US soccer team loses to Mexico 0-4, won't attend Olympics.

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trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
Originally posted by: boyRacer
Well the US GP is here and sometimes that isnt even broadcasted live if ABC airs it... and still ratings suck. Fact of the matter is... F1 is just too boring for them... they like NASCAR with the multiple lead changes per lap. WRC isnt live either but that has a bigger US audience than F1 here.

Yea, the racing being rather boring does have a lot to do with it (being raised in a racing family and being a race car driver myself, I like to see actual racing when I watch racing, not just cars going fast). It would still probably be more popular if it was easier to find on tv. But maybe it would be easier to find on tv if it was more popular?
 

dpm

Golden Member
Apr 24, 2002
1,513
0
0
Shame. I was following the US team in the World Cup, and they were a fun team to watch. They played well, and battled hard.
 

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
Originally posted by: zbalat
Mexico ousted our baseball team too. No USA representation in the olympics for baseball or soccer.:frown:

Don't forget basketball. Looks like we'll be a piss-poor showing this year.

EDIT: well maybe they are in. I can't find any article to back me up.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: jumpr
:(

Too bad. Soccer needs a bigger place in American sports, but American attention spans aren't long enough.

Hey, if us as Americans can sit through a 9 inning baseball game, it's hard to say we don't have attention spans :) It's just that most people find soccer boring. I know I do, the back and forth action gets old, much like hockey. At least hockey has quick action on a small rink though.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,600
1,005
126
Originally posted by: trmiv
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Soccer just isn't a sport that most Americans are interested in. Baseball and Football are. We also don't follow Formula One (probably the second most popular sporting event in the world) but Nascar is huge here.
rolleye.gif
I don't see why it is such a big deal for some to argue about it. It's just a fact. I don't really see this changing anytime soon either.

BTW-I don't find soccer all that interesting to watch. I like NFL, sometimes I watch a baseball game or go to one and I usually follow the second half of the Basketball season (Go Lakers!). I usually watch some of the Olympic games when they are on also. My real interest is Formula One Racing and I watch most every practice session (that is aired), every qualifying session and every race during the season. This is pretty much the extent of my sports watching.

A lot of Americans don't follow F1 because of the times most races are on TV. I love basketball (huge Laker fan myself), football, and NASCAR, but if it meant getting up at 4:00am to watch those things, I wouldn't be watching them any more. Yea I could replayTV it, but I like to watch sporting events as they happen.

Sorry to highjack this thread but...

You must be on the west coast like me. I just tape the races and watch them when I get up around 7:00AM. It's part of my morning ritual and one I look forward to when the races are held. I like the fact that Speed Channel covers the race weekend live though and I usually watch the non-European races live.

I think the racing is good and I love the standing starts. Some of the races are kind of boring but I think that is due more to the layout of some of the circuits and not because F1 isn't competetive. The past few years have seen some good racing and a few top teams in a position to win races and the championship. Looks like Renault might be in a good position this year. They seem to be very consistent and fast in practice over a race distance.
 

Drizzy

Golden Member
Dec 12, 2003
1,229
0
0
I think the real reason that more people dont like to watch soccer is because they dont play soccer. Soccer doesnt have as much scoring but you can get really excited about a great pass or a great touch on the ball. If you have played the game you understand how difficult it is and how much time, effort, and skill it takes to do what they do. Much like basketball and a sweet backdoor play or something - it wouldnt be as exciting to someone that hadnt played the game to know exactly what just happened. Its the most popular sport in the world by far - billions of people cant be wrong. :)
 

AvesPKS

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2000
4,729
0
0
The same thing happened to the US baseball team. I'd imagine everyone would be more up in arms about the US baseball team not being in the Olympics.
 

Pokey007

Senior member
May 1, 2001
431
0
0
Originally posted by: dpm
Shame. I was following the US team in the World Cup, and they were a fun team to watch. They played well, and battled hard.

This was the U-23 team who lost. The national US team represented America in the World Cup.
 

zbalat

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,501
1
81
Originally posted by: AvesPKS
The same thing happened to the US baseball team. I'd imagine everyone would be more up in arms about the US baseball team not being in the Olympics.


More people were up in arms when it happened back in November. It was a much bigger deal on ESPN and sports talk radio but it was months ago so most people don't remember.

