Steve Rushin - Soccer Nazi

Dooley noted - If there is no protest within 20 minutes it will become part of the official record.

 

20 minutes? Won't take 20 seconds, but we tried...

 

Rushin had one worthy point (i.e., one more than usual).

Our incuriosity absolutely winds up damaging us in the interconnected, 21st-century world.

Tying that problem absolutely to soccer, however, would be the folly here.

 

Um, sorry, but I'd already dissented to Buck before you started your 30-minute clock.
No soup for you.

 

Too late - your dissent was before matter was up for vote.

Buck position is now part of the official sj record .

Tranlated to you columnist - stop effing telling us how we should conduct ourselves. We'll decide what we want to watch.

ESPN has found religion on soccer because they see a big payday -- nothing more.

 

They found a big pay day because people are interested.

Chicken before the egg, sir.

 

I haven't watched a second of it, but word is the TV ratings are coming in huge.

 

Anything will be bigger than previous because ESPN never televised it as they are now.

 

It's not just bigger than previous, though. It's bigger than other sports. The number is big. M 18-34 is really big.

 

Interesting statement since I've already posted how the last World Cup was shown...

They showed the games. They were just shown at about 3 and 5 in the morning. Then they had the "Game of the Day" shown later that night. This would be the "best" game of that morning, merely a replay.

Maybe you didn't pay attention to the last World Cup or ignored the previously pointing out how a statement like this would be. Both times, the Cup was shown live. Go back and check the ratings. It is the reason that every game is shown live now.

Oh and nevermind that the games are on during the day when most people that would be watching work.

 

As a whole, hockey has just as many fans as soccer (if not more) among ESPN's viewers. Yet, the Stanley Cup finals (a former ESPN property now being broadcast by OLN/NBC) is relegated to the backburner while we get All Soccer All the Time on SportsCenter. Not so coincidentally, ESPN/ABC is broadcasting the World Cup. Could there be a relationship there between the two?

 

Two points are covered here:

1. Soccer has probably quadruple the fanbase of hockey. It isn't even a comparison.

2. I'm sure it isn't a coincidence. But if no one was watching, ESPN/ABC would not put it forward as much. As an example, see the amount of MLS highlights.