy version of rugby. Real football is the king, period. :hat

WTF? Rugby and American football have nothing in common other than an oval ball.

[dirk4mvp]

and theres only like 3 fat people in the Majors

lol you're kidding right?

Prince Fielder

CC Sabathia

David Ortiz

Jaba Chamerberlain

Heath Bell


That's 5 that popped up at first thought.


boom roasted

[RedsLakers24]

lol you're kidding right?

Prince Fielder

CC Sabathia

David Ortiz

Jaba Chamerberlain

Heath Bell


That's 5 that popped up at first thought.


boom roasted

Okay David Ortiz is no longer Fat, Neither is Jaba Chamberlain, but fat people in the Majors are people like Pablo Sandoval and CC Sabathia, and Also Prince Fielder

[Jacob1983]

I would agree with the whole "you only need a ball to kick around to play it" as a big reason why it's so popular in the world. I think soccer(football) is boring but that's just me. I also think that the players in the sports are athletes. Soccer players are probably some of the most fit and in shape athletes because they're basically running for 90 minutes and kicking the ball too. One good thing about soccer(football) is that the players get really into it and the fans are the same way. The main reason why soccer is not popular in America is because of scoring. There aren't that many goals scored in soccer games. Hockey has more goals than soccer does. Americans like scoring.

[Blake]

World Cup? You were responding to the my post about The World Football Challenge.

I was referring to World Cup. You misread my response.


But really, you think soccer sucks because you do. You don't need to justify yourself and no one needs to convince you otherwise. That's the point.

Sure I do. I started a whole thread asking for convincing.

If you can't/don't want to play along, feel free to hit the bricks.

[JudynTX]

I was referring to World Cup. You misread my response.



Sure I do. I started a whole thread asking for convincing.

If you can't/don't want to play along, feel free to hit the bricks.

Ah man, I haven't heard that in a while. :lol :lol

Blake, haven't we covered this already? :lol

[resistanze]

I was referring to World Cup. You misread my response.

Me: 81,000 people went to see Inter Milan face Chelsea at the Rose Bowl (70K in Baltimore).
You: You said Foreigners contributed to those numbers.
Me: No, that was the WC. This is the Football Challenge, which happened just last summer.
You: Of course Americans watched the WC, their team was playing.
Me: ...?

Sure I do. I started a whole thread asking for convincing.
You don't sound like you want to be convinced. But let ask again, my apologies for being unclear to you:

Since you dispute that the high attendance to an NFL game in London is because of its novelty, do you agree that 80K in Pasadena and 70K in Baltimore that went to see an Italian and English team play each other as proof and genuine interest by America as a whole in soccer?

If you can't/don't want to play along, feel free to hit the bricks.
No I'll stick around, I'm actually really curious.

[Blake]

No, I was referring to the World Cup, which is one of the biggest tourist events in the world. Even with the World Cup in 1994, the fact that it had the biggest attendance in history would suggest even Americans came out to watch.

The World Football Challenge was nothing like the WC. It was a mostly American-attended event.


Well sure, Americans went to watch. Especially since Americans had a team playing.

What was yor point again? I lost track.

Me: you can't read and I still don't know what your point is
You: still don't know what my own point is

[Blake]

You don't sound like you want to be convinced. But let ask again, my apologies for being unclear to you:

Since you dispute that the high attendance to an NFL game in London is because of its novelty, do you agree that 80K in Pasadena and 70K in Baltimore that went to see an Italian and English team play each other as proof and genuine interest by America as a whole in soccer?

Did I really ever say anywhere that Americans had zero interest in soccer?

Soccer has been around for much longer than American football. There really is little reason to try to compare American football attendance in London to soccer attendance here in the U.S.

I think we can all agree that soccer will never take over as the #1 sport in the U.S. I'm wondering if any sport can ever take over soccer as the #1 sport in the world.



No I'll stick around, I'm actually really curious.

Great. Make it more about soccer and less about me and you will look less like an idiot.

[DAF86]

I'm wondering if any sport can ever take over soccer as the #1 sport in the world.

No chance at all, the difference is way too big. I think there's a bigger chance of soccer catching up in the States (thanks for example with an US championship in the WC) than other sports dethroning Soccer worldwide.

