"Official 2006 World Cup Thread"

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Yeah. It can be played on a legit field or in some vacant lot. I do think that it's popularity is growing in the US, though.

I'd agree with that. My son has played for the last 1 1/2 years and it blew me away to see how many kids are playing soccer these days.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Yeah. It can be played on a legit field or in some vacant lot. I do think that it's popularity is growing in the US, though.

It's been very popular. It's the single largest youth sport in the country and has been for some time...since the late 70's I believe. It also seems to be the common sport that athletes from Baseball, Football, and Basketball share.

[-Slap-]

Too much damn running for my taste. When forced to play soccer in PE, I tried to be the goalie or the fullback.

[atomicbloke]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

The reason for soccer's worldwide appeal, and I don't mean this as an insult, is that its the cheapest sport to play. Literally, all you need is a ball (or some suitable facsimile) and a field (or some suitable facsimile). This is why soccer thrives in the poorest countries on Earth.

you are right. poverty stricken countries like england, italy, germany, etc really like soccer.

[epicSocialism4tw]

The seeds are here for soccer to literally dominate the sports scene. There is exposure across racial, cultural, and even gender lines. If the big sports networks continue to enter contracts with European football and International football, I think it's only a matter of time (maybe one generation) before soccer explodes here like it has everywhere else.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by atomicbloke

you are right. poverty stricken countries like england, italy, germany, etc really like soccer.

You are defensive about perceived slights of your sport, thus you're acting deliberately obtuse.

Cheers.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by angryllama

The seeds are here for soccer to literally dominate the sports scene. There is exposure across racial, cultural, and even gender lines. If the big sports networks continue to enter contracts with European football and International football, I think it's only a matter of time (maybe one generation) before soccer explodes here like it has everywhere else.

Ah, the innocence of youth. That broken record has been playing since before you were born.

[atomicbloke]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

You are defensive about perceived slights of your sport, thus you're acting deliberately obtuse.

Cheers.

I can say the some thing, that you are defensive about your perceived ignorance about soccer..

and soccer isn't my sport. football is and will always be. but i have developed a great appreciation and taste for the global phenomenon of soccer and am glad about it.

makes life more enjoyable if you have more things to appreciate, isnt it?

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

Ah, the innocence of youth. That broken record has been playing since before you were born.

You missed the point (steeeeerike!).

There is a huge market for soccer in America, and with the globalist expansionism that we are still undergoing, that market will only become larger. Thus, you see Disney/ESPiN/ABC enter into a huge contract for the world cup and the champions league. It's a global marketplace and one that our isolationist sports media would be signing their own death warrant by ignoring any further.

[TexanBob]

There's no need to worry about undermining the credibility of a sport where the "star" player on the field gives one of the most blatant cheap shots I've ever seen (and deservedly punished) then the whole thing comes down to the equivalent of using free throws to decide the NBA title.

Hey, it's the Super Bowl for the rest of the world, I get it. But it will never be the favorite sport of Americans because so little scoring takes place.

[SouthStndJunkie]

Originally Posted by angryllama

The seeds are here for soccer to literally dominate the sports scene. There is exposure across racial, cultural, and even gender lines. If the big sports networks continue to enter contracts with European football and International football, I think it's only a matter of time (maybe one generation) before soccer explodes here like it has everywhere else.

I heard that when I was playing soccer 20+ years ago. Problem is when the kids playing get older they migrate to football, basketball, or baseball. If they are the cream of the crop, they end up playing one of those 3 sports. If all our athletes played soccer and not any of the other sports we would kick ass, but no matter what soccer is a sport that most kids grow out of at about 13 or 14 when they want to concentrate on the other sports.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by atomicbloke

I can say the some thing, that you are defensive about your perceived ignorance about soccer..

and soccer isn't my sport. football is and will always be. but i have developed a great appreciation and taste for the global phenomenon of soccer and am glad about it.

makes life more enjoyable if you have more things to appreciate, isnt it?

I'm neither defensive, nor ignorant. I'm just giving you truth you don't want to accept.

Look, even the soccer players and leagues regard America as a second rate market. I actually tried to support the MLS when it started, until I saw teams playing shorthanded every week because international star players were constantly leaving their teams to go home and play in tournaments for their home countries. That clearly illustrates how soccer is perceived in this country.

You know what's really humorous? Back in the 70s everybody was telling us soccer would take America by storm and it never happened. Now, with so many more entertainement options available to consumers, soccer fans are still trying to sell the same bill of goods. Forgive me if I smirk knowingly.

I really don't understand why people are unable to simply enjoy a particular sport on its own terms. They're constantly trying to justify or expand its popularity. Why? What makes you all so insecure? Is the beauty of the game somehow dimnished for you because someone else doesn't feel the same passion?

