Soccer and Global Warming Legislation Explained: Un-American

[American X]

While watching some of the Confederations Cup final on Sunday, it occurred to me why soccer has never truly resonated with a wide audience in America – because they do not use their arms. The purpose of the game is to advance the ball up the field and place it in the opponent’s goal by coordinated kicking amongst the players on one side. Only in two limited circumstances is the use of hands and arms allowed – by the goalie and inbounding. Otherwise, half of a player’s body is rendered useless in the game. The chest and head are also occasionally used, but it is a sport performed almost exclusively with the lower half of the body.

An American sees the aim of the sport, scoring goals by moving the ball and putting it in the opponent’s net, and sees a foolish failure to use an obvious natural ability. The most direct way to achieve this goal is to pick up the ball and run it into the goal. Better yet, the members of your team could prevent the members of the other team from impeding your progress toward this goal. This sport denies a fundamental characteristic which separates us from lower species – the dexterity allowed by opposable thumbs. Not only is soccer against nature, it is also Un-American - seeking to achieve its ends through unnatural and inefficient means when a direct manner fully using natural human capability is obvious.

Likewise, it is the same fundamental underlying characteristic which makes the global warming legislation currently under consideration repulsive - proposing to drastically (and perversely) restrict how we develop and use our abundant natural resources. At least soccer has a clear purpose. The true purpose of global warming legislation is intentionally disguised, but the clear result will be a massive premium on our use of energy in order to appease a self-indulgent fantasy of saving the planet. How much will prices necessarily skyrocket – 20%, 50%, double, or triple? It raises question what is the premium on energy we currently pay due to the oppressive tax and regulatory burden. How much more affordable could energy be today – 20% less, 50% less, a third of the cost?

Lack of arm use alone is antithetical, but the additional factor which makes soccer unappealing to the American mind is the restraint on individual excellence through the offsides penalty. In the rare instance in a soccer match when the individual player breaks out from the middle and has the opportunity to employ all his skill one-on-one against the goalie, play is stopped and the individual is prevented from scoring. In an apparently obvious situation for displaying individual superiority, the player is artificially restricted and is forced to score only through collective effort. Rather than allow a full display of capability, the player on a breakaway is penalized for seeking to achieve.

An American sees the natural bounty before him and strives to properly and efficiently put it to best use. He seeks only opportunity, free from unreasonable and purposeless restraint. Contributions to general welfare and security are willingly given in order to protect a system in which each individual can pursue his ends as he best sees fit. He rejects heightened costs and lessened opportunity for no apparent legitimate purpose. The American simply wants to labor, create, and produce without being penalized for offsides.

Global Warming has been called the new religion, but it is more properly called a cult because in the end if this legislation is enacted it is national suicide. When future historians describe the downfall of the American regime, we will be the country that did not use its arms.

[DC Muskie]

Jesus

......

[XUglow]

Jesus

......

I couldn't have said that better myself.

[golfitup]

I am now dumber for having read that.

And by the way, last i checked there is offsides in football...

[Kahns Krazy]

I agree with your point totally, which is.... what exactly?

[XUglow]

Look, Ma! No arms...

http://blogwaybaby.com/Black%20Knight,%20No%20Arm-1.jpg

[Stonebreaker]

Amex hit it on the head. Just like a soccer player would.

[Strange Brew]

Yesssssss, a chance to debate DC again on the (lack of) merits of soccer. Hence, I must admit that I watched the Brazil choke job.

Things that would help soccer in America.

1) Less girly flops. Like that Euro trash UMass (i think) hoops player
2) Smaller field, less players. similar to hockey (i.e. indoor soccor). Offense/Defense changes faster leading to more shots (more shots. Never a bad thing)
3) A clock that winds down, not up and noooo stoppage time. Seriously, no one, including the players knows when the game is REALLY over.

4) Sharpened spikes. Americans love the possibility of a good gash.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I am now dumber for having read that.

And by the way, last i checked there is offsides in football...

That is a really dumb comeback.

It is a completely different penalty.

Soccer and hockey are the only two sports where you get penalized for beating the other team down the field/court/ice.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I also dont understand the substituting. Why shouldnt a player be allowed back in after being taken out?