[Spurstro]

I think we can all agree that soccer will never take over as the #1 sport in the U.S. I'm wondering if any sport can ever take over soccer as the #1 sport in the world.



I tend to believe that the reasons soccer will not take over the #1 sport in the U.S. are the same reasons any sport will not take over soccer as the #1 sport in the world.

The main reason being Americans like football and practically everyone else likes soccer.

I think it's that simple and I can't see how other factors you've mentioned, like economics, make that much of a difference. Football is big here because Americans like the game, not because it has the most money. People liked the game and then the money followed, not the other way around.

[Blake]

No chance at all, the difference is way too big. I think there's a bigger chance of soccer catching up in the States (thanks for example with an US championship in the WC) than other sports dethroning Soccer worldwide.

There is absolutely no way soccer ever catches on here if it hasn't by now.

honestly, if there is one sport to overtake soccer in the world, I would think it might be basketball.

[Blake]

I think it's that simple and I can't see how other factors you've mentioned, like economics, make that much of a difference. Football is big here because Americans like the game, not because it has the most money. People liked the game and then the money followed, not the other way around.

Organized soccer can be played with little money involved. Organized American football cannot. I think economics and accessibility for sure play a part of it.

[DAF86]

There is absolutely no way soccer ever catches on here if it hasn't by now.

Untill the US wins a WC you can't know for sure. When a country starts getting some success in a sport that sport gains popularity, that's what happens everywhere everytime.


honestly, if there is one sport to overtake soccer in the world, I would think it might be basketball.

There's absolutely no way basketball overtakes soccer in the world if it hasn't by now. And in this case it's true 'cause there isn't a rational hypotetical scenario (that hasn't already happened) that would allow for that to become a reality.

[Spurstro]

Organized soccer can be played with little money involved. Organized American football cannot. I think economics and accessibility for sure play a part of it.

My point is if they liked the game that much, they'd eventually find the money for it.

Kids around the world would be playing touch and flag football just like they do here. They'd be fighting over who would be the all time QB. They would designate which tree or car would mark the sideline and end zones.

That's not happening because they don't like the game...not because they don't have the money for full pads, uprights, and white lines on the proper sized field.

[resistanze]

Did I really ever say anywhere that Americans had zero interest in soccer?
No one said you did.

When I challenged your statement that money can't be a real reason American football hasn't caught up to soccer by pointing to the lack popularity of football in Europe, you disagreed. You point out the 80K that showed up in London to an NFL game to allude that it's catching on in England. I stated that 80K showed up for an annual match for a sport you've said several times will never catch on in America. Why then, would 80K attending an annual NFL game in London suggest the rise of football in England?

What does the age of football and soccer have to do with anything? Football isn't a new sport, it's been around for several decades. NFL Europe started 15 years ago and has already closed down shop in England, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. You said soccer's never catching on in America so why would it's time in America be of any benefit?

I think we can all agree that soccer will never take over as the #1 sport in the U.S. I'm wondering if any sport can ever take over soccer as the #1 sport in the world.

Obviously not football.

Basketball is played quite a bit but is nowhere close to soccer. And all basketball takes is a ball and a bucket.


Great. Make it more about soccer and less about me and you will look less like an idiot.
It's always been about soccer. I can't help that you're being intentionally obtuse and you like to dance around points.

[Brazil]

Americans like scoring.

hummmm what about baseball love in the US then ?

[Brazil]

I have a kind of stupid theory.

I think soccer is way too simple for US citizens. IMO americans love complicated/not easily understandable games or rules. I mean you need a phd to understand all CBA regulations for instance, if you watch a soccer game for the first time you understand in 10 sec what is all about, first time you watch a baseball game you are like: wtf is going on ?

You can extrapolate for other stuff like the elections, I mean I tried to follow a CNN show about the US election, the guy was trying to explain the quotas, primaries, big electors etc... he lost me really. In France for instance it's kind of simple first round the two guys with the highest number of votes go for the second round and the winner is the guy with the highest number of votes. Simple, isn't it ?

[lefty]

I have a kind of stupid theory.

I think soccer is way too simple for US citizens. IMO americans love complicated/not easily understandable games or rules. I mean you need a phd to understand all CBA regulations for instance, if you watch a soccer game for the first time you understand in 10 sec what is all about, first time you watch a baseball game you are like: wtf is going on ?