I saw hockey just about ruin itself in the 90s with their lust for expansion. The sport was booming like never before and the hockey powers that be couldn't do anything but fret about how to attract more fans.

Of course, the boom/fad faded and the trendy bandwagon fans departed. Then the league was stuck with weak franchises, huge player playroll and expiring TV contracts. All those trendy fans from ten years ago, looked on and laughed.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by TexanBob

There's no need to worry about undermining the credibility of a sport where the "star" player on the field gives one of the most blatant cheap shots I've ever seen (and deservedly punished) then the whole thing comes down to the equivalent of using free throws to decide the NBA title.

You must have hated the finals this year then.

PK's are not gimmies. The keeper is at a bit of a disadvantage, but a good keeper makes it very difficult to find space in the goal on PK's because of his level of understanding and his skill level. They are certainly different than free throws.

Hey, it's the Super Bowl for the rest of the world, I get it. But it will never be the favorite sport of Americans because so little scoring takes place.

It's not the superbowl, it's a month worth of playoff games and is bigger than the Olympics. It is the top sporting event in the world. Mix march madness, the olympics, the superbowl, and the NBA finals and you still arent close.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by atomicbloke

you are right. poverty stricken countries like england, italy, germany, etc really like soccer.

You're taking offense where none was given. All he said was that it's appeal as a sport isn't limited by economics. You need equipment and a specifice field to play baseball for example, and that costs money. Any group of guys can go to a park and start playing soccer.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by angryllama

You missed the point (steeeeerike!).

There is a huge market for soccer in America, and with the globalist expansionism that we are still undergoing, that market will only become larger. Thus, you see Disney/ESPiN/ABC enter into a huge contract for the world cup and the champions league. It's a global marketplace and one that our isolationist sports media would be signing their own death warrant by ignoring any further.

Bull****.

It hasn't happened and it won't happen. You live in a land of fairy tales, Llama.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

You're taking offense where none was given. All he said was that it's appeal as a sport isn't limited by economics. You need equipment and a specifice field to play baseball for example, and that costs money. Any group of guys can go to a park and start playing soccer.

Or they can play it in an allleyway, doorway, basketball court, etc...It is a very accessible game. You can also play it with several players so neighborhood kids can just pack in for a game.

Pele began playing with a wad of socks.

I have a Ugandan soccer ball made of wound-up reeds.

[Bronco9798]

My two daughters both played soccer and I thought then it was an expanding sport into the U.S. That was about 15 years ago. It has the same popularity today that it did when my daughters played. The popularity only expands in the YMCA's and Recreation Leagues. It gets a lot of attention during World Cup play, but you won't see an increased popularity in the future. This comes all the time when the Cup is on. A month form now nobody will even mention the word. It will die again unitl the next Cup. The kids will still play it, but the popularity with adults just isn't there in the states.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

Bull****.
It hasn't happened and it won't happen. You live in a land of fairy tales, Llama.

We'll see. Im confident that the sports media in America sees opportunity with cheap broadcasts of HUGE international sporting events, and sees the opportunity to attract a HUGE market of Mexican/South American/Central American fans that are flooding this country daily.

We're entering an international age. Until it is stopped by force, expect it to continue. Mom's apple pie, hot dogs, and baseball are waiting to diminish unless they all become international phenomena. There's simply more money to be made in the international marketplace.

[atomicbloke]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

I'm neither defensive, nor ignorant. I'm just giving you truth you don't want to accept.

Look, even the soccer players and leagues regard America as a second rate market. I actually tried to support the MLS when it started, until I saw teams playing shorthanded every week because international star players were constantly leaving their teams to go home and play in tournaments for their home countries. That clearly illustrates how soccer is perceived in this country.

You know what's really humorous? Back in the 70s everybody was telling us soccer would take America by storm and it never happened. Now, with so many more entertainement options available to consumers, soccer fans are still trying to sell the same bill of goods. Forgive me if I smirk knowingly.

I really don't understand why people are unable to simply enjoy a particular sport on its own terms. They're constantly trying to justify or expand its popularity. Why? What makes you all so insecure? Is the beauty of the game somehow dimnished for you because someone else doesn't feel the same passion?

I saw hockey just about ruin itself in the 90s with their lust for expansion. The sport was booming like never before and the hockey powers that be couldn't do anything but fret about how to attract more fans.

Of course, the boom/fad faded and the trendy bandwagon fans departed. Then the league was stuck with weak franchises, huge player playroll and expiring TV contracts. All those trendy fans from ten years ago, looked on and laughed.

I am not trying to be an expansionist for soccer. I have no illusions about soccer in america. I knew it will never be a legitmate sport in america.