Dont say baseball does the same thing too because that is different. You could pinch hit for a bad hitter every time. It makes sense in baseball.

In soccer those guys get tired running up and down the field for 90 minutes. Why shouldnt a player be allowed to take a few minute breather and then come back in? That happens in every other sport. I really dont get that one.

[Strange Brew]

Look, Ma! No arms...

http://blogwaybaby.com/Black%20Knight,%20No%20Arm-1.jpg

Well done with the quote and the new avitar. +1

[BiggieXU]

Yesssssss, a chance to debate DC again on the (lack of) merits of soccer. Hence, I must admit that I watched the Brazil choke job.

Things that would help soccer in America.

1) Less girly flops. Like that Euro trash UMass (i think) hoops player


I agree about the flops, they suck. But have you watched Xavier's defense in the past couple years? X never goes for blocks but tries to take charges, it's kind of the same thing.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I agree about the flops, they suck. But have you watched Xavier's defense in the past couple years? X never goes for blocks but tries to take charges, it's kind of the same thing.

Except basketball players get up afterward and dont roll around on the ground fro 20 minutes pretending to be hurt just to get up sprinting right after.

[DC Muskie]

Except basketball players get up afterward and dont roll around on the ground fro 20 minutes pretending to be hurt just to get up sprinting right after.

Have you ever been hacked on the leg? No? Well then there you go.

[DC Muskie]

Can we please stop talking about how Un-American soccer is and what needs to do to be more popular with people who have absolutely no interest in following the sport?

Start a thread on cricket. Or ping Pong. Something that isn't so "Jump The Shark" type orginality.

Choke job against Brazil? Are you kidding me? We have no players that play in the Champions League. Brazil has guys who weren't called up for the national team that play in that League.

Just stop it already. We know there are many people who don't like soccer. Turn the channel. Focus your energy somewhere, cause quite frankly no one gives a shit.

[XUglow]

Soccer and hockey are the only two sports where you get penalized for beating the other team down the field/court/ice.

I am certainly not a huge soccer fan, but you are wrong about this one. Just because the play in soccer is fluid doesn't mean that rules are drastically different. All players must be in an onsides position when a play starts in football and in soccer. In soccer, at least, you do get to mingle with the defense, but you cannot be offsides when a play begins. In football, you don't have the opportunity to be behind the defense when the play starts and that seems to be fine with everyone.

In soccer, the defense controls the position of the line of scrimmage. There is a lot of strategy involved with how and where you play that line.

[DC Muskie]

In soccer, the defense controls the position of the line of scrimmage. There is a lot of strategy involved with how and where you play that line.

But people who hate soccer want soccer to change so they can see more scoring, thereby destroying the entire point of soccer.

Pesonally I think golf is boring to watch. It's one man's game against the course. But I wouldn't want to change the entire game just so I get more excitement out of it. Or change the entire dynamic.

[xubrew]

i never understood the whole pro/anti soccer arguments. people who don't like soccer go out of their way to come up with a laundry list as to why. why is that?? volleyball, softball, track & field, gymnastics, swimming, cycling and la crosse aren't main stream sports either, yet people aren't going out of their way to bash those.

at the same time, i never understood why many soccer fans felt the need to compare soccer to football and basketball.

i love soccer. i know it's not a main stream sport and probably never will be, but i'm fine with that. i think that pointing out that it's not the top sport is really really stupid. i hate nsync, the backstreet boys, american idol, and the like. i just don't know what to say to a person that says "why don't you like them?? those are the #1 bands/shows in america." well, so what. that doesn't mean everyone likes it, and for that matter it's hardly evidence that they don't suck.

the united states didn't choke against brazil anymore than xavier choked against pitt, ohio state or duke in their ncaa tournament losses. it's not a fair statement. in fact, it's quite a stupid statement. the usa has a very good team. in fact it's comparable to xavier basketball. there are over 200 countries and only 32 make the world cup. the ratio is about the same (less, actually) as the number of teams that make the ncaa basketball tournament. we're not elite like brazil, italy, spain, etc, but we're good enough to say we belong on the field, and we do have our share of big wins and great showings in major tournaments.....just like xavier does in basketball. saying the usa sucks at soccer is like saying xavier sucks at basketball because they've never won it all, or even been to the final four. well, we've made tremendous progress over the years and we're getting there.

as dc said, just change the channel. most people here probably don't watch much volleyball, but at the same time they don't feel the need to talk about how much it sucks and attempt to put down everyone else that does like it. why do this for soccer then?? i for one don't like the nba at all. i haven't even watched an entire game start to finish in at least a couple of years. however, i don't so much care if other people watch it. i think sitting around and coming up with a list of all the reasons i hate it and spouting it off every time someone even so much as brings up the nba would be stupid. just sayin'...