You can extrapolate for other stuff like the elections, I mean I tried to follow a CNN show about the US election, the guy was trying to explain the quotas, primaries, big electors etc... he lost me really. In France for instance it's kind of simple first round the two guys with the highest number of votes go for the second round and the winner is the guy with the highest number of votes. Simple, isn't it ?
Huh

[JudynTX]

Blake, are you going to watch The World Cup this year? :D

It's going to be in 3-D!!!!!!!!!!!

[Blake]

No one said you did.

then I'm not sure why you are trying to compare soccer attendance in the US to American football attendance in London. Again, it's mutually exclusive.


When I challenged your statement that money can't be a real reason American football hasn't caught up to soccer by pointing to the lack popularity of football in Europe, you disagreed. You point out the 80K that showed up in London to an NFL game to allude that it's catching on in England. I stated that 80K showed up for an annual match for a sport you've said several times will never catch on in America. Why then, would 80K attending an annual NFL game in London suggest the rise of football in England?

because soccer as a sport is older than the United States. We have had it all along.

American football as an organized sport is just over a century old. I think slowly but surely it's catching on in popularity in Europe.

80k is a very good crowd for a football game. I'm not sure how anyone can't see there is interest in it when 80k show up.



What does the age of football and soccer have to do with anything? Football isn't a new sport, it's been around for several decades. NFL Europe started 15 years ago and has already closed down shop in England, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. You said soccer's never catching on in America so why would it's time in America be of any benefit?

Age, history and culture have a lot to do with soccer.

"Decades" is young for a sport.

the US has 300+ million people. If soccer can catch just a fraction of that population and money, then it's to soccer's benefit, even if they'll never catch up with football, basketball or baseball.




It's always been about soccer. I can't help that you're being intentionally obtuse and you like to dance around points.

No it hasn't. You stated:


But really, you think soccer sucks because you do. You don't need to justify yourself and no one needs to convince you otherwise. That's the point.

I can't help you being a liar whether you are being intentionally obtuse about it or not.

[Blake]

hummmm what about baseball love in the US then ?

love for baseball has dropped tremendously in the last few decades in the US.

I don't know if you haven't got the memo or not, but baseball is no longer America's favorite pastime.

[Blake]

I have a kind of stupid theory.

I think soccer is way too simple for US citizens. IMO americans love complicated/not easily understandable games or rules. I mean you need a phd to understand all CBA regulations for instance, if you watch a soccer game for the first time you understand in 10 sec what is all about, first time you watch a baseball game you are like: wtf is going on ?

You can extrapolate for other stuff like the elections, I mean I tried to follow a CNN show about the US election, the guy was trying to explain the quotas, primaries, big electors etc... he lost me really. In France for instance it's kind of simple first round the two guys with the highest number of votes go for the second round and the winner is the guy with the highest number of votes. Simple, isn't it ?

You really believe Americans are that much smarter than the rest of the world?

:lol

[Blake]

Blake, are you going to watch The World Cup this year? :D

It's going to be in 3-D!!!!!!!!!!!

Soccer in 3-D??

Where do i sign up?

[JudynTX]

Soccer in 3-D??

Where do i sign up?

ESPN :tu

Don't you want to see a ball coming straight for your face? :lol

[Blake]

Don't you want to see a ball coming straight for your face? :lol

no, I do not want balls in my face.

[JudynTX]

no, I do not want balls in my face.

:lmao

[resistanze]

then I'm not sure why you are trying to compare soccer attendance in the US to American football attendance in London. Again, it's mutually exclusive.
You haven't given any reason why we can't except that soccer is older. We know that soccer isn't that big in America and Football isn't that big in England. Yet you're pointing to the attendance to an annual event as why Football is growing in England, but disregarding the same thing for soccer in America.

American football as an organized sport is just over a century old. I think slowly but surely it's catching on in popularity in Europe.
80k is a very good crowd for a football game. I'm not sure how anyone can't see there is interest in it when 80k show up.
Soccer as an organized sport is maybe 150 years old. It's widespread popularity worldwide has been within this period, so I don't agree.

