Is Soccer a Feminine Sport?

[GuyFawkes38]

I don't question the toughness of soccer players. It just seems to me that soccer players are a little more feminine than players for America's top 3 sports.

This video of the Spanish celebrating the Euro Championship confirms that:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7480565.stm


And it's not cool for a player on the defeated German team to lead the conga line with the victors

[Stonebreaker]

The answer is YES. However, I used to play soccer as a youth, and nothing is better for kids than that game. Americans don't follow soccer for a reason.......it's boring.
That said, I'll watch the Olympic women's soccer team, as well as softball.

[Juice]

I am an avid soccer player and I see the argument. At some points during the game you will see a guy not get touched but fall to the ground and fake like hes been murdered. But there are times, like a couple days when the guy from Turkey had his head stapled together during the game and started playing again, when the guys actually show some toughness.

Also, the flopping is becoming bad in basketball as well so its not just in soccer either. And I am not arguing that soccer is some tough guy sport. I am just saying it gets a bad rap and is just as physical as say basketball or baseball or other sports that are not football.

As far as the celebrations, I think its jsut a Euro thing. I would hope if our American players ever won something, but they wont so this is just an if, they would celebrate like normal guys.

[GuyFawkes38]

A lot of people consider basketall to be kind of feminine (there was a famous author who referred to bball as the queen of the sports).

Soccer really isn't more feminine than bball. In both, style matters.

I really have enjoyed watching the 2006 world cup and the 2008 Euro cup. But the flopping drives me crazy. And the refs appear to play into it. If the player didn't dramatize a fall, he risked receiving a penalty for flopping or not getting a free kick.

[golfitup]

First off, that's not a German leading the conga line. The Spanish player exchanged jerseys with one of his opponents after the game as is tradition. (Although I won't defend him wearing it since some other dude just sweated profusely in it for two hours)

I'm a huge soccer fan and can't stand the abuse it takes here in America. I will defend the sport to death. So to say it is boring, but then say you'll watch the WOMEN'S national team play just seems kinda odd to me. That's like saying, oh i hate basketball but love the WNBA. It just makes no sense.

Now soccer does have one elephant in the room that big fans of the sport don't seem to want to notice and that's all the diving. Apparently, if you speak portuguese, spanish, or italian it is a mandated rule that you be a complete bitch on the field. The slightest touch or contact will make some players turn into hollywood actors rolling around on the field just to get a call. (I actually screamed at my television as one of the spanish players did this today in the Euro final)

The sad thing is that it is just an accepted part of the sport's culture in a lot of countries. Luckily, our players don't do it. I'm convinced this is as big a reason as any as to why the sport has such a limited following in this country. We just cant take that kind of dishonesty in our sports because teams represent us. The only way I can see it being changed is if the governing bodies of the sport start to retro-actively give yellow cards to players after games for diving and fooling officials.

Anyways, I know I almost certainly took this much too personally but I can't help and I'm at peace with that.

The fact is I only fervently follow two teams with a ton of passion. Xavier men's basketball, and our men's national soccer team. I have pretty big inferiority complexes for both them. This is probably not coincidence. Oh well, life goes on.

[boozehound]

Soccer is for girls.

[Juice]

Now soccer does have one elephant in the room that big fans of the sport don't seem to want to notice and that's all the diving. Apparently, if you speak portuguese, spanish, or italian it is a mandated rule that you be a complete bitch on the field. The slightest touch or contact will make some players turn into hollywood actors rolling around on the field just to get a call. (I actually screamed at my television as one of the spanish players did this today in the Euro final)

Basically any country whose players have long, black, greasy hair is probably going to flop a ton. Italy-Spain set a record for most head bands in a game ever.

[dc_x]

Soccer is for girls.

Luckily, people with this mindset are becoming more and more scarce.

The TV ratings for the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 Euros were excellent. It's just a matter of time before ESPN telecasts English Premier League games on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

I don't know if MLS will ever make it as a mainstream sport because it's a minor league and Americans don't care about minor leagues. But when soccer is shown at its highest level, Americans will watch it.

I understand that the diving is irritating, but I'll take a few delays for diving over the constant commercials of other sports. I love the NFL, but usually it feels like I am watching 3.5 hours of commercials with a little football sprinkled in between.

[XU05and07]

As a soccer player for 21 years...and a current soccer coach in Walnut Hills...I will defend soccer. Known as the "Beautiful Game", the art and design of a soccer game is to be just that. To spread out 22 players over the field and seeing many of the players run non-stop for 90 minutes is amazing. With the advances in technology, TV productions of the games now allow a player to be tracked and the total distance they run can be tracked. A midfielder near the end of the game could have run 11K in the 90, most of the time with a ball on their foot or thinking about what to do when the ball comes to them.

