Orange slices for everyone, or the I Hate Soccer thread

[Piotr Rasputin]

Perhaps if a team weren't call a side, or a game a match, or a tie a draw, or a field a pitch, or a team that ties a game said to be level, etc., soccer would be tolerable. OK, it would still be hopelessly boring (90 minutes and four goals -- which is like a 59-59 game in football -- is boring, no matter how you slice it), but could it all be a little less pretentious?

The terms people use for the game in foreign countries are the terminology for those countries.

I do think it is pretentious for Americans to use the same terms, as if that shows some kind of knowledge of the game.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Pi -- that's exactly who I'm referring to. It's like the media here picking up on baseball terminology -- like "walk-off" -- a year or two after players start using it, then wear it out. But to hear every pious local high school coach refer to his players as "the boys" and practice as "training" is annoying. They're players, and it's practice.

It's even better when fans and media do the same.

 

[Huggy]

Pi -- that's exactly who I'm referring to. It's like the media here picking up on baseball terminology -- like "walk-off" -- a year or two after players start using it, then wear it out. But to hear every pious local high school coach refer to his players as "the boys" and practice as "training" is annoying. They're players, and it's practice.

It's even better when fans and media do the same.

My youngest brother, born and raised in Toronto, has been doing this ever since he became a soccer junkie when he met his wife, who is from Paisley, Scotland. He has picked up on the old man's fanatic support of Glasgow Celtic.

You talk to him and it's not a uniform, it's a "kit" or a "strip", it's not a jersey (and he falls for all the shirt they crank out to separate guys like him from their money), it's a "top", it's not a game but a "match" or a "fixture". My old man, who came here from Scotland in the late 50s, could say that shirt - complete with at times indecipherable Glaswegian accent - and it sounded fine. My brother just sounds like a pompous ass.

 

[Bubbler]

Perhaps if a team weren't call a side, or a game a match, or a tie a draw, or a field a pitch, or a team that ties a game said to be level, etc., soccer would be tolerable. OK, it would still be hopelessly boring (90 minutes and four goals -- which is like a 59-59 game in football -- is boring, no matter how you slice it), but could it all be a little less pretentious?

You are easily bothered you burk!

 

[TigerVols]

Hey look, the US played another big game today and....


NO ONE WON!

 

[JackReacher]

I hated on the World Cup, but the games -- at least today -- have been pretty damn good. That goal by Donovan was sick.

I've watched more soccer today than I have in the four years since I last covered it.

 

[spnited]

A 4:15 mile would still be dirt slow by college standards. The 1600 state champ here ran in 4:09. Got a full ride, too.

jersey State champ was 4:07.89 for 1,600. Top 12 were 4:19 or better.

 

[Football_Bat]

Why all the delight in the USA not winning?

 

[YGBFKM]

I was having trouble hearing the vuvuzelas today over all the crying the players were doing every time one of them hit the ground. I understand milking a situation in hopes of getting a call (happens in all sports), but the rate at which it happens in soccer and acting that would make Bill Shatner cringe is incredibly annoying. As for today's game, it was the perfect background for a workout -- long stretches where I didn't have to worry about losing focus, and just enough action/somewhat interesting commentary to fill many of my 60-second breaks.

 

[YGBFKM]

Why all the delight in the USA not winning?

Because the jingoistic soccer crap is nonsense. It's why so many countries hate America. We'll never learn.

 

[slappy4428]

Read this on al.com this morning in Gentry Estes's soccer blog -- and he's right.

This is why those in this country who don't normally follow soccer will never get on board. That's not really fair, since poor officating happens in all sports (Remember this past SEC football season?).

 

[slappy4428]

How's that analysis looking now, Brits?