Of course there's some interest in football. That's probably why NFL Europe existed. But it failed. What's changed in the past 3 years after having its own football league shut down? Your suggestion that football could be the #1 sport if everyone else had the 'means' doesn't hold up.

It's ironic because the reasons many people gave for the failure of NFL Europe are the same reasons people give for the lack of popularity of soccer in America: big talent disparity, competition with home grown sports, weird rules, not fun to watch, etc.

Age, history and culture have a lot to do with soccer.

"Decades" is young for a sport.

the US has 300+ million people. If soccer can catch just a fraction of that population and money, then it's to soccer's benefit, even if they'll never catch up with football, basketball or baseball.

Age, history and culture has a lot to do with most sports where they're popular. In these "decades" it's had enough time to set up it's own league and close it in Europe, as I've said. I'm not sure what point you were making in that last part.


I can't help you being a liar whether you are being intentionally obtuse about it or not.
Not sure what that quote proves. I guess you're lying too:

anyone want to take a stab at it?

I don't get it myself. I've tried to watch it and I think it sucks.
I've tried to watch it on TV and just don't see anything interesting about it. Seems to be very little strategy involved.

See, YOU made it about you! LOL!

Get over the butthurt and have a real discussion if you're serious.

[Blake]

You haven't given any reason why we can't except that soccer is older. We know that soccer isn't that big in America and Football isn't that big in England. Yet you're pointing to the attendance to an annual event as why Football is growing in England, but disregarding the same thing for soccer in America.

Soccer as an organized sport is maybe 150 years old. It's widespread popularity worldwide has been within this period, so I don't agree.

Soccer, the sport itself, has been around for hundreds of years. It's not a foreign concept to Americans.

I'm not disregarding the growth of soccer in America. You make terrible assumptions.


Of course there's some interest in football. That's probably why NFL Europe existed. But it failed. What's changed in the past 3 years after having its own football league shut down? Your suggestion that football could be the #1 sport if everyone else had the 'means' doesn't hold up.

It's ironic because the reasons many people gave for the failure of NFL Europe are the same reasons people give for the lack of popularity of soccer in America: big talent disparity, competition with home grown sports, weird rules, not fun to watch, etc.

Attendance was actually pretty good considering it was an all American product from top to bottom.

I'd be real interested to see what would happen if the Europeans came up with their own pro league.


Age, history and culture has a lot to do with most sports where they're popular. In these "decades" it's had enough time to set up it's own league and close it in Europe, as I've said. I'm not sure what point you were making in that last part.

The point is that Americans have known of soccer since the beginning. It's not like it's fresh.

American football is still fresh in Europe. Not sure why that's hard to grasp.


Not sure what that quote proves. I guess you're lying too:

See, YOU made it about you! LOL!

Get over the butthurt and have a real discussion if you're serious.

You have a reading comprehension problem.

In order to stop from saying "soccer sucks" as a fact, I stated it in opinion form. Me doing so has nothing to do with me.

You are calling me out for my intentions in this thread, thus making it about me.

I don't get butthurt. You are a liar. Stick to topic if you can.

[resistanze]

Soccer, the sport itself, has been around for hundreds of years. It's not a foreign concept to Americans.

Football isn't a foreign concept to Europe, either. I don't know why you believe that, the facts don't support it. There have been several attempts to promote football leagues in Europe and it hasn't worked out. It's not because people's lack of exposure/knowledge of American football in Europe.

I mean, your original point to explain the difference in popularity of the two sports was that everyone has the means to play soccer, but not football. We know that's not true in soccer's biggest market, Europe. So you're now you're trying to argue that football is popular in Europe, despite having its own league that failed?

I'm not disregarding the growth of soccer in America. You make terrible assumptions.
Looks like you are, for the sake of your argument. Your using the 80K that attended an annual NFL game in London as proof that its popular. You definitely aren't making the same argument that soccer is popular in America because of the 80K that showed up for an annual event. Somehow this has to do with a combination of the population of the US and how old soccer is. Or something.

It seems like you're only making this argument because you think you have to. If you admit football isn't popular in Europe, then the whole 'soccer is popular because you need a ball' argument doesn't really fly.