[DC Muskie]

To say that USA soccer is the same as Xavier basketball is like saying me and Glow pick up the same women.

It's simply not true.

USA is not a very good team. We play in a horrible confederation, one that let's four countries into the World Cup. We should be World Cup qualifiers every time. We are on a pretty good winning streak.

However we've had two good runs in major tournaments. One being the 2002 World Cup and this past week in the Confederations Cup. That's it.

We lack depth, we don't develop defensive players, and our own country's major league isn't of great quality.

We are a decent team capable of making runs, but rarely do we ever show we belong with te elite programs.

I I had to bet what would happen first...Xavier making a Final Four or the USA making the World Cup Semi-Finals, I would pick Xavier every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[xubrew]

do you really think it's that much of a stretch?? xavier has had two runs to the elite eight, and has been to four sweet sixteens (all since 1990). the usa has been to the knock-out round twice (and made the quarterfinals once), and to the finals of the confederations cup (all since 1990). i just always thought of the two as being about on the same plain.

the u20s made the semis. i know that's not quite the same thing by any means, but it's a sign that we have a lot of good young players. you may look at that in a similiar way you look at future recruiting for basketball.

having said all that, i really don't like comparing basketball to soccer. the only reason i did it is to make a point that it's not fair to say that we choked. and yeah, xavier making the final four is a much safer bet. if the usa fails to do it this time around, they have to wait four more years for another chance. xu will have played in four ncaa tournaments (hopefully) in that time span.

[GoMuskies]

The thesis of this thread is dumber than soccer (which is saying something).

[GoMuskies]

Except basketball players get up afterward and dont roll around on the ground fro 20 minutes pretending to be hurt just to get up sprinting right after.

You must have missed the Temple game this year. That big clown from Temple DEFINITELY grew up playing soccer!

[DC Muskie]

do you really think it's that much of a stretch?? xavier has had two runs to the elite eight, and has been to four sweet sixteens (all since 1990). the usa has been to the knock-out round twice (and made the quarterfinals once), and to the finals of the confederations cup (all since 1990). i just always thought of the two as being about on the same plain.

the u20s made the semis. i know that's not quite the same thing by any means, but it's a sign that we have a lot of good young players. you may look at that in a similiar way you look at future recruiting for basketball.

having said all that, i really don't like comparing basketball to soccer. the only reason i did it is to make a point that it's not fair to say that we choked. and yeah, xavier making the final four is a much safer bet. if the usa fails to do it this time around, they have to wait four more years for another chance. xu will have played in four ncaa tournaments (hopefully) in that time span.

Our under 20's have always performed well, but look at Freddy Adu. He can't get off the bench for his club team, much less makethe pitch for the national team. We have been targeting the 2010 as our breakout year, and a gift and three well played halves of soccer isn't going to change us into a consistent contender.

The Confeerations Cup has oly been around for what 16 years? We've beaten Brazil once, Spain once, England once.

Xavier has done really well the last four years in out of conference play, the US not so much. Xavier has been underappreciated, the US has earned it yet. The US plays in the MCC of World Soccer, and if we get a crappy draw, see 1998, 2006 WC, we ain't making the knockout round.