There is a part of the sport that I find to be challenging and causes people to be turned off to the sport: not be able to use your hands. American sports are all about the hands. Football - you use your hands to pass, catch, hold on to the ball, tackle...and the one position that gets ragged on is the kickers. Baseball - pitch, catch, throw, swing. Basketball - dribble, shoot, block, rebound, pass. When you can't use your hands to play the game, people see it as weak/different. Being able to control a ball, curve it when needed, is a hard thing to do. But when you can do things with your feet that others struggle to do, you are the best in the game.

I always found that the people that ragged on soccer were the ones that couldn't play the game. I remember in high school, football players and others would make fun of us for playing soccer. Then the time came in phys. ed to play soccer, they would be out there looking at the ball, not knowing what to do, and looked like the 6 and 7 years olds that I coached back in Cleveland.

I look at it this way. People will put down a sport and dismiss it as being too ease because they don't try it. Swimmer get the same rap for playing a women's sport, but until you jump in the water and try to do just a few laps, you realize that the sport is something that only a few people can do.

As others have mentioned, the flopping is a huge problem and one that needs to be worked on. But until it is enforced, players will take advantage of the rule...anything to gain an advantage. That is the nature of human behavior, not just the sport of soccer. This was an excellant Euro Cup. I'm looking forward to the Olympics, but I'm sad that the World Cup is still 2 years away. Atleast I have Premier League, CONCACAF Cup, and Walnut Hills Soccer to keep me occupied.

[DC Muskie]

Defending soccer to the unclean makes about as much sense as telling someone that Xavier is good in basketball.

It's a given that soccer is a great sport.

[Juice]

I have friends who are from the westside who never played soccer growing up. Because of course, any kid who plays soccer instead of football on the westside is seen as a "pussy." Well, they now love the sport, both playing it and watching it. They regret now playing it at a younger age, because none of them have what you call "football" bodies. I think if people play the sport a couple times, they learn to at least respect it.

[golfitup]

Soccer is for girls.

I feel as though this was meant to rile me up. If so, mission accomplished.
I don't think you really mean it though. But if you do feel that way, you are an idiot.

[Kahns Krazy]

I have friends who are from the westside who ....

There's your problem right there.

[Juice]

There's your problem right there.

KK, you make a good point but they are the type who have realized the absurdity of their side of town.

[GuyFawkes38]

I for one don't think soccer is for girls. I don't think the sport is filled with wussies. etc.

In fact, I'm starting to get into soccer. I can't stand football and would be content if soccer would somehow displace it.

The real reason I started this thread was to post the link to the rediculous bbc video of the Spanish players doing the conga.

[AdamtheFlyer]

I like soccer. Grew up playing select until high school (chose golf as my fall sport).

The MLS sucks, but the world class game is very interesting to watch. College soccer is pretty damn physical at times.

[Juice]

Adam, your Flyers have produced a couple MLS players in the past several years. Chris Rolfe will even play for the US team occasionally.

[AdamtheFlyer]

Adam, your Flyers have produced a couple MLS players in the past several years. Chris Rolfe will even play for the US team occasionally.

Yep, but overall the league is awful. I'd rather watch NCAA kids. It's not the fault of US Soccer, the fanbase just isn't there to pay the best American (or international) players.

[Juice]

ATF, I agree with you about the MLS. I like soccer but cannot watch the MLS, I was just stating that Dayton has produced some good players even though the program has nosedived since those guys left.

[D-West & PO-Z]

ATF, I agree with you about the MLS. I like soccer but cannot watch the MLS, I was just stating that Dayton has produced some good players even though the program has nosedived since those guys left.

SLU has a pretty darn good soccer team too, usually top 25. After my freshman year two kids left early to play in the MLS, one was a freshman and the other a sophomore. However I still only attend one soccer game a year and usually only the first half and its the homecoming game when all the parents are in town.

[AdamtheFlyer]

ATF, I agree with you about the MLS. I like soccer but cannot watch the MLS, I was just stating that Dayton has produced some good players even though the program has nosedived since those guys left.

Definitely. And the women's program was even better. I used to watch the games on TWTV when I was more into soccer.

Now Volleyball has taken over as the other top sport, and there's no reason to watch that other than the skin tight short shorts.

[Tardy Turtle]

SLU has a pretty darn good soccer team too

I saw the SLU women's team in the airport in Columbus last year. Many an arse would I have tapped.

