Why soccer will never make it in the US

[ViviTheMage]

I don't watch sports anymore...shit is just so off...if anything I will go to local games, but no TV sports for me.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: spidey07
OK - enough is enough. I enjoy watching big soccer matches, I'm practically glued to the screen during the world cup. I played for a good amount of time, but you have got to be kidding me with the drama acting going on with these guys.

It's like their second skill is the flop, the painful facial expression, the doubling over in pain and yet NOBODY TOUCHED YOU. Do these guys take acting lessons? It's almost comical watching them in slow motion.

No, I'm not trolling. I understand the game, it is a contact sport. I understand really hard dangerous play/fouls that should be carded. But c'mon, for every real foul out there I'd put it at 5-1 acting to real foul.

For reference:

Oh the drama

oh ... my ... god ...

that is the most comical videos i've ever seen in sports.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
Note that American wussies had to design tons of protective gear before daring to play Rugby. American Football is as much a sissy game as soccer is.

Note that Rugby is played too slowly and by too small/weak of players not to require protective gear that prevents otherwise assured disability or death.

Note that you've obviously got no clue what you're talking about.

Broken back bad enough?

There have been several professional rugbyplayers who continued a match with broken collarbone/cheekbone/eyesocket/jawbone in order to not let their teams down.

lol, rugby players are pussies. Any american football player would walk all over them, pads or not.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
As though basketball is any better...

this is what i came in here to say.

i like soccer, i kinda half-ass watch when i have a game on though. i dont even watch basketball, football or baseball to start with.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: xSauronx

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
As though basketball is any better...

this is what i came in here to say.

i like soccer, i kinda half-ass watch when i have a game on though. i dont even watch basketball, football or baseball to start with.

if you don't watch basketball, how do you know?

 

[Kelemvor]

I wish they'd start giving cards for people for faking being hurt. Or say if you get hurt enough that the other guy gets a card, you have to sit out for 2 minutes to nurse your pain.

They writhe around on the ground, wait for a card for the other player, then get up and sprint down the field.

Bunch of pansies.

 

[KeithTalent]

NBA is pretty bad for flopping these days. The NHL was getting bad too, but it seems to have subsided somewhat.

I watch football all the time and the flopping doesn't really bother me because it seems very rare to see the really bad flops get called. If you watch a well-reffed game, with talented sides, the flopping becomes a bit of a non-issue in my opinion.

Some of the games in Euro 08 so far have been bloody amazing. :thumbsup:

KT

 

[Glayde]

There is an amount of flopping in both sports but there's one thing that's much different in my eyes.

I'm a casual fan, I enjoy watching the international soccer games, not so much the normal leagues, where the stakes arent as high. I just like the atmosphere and intensity between national teams, world cup etc.

What I dislike and this is what seperates it from basketball to the casual fan

- 2 out of the 3 games i saw so far this year in the euro2008, the game was decided in the last few minutes, on bad/questionable calls/penalties. I'm not talking about Turkey beating Czech, those were all legit goals I think. But just seeing game after game of bad off-sides calls or bad penalties or no calls in the box that basicly decide the game right there. Is a big turn-off for me.

And I'll say I get pretty annoyed with the NBA too on its officiating but it's much rarer when a call decides the game at the very end.

 

[oddyager]

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
Note that American wussies had to design tons of protective gear before daring to play Rugby. American Football is as much a sissy game as soccer is.

Please understand the average American Football players can probably sneeze and break the average rugby player in half. Now have the two sports go at it sans all protective gear and guarantee you plenty of deaths and disabilities would occur on the field with American Football. They are simply stronger, faster and more brutal than rugby. Please don't compare these two.

 

[Rio Rebel]

I love soccer, and I think all the people who just say "soccer sucks" are jackasses.

But I agree with you - it has gotten ridiculous when players go down like they've been sprayed in a drive-by, and 30 seconds later they are running full speed down the field. The drama gets worse and worse.

All they really need to do is actually enforce the yellow card for diving rule. That would do it. Players don't want to have to sit out games, and if they just increased the number of times that players were penalized for faking, it would all work itself out.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: oddyager

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
Note that American wussies had to design tons of protective gear before daring to play Rugby. American Football is as much a sissy game as soccer is.

Please understand the average American Football players can probably sneeze and break the average rugby player in half. Now have the two sports go at it sans all protective gear and guarantee you plenty of deaths and disabilities would occur on the field with American Football. They are simply stronger, faster and more brutal than rugby. Please don't compare these two.

I'm sorry, I like American football, a lot, but I think you are dead wrong. Those rugby players are tough motherfuckers and NFL players are a bunch of overpaid wusses by comparison.