[xubrew]

The Confeerations Cup has oly been around for what 16 years? We've beaten Brazil once, Spain once, England once

i'm not entirely sure about all of the specifics, but i think it goes back as far as the 1980s, but it's only been in it's modern format since the late 1990s. back then it used to be every two years, so i guess it's only been in it's current format since 2005, but they've been inviting all the confederation champions since the 1990s. the way i understand it is that they didn't want it to overlap other major confederation tournaments like copa america or the euro cup. at first, teams would actually turn down the confederations cup to participate in one of those...at least that's the way i understood it.

i like the current format now where there is one major tournament every summer. world cup, then copa america, then the euro cup, then the confederations cup. none are as big as the world cup of course, and the euro championshipis probably generate more overall interest than the confederations cup, but considering it is a major with all the confederation champiolns and fifa appears to be pushing for it to grow, i still think making the championship game is a pretty big deal.

i couldn't agree with you more about mls. overall i think it has been an asset, but it truly is the sun belt of the club leagues when it comes to fifa. i was really upset back in 2007 when we were invited to be in copa america, but could not put a strong team on the field due to the fact that it was not a fifa tournament or our own confederation's tournament. therefore, the mls teams (and the european teams that our guys played on) had the ability to stop them from being called up.....and did. as a result, we were pretty much bushwhacked down in south america, and probably won't be invited back anytime soon. they were reportedly dissapointed with us for not taking it more seriously.

[Kahns Krazy]

i never understood the whole pro/anti soccer arguments. people who don't like soccer go out of their way to come up with a laundry list as to why. why is that?? volleyball, softball, track & field, gymnastics, swimming, cycling and la crosse aren't main stream sports either, yet people aren't going out of their way to bash those.
...

Hmm. Maybe it has something to do with the respective fans of those sports. I've never had a track and field fan talk down to me for not being a fan the way that soccer fans love to do.

[xubrew]

Hmm. Maybe it has something to do with the respective fans of those sports. I've never had a track and field fan talk down to me for not being a fan the way that soccer fans love to do.

i'm not going to say that there is nothing to this, but in the threads about soccer on the front page here, no one who likes soccer initially went out of their way to bash other sports. just look at the start of this thread. it was started with the sole purpose of bashing soccer. that attitude is pretty par for the course.

i don't care that people don't like soccer. i like a lot of things that probably aren't considered main stream. i honestly don't really care that people bash it. i just never figured out why. to be fair, i don't know why so many soccer fans get so worked up whenever it's accurately and correctly pointed out that soccer is not a major sport in the united states. it's not, and it probably never will be. it's just that it seems like whenever people who are fans want to talk about it someone will go out of their way to talk about how much they think it sucks.

[DC Muskie]

Hmm. Maybe it has something to do with the respective fans of those sports. I've never had a track and field fan talk down to me for not being a fan the way that soccer fans love to do.

Track and field is so UnAmerican. Why don't they take a break in between running like other sports do. And you only get to cheer once, before there is a long break and the races are always short.

Take that track and field fan.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Have you ever been hacked on the leg? No? Well then there you go.

I ruptured my achilles and was on the ground for less time then some of the soccer players I have seen.

[DC Muskie]

I ruptured my achilles and was on the ground for less time then some of the soccer players I have seen.

Well, aren't you special?

[D-West & PO-Z]

Well, aren't you special?

I knew a reply like this was coming. The point of that comment wasnt to act like some tough guy. The point is, and most soccer fans I have talked to agree, that the flopping in soccer and rolling around for 5mins is ridiculous when that same player gets up after the act and is back in a dead sprint.

You asked me if I have ever been hacked in the leg, like no one has ever been hit in the leg except soccer players. That question/comment was dumb.

[DC Muskie]

I knew a reply like this was coming. The point of that comment wasnt to act like some tough guy. The point is, and most soccer fans I have talked to agree, that the flopping in soccer and rolling around for 5mins is ridiculous when that same player gets up after the act and is back in a dead sprint.

You asked me if I have ever been hacked in the leg, like no one has ever been hit in the leg except soccer players. That question/comment was dumb.

Most people who have never played or play at the highest level of soccer have ever been hacked on the legs running at full sprint. I'm not sure how you ruptured your achilles, but I'd bet it wasn't from the leg of another player at full speepd. You wanted to know why they don't have breaks, well have you ever stoped and wondered that lying on the ground gives people and their teammates the opportunity to not only set up the set play, but give guys a break? I've seen guys carted off on stretchers , only to come back and be able to play. I don't consider them pussies.

You are basically taking a very small amount of circumstances and making a general comment on the play. It would be like me saying football guys who dance after making a tackle after a five yard gain define most of the sport of football.