Also, the baseball team lost to a Mexico team that hadn't won a single game in the tournament. I guess it was payback for the World Cup.
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,998
126
You guys are looking at this from the wrong perspective. With the US team out NBC will have no need to actually broadcast soccer as part of their coverage. They can use that airtime to show something worth watching. Gracias Mexico!
 

zbalat

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,501
1
81
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
You guys are looking at this from the wrong perspective. With the US team out NBC will have no need to actually broadcast soccer as part of their coverage. They can use that airtime to show something worth watching. Gracias Mexico!

I had the same attitude until I started coaching my daughter's soccer team and now my son's team as well. I had never played nor cared about soccer when I somehow got suckered into coaching. That was 4 years ago and after a lot of research and time spent coaching I have a great appreciation for the sport. I watched every single US World Cup match even the 3AM matches. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world for a reason and the reason for my interest is because of my kids but knowing what I know now, I wish I would have played as a youngster.
 

AvesPKS

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2000
4,729
0
0
Originally posted by: Ranger X
We're all about Football, Basketball, and Baseball (with a maybe on Hockey).

And the USA will not be competing in Baseball in the Olympics.
 

AvesPKS

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2000
4,729
0
0
Originally posted by: Ranger X
We're all about Football, Basketball, and Baseball (with a maybe on Hockey).

And the USA will not be competing in Baseball in the Olympics.
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
Originally posted by: murphy55d
I think one of the main reasons soccer isn't popular is because you can't sell TV advertising space for it. 45 minutes without a commercial break.

Maybe if it were on TV more, people would watch. But because of the advertising and such, it can't be.

I agree with this. I think soccer is a great game (probably 'cause I played growing up and all the way through highschool, and then on a couple of adult leagues)....but since they don't want to interrupt it with Ads, it doesn't sell.

They don't need commerical breaks.....just play the delayed game....I don't care if it's 100% live or not.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,874
6,411
126
Soccer(Football) is a great sport to play, but kind of hard to appreciate on TV if you haven't developed a passion for it through playing it.
 

blakeatwork

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2001
4,113
1
81
Originally posted by: Lucky
Originally posted by: blakeatwork
Originally posted by: murphy55d
I think one of the main reasons soccer isn't popular is because you can't sell TV advertising space for it. 45 minutes without a commercial break.

Maybe if it were on TV more, people would watch. But because of the advertising and such, it can't be.

That's the most retarded argument for non-proliferation of the sport that I've heard...

What's wrong with split screening for commercials??? It works here in Canada, and advertisiers were fine with it...


because i want to be able to take throne breaks and grab beers without worrying that the only goal in the whole game will be scored in the 2 minutes I'm gone!

??? It's not like it wouldn't be replayed to death anyways...

I don't buy the "no commercial break argument". I WILL buy the "US just isn't really interested" argument, which works for me, as I'm overly interested in American football or basketball... I find they have too many commercials..

(sides, if you can't hold it in for a mere 45 minutes, you must have the bladder of a wee lass...:p)
 
Jun 18, 2000
11,220
783
126
Originally posted by: Drizzy
I think the real reason that more people dont like to watch soccer is because they dont play soccer. Soccer doesnt have as much scoring but you can get really excited about a great pass or a great touch on the ball. If you have played the game you understand how difficult it is and how much time, effort, and skill it takes to do what they do. Much like basketball and a sweet backdoor play or something - it wouldnt be as exciting to someone that hadnt played the game to know exactly what just happened. Its the most popular sport in the world by far - billions of people cant be wrong. :)
Does anybody actually have any proof of this? Last I checked, soccer wasn't the most popular sport in the world. Could be wrong.
 

emmpee

Golden Member
Nov 26, 2001
1,100
0
0
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Does anybody actually have any proof of this? Last I checked, soccer wasn't the most popular sport in the world. Could be wrong.

Do you plan to tell us what YOU believe is the most popular sport in the world?
 
Jun 18, 2000
11,220
783
126
Originally posted by: emmpee
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Does anybody actually have any proof of this? Last I checked, soccer wasn't the most popular sport in the world. Could be wrong.

Do you plan to tell us what YOU believe is the most popular sport in the world?
According to this site, the most popular sport is volleyball, but it even admits the numbers are quite suspect.

edit: Also, there are 208 countries registered with the Olympics committee for soccer, while there are 218 countries registered for volleyball. According to the Olympics committee, table tennis is currently the largest participation sport worldwide.:)
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
US soccer team loses to Mexico and won't attend Olympics? :Q

OMG, what's the point in living now... :(