Attendance was actually pretty good considering it was an all American product from top to bottom.
Unfortunately, interest and ratings weren't enough to keep the league afloat. What makes you think a European product would garner more interest? There's not even enough interest in the first place in American football for Europeans to take that initiative. It has to be an American product.

I'd be real interested to see what would happen if the Europeans came up with their own pro league.

The point is that Americans have known of soccer since the beginning. It's not like it's fresh.

American football is still fresh in Europe. Not sure why that's hard to grasp.

We have no reason to believe Europeans will build their own football league, unless you have one. It has nothing to do with freshness of football. There is no grassroots interest in the game and previous leagues have collapsed. But hey, if American football is popular in 2045 in Europe, I'll give you my pension.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

I have a kind of stupid theory.

I think soccer is way too simple for US citizens. IMO americans love complicated/not easily understandable games or rules. I mean you need a phd to understand all CBA regulations for instance, if you watch a soccer game for the first time you understand in 10 sec what is all about, first time you watch a baseball game you are like: wtf is going on ?

You can extrapolate for other stuff like the elections, I mean I tried to follow a CNN show about the US election, the guy was trying to explain the quotas, primaries, big electors etc... he lost me really. In France for instance it's kind of simple first round the two guys with the highest number of votes go for the second round and the winner is the guy with the highest number of votes. Simple, isn't it ?

Soccer is simple at first sight, but the real insight of the game it's one of the most complex and tactically deep sports there are along with Rugby and American Football.

Someone else mentioned the scoring argument. I'll say it again: If high scoring would be a factor in determining which sport is the most popular, both the US and the rest of the world would be cricket hooligans, volleyball would be where millionaire athletes play and bowlers would be tested for doping.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Europe will never embrace American Football, not because of soccer, but because that niche was already filled and established (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Union) a long time ago.

[TwinTowers]

No more needs to be said..
D3HtadH1PAM&NR=1

this is why.

[Blake]

No more needs to be said..
D3HtadH1PAM&NR=1

this is why.

that's exactly why I ask "why is soccer the #1 sport in the world?"

75 minutes of pinball before he scored, imo

[TwinTowers]

that's exactly why I ask "why is soccer the #1 sport in the world?"

75 minutes of pinball before he scored, imo

Pro football (soccer) is more than just scoring, it involves athleticism, strategy, generates passion, and as you can see it requires lots of skill.

Going to your original question, I think soccer is the #1 sport because as opposed to other sports, it has always been inclusive; in other words people of all races, creeds, and social background have been able to participate without any discrimination.

[Spurstro]

that's exactly why I ask "why is soccer the #1 sport in the world?"

75 minutes of pinball before he scored, imo


A 3 1/2 hour football game has 11 minutes of actual game action.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406.html

Can't you see that one of the main reasons you don't like soccer is similar to the reasons most non-Americans don't like Football?

[Blake]

Pro football (soccer) is more than just scoring, it involves athleticism, strategy, generates passion, and as you can see it requires lots of skill.

I don't disagree.

Why do you think it generates passion?


Going to your original question, I think soccer is the #1 sport because as opposed to other sports, it has always been inclusive; in other words people of all races, creeds, and social background have been able to participate without any discrimination.

What sport discriminates against people of certain races, creeds or social backgrounds?

[Blake]

A 3 1/2 hour football game has 11 minutes of actual game action.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406.html

Can't you see that one of the main reasons you don't like soccer is similar to the reasons most non-Americans don't like Football?

It seems the reason I don't like soccer is the complete opposite of why I love football.

The suspense and the build up while trying to reach that first down marker, marching down the field until they score is infinitely more entertaining to watch than a ball getting kicked back and forth for 90 minutes, imo.

I think the main reason most non-Americans aren't into football is that they just don't have the same access to it as we do.

[Spurstro]

It seems the reason I don't like soccer is the complete opposite of why I love football.

I understand what you're saying and probably could have phrased the question a little differently.



The suspense and the build up while trying to reach that first down marker, marching down the field until they score is infinitely more entertaining to watch than a ball getting kicked back and forth for 90 minutes, imo.


The suspense and the build up while trying to score a goal is more exciting for most non-Americans than football players who run 4 yards and fall down...because that's how they see it...just like you see soccer as a ball getting kicked back and forth for 90 minutes.



