Euro 2008 — Running Thread

Over on ESPN right now, there is a bitter argument pitting soccer fans vs. non-fans. Basically, it's a pissing contest to see which side will just up and admit that soccer sucks (or doesn't). What's worse is that the entire thing is happening on the comment board beneath a story about a Spanish fan dying in Madrid during the celebration.

I'd just like to thank everyone on this board for being normal and not just screaming SOCCER SUCKS if they don't like it. It's so much nicer dealing with adults...

 

Sergio Ramos is my man of the tournament simply for wearing this shirt during the postgame ...



That's Antonio Puerta's photo behind the medal with the words "Always with us."

 

Right. I can't remember where I saw it or heard it last night, but that was a fantastic gesture by Ramos.

 

Probably the biggest beef I have with soccer is that it's next to impossible for the casual fan to know who is who with the myriad of leagues, tournaments and competitions. A Houston talk show host was discussing the Dynamo and how they'll play DC United one day, then within a couple of months, will play in something like four or five different tournaments, yet none of them have a clear-cut connection to MLS.

 

I am not sure why that would matter. Unlike baseball or football, soccer is a world game. Playing teams outside of your league can be very exciting. There are different styles of play and tactics implemented.

If you want to follow a team (and the Dynamo are fantastic to follow since they are so good), learning who they are playing and why shouldn't be too difficult.

 

That's one thing I kind of like about soccer, though I'm still very much a rookie when it comes to being a soccer fan...

I like that the top-tier players in Europe get paid WAY more than any of the stars here do, but they really earn it. In the Premier League alone, those guys on Chelsea or Man U must have played something like 100 games this year (including regular season, UEFA qualifiers and national team games). Hockey and basketball teams do that too, and obviously baseball, but only hockey is anywhere near as physical as soccer.

 

I think that's one of the things that makes soccer so great, that teams play other teams from all over the world. I prefer to watch teams from different countires playing than I do watching them in league play. You get to see different levels and styles of soccer.

 

For a lot of Americans, though, it IS different. When they watch their beloved Brewers play, they never have to worry if it's for the CONCACAF (or whatever), the COPA Cup, Interleagua (I'm guessing on the spellings of these), etc. If the Brewers are playing, their fans know they're playing another MLB team. For most, interleague play is almost to the limit of their ability to stay on top of it.

Maybe that's an Ameri-centric view of it, but it is what it is. And I say this not as a criticism of soccer, but a theory on one reason why Americans don't take to it as much as the rest of the world.

 

In your case, maybe it is. However, you seem to be fairly on top of it already and, should you want to know more, I'm sure you would be inclined to look it up.

I don't say this as a criticism, but I think that the reason many Americans don't follow the sport is for other reasons besides the tournaments. I think the top reason is that the best players do not reside here. We like to think of ourselves as "the best" at just about everything. Thus, if we don't/aren't the best then it must be because "we don't care."

The idea of being a feeder team/league or of selling players to other better leagues is something that many Americans don't like nor understand.

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In other fun stuff...
Spain is celebrating on the plane. I like the Macarana by the flight attendants.

 

Pastor, I'm inclined to agree, but Alley does have a point. Almost everything about the European football system is different from American sports, from the scheduling to the leagues and the tournaments. I can see it being difficult for the casual fan.

Ultimately, I think MLS needs to go to a European schedule to be taken seriously worldwide, but that might cause them to lose exposure to the casual American soccer fan.

 

They traveled in their jerseys!?! Surely those were spares put on after a shower, and not the sweaty ones straight from the match.

 

I don't disagree on Alley's points at all. I'm sure, to him, those are his concerns. I was only addressing the larger scale of American support. Obviously, it waxes and wanes for a variety of reasons.

I’m not sure what you mean by a European schedule, though. Would you like them to play in the winter?