KT

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Glayde
There is an amount of flopping in both sports but there's one thing that's much different in my eyes.

I'm a casual fan, I enjoy watching the international soccer games, not so much the normal leagues, where the stakes arent as high. I just like the atmosphere and intensity between national teams, world cup etc.

What I dislike and this is what seperates it from basketball to the casual fan

- 2 out of the 3 games i saw so far this year in the euro2008, the game was decided in the last few minutes, on bad/questionable calls/penalties. I'm not talking about Turkey beating Czech, those were all legit goals I think. But just seeing game after game of bad off-sides calls or bad penalties or no calls in the box that basicly decide the game right there. Is a big turn-off for me.

And I'll say I get pretty annoyed with the NBA too on its officiating but it's much rarer when a call decides the game at the very end.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. I've watched a fair chunk of the Euro games and seen a couple of missed offside calls (don't mention the Holland goal, because that was a good call) but nothing really game-changing. Plus, some of those calls are very difficult to make, having to watch the ball release and the player on the front lines pretty much simultaneously.

The NBA officiating is absolutely atrocious and is ruining the game for me. Heck, the league even apologized for missed calls this year, not to mention the shadiness of some of the referees and how they sway with home teams or whatever is in the league's best interest. They really need to fix the officiating in this league or they are going to start to lose even more fans.

KT

 

[Jack Ryan]

1) Stop the BS diving
2) Get rid of offsides (or change it, the current offside rule is stupid)

That is a good start for Americans to give a crap about soccer.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Originally posted by: Jack Ryan
1) Stop the BS diving
2) Get rid of offsides (or change it, the current offside rule is stupid)

That is a good start for Americans to give a crap about soccer.

They can't get rid of offsides. But they can actually enforce it the way the rule is supposed to be enforced, which is to only call it when a player is clearly behind. When one player is literally inches behind the defender, or when it comes down to where the player's leg or arm is positioned, it is a silly call and does nothing for the integrity of the game. If the attacker is camped out 10 feet behind the defenders, waiting for a cheap pass, that's different. The rule has become more of a liability than a protection at this point.

 

[BeauJangles]

Here are bigger reasons, IMO, soccer won't become a top-tier sport in the US:

#1 - Talent: The US has amazingly talented athletes, but our best athletes focus on sports like basketball, football, and baseball. A lot of people play soccer as an alternate sport, not as their main focus.
#2 - Money: Because there isn't a lot of money in the MLS right now, why should a talented athlete focus on soccer? If he has the choice, he'll always a choose another sport because of the higher earning potential.
#2a - Money: How is the MLS going to monetize the sport? Unlike football, basketball, hockey there are no timeouts to play ads, no quarters, and little downtime. That means they'll have to be creative about advertising.
#3 - Chicken and Egg problem: Without money, the sport can't attract talented athletes and fans. Without talented athletes and fans, the sport can't attract money.
#4 - The 'too many sports' syndrome: How many sports can people really follow? For me, it's baseball and football. That's it. Sure, I tune into basketball (college and pro) and hockey, but only as a casual fan.
#5 - competition: IF you are a talented US soccer play, why play in the MLS? There is more money in Europe and better players. Playing here, you'll be the big fish in a small pond.
#5a - competition: IF you are a huge soccer fan, why watch the MLS when European soccer is a cable channel away?

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel

Originally posted by: Jack Ryan
1) Stop the BS diving
2) Get rid of offsides (or change it, the current offside rule is stupid)

That is a good start for Americans to give a crap about soccer.

They can't get rid of offsides. But they can actually enforce it the way the rule is supposed to be enforced, which is to only call it when a player is clearly behind. When one player is literally inches behind the defender, or when it comes down to where the player's leg or arm is positioned, it is a silly call and does nothing for the integrity of the game. If the attacker is camped out 10 feet behind the defenders, waiting for a cheap pass, that's different. The rule has become more of a liability than a protection at this point.

technicially you are supposed to let those super close ones go in favor of the offence,

i think offsides calling is fine, i watch more soccer then most on here i bet and there ar every few times where i have had reall issues with offsides calls

the last really bad one was in the 94 world cup Dutch V Brazil, and that ref totally blew it and was then banned form refing international soccer for life

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: dudeman007

Originally posted by: Gothgar

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
As though basketball is any better...

seriously.... basketball is terrible in this same aspect, I can't even watch a game.

Bingo...beat me to it. Basketball is a pansy game in comparison to soccer. Boo hoo he slapped my wrist wahhh.

Soccer will never be super popular in the US because the US will never be the best at it.