I think the main reason most non-Americans aren't into football is that they just don't have the same access to it as we do.


Very well...I see your point.

Soccer is becoming more and more popular in the states every year. With MLS growing and ESPN and Fox fighting for television contracts to broadcast oversees games, it is at a level in this country where it has never been and I believe it will continue to grow.

Now are more people liking it because they have more access to it, or is more access being given because more people are liking the game? I'm still convinced that the love and passion of the game came first and then access to it followed.

Oh well...never thought I'd go back and forth in a topic with Blake and not pull a B2B.

[DAF86]

The suspense and the build up while trying to score a goal is more exciting for most non-Americans than football players who run 4 yards and fall down...because that's how they see it...just like you see soccer as a ball getting kicked back and forth for 90 minutes.

lol, so true. You have to understand a sport to like it.

[TwinTowers]

I don't disagree.
Why do you think it generates passion?


Football generates passion because no other sport gets the fans involved in such a deep way; if you go to a football game, you’ll hear the chanting and feel the atmosphere. It is so contagious that you almost feel that you’re part of the 22 playing on the field. Also there is a sense of nationalism –as you will see in the World Cup – that makes you feel as if your country is going to war (fortunately there won’t be casualties).



What sport discriminates against people of certain races, creeds or social backgrounds?

What I was trying to imply is that many sports in the US are surrounded by lots of stereotypes (which sometimes are true) based on race and other factors. And don’t forget that some sports were very discriminatory not too long ago. I haven’t seen such stuff when it comes to soccer.

[in2deep]

A 3 1/2 hour football game has 11 minutes of actual game action.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406.html

Can't you see that one of the main reasons you don't like soccer is similar to the reasons most non-Americans don't like Football?

ouch

[in2deep]

It seems the reason I don't like soccer is the complete opposite of why I love football.

The suspense and the build up while trying to reach that first down marker, marching down the field until they score is infinitely more entertaining to watch than a ball getting kicked back and forth for 90 minutes, imo.

I think the main reason most non-Americans aren't into football is that they just don't have the same access to it as we do.

disagree. American football is so boring. So many stopages, the same plays over and over again. Honestly I just get tired of looking at fat men's asses in tight pants touching each other for 3 and 1/2 hours.

seriously, american football is mostly
"touch me..."
"no, now you touch me"
"catch me if you can"
"I will catch you and throw you on the ground"
"as long as you land on top of me" :downspin:

[chichi!gettheyeyo]

let me help you mi amigo

american futbol sucks big time! is just abunch of refrigerators slamin into each other. what kind of skill does that take???

the only skill I see is the scrawny quarterbacks throwing the ball and the few ones that catch it. that's it. so we are talking about 5 skilled athletes PER GAME, the 45 others are just regular fat overfed americans.

one time I went to a bar and unfortunately there was a football game on, so unfortunately the bar was crowded with football fans. apparently the game was important because some of the fans were wearing cheese on their heads. fucking cheesee on their heads!! does that even fucking make sense??? what kind of retard shows their allegiance to a team by wearing a big piece of cheese on their head???? :pctoss this fucking sport is ridiculous!

the only reason I see why americans prefer football to soccer is because most americans are already fat and skill-less so they automatically qualify for the sport.

[Blake]

Soccer is becoming more and more popular in the states every year. With MLS growing and ESPN and Fox fighting for television contracts to broadcast oversees games, it is at a level in this country where it has never been and I believe it will continue to grow.

Now are more people liking it because they have more access to it, or is more access being given because more people are liking the game? I'm still convinced that the love and passion of the game came first and then access to it followed.

I'm convinced that our population is growing and a great many of that population come from backgrounds where soccer is big.

It seems natural that soccer would grow as well.


Oh well...never thought I'd go back and forth in a topic with Blake and not pull a B2B.

why would you think that?

[Blake]

Football generates passion because no other sport gets the fans involved in such a deep way; if you go to a football game, you’ll hear the chanting and feel the atmosphere. It is so contagious that you almost feel that you’re part of the 22 playing on the field. Also there is a sense of nationalism –as you will see in the World Cup – that makes you feel as if your country is going to war (fortunately there won’t be casualties).

I'm guessing you have never been to a college American football game.