I am just responding to earlier posters in this thread (not you) who keep coming here and saying how soccer is stupid and lame and the people who like soccer are dumb or gay pansies. It irritates me when someone who hasn't taken the pains to understand or appreciate a game alien to them, know nothing about the history or tradition of the game, then speak like arrogant "know it all" condenscending attitude about the most popular game on earth.

My point it, if you dont like something, just keep away from it. dont deliberately go to a thread about soccer and belittle the fans whose only sin is to like different things than you.

I mean I don't like hockey, so I dont go to hockey forums. I dont like it because I have never taken pains to understand and appreciate the sport. That does not mean I will conciously seek out hockey threads and say bad things to hockey fans.

Anyways, truce on this. The greatest party on earth is over. Now time for some Broncos Football!!

But deep in my heart I know that I shall save money for the next 4 years and then make the trip to South Africa in 2010 for an even bigger party.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Bronco9798

My two daughters both played soccer and I thought then it was an expanding sport into the U.S. That was about 15 years ago. It has the same popularity today that it did when my daughters played. The popularity only expands in the YMCA's and Recreation Leagues. It gets a lot of attention during World Cup play, but you won't see an increased popularity in the future. This comes all the time when the Cup is on. A month form now nobody will even mention the word. It will die again unitl the next Cup. The kids will still play it, but the popularity with adults just isn't there in the states.

That's not true.

I have been watching since '90 when the first real international games were broadcast in the US, and they were broadcast on Telemundo. The entire WC was broadcast on Telemundo.

The cup hit America in '94 and popularity boomed. Thus, you see the increased level of play come through the American youth system to the point where our guys actually compete with the international powers. Since then, there has been increased coverage of WC and European soccer in the American media. It's to the point where the talking heads are even venturing to discuss the games. Why? The popularity base for the sport has increased so much that Disney invested quite a bit of money in the Cup to compete in the marketplace...their guys are going to make an effort (albeit comparatively horrible) to drive interest in the event.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by atomicbloke

I am not trying to be an expansionist for soccer. I have no illusions about soccer in america. I knew it will never be a legitmate sport in america.

I am just responding to earlier posters in this thread (not you) who keep coming here and saying how soccer is stupid and lame and the people who like soccer are dumb or gay pansies. It irritates me when someone who hasn't taken the pains to understand or appreciate a game alien to them, know nothing about the history or tradition of the game, then speak like arrogant "know it all" condenscending attitude about the most popular game on earth.

My point it, if you dont like something, just keep away from it. dont deliberately go to a thread about soccer and belittle the fans whose only sin is to like different things than you.

I mean I don't like hockey, so I dont go to hockey forums. I dont like it because I have never taken pains to understand and appreciate the sport. That does not mean I will conciously seek out hockey threads and say bad things to hockey fans.

Anyways, truce on this. The greatest party on earth is over. Now time for some Broncos Football!!

But deep in my heart I know that I shall save money for the next 4 years and then make the trip to South Africa in 2010 for an even bigger party.

We're on the same side. I like soccer, but I try to be realistic about its future in this country.

I try not to jump into threads of sports I don't like as a matter of courtesy. I avoid NASCAR and golf threads and the like. I do give the UFC guys a bit of crap, but they started it.......

[Bronco9798]

Originally Posted by angryllama

That's not true.

I have been watching since '90 when the first real international games were broadcast in the US, and they were broadcast on Telemundo. The entire WC was broadcast on Telemundo.

The cup hit America in '94 and popularity boomed. Thus, you see the increased level of play come through the American youth system to the point where our guys actually compete with the international powers. Since then, there has been increased coverage of WC and European soccer in the American media. It's to the point where the talking heads are even venturing to discuss the games. Why? The popularity base for the sport has increased so much that Disney invested quite a bit of money in the Cup to compete in the marketplace...their guys are going to make an effort (albeit comparatively horrible) to drive interest in the event.

Well to me the popularity is with the kids in this country that play the game. I personally don't see an increase in popularity with adults and sports fans. Again, just my opinion and observation.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Bronco9798

Well to me the popularity is with the kids in this country that play the game. I personally don't see an increase in popularity with adults and sports fans. Again, just my opinion and observation.

Whenever you have goobers like Jay Mariotti, Woody Paige, Tim Cowlishaw, Randy Galloway and the like "discussing" the world cup on their shows and in their papers (begrudgingly and ignorantly), you have to say that sports fans are talking about it. Writers drive the discussion in the media and in the world of sports fans.

The WC has been on the front page of ESPiN dot com since it began.

[Swedish Extrovert]

spdirty is an ignorant a-hole

[LordHelmchen]

Originally Posted by MightySmurf

spdirty is an ignorant a-hole

I'll second that