I used to think that way, but the USA team is getting better and better. I don't think they can be the best, but they are definitely heading towards good.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
Note that American wussies had to design tons of protective gear before daring to play Rugby. American Football is as much a sissy game as soccer is.

Note that Rugby is played too slowly and by too small/weak of players not to require protective gear that prevents otherwise assured disability or death.

err, no. There is far fewer injury in rugby because the players are not lured into a false sense of safety by the protective gear.

 

[Glitchny]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Here are bigger reasons, IMO, soccer won't become a top-tier sport in the US:

#1 - Talent: The US has amazingly talented athletes, but our best athletes focus on sports like basketball, football, and baseball. A lot of people play soccer as an alternate sport, not as their main focus.
#2 - Money: Because there isn't a lot of money in the MLS right now, why should a talented athlete focus on soccer? If he has the choice, he'll always a choose another sport because of the higher earning potential.
#2a - Money: How is the MLS going to monetize the sport? Unlike football, basketball, hockey there are no timeouts to play ads, no quarters, and little downtime. That means they'll have to be creative about advertising.
#3 - Chicken and Egg problem: Without money, the sport can't attract talented athletes and fans. Without talented athletes and fans, the sport can't attract money.
#4 - The 'too many sports' syndrome: How many sports can people really follow? For me, it's baseball and football. That's it. Sure, I tune into basketball (college and pro) and hockey, but only as a casual fan.
#5 - competition: IF you are a talented US soccer play, why play in the MLS? There is more money in Europe and better players. Playing here, you'll be the big fish in a small pond.
#5a - competition: IF you are a huge soccer fan, why watch the MLS when European soccer is a cable channel away?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Glayde
There is an amount of flopping in both sports but there's one thing that's much different in my eyes.

I'm a casual fan, I enjoy watching the international soccer games, not so much the normal leagues, where the stakes arent as high. I just like the atmosphere and intensity between national teams, world cup etc.

What I dislike and this is what seperates it from basketball to the casual fan

- 2 out of the 3 games i saw so far this year in the euro2008, the game was decided in the last few minutes, on bad/questionable calls/penalties. I'm not talking about Turkey beating Czech, those were all legit goals I think. But just seeing game after game of bad off-sides calls or bad penalties or no calls in the box that basicly decide the game right there. Is a big turn-off for me.

And I'll say I get pretty annoyed with the NBA too on its officiating but it's much rarer when a call decides the game at the very end.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. I've watched a fair chunk of the Euro games and seen a couple of missed offside calls (don't mention the Holland goal, because that was a good call) but nothing really game-changing. Plus, some of those calls are very difficult to make, having to watch the ball release and the player on the front lines pretty much simultaneously.

The NBA officiating is absolutely atrocious and is ruining the game for me. Heck, the league even apologized for missed calls this year, not to mention the shadiness of some of the referees and how they sway with home teams or whatever is in the league's best interest. They really need to fix the officiating in this league or they are going to start to lose even more fans.

KT

I'm going to have to disagree with you ...

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Glayde
There is an amount of flopping in both sports but there's one thing that's much different in my eyes.

I'm a casual fan, I enjoy watching the international soccer games, not so much the normal leagues, where the stakes arent as high. I just like the atmosphere and intensity between national teams, world cup etc.

What I dislike and this is what seperates it from basketball to the casual fan

- 2 out of the 3 games i saw so far this year in the euro2008, the game was decided in the last few minutes, on bad/questionable calls/penalties. I'm not talking about Turkey beating Czech, those were all legit goals I think. But just seeing game after game of bad off-sides calls or bad penalties or no calls in the box that basicly decide the game right there. Is a big turn-off for me.

And I'll say I get pretty annoyed with the NBA too on its officiating but it's much rarer when a call decides the game at the very end.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. I've watched a fair chunk of the Euro games and seen a couple of missed offside calls (don't mention the Holland goal, because that was a good call) but nothing really game-changing. Plus, some of those calls are very difficult to make, having to watch the ball release and the player on the front lines pretty much simultaneously.

The NBA officiating is absolutely atrocious and is ruining the game for me. Heck, the league even apologized for missed calls this year, not to mention the shadiness of some of the referees and how they sway with home teams or whatever is in the league's best interest. They really need to fix the officiating in this league or they are going to start to lose even more fans.

KT

I'm going to have to disagree with you ...

the ONLY reason the ratings were up this year is because it was Boston & LA if either of those teams was not there the ratings would not have been what they were

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Glayde
There is an amount of flopping in both sports but there's one thing that's much different in my eyes.

I'm a casual fan, I enjoy watching the international soccer games, not so much the normal leagues, where the stakes arent as high. I just like the atmosphere and intensity between national teams, world cup etc.

