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Thread: The Soccer Thread

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    God/dess Bob_Loblaw's Avatar
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    Default The Soccer Thread

    This could very easily become this quickest thread death in all of SW/SCJ. I'm dumbfounded why there isn't much interest in soccer in Canada & the US considering the sport enjoys the highest enrollment among all others while also being the most popular sport in the entire world. There's no other sport internationally that drums up as much national pride as soccer.

    Euro 2008 has begin with Portugal kicking off the tournament with a great play resulting in a goal against Turkey. Anyone else planning to watch the games?

    Day One Highlights: Portugal vs Turkey & Czech Republic vs Switzerland
    Last edited by Bob_Loblaw; 06-07-2008 at 03:33 PM. Reason: Edited link to highlights

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Soccer? ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

    What's next? Televised fishing?

    ( And I don't mean " The Most Dangerous Catch" , which is occasionally great. )
    "never trust a big butt and a smile"-- Bell Biv DeVoe

    If you're in your twenties and aren't a liberal, you have no heart. If you're in you're forties and aren't a conservative, you have no brain - Winston Churchill

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Oh jeez. My bf is super soccer man. He's European and a fantastic athlete. We get letters and calls all the time for him to come 'practice' w/ pro teams. But I cannot stand watching a soccer game unless he's in it! I dont' get it, but man it's on in our house non-stop. If he can't find a game on TV (which he usually can't) he streams it online.
    But enjoy your Euro thingy.

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    God/dess doc-catfish's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    There's a maxim that for a sport to become a nation's passion, it has to be played by that nation's working class. In the U.S. its tackle football. In Canada, its hockey. In the rest of the world, its soccer. One reason that I suspect, is that soccer requires far less equipment.

    Yes, soccer is played here in North America, in fact at the youth level, participation is bigger than its ever been, but culturally its more seen as a sport that upper-middle class suburban mommies take Junior to go play because they don't want to see him get tackled or body checked.
    Former SCJ now in rehab.

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Wake me when the World Cup starts, that's the only time I watch soccer.

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    God/dess Bob_Loblaw's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by doc-catfish View Post
    There's a maxim that for a sport to become a nation's passion, it has to be played by that nation's working class. In the U.S. its tackle football. In Canada, its hockey. In the rest of the world, its soccer. One reason that I suspect, is that soccer requires far less equipment.
    I dunno DC. I just don't think Americans care for international sports in general as evidenced by low ratings for the FIBA World Championships (basketball) or the World Baseball Classic. Both tournaments boasted pro players from the NBA and MLB yet no one seemed to care. The average American is quite egocentric when it comes to their sports IMO.

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob_Loblaw View Post
    I just don't think Americans care for international sports in general as evidenced by low ratings for the FIBA World Championships (basketball) or the World Baseball Classic.
    Well yeah, but baseball (forget that America's pasttime BS you hear) and basketball (outside NBA, NCAA hotbeds, and the inner city, nobody cares) aren't our nation's passion, football is.
    Former SCJ now in rehab.

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    Featured Member The_Oceans's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Well I'm in the United Kingdom, and with all the "home nations" (England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland) having not qualified I don't know how much of the tournament I'll be watching, if at all. (I am watching highlights of tonight's openers on BBC's Match of the Day at the moment.)

    The big drama though, at least in English circles, is whether Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (aka the best player in the world) is going to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid. On the one hand, he won the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League with Man Utd this year. On the other hand, his childhood dream was to play for Real, and they're prepared to pay a transfer fee of 75 million pounds (about $150M) just for his player rights, and a rumoured annual salary of 7.5 million pounds ($15M/year). Oh, to be young and talented...
    "Women, not girls, rule my world" - Prince

    "No parking on the dance floor" - Midnight Star

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    There are sports outside the US??? When did this start?

    I think it has more to do with culture. I grew up with football and baseball. Those are the primary sports I enjoy, because I understand them at a deeper level. It is more fun to watch in that case.

    I played competitive baseball for close to 20 years. I coached youth baseball for 5 years. There is more to the game than meets the eye. It may not have as much "action" as some other sports, but there is a lot more going on in the strategy department than most people realize.

    American football may include a lot of standing around, but when there is action it is REALLY good action. That is the draw to me.

    I don't enjoy watching most of the international events, because they are generally all-star games. I don't really watch the pro bowl either. I like the team aspect of those sports and the team strategy. There is not much team or strategy in all-star games. I find them boring. I will admit to watching the MLB Home Run Derby though. That is kind of cool.

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    Veteran Member rlams2000's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Soccer can be fun to watch.


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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    rlams. Now why would you pick that pic over this one?

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by crizgolfer View Post
    I don't enjoy watching most of the international events, because they are generally all-star games.
    The difference though is these teams play for national pride. In all-star games, no one really cares if the eastern or western conference wins. And in the case of soccer, these are not one off games. National teams play together over the course of a couple years in qualifying matches in order to make it into the big tournaments like the Euro or World Cups.