Soccer has taken great steps to eliminate the art of the flop, or diving. The premise is stragetic, and while always the best method of competing, it certainly isn't as overwhleming as you and your soccer friends think.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Most people who have never played or play at the highest level of soccer have ever been hacked on the legs running at full sprint. I'm not sure how you ruptured your achilles, but I'd bet it wasn't from the leg of another player at full speepd. You wanted to know why they don't have breaks, well have you ever stoped and wondered that lying on the ground gives people and their teammates the opportunity to not only set up the set play, but give guys a break? I've seen guys carted off on stretchers , only to come back and be able to play. I don't consider them pussies.

You are basically taking a very small amount of circumstances and making a general comment on the play. It would be like me saying football guys who dance after making a tackle after a five yard gain define most of the sport of football.

Soccer has taken great steps to eliminate the art of the flop, or diving. The premise is stragetic, and while always the best method of competing, it certainly isn't as overwhleming as you and your soccer friends think.

As if it matters how an achilles is ruptured?

I am not talking about guys who legitimately get smashed in the leg, I have seen some brutal clips of guys getting hit hard in the legs. I'm talking about the guys who barely get touched or not at all and put on a whole freaking show. It happens fairly often. I do think that it is more International players and not as much America players.

Would you rather see those guys role around for 5 minutes or let the freely sub? Seems like a pretty easy fix to me.

Also nowhere did I call anyone a pussy. Just dramatic.

[DC Muskie]

As if it matters how an achilles is ruptured?

You're the one who brought it up. I'm sure if you weren't running around for about 40 minutes, you were able to get right up from it. Doesn't it matter then when and how a guy gets clipped? If I get knocked to the ground in the first 5 minutes I'm more likely to get up quicker then say after 88 minutes.


It happens fairly often.

It simply does not. Sorry.



Would you rather see those guys role around for 5 minutes or let the freely sub? Seems like a pretty easy fix to me.

How about they don't roll around and don't sub? That's the idea behind the sport. You don't need to sub freely, because that's not how it is set up when you get to the highest level. You want to watch subs coming in and out, watch rec soccer on Sunday with guys with beer guts.


Also nowhere did I call anyone a pussy. Just dramatic.

Then what are you saying? That international players who lay on the ground and roll around only to get up moments later aren't pussies? What's your point then?

[murray87]

Getting back to the original post by American X, he nails it exactly right. This cap & tax travesty (along with the impending Obamacare) is going to drive this once great nation into the ground. Call, fax & email your senators today and ask them to oppose this moronic legislation.

Happy Independence Day!!

[xubrew]

I am not talking about guys who legitimately get smashed in the leg, I have seen some brutal clips of guys getting hit hard in the legs. I'm talking about the guys who barely get touched or not at all and put on a whole freaking show. It happens fairly often. I do think that it is more International players and not as much America players

how do you feel about players in basketball who flop to the ground trying to draw a charge?? you see players flop in basketball too. a lot of the guys that are knocked down in basketball while drawing a charge, or trying to draw a foul, would be able to stay on their feet if they really wanted to. sometimes in basketball, when a player is fouled and is "hurt" they're not really hurt. they just want someone else to shoot the freethrows. i know that rule is being modified this year, but that's not the point. it's one aspect of the game that needs to be addressed, but that doesn't mean basketball sucks.

i'm not saying you're wrong that the flopping needs to be put in check, but i am saying that it's more gamesmanship than anything else. they're trying to draw a foul, and give their team a little time to rest. i don't like that there is as much flopping as there is, but they are trying to stop a lot of it. it's one aspect of the game, just one, and it isn't even a predominant one.

i get that you don't like soccer. i'm not saying you have to like it. i don't care if you like it or not. what you're doing is arguing that it is inferior, and you're pointing to little, petty aspects to prove your point. that's a lot different than simply stating that you don't like it. i don't know why so many people feel the need to come up with a thesis as to why soccer sucks. i could do the same thing for just about any sport, but i would find that to just be silly. why can't you just say you don't like it and leave it at that?? just because you don't like it doesn't mean it sucks. it just means you don't like it.

[GoMuskies]

Actually, I don't like it because it sucks. So there.