What I dislike and this is what seperates it from basketball to the casual fan

- 2 out of the 3 games i saw so far this year in the euro2008, the game was decided in the last few minutes, on bad/questionable calls/penalties. I'm not talking about Turkey beating Czech, those were all legit goals I think. But just seeing game after game of bad off-sides calls or bad penalties or no calls in the box that basicly decide the game right there. Is a big turn-off for me.

And I'll say I get pretty annoyed with the NBA too on its officiating but it's much rarer when a call decides the game at the very end.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. I've watched a fair chunk of the Euro games and seen a couple of missed offside calls (don't mention the Holland goal, because that was a good call) but nothing really game-changing. Plus, some of those calls are very difficult to make, having to watch the ball release and the player on the front lines pretty much simultaneously.

The NBA officiating is absolutely atrocious and is ruining the game for me. Heck, the league even apologized for missed calls this year, not to mention the shadiness of some of the referees and how they sway with home teams or whatever is in the league's best interest. They really need to fix the officiating in this league or they are going to start to lose even more fans.

KT

I'm going to have to disagree with you ...

the ONLY reason the ratings were up this year is because it was Boston & LA if either of those teams was not there the ratings would not have been what they were

way to use speculation as facts!

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Glayde
There is an amount of flopping in both sports but there's one thing that's much different in my eyes.

I'm a casual fan, I enjoy watching the international soccer games, not so much the normal leagues, where the stakes arent as high. I just like the atmosphere and intensity between national teams, world cup etc.

What I dislike and this is what seperates it from basketball to the casual fan

- 2 out of the 3 games i saw so far this year in the euro2008, the game was decided in the last few minutes, on bad/questionable calls/penalties. I'm not talking about Turkey beating Czech, those were all legit goals I think. But just seeing game after game of bad off-sides calls or bad penalties or no calls in the box that basicly decide the game right there. Is a big turn-off for me.

And I'll say I get pretty annoyed with the NBA too on its officiating but it's much rarer when a call decides the game at the very end.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. I've watched a fair chunk of the Euro games and seen a couple of missed offside calls (don't mention the Holland goal, because that was a good call) but nothing really game-changing. Plus, some of those calls are very difficult to make, having to watch the ball release and the player on the front lines pretty much simultaneously.

The NBA officiating is absolutely atrocious and is ruining the game for me. Heck, the league even apologized for missed calls this year, not to mention the shadiness of some of the referees and how they sway with home teams or whatever is in the league's best interest. They really need to fix the officiating in this league or they are going to start to lose even more fans.

KT

I'm going to have to disagree with you ...

the ONLY reason the ratings were up this year is because it was Boston & LA if either of those teams was not there the ratings would not have been what they were

Took the words right out of my mouth, thanks.

KT

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Glayde
There is an amount of flopping in both sports but there's one thing that's much different in my eyes.

I'm a casual fan, I enjoy watching the international soccer games, not so much the normal leagues, where the stakes arent as high. I just like the atmosphere and intensity between national teams, world cup etc.

What I dislike and this is what seperates it from basketball to the casual fan

- 2 out of the 3 games i saw so far this year in the euro2008, the game was decided in the last few minutes, on bad/questionable calls/penalties. I'm not talking about Turkey beating Czech, those were all legit goals I think. But just seeing game after game of bad off-sides calls or bad penalties or no calls in the box that basicly decide the game right there. Is a big turn-off for me.

And I'll say I get pretty annoyed with the NBA too on its officiating but it's much rarer when a call decides the game at the very end.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. I've watched a fair chunk of the Euro games and seen a couple of missed offside calls (don't mention the Holland goal, because that was a good call) but nothing really game-changing. Plus, some of those calls are very difficult to make, having to watch the ball release and the player on the front lines pretty much simultaneously.

The NBA officiating is absolutely atrocious and is ruining the game for me. Heck, the league even apologized for missed calls this year, not to mention the shadiness of some of the referees and how they sway with home teams or whatever is in the league's best interest. They really need to fix the officiating in this league or they are going to start to lose even more fans.

KT

I'm going to have to disagree with you ...

the ONLY reason the ratings were up this year is because it was Boston & LA if either of those teams was not there the ratings would not have been what they were

way to use speculation as facts!

Oh give me a break, you know it's true. You think another Spurs/Pistons final would have gotten the same ratings? Please.

KT

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Oh give me a break, you know it's true. You think another Spurs/Pistons final would have gotten the same ratings? Please.

KT

no i don't know its true ... thats just the excuse that NBA haters keep using.

if that is why the finals had such high ratings ...

then why was the NBA playoffs ratings better as a whole?