    I am a huge football fan myself. The stop and go nature of the game doesn't deter me at all. On the other hand, baseball is boring to me until the stretch drive to the playoffs. Not only is the game stop and go with little sustained action, there's just too many games... so many that games don't mean anything for most of the year. Baseball only hits my radar during the stretch drive to the playoffs.

    Back to soccer though... I think people would enjoy it a heck of a lot more if they could get that damn diving out of the game.

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    I watch a bit of the Germany / Poland match. I like international play but i don't care for the MLS here in the US. Most likely because we don't have a team in Detroit.

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    Veteran Member SeppeSai's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    My co-worker, who is from Mexico, hooked me into the Mexican soccer leagues and games on TV. I like to crack on some of the stuff I see on the field and in the interviews.

    It's an enjoyable enough game to watch, but I grew up on football, baseball, basketball, and hockey, so the game kind of lacks punch for me. Where I derive most of my enthusiasm is in the maneuvering that goes on i between games, like the selection of Sven-Goran Eriksson as the Mexican national team's coach.
    --



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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Go Holland! Kick ass performance by them yesterday.

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Do I really need to bump the soccer thread with this link?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPOV3LVRuVo&amp&fmt=6

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Germany vs Spain tomorrow in the Euro 2008 final. Any predictions? Anyone care? If I can't find anything else to do I'll probably watch. I'll pick Spain in a 1-0 barnburner.

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    I'm leaning towards Spain. I would have picked Germany but it's looking doubtful that Ballack will be healthy enough to play.

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Looks like Ballack is playing after all so I'm changing my pick to Germany. Seriously, are there any fans more rabid than soccer fans who don't sit on their hands at any point of a match?

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard_Head View Post
    Germany vs Spain tomorrow in the Euro 2008 final. Any predictions? Anyone care? If I can't find anything else to do I'll probably watch. I'll pick Spain in a 1-0 barnburner.
    Final Score: Spain 1, Germany 0

    Am I good or what?

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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Witch!

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    Senior Member GSWRD's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Soccer Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by doc-catfish View Post
    There's a maxim that for a sport to become a nation's passion, it has to be played by that nation's working class. In the U.S. its tackle football. In Canada, its hockey. In the rest of the world, its soccer. One reason that I suspect, is that soccer requires far less equipment.

    Yes, soccer is played here in North America, in fact at the youth level, participation is bigger than its ever been, but culturally its more seen as a sport that upper-middle class suburban mommies take Junior to go play because they don't want to see him get tackled or body checked.
    this is true, but I think I can safely say in general.... Americans are spoiled because we have the best and most entertaining domestic leagues for most sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, etc.) We are used to seeing The Best in the respective sport for as long as we can remember. I follow european soccer religiously because they have the best players/teams. I don't follow the MLS because the quality of play is so drastically shitty compared to top clubs in Europe. And that's why not many follow the MLS, because it's not one of the best leagues in the world.... far from it.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob_Loblaw View Post
    I dunno DC. I just don't think Americans care for international sports in general as evidenced by low ratings for the FIBA World Championships (basketball) or the World Baseball Classic. Both tournaments boasted pro players from the NBA and MLB yet no one seemed to care. The average American is quite egocentric when it comes to their sports IMO.
    I can't speak for baseball, but as for FIBA...It's because the best basketball players are from the U.S., I have no idea who is who on the (insert country with no NBA stars) national team. Why on earth would I want to watch a quality collection of NBA talent play a team that I could care less about? Yeah sure, Greece beat the U.S. bball team in FIBA but you take Greece's best players and put them through the 82-game NBA season and see if they are capable of making jaw-dropping plays that NBA stars do on a daily basis during the season. Not only that, but the international game is VERY different from the NBA game.... the NBA game is 2x more entertaining than international play.

    However, when it comes to soccer, there are many national teams with superstars.... Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, etc. and people are very psyched to watch these powerhouses face each other.

    Quote Originally Posted by doc-catfish View Post
    Well yeah, but baseball (forget that America's pasttime BS you hear) and basketball (outside NBA, NCAA hotbeds, and the inner city, nobody cares) aren't our nation's passion, football is.
    This might sound very ignorant, but I think it holds very true: most of our best athletes come from the middle-lower class/lower-class. They don't know about the glamors of the international soccer scene, because there is barely any tv coverage (if any) available to them. They know that if they become very good at basketball/football, they will be able get out and make a better life for themselves. So they spend all this effort and time, to perfect their trade in basketball, etc.

    Ask any aspiring young athlete from the ghetto, what they dream of being..... you'll hear "NBA star/NFL star". Kids from the ghetto (i.e. NYC) spend countless hours perfecting their jumpshot/handle.....etc. Just like how many poor brazillian kids spend 20 hours a day playing futbol in the streets and bouncing a soccer ball off a wall. Respectively, it's all they know of.

    "You either slang crack or got a wicked jumpshot"
    -The Wire

    It's quite funny actually, in the international soccer scene, most of the top echelon athletes from other countries play soccer. The U.S. fields their 9th string athletes and still manages to be competitive. Just imagine what the U.S. would be capable of if our very best played soccer.

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