[xubrew]

Actually, I don't like it because it sucks. So there.

well, it sucks, but it's like a hot chick that sucks, and has nice lips and is really good at it and has sucking down to a pure art form. therefore, it is your loss.

[golfitup]

I just get sick of defending a sport that almost every other part of the world loves. One of the exceptions of course being here in America. If you didn't get any sense of national pride from the game on Sunday, especially after we went up 2-0, then I don't know what to tell you...

At what point does national pride finally trump hatred or apathy toward the one sport so many other people in the world care about? For a lot of people in this country, sadly, that point never comes.

[GoMuskies]

I just get sick of defending a sport that almost every other part of the world loves. One of the exceptions of course being here in America. If you didn't get any sense of national pride from the game on Sunday, especially after we went up 2-0, then I don't know what to tell you...

At what point does national pride finally trump hatred or apathy toward the one sport so many other people in the world care about? For a lot of people in this country, sadly, that point never comes.

Well, I get the same sense of national pride from the soccer team faring well in international competition as I do from the national water polo team faring well. Which is to say some, but mostly I don't care either way.

I think the fact that people in other countries care about it is irrelevant. They mostly don't care about football (and barely care about basketball), so their opinions are taken with a great deal of salt.

[xubrew]

Well, I get the same sense of national pride from the soccer team faring well in international competition as I do from the national water polo team faring well. Which is to say some, but mostly I don't care either way.

I think the fact that people in other countries care about it is irrelevant. They mostly don't care about football (and barely care about basketball), so their opinions are taken with a great deal of salt.

i agree completely.

what i don't understand are two things....

1. people will bash soccer, and go out of their way to do so, but not water polo or other sports like it. why is that?? if this thread was about water polo and not soccer, most of the people who are bashing soccer wouldn't have even responded.

2. why do soccer fans always feel the need to argue that it's better than the mainstream sports?? i like soccer, but i also like football and basketball. i don't like participating in a discussion about how one is so much better than the other, and i don't understand why we see so many of those discussions.

[D-West & PO-Z]

You're the one who brought it up. I'm sure if you weren't running around for about 40 minutes, you were able to get right up from it. Doesn't it matter then when and how a guy gets clipped? If I get knocked to the ground in the first 5 minutes I'm more likely to get up quicker then say after 88 minutes.

I was.

Also I was able to get up after a few minutes but you cant walk after, it is a serious injury. I was just pointing out that it is a little ridiculous what you see in soccer when a guy pretends to be in absolute agony and is then running around like nothing happened.



It simply does not. Sorry.

We must have different definitions of a lot. I see it every time I watch international soccer. I also watch more than you would think when it is on because I have roommates who like soccer.






Then what are you saying? That international players who lay on the ground and roll around only to get up moments later aren't pussies? What's your point then?

Correct I am not saying that. I am saying they are fakers and it takes away from the flow of a game.

[D-West & PO-Z]

how do you feel about players in basketball who flop to the ground trying to draw a charge??

I cant stand it. I think there should be fouls called on the flopper. It isnt just in charge situations either.

[Kahns Krazy]

i agree completely.

what i don't understand are two things....

1. people will bash soccer, and go out of their way to do so, but not water polo or other sports like it. why is that?? if this thread was about water polo and not soccer, most of the people who are bashing soccer wouldn't have even responded.

2. why do soccer fans always feel the need to argue that it's better than the mainstream sports?? i like soccer, but i also like football and basketball. i don't like participating in a discussion about how one is so much better than the other, and i don't understand why we see so many of those discussions.

You asked this question once already, and I answered once already. It's because "avid" soccer fans are annoying as shit.

I actually like watching soccer, but the asswipes that feel the need to insist on calling it "football" in a country where we already have a game called that is what drives me to dislike the game.

[DC Muskie]

I was.

Also I was able to get up after a few minutes but you cant walk after, it is a serious injury. I was just pointing out that it is a little ridiculous what you see in soccer when a guy pretends to be in absolute agony and is then running around like nothing happened.


Then I go back to then aren't you special?


We must have different definitions of a lot. I see it every time I watch international soccer. I also watch more than you would think when it is on because I have roommates who like soccer.

Is a lot more then one or two? Because that's pretty much how many times it actually happens. Again, you have decided to focus on such a small thing, hat when you see it watching the tele your mates, that's all you think about.