What I was trying to imply is that many sports in the US are surrounded by lots of stereotypes (which sometimes are true) based on race and other factors.

Which sports are "surrounded by lots of stereotypes (which sometimes are true) based on race and other factors"?


And don’t forget that some sports were very discriminatory not too long ago. I haven’t seen such stuff when it comes to soccer.

I haven't forgotten. I'm not sure what your point is.

[Blake]

disagree. American football is so boring. So many stopages, the same plays over and over again. Honestly I just get tired of looking at fat men's asses in tight pants touching each other for 3 and 1/2 hours.

then stop looking at the fat men in tight pants and watch the football game.

or turn it off.


seriously, american football is mostly
"touch me..."
"no, now you touch me"
"catch me if you can"
"I will catch you and throw you on the ground"
"as long as you land on top of me" :downspin:

seriously, nobody says "touch me..." in American football.

[TwinTowers]

I'm guessing you have never been to a college American football game.


Well think about a college team being supported by a whole country; that's what happens in the World Cup. In some countries, people are allowed to skip time from work when the National team is playing, so they can watch the match. Please tell me what US team -on any sport- is able to generate such thing?



Which sports are "surrounded by lots of stereotypes (which sometimes are true) based on race and other factors"?


let's take NFL football for example, when was the last time you saw a White RB on the pro-bowl; was there even a white RB starting on a NFL team last season? what about the crap about white QBs vs Black ones? what's with the lack of african american baseball players compared to number of latino players? I could go on and on...



I haven't forgotten. I'm not sure what your point is.
My point is that soccer has never being used to discriminate people, as opposed to every other sport in America. Why do you think most black kids in the US choose playing basketball/football over baseball?

[RedsLakers24]

Baseball does not discriminate agaisnt black people, its just that black people choose to play Football or Basketball over baseball and soccer. Baseball has people from all over the world playing it

[sonic21]

Baseball is not popular in Europe and Africa. It's popular in a few countries in Asia (Japan, Korea...).

I've only played baseball 2 times in my life in highschool. Never played Football. Hockey is the only main US sport which is popular in France (after basketball of course).

[RedsLakers24]

Baseball is not popular in Europe and Africa. It's popular in a few countries in Asia (Japan, Korea...).

I've only played baseball 2 times in my life in highschool. Never played Football. Hockey is the only main US sport which is popular in France (after basketball of course).

i know, its just that baseball is so expensive

[Blake]

Well think about a college team being supported by a whole country; that's what happens in the World Cup. In some countries, people are allowed to skip time from work when the National team is playing, so they can watch the match. Please tell me what US team -on any sport- is able to generate such thing?

None. U.S. companies tell people to watch sports on their own time....

which is usually after work or on the weekends any way.....


let's take NFL football for example, when was the last time you saw a White RB on the pro-bowl; was there even a white RB starting on a NFL team last season?

irrelevant. There were whites in the pro bowl.


what about the crap about white QBs vs Black ones?

what crap?


what's with the lack of african american baseball players compared to number of latino players?

Last I checked, African Americans were allowed to play baseball, so you tell me.


I could go on and on...

go for it


My point is that soccer has never being used to discriminate people, as opposed to every other sport in America.

You are apparently misinformed about sports in America


Why do you think most black kids in the US choose playing basketball/football over baseball?

I don't know about black kids myself, why do you think they choose to play bball/football over baseball?

Me personally, bball and football are a lot more fun to play than baseball, imo. Baseball you wait and wait to bat and then stand around in the field for long periods of time.

[Blake]

Baseball is not popular in Europe and Africa. It's popular in a few countries in Asia (Japan, Korea...).


....Latin America)


I've only played baseball 2 times in my life in highschool. Never played Football. Hockey is the only main US sport which is popular in France (after basketball of course).

Basektball has really made a push on the global scale.

[Blake]

serious question...

I havent really checked and I'm curious.....are there any soccer stars that are currently more popular than Manu in Argentina?

[velik_m]

serious question...

I havent really checked and I'm curious.....are there any soccer stars that are currently more popular than Manu in Argentina?

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149129

[Spurstro]

serious question...

I havent really checked and I'm curious.....are there any soccer stars that are currently more popular than Manu in Argentina?

