2. Would that change if the U.S. ever managed to win a World Cup?
3. Is No. 2 possible without No. 1?
Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck ...
LUCK: I think…a Pied Piper would be a U.S. national team, you know, winning the World Cup. As we know, we love winners in this country. … It’s sort of ingrained in our society. So I don’t know if there’s one player that would be a Pied Piper that would bring everything with him, be a Tiger Woods. I do think our national team winning the World Cup would be unbelievable.
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| To improve their chances in the next World Cup, the American team hires a drama coach. |
40 comments:
People don't love soccer, because the game sucks.
Soccer is a great game. For children.
I wouldn't underestimate the power of what's called, in some circles, the "first-mover advantage." The market for our entertainment dollar is mature and pretty much one that is a closed system.
Baseball is big in Japan and cricket is big in India, but it didn't used to be.
See where I'm headed with this?
We're the world's only superpower.
Maybe that's because we're the one country that doesn't like soccer.
Maybe I was being a bit too subtle back there, a regular fault of mine, I freely admit.
So please let me make my meaning clear with this addition: Mexicans.
That is all.
Mexicans.
Baseball is to the world, and increasingly to our own youth, what soccer is to us.
PaddyO, Love the pretzel logic.
We weren't thrown out of every decent country in the world just to want back in.
I don't think the name of the sport helps either.
The name sucks.
"Love the pretzel logic."
That's what I'm best at!
As I was thinking more, and finally read the article and comments, I got to thinking of another reason: poverty.
Soccer is one of the most basic games to play. An open space and a ball is really all you need. Goals can be made with almost any marker. The rules are straightforward, even offsides is obvious to call even though it's a bit of an odd rule. Sure a huge nicely groomed field is nice, but all kids need is an open space and a ball to kick.
That's a big issue for most of the world, and even the places, like Europe, that are far from poverty did encounter some pretty big problems in the 20th century, with wars causing devastation of the environment. But they could always find a ball and an open space. And the open space can be small or large, it all works fine.
In America, we've never had a war on our soil (terrorists yes, war no). We are relatively wealthy, and so other sports that require more equipment (football) or specialized playing areas (basketball).
Baseball can be seen as simple, but getting enough people together to field, enough space to hit something that can fly far with a stick that doesn't break, etc. and so on, may be enough of a problem.
The world is poor, or caught in conflict, with present or historically suspect environment. But a ball, some goal markers, and a bit of open ground makes for a very easy game to play anywhere for anybody.
In other words, we like more complicated games because we are able to indulge even children in the playing of those games.
What are are (some of) the most legendary moments in US major sports?
In football, The Drive
In basketball, The Shot
In baseball, Fisk's (or Gibson's) Homer
What do they have in common? Last-minute heroics.
In soccer, nobody but the refs even knows when the last minute is elapsing.
Idiotic.
Also, God gave us arms. You can't use your hands and arms in soccer. So, that's a stupid rule.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Tonight it's England vs. Italy at 6:00 p.m. EST.
And we'll be starting things off right.
Life is good.
"OH, here comes the ball. I'll hit it with my head!"
Eventually, playing soccer will make you stupid.
The Dominicans are poor, but they're great at baseball and they suck at soccer.
What a great country.
The only good thing about playing soccer is that you could kick at the ball, miss, and kick someone in the nuts and get away with it.
Eventually, playing soccer will make you stupid.
There you have it... we now know for sure what a bad parent looks like ;)
Lem said...
I don't think the name of the sport helps either.
The name sucks
You think futbol is better?
When I was working overseas I tried to get interested in soccer as it was the only televised sport available.
Didn't work. It seemed to me to be a game of disorganization, ineffectiveness and failure.
If every NFL quarterback had the passing skills of Tim Tebow and an offensive line like last year's NY Giants, you would see something similar to a soccer offense. Let them use their hands and maybe it has a chance.
Also, I eagerly await the descent of the vulture concussion lawyers on the unprotected noggins of the soccer players.
Girls look good when playing soccer. As a result lots of girls take up soccer, and the phenomenon feeds on itself. A lot of boys, past a certain age, start looking at soccer as a girls' sport and feel inhibited about playing it. In high school many of the male soccer players are shaken down and bullied by the football players. Wedgies are a particular problem.
In my corner of the Midwest soccer gives Mexican and Laotian packing house workers something meaningful to fight about after the game, if they can wait that long.
What's really weird is that in my affluent, urban/suburban, true-blue part of the world, a huuuuge chunk of kids (boys & girls) play soccer in school. The county soccer organization bumper stickers are ubiquitous.
It does not seem to translate into support for professional soccer as the kids grow up. I have absolutely no idea why this is so, but it clearly is the case.
YH, a guy I know who's a youth soccer coach says kids like it bc. it's the only game that adults can't ruin for them.
My experience from being stationed three yrs in the UK in the 70s is that there is no duller game (save crickett) when the game is a low (or non) scoring bad one, but a tight game with many shots on goal is often pretty dam exciting. The problem (obviously) is that these are few and far between. But then I regard watching baseball akin to watching paint dry and watch it only during the playoffs. Nothing puts me to sleep on the couch quicker on a Sunday afternoon than putting a baseball game on the tube. And don't even get me started about golf on tv. Love to play, but MY GOD...
Soccer is hockey for men who can't skate.
I don't like soccer or hockey because of the constant string of broken plays. Most of soccer is played at midfield as teams just kick the ball back and forth.
Baseball, basketball, and football all have sustained offensive series. In basketball, most possessions result in at least a shot being attempted. In baseball, at least 3 batters will get a chance to get on base in an inning. In football, they have 3 downs to advance 10 yards.
I just watched 20 minutes of a World Cup game with maybe one shot attempted after a lot of back-and-forth and standing around at midfield.
Hey Joe, you get around! I was just listening to Johnny Cashs' "Hurt" and noticed your comment from six mos ago, lol..
I was just flipping through the sports channels and gave upon professional bowling. Then it dawned upon me. That's what's missing with soccer -- gutters.
Virgil, not sure what you are referring to. I don't remember what I did yesterday, let alone 6 months ago.
Yep Virgil - On a cold Sunday in the middle of winter - I love to watch golf thru my eyelids.
Playing Football is great. Loved the contact in HS. Biggest thrill of my life was blitzing and smearing the QB. Sadly, you can't play it when you get older.
Wish I'd been able to play Rugby - they have senior Rugby teams in England.
Soccer is a lot of running around. Watching it on TV is frankly boring.
Not Bob Costas boring, but almost that bad.
Americans aren't good with soccer because they lack the sense of finesse, teamwork and cooperation that it takes to play it well.
We're the world's only superpower.
No. We're an expired empire that's too thick to realize it.
I don't care that others like soccer, and I am not going to put it down. To each his own.
But the notion that people who don't see soccer's shining virtues are pitiable Neanderthals is just ridiculous.
It reminds me of the people who think they are more virtuous because they like to get up early.
YOU KIDS! GET OFF OF MY PITCH!
- Lem's Commentariat.
I don't think everyone gets it.
World doesn't like baseball = OK
USA doesn't like Soccer = Tragedy.
What's wrong with us?
"Americans aren't good with soccer because they lack the sense of finesse, teamwork and cooperation that it takes to play it well."
Ritmo = foreigner. It all makes sense now.
Good soccer is good and can be fun to watch. Most of the MLS is bad soccer, and trying to watch.
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