Frank Deford, USA-Today and others sound off about soccer

Re: Frank Deford sounds off about soccer

Mr Back,

I'm beyond your age bracket and I too am good with soccer. I'm speaking in generalities (and particularly among the sports media types I know). I think closed minds skew older.

And I think the generational divide will only because the numbers of kids today playing will be more open to watching/following later on.

YHS, etc

 

Re: USA Today: Why the United States doesn't take to soccer

I think what he meant, though, is that an incredibly large number of kids do play soccer but quit by adulthood.

 

Re: Frank Deford sounds off about soccer

Soccer's a fine sport. Our (American) sports are better. If the rest of the world grew up watching NFL, NBA, NCAA and MLB, they wouldn't go nutso over kickball.

Soccer is pre-industrial. Cheap and easy to play. Find a goat's bladder(who doesn't have one around the house), kick it around. Presto, a sport!

 

Op-ed: Even in high-definition, soccer is boring

Since we've had a lot of threads about the appreciation of soccer, I thought it was only fair that the opposing view be heard for once as well. This person actually thinks its boring.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/14935235.htm
Posted on Fri, Jun. 30, 2006
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Even in high-definition, soccer is boring

IF YOU HAVE been watching any of the World Cup in high definition, then you know, well, how pretty the field looks. You see it all — the chanting crowd, the players, the coaches — in crystal-clear images.

Unfortunately, HDTV doesn't make the games any more exciting.

Until now, I have refrained from poking fun at the World Cup because its such an easy target. But after No-Dozing my way through two games this week, I couldn't hold back any longer.

In one game, Italy and Australia spent 90-plus minutes kicking the ball around with no one coming close to scoring a goal. With 12 seconds remaining in injury time, Italy was awarded a penalty kick. The Italians made it and went on to win 1-0. They danced around as if they had pulled off the greatest victory of all time. I yawned and shook my head in amusement.

Then there was Ukraine against Switzerland. The two played to a scoreless tie before Ukraine won 3-0 in a shootout. That is kind of like having a basketball game end in a tie and then having each team shoot free throws to decide the winner.

I only could wonder how could soccer became the most popular sport in the world. Of course, I understand in many countries soccer is about the only sport they have, and we’re lucky in the United States to have such a variety of sports to follow. I also know playing soccer can be a lot more fun than watching. I discovered that when I played intramural soccer in college.Many of us remember when it was predicted soccer one day would replace football (our football) as America's most popular sport. That was nearly 40 years ago, and it hasn't happened, and it isn't going to happen.

There always will be a vocal group of supporters that continue to insist soccer is gaining huge ground in the United States. That group made itself heard earlier this week. Dave Aiken, director of operations at ABC affiliate WOLO, reported the station was swamped with phone calls Sunday when it pre-empted the first part of a World Cup match with a church service.

"I was really surprised at the number of calls and e-mails," Aiken said.

For those who believe soccer one day will be king, they are advised to check the ratings. ABC reports its World Cup games have averaged a 2.0 rating. That means 98 percent of this country is not watching.

 

Re: Op-ed: Even in high-definition, soccer is boring

You are kidding, right?

 

Re: USA Today: Why the United States doesn't take to soccer

Well, it's kind of a selective option there. Maybe a chance "to spend some quality time with his family" would be just as accurate.

 

Re: Op-ed: Even in high-definition, soccer is boring

Only fair that the opposing view be heard? Jesus Christ, Poin, there's like five anti-soccer threads on the first two pages alone.

I sincerely hope you're enjoying your hard-on.

 

Re: Op-ed: Even in high-definition, soccer is boring

You can really cut this shit out any time now.

 

Re: Op-ed: Even in high-definition, soccer is boring

I'm just saving any number of the soccer haters the time to create these threads because you know they are going to happen anyway.

 

Re: Op-ed: Even in high-definition, soccer is boring

They already have happened. Over and over again.

 

Re: Op-ed: Even in high-definition, soccer is boring

One of the esteemed moderators should lump all these into a "Running, all-purpose 'soccer sucks' thread."

 

Re: Op-ed: Even in high-definition, soccer is boring

I've got to admit, there's been a fair share of anti-soccer threads out there. Those voices have been heard clearly.

That being said, and my soccer dislike aside, one thing I do like are the chants of the crowd. Hearing several thousand voices do some of those nationalistic chants is pretty awesome.

If they could just do that at an NFL or MLB game.