Why the hell is soccer so popular?

[MisterCornell]

The better question is "why is American football so popular?" I came here when I was 9. I tried very hard to get into the sport, but I still think it's stupid. And the rest of the world seems to agree.

Soccer has a better flow than American football. American football has a lot of breaks, and just seems artificial, because so much of it revolves around rules.

 

[Ns1]

Well I'll write about it. I think it's boring as sht to watch. For 80% of the game they do nothing. The other 20% of the game is acceptable. I feel the same way about baseball.

Football are rugby are fun to watch cuz watching guys beat the sht out of each other is great fun

 

[yhelothar]

Soccer is actually called football in the rest of the world.
And football in the rest of the world is called american football.

 

These debates are always fun, because you have people on both sides arguing which is better, American Football or real football (Soccer.) I espically like the guys on here saying soccer is for pansies, in which case I will gladly let them play even a high school match and let them see how "pansy" soccer players are. Just because the soccer players dont go around with a walk like they have a giant stick up their ass doesn't mean they won't bring the pain on the field. I'm sorry the American Football players on these boards feel some sort of animosity towards their soccer counterparts. Having played soccer for 17 years of my life now, I can proudly say that both sports require certain physical characteristics that are...opposed to each other.

For one, Soccer requires more stamina and flexability than football. Sure, a football player will win in a contest of sheer strength, but I have yet to see a football player that could outlast me on any length run, regardless of speed. I have also yet to see a football player be able to stretch further with me and still maintain power. Does that make me a better athlete? By no means, but it does make me a different kind of athlete that I believe is more well rounded than many others. Brag all you want about how you can hurt someone on the field, but seeing as how I was never once outran on the field, nor hurt, I am going to say you can hurt what you cant catch. And when you do catch me, be prepared for a battle, because if anyone knows how to bring a fight when its needed, its a soccer player.

 

[0roo0roo]

legs will never be as accurate or dexterous as hands.

 

[GiLtY]

because of this

--GiLtY

 

[MrCodeDude]

Speaking strictly about youth: Soccer is relatively cheap (all you need are shin guards and cleats), it gives kids an equal opportunity to participate, it's pretty fast paced and you don't need a lot of people to have fun with it. 3v3 games with hockey nets are incredibly fun.

 

[sandorski]

Soccer really isn't that popular, but Football(where they actually use their feet to any significant degree) is.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
(American) Football- For real men in the US

Soccer- for pansies in the US

Rugby- for real men in Europe

(European) football aka soccer- for pansies in Europe

Keep in mind that I used to play soccer, but that was before I started working out, discovered Football and became a Man.

You've been trolling this thread. No offense but I doubt you can play soccer, and even if you once did play it, you most likely sucked ass at it. And anyone who thinks soccer isn't physical is playing REC.

Oh... and incase you don't know what REC is, it stands for recreational league. It is what people put their kids in and basically every kid gets in regardless of whether they can play or not.

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: FallenHero
These debates are always fun, because you have people on both sides arguing which is better, American Football or real football (Soccer.) I espically like the guys on here saying soccer is for pansies, in which case I will gladly let them play even a high school match and let them see how "pansy" soccer players are. Just because the soccer players dont go around with a walk like they have a giant stick up their ass doesn't mean they won't bring the pain on the field. I'm sorry the American Football players on these boards feel some sort of animosity towards their soccer counterparts. Having played soccer for 17 years of my life now, I can proudly say that both sports require certain physical characteristics that are...opposed to each other.

For one, Soccer requires more stamina and flexability than football. Sure, a football player will win in a contest of sheer strength, but I have yet to see a football player that could outlast me on any length run, regardless of speed. I have also yet to see a football player be able to stretch further with me and still maintain power. Does that make me a better athlete? By no means, but it does make me a different kind of athlete that I believe is more well rounded than many others. Brag all you want about how you can hurt someone on the field, but seeing as how I was never once outran on the field, nor hurt, I am going to say you can hurt what you cant catch. And when you do catch me, be prepared for a battle, because if anyone knows how to bring a fight when its needed, its a soccer player.

agreed

by their logic football should a pansy sport and World's Strongest man or maybe Pride Fighting / UFC should be the only "real" man sports because those people can take hits :roll:

 

[CtK]

soccer is just soooo boring
watching them kick the ball around for 2 hours is not fun
and is there out of bounds?!?!?!
i see them kicking the ball over the out of bounds lines but then kicking it back in??

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: CtK
soccer is just soooo boring
watching them kick the ball around for 2 hours is not fun
and is there out of bounds?!?!?!
i see them kicking the ball over the out of bounds lines but then kicking it back in??

I played soccer starting when I was about 17 for about 4 years straight. Its fun to play but incredibly boring for me to watch. Its like what the poster above said. You can watch the game for hours without anyone scoring. I gave up on the world cup after watching 2 games.