Many more and even some from other countries. Compared to soccer, basketball is nowhere near as big/popular.

I've visited Buenos Aires 2 years ago during the playoffs against New Orleans in Rd. 1. Tons of soccer stuff all over the place, but there wasn't much excitement for Manu.

[Blake]

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149129

so you are saying Messi is more popular than Manu?

[Blake]

Many more and even some from other countries. Compared to soccer, basketball is nowhere near as big/popular.

I've visited Buenos Aires 2 years ago during the playoffs against New Orleans in Rd. 1. Tons of soccer stuff all over the place, but there wasn't much excitement for Manu.

:tu

[DAF86]

serious question...

I havent really checked and I'm curious.....are there any soccer stars that are currently more popular than Manu in Argentina?

Yeah, there're lots of them. You have to undertand that Soccer is popular among 90% of Argentinians, basketball only to 10% (That's obviously just a made up number but it must be close to that difference, football is miles ahead of baskteball in terms of popularity in Argentina. In fact basketball isn't even the second most popular sport in our country. Racing, tennis and probably Rugby are bigger than basketball here).

[DAF86]

so you are saying Messi is more popular than Manu?

Best player of the most popular sport vs a great player (but nowhere close the best) of a not so popular sport, you do the math.

[Blake]

Best player of the most popular sport vs a great player (but nowhere close the best) of a not so popular sport, you do the math.

math done.

I honestly never heard of Messi until I saw his name here.

[DAF86]

math done.

I honestly never heard of Messi until I saw his name here.

Well, you said you don't like football so there's nothing strange about that. I don't know who the best cricket player in the world is.

[Blake]

Well, you said you don't like football so there's nothing strange about that. I don't know who the best cricket player in the world is.

right. That's why I asked the question.

:deadhorse

[DAF86]

right. That's why I asked the question.

:deadhorse

And that's why I answered it.

I don't get the deadhorse smily. If I came out a little bitchy it wasn't my intention :lol

[in2deep]

let me help you mi amigo

american futbol sucks big time! is just abunch of refrigerators slamin into each other. what kind of skill does that take???

the only skill I see is the scrawny quarterbacks throwing the ball and the few ones that catch it. that's it. so we are talking about 5 skilled athletes PER GAME, the 45 others are just regular fat overfed americans.

one time I went to a bar and unfortunately there was a football game on, so unfortunately the bar was crowded with football fans. apparently the game was important because some of the fans were wearing cheese on their heads. fucking cheesee on their heads!! does that even fucking make sense??? what kind of retard shows their allegiance to a team by wearing a big piece of cheese on their head???? :pctoss this fucking sport is ridiculous!

the only reason I see why americans prefer football to soccer is because most americans are already fat and skill-less so they automatically qualify for the sport.

:lol

gotta say, chichi speaks truth

[MB20]

Deja vu, Blake. I won't bite this time.

[Blake]

Deja vu, Blake. I won't bite this time.

ok, me neither.

[Spurologist]

Just in to the greatest soccer even this summer and you will be awe struck. Nothing on the world stage can come close to matching the world cup.

I did hear a pretty soccer joke though.

Random dude: Why does the clock go up when you're watching a soccer game
Me: huh
Random dude: cuz it tells you how much time you've wasted by watching the game

[kace]

so you are saying Messi is more popular than Manu?

:lol really ?

i know you're serious but this question shows a lot about the difference between US and the rest of the world about sports.

Messi is really more popular in the world than manu. not even close. In argentina, it doesn't seem so clear apparently.

[Phenomanul]

Has anyone else seen the new Nike World Cup ad?

[Phenomanul]

Has anyone else seen the new Nike World Cup ad?


Forgot the link...

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/sow_experts/post/Nike-s-World-Cup-ad-is-three-minutes-of-awesome?urn=sow,242594

[velik_m]

Forgot the link...

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/sow_experts/post/Nike-s-World-Cup-ad-is-three-minutes-of-awesome?urn=sow,242594

Pretty funny. There is lots of football related ads this time of year:

VISA ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vbHW_hf7gg (Bonus points for using slovenian flag).

Pepsi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-XZk0yxCzc (Arshavin with lots of free time to shoot ads).

Coca-cola: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M3Q54rPjQw