What happens much more, and is incredibly annoying is having 8 guys rush the referee in protest after almost every call. That disrupts the flow much more then what you think does.

[DC Muskie]

You asked this question once already, and I answered once already. It's because "avid" soccer fans are annoying as shit.

I actually like watching soccer, but the asswipes that feel the need to insist on calling it "football" in a country where we already have a game called that is what drives me to dislike the game.

First all "avid" anyone is annoying. Soccer fans can't hold the monopoly on annoying avid fans.

Do you really hate the sport simply because some people choose to call it by it's proper name? You like to watch the sport, but don't like it simply because some people call it something you don't like.

That is weird.

[DC Muskie]

I actually like watching soccer, but the asswipes that feel the need to insist on calling it "football" in a country where we already have a game called that is what drives me to dislike the game.

you know, thinking about it, what's more annoying is American Soccer fan who refers to the national team as US Men's National Team. No body in the world clarifies it. We don't either when it comes to basketball. But for some reason we have to make sure everyone knows we are talking about the Men's team. Great thanks.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Then I go back to then aren't you special?



Is a lot more then one or two? Because that's pretty much how many times it actually happens. Again, you have decided to focus on such a small thing, hat when you see it watching the tele your mates, that's all you think about.

What happens much more, and is incredibly annoying is having 8 guys rush the referee in protest after almost every call. That disrupts the flow much more then what you think does.

Ok, we wont agree so I am done. I dont think soccer is a terrible sport at all just not a huge fan for several reasons. Also you continue to try and make my achilles comparison be me trying to prove I am some sort of tough guy when that is not what I am trying to do. That is fine though, I will move on.

[GoMuskies]

you know, thinking about it, what's more annoying is American Soccer fan who refers to the national team as US Men's National Team. No body in the world clarifies it.


That's because in most countries the women's team probably isn't more popluar than the men's team (as it is - or at least recently was - here).

[DC Muskie]

Ok, we wont agree so I am done. I dont think soccer is a terrible sport at all just not a huge fan for several reasons. Also you continue to try and make my achilles comparison be me trying to prove I am some sort of tough guy when that is not what I am trying to do. That is fine though, I will move on.

You brought it up. I didn't bring up any injury of your yours. I'm not sure what you are trying to prove, that you are not a tough guy, snapping your achilles is no big deal, where getitng clipped from behind is less of a big deal and you should be able to get up immediately? I assume you know the pain threshold of a lot of people. That's why you are special.

Okay, you don't like soccer for whatever reason. Good talking to you.

[DC Muskie]

That's because in most countries the women's team probably isn't more popluar than the men's team (as it is - or at least recently was - here).

When has it ever been more popular? And please don't use the 1999 World Cup as a reference, the women's final was big and that was it.

[GoMuskies]

It wasn't just the final. We heard about that team for six months before and after. Most people can probably name more players off that team than the U.S. Men's National Team. I know I can.

And Mia Hamm is/was a bigger star than any American male soccer player has ever been.

[DC Muskie]

It wasn't just the final. We heard about that team for six months before and after. Most people can probably name more players off that team than the U.S. Men's National Team. I know I can.

And Mia Hamm is/was a bigger star than any American male soccer player has ever been.

Well, I can name a lot of players on that team as well. Mostly because I'd want to hump them, not because of the sport they play.

Let's just say for the sake of argument that for an eighth period, the women's team was more popular, which I don't agree with, but let's go with that...

Why ten years after that period, does American soccer fan still refer to the national team as the US Men's National Team?

[GoMuskies]

Because to the casual sports fan, that 1999 women's team was the last time soccer was particularly relevant in the U.S.

[xubrew]

Why ten years after that period, does American soccer fan still refer to the national team as the US Men's National Team?


yunno, i never really thought of it before. in my case, i guess i just got used to seeing it referred to as USMNT on sites like ussoccer.com and bigsoccer.com.

i agree with you though. that is kind of ridiculous.

[DC Muskie]

Because to the casual sports fan, that 1999 women's team was the last time soccer was particularly relevant in the U.S.

Incorrect.

[American X]

Treason. Like fighting Nazi Germany. Unpatriotic.

These are the arguments of science and reason.