 

[Tommunist]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: CtK
soccer is just soooo boring
watching them kick the ball around for 2 hours is not fun
and is there out of bounds?!?!?!
i see them kicking the ball over the out of bounds lines but then kicking it back in??

I played soccer starting when I was about 17 for about 4 years straight. Its fun to play but incredibly boring for me to watch. Its like what the poster above said. You can watch the game for hours without anyone scoring. I gave up on the world cup after watching 2 games.

yeah - watching basketball players run back and forth down the court and take turns putting the ball in the hoop is much more exciting b/c there are big numbers involved

sports i enjoy watching: soccer, baseball, sometimes hockey

 

Originally posted by: CtK
soccer is just soooo boring
watching them kick the ball around for 2 hours is not fun
and is there out of bounds?!?!?!
i see them kicking the ball over the out of bounds lines but then kicking it back in??

It is difficult to watch unless you understand the game. I love watching the play develop and the runs that are made by the pros. I look for the formations and see how each position interacts to the ball and other players.

BTW, the ball is not out of bounds until it is fully across the line. If its on the line, its still in play.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: skace

You've been trolling this thread. No offense but I doubt you can play soccer, and even if you once did play it, you most likely sucked ass at it. And anyone who thinks soccer isn't physical is playing REC.

Oh... and incase you don't know what REC is, it stands for recreational league. It is what people put their kids in and basically every kid gets in regardless of whether they can play or not.

I've been fooling around with people a bit, yes. And I'm built more like a soccer player than a linebacker. Not that I want to be, but that's just genetics for you. I'm 5'10, 183 right now, pretty thin. Sure, I'd like to be 6'4 250, but that isn't going to happen.

I have more endurance than brute strength, for the above mentioned reason. I'll play soccer, it's fun to play. I do like football better, though. I can't watch soccer, though, as I find ti boring to watch. I also played tennis on the varsity HS team but I can't watch tennis on TV, either.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: mchammer187

by their logic football should a pansy sport and World's Strongest man or maybe Pride Fighting / UFC should be the only "real" man sports because those people can take hits :roll:

I play a rare form of soccer where you have to throw huge stones over walls and people can punch you in the face/put you in submission moves while you're doing it. It's the manliest of all manly sports, and I'm proud to say I play it.

If you believe that one, I'll tell you another.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Yeah, I'm quite intimidated by a guy who has a post count of almost 5400 in six months. I'm sure you're a physical specimen not to be trifled with. :roll:

How about you post a picture of yourself so I can see who I'm dealing with? You talk a big game, let's at least see you back it up somewhat. Yes, I guess you can say I'm calling you out on this one.

Talk is cheap, let's see what kind of shape you're in.

 

[manohartvs]

Originally posted by: CtK
soccer is just soooo boring
watching them kick the ball around for 2 hours is not fun
and is there out of bounds?!?!?!
i see them kicking the ball over the out of bounds lines but then kicking it back in??

You seem to know nothing about the game. So what you just said is absolute bull crap. Even I dont enjoy watching little kids play. Kicking the ball around??? Are you out of your mind buddy?

 

[manohartvs]

Check this out...The Scorpion Save

Try googling Higuita's 'scorpion kick'.
You can see this video too and tell me what you think of it.

 

[MadPeriot]

Haven't you seen Shaolin Soccer??? its coool mannnn...

 

[AntMan530]

i think soccer is popular because lots of kids can participate.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Yeah, I'm quite intimidated by a guy who has a post count of almost 5400 in six months. I'm sure you're a physical specimen not to be trifled with. :roll:

How about you post a picture of yourself so I can see who I'm dealing with? You talk a big game, let's at least see you back it up somewhat. Yes, I guess you can say I'm calling you out on this one.

Talk is cheap, let's see what kind of shape you're in.

^Wow, silence after that. Guess he can't back it up.

 

[archiloco]

soccer can be very violent, especially in free kicks/penalty kicks where the ball can be kicked at 80-90mph...... recent example in gold cup where mexico has one guy who can really spank that ball, during a free kick the ball hit a guy on the head who tried to stop it, and was knocked unconsious. it was insane! that's why they all grab their crotch and face when they are trying to stop the ball on the free kicks.

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: mchammer187

by their logic football should a pansy sport and World's Strongest man or maybe Pride Fighting / UFC should be the only "real" man sports because those people can take hits :roll:

I play a rare form of soccer where you have to throw huge stones over walls and people can punch you in the face/put you in submission moves while you're doing it. It's the manliest of all manly sports, and I'm proud to say I play it.

If you believe that one, I'll tell you another.

i don't believe it but

i don't have a problem believing that YOU believe it

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: Jzero
The only reason soccer is not the #1 watched sport in the US is because TV networks don't want to carry a game where you can't show 30 seconds of advertising for every 10 seconds of game play.

Damn straight, only cable and the local Spanish stations carry the games. It's all about the $$$, not the quality. The only time I can ever recall seeing a soccer game on the networks was when the US hosted the World Cup (1994 I think?), and even then they only had the quarter-finals and up.