why is soccer the #1 sport in the world?

[JudynTX]

no, I do not want balls in my face.

[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, compe ion 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, compe ion 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 a long time ago.

[TwinTowers]

No more needs to be said..


this is why.

[Blake]

No more needs to be said..


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/SB1000...055561406.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/SB1000...055561406.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/SB1000...055561406.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"

[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. ing cheesee on their heads!! does that even ing make sense??? what kind of re shows their allegiance to a team by wearing a big piece of cheese on their head???? this ing 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"

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