[blobfan]

Soccer is not a feminine sport. But if we are applying the masculine/feminine stereotype based on the behavior of the players, I vote football as the most feminine sport. All that butt grabbing is a very touch-feely girly thing. And what do they do, really? They stand around and talk FOREVER, repositioning everything, and finally move for what, 2 seconds before stopping to chat about it again. And the amount of bling the players wear off the field HAS to make it feminine. No man should wear that much jewelry.

[Juice]

Blob, you could also make the argument that they are a bunch of whiners off the field as well. From TO to Chad, the NFL players all cry like babies. Though the whining does not happen on the high school and college level nearly as much, so its just more of a NFL football player thing.

[blobfan]

Blob, you could also make the argument that they are a bunch of whiners off the field as well. From TO to Chad, the NFL players all cry like babies. Though the whining does not happen on the high school and college level nearly as much, so its just more of a NFL football player thing.

I hate to include whining in the female stereotype. Whiners are really a sub-set of that stereotype. I'm not up for any serious research but if we're making additions, I suppose you could say football players, perhaps more than most, are encouraged to use their bodies, not their minds. That one sort of blurs the line between reality and stereotype so it's not as amusing.

[Strange Brew]

As a soccer player for 21 years...and a current soccer coach in Walnut Hills...I will defend soccer. Known as the "Beautiful Game", the art and design of a soccer game is to be just that. To spread out 22 players over the field and seeing many of the players run non-stop for 90 minutes is amazing. With the advances in technology, TV productions of the games now allow a player to be tracked and the total distance they run can be tracked. A midfielder near the end of the game could have run 11K in the 90, most of the time with a ball on their foot or thinking about what to do when the ball comes to them.

There is a part of the sport that I find to be challenging and causes people to be turned off to the sport: not be able to use your hands. American sports are all about the hands. Football - you use your hands to pass, catch, hold on to the ball, tackle...and the one position that gets ragged on is the kickers. Baseball - pitch, catch, throw, swing. Basketball - dribble, shoot, block, rebound, pass. When you can't use your hands to play the game, people see it as weak/different. Being able to control a ball, curve it when needed, is a hard thing to do. But when you can do things with your feet that others struggle to do, you are the best in the game.

I always found that the people that ragged on soccer were the ones that couldn't play the game. I remember in high school, football players and others would make fun of us for playing soccer. Then the time came in phys. ed to play soccer, they would be out there looking at the ball, not knowing what to do, and looked like the 6 and 7 years olds that I coached back in Cleveland.

I look at it this way. People will put down a sport and dismiss it as being too ease because they don't try it. Swimmer get the same rap for playing a women's sport, but until you jump in the water and try to do just a few laps, you realize that the sport is something that only a few people can do.

As others have mentioned, the flopping is a huge problem and one that needs to be worked on. But until it is enforced, players will take advantage of the rule...anything to gain an advantage. That is the nature of human behavior, not just the sport of soccer. This was an excellant Euro Cup. I'm looking forward to the Olympics, but I'm sad that the World Cup is still 2 years away. Atleast I have Premier League, CONCACAF Cup, and Walnut Hills Soccer to keep me occupied.

Let me preface the statement below by saying that I do not find soccor to be feminine or do I intend to slam it.

I'd have to disagree. I played soccor, baseball, basketball, golf and was on a swim team in elementary school. In high school I played football, baseball and ran track. At X I played rugby and lacrosse. I've been lucky enough to be able to play all of these sports and my choice to not play soccor when I got older was not because I couldn't, it was because I found it to be boring and require less skill to play than baseball and less guts than football. It's is not a bad sport but it is neither tough (in the contact way) nor is it extremely difficult to play. Which is partly the reason why kids gravitate to it when they are young and many move on to play sports that require a higher level of skill or toughness. Grant it, any idiot can step onto a football or rugby field but very few have the guts to come back.

That all being said, I do watch the World Cup and find it fun. But, as someone who has played most sports at a competitive level, it gets a little annoying when "soccor guy" makes the assumption that non-athletes do not play soccor because they aren't coordinated enough or in good enough shape.

[boozehound]

I feel as though this was meant to rile me up. If so, mission accomplished.
I don't think you really mean it though. But if you do feel that way, you are an idiot.

You are right, that statement was meant to rile you, and other soccer fans.

:D

[muskienick]

I never had the opportunity to play soccer as I was growing up because it wasn't available during the 1830's when I was a kid. But I did take the trouble to read and study the game in preparation for my volunteer coaching duties when my kids were growing up. I was one of 3 dads who coached our kids' teams from about age 6 through grade school. We suffered through the first couple of years in much the same way as every other parent did on the sidelines --- watching 20 little people clustered around a single ball that seldom moved more than 20 yards either side of the mid-field line. This all was happening while the other two kids were either shinnying up the side of a goal post, picking ripe dandelions and then blowing their seeds high into the air (where each one would settle into my lawn 42 streets away), or running to the tree 100 yards away to take that tinkle we warned him he would need before we left for the game.

But those events were much like many of the same experiences I had during formative years in baseball, basketball, and football. When my older boy was in the 7th grade, his team won the State soccer championship going 24-0 for the year. Our kids and opposing players suffered very traumatic injuries ranging from broken bones to severe sprains, minor dehydration, and concussions. I never once played with or coached a kid in one of the three major sports who had such severe injuries as those of our State soccer champs and the teams they opposed.

I guess golf and tennis are girlie sports as well. Maybe we could make them the sports of men if we changed a couple of basic rules:
1) In golf, subtract two strokes for each human you can hit with a shot delivered by a driver or long iron. Subtract one stroke for each human hit with a medium iron (4-7) unless you are lucky enough to line-drive it with a well-placed heel shot (whereby you get to subtract 2 from your total). Add one stroke to your total if you are stupid enough to hit a human with a soft, lofted shot and two if you hit somebody with one of your d@mn putts!
2) In tennis, any volley that hits the opponent in the nuts is rewarded by ceding the game to the hitter. Tie-breaks are decided by determining which player is the last to stand after receiving alternate serves without the benefit of using a racket while blindfolded.

[Tardy Turtle]

... I do not find soccor to be feminine or do I intend to slam it.

What the hell is "soccor?"

[DC Muskie]

Let me preface the statement below by saying that I do not find soccor to be feminine or do I intend to slam it.

I'd have to disagree. I played soccor, baseball, basketball, golf and was on a swim team in elementary school. In high school I played football, baseball and ran track. At X I played rugby and lacrosse. I've been lucky enough to be able to play all of these sports and my choice to not play soccor when I got older was not because I couldn't, it was because I found it to be boring and require less skill to play than baseball and less guts than football. It's is not a bad sport but it is neither tough (in the contact way) nor is it extremely difficult to play. Which is partly the reason why kids gravitate to it when they are young and many move on to play sports that require a higher level of skill or toughness. Grant it, any idiot can step onto a football or rugby field but very few have the guts to come back.

That all being said, I do watch the World Cup and find it fun. But, as someone who has played most sports at a competitive level, it gets a little annoying when "soccor guy" makes the assumption that non-athletes do not play soccor because they aren't coordinated enough or in good enough shape.

I can't take your obviously stupid opinion seriously when you repeatedly spell the sport's name incorrectly.

Anyone who thinks soccer is boring after running track has some serious issues. You must enjoy NASCAR or something. Soccer's more boring then baseball? Do you also play softball and stand in the outfield smoking a cigarette? I stopped playing softball simply because it's baseball with even less action.

I think you can safely admit that weren't very good at soccer. It doesn't take much skill to play American football, unless you are a quarter back. To put on pads and hit people, takes about as much skill as putting boxing gloves on and having your head bashed in. 30 seconds to call a 3 yard dive over the guard. Man catch the excitement! Wait, we have to have a replay, since the 4000 officials on the field couldn't get the correct spot of where the ball should be. Time to get more chips. Man those are tough!

I'm sure you approached soccer as boring, because you simply didn't or couldn't grasp the concept of the game. Your games were probably filled with guys hoofing the ball all over the field and eating orange wedges.

I've seen and been in some terrible incidents on the soccer pitch. To say it's not a rough sports shows me you played more kickball then soccer.

Please understand that I am ripping you because we are in the smack section.

[Jumpy]

I can't take your obviously stupid opinion seriously when you repeatedly spell the sport's name incorrectly.

Anyone who thinks soccer is boring after running track has some serious issues. You must enjoy NASCAR or something. Soccer's more boring then baseball? Do you also play softball and stand in the outfield smoking a cigarette? I stopped playing softball simply because it's baseball with even less action.

I think you can safely admit that weren't very good at soccer. It doesn't take much skill to play American football, unless you are a quarter back. To put on pads and hit people, takes about as much skill as putting boxing gloves on and having your head bashed in. 30 seconds to call a 3 yard dive over the guard. Man catch the excitement! Wait, we have to have a replay, since the 4000 officials on the field couldn't get the correct spot of where the ball should be. Time to get more chips. Man those are tough!

I'm sure you approached soccer as boring, because you simply didn't or couldn't grasp the concept of the game. Your games were probably filled with guys hoofing the ball all over the field and eating orange wedges.

I've seen and been in some terrible incidents on the soccer pitch. To say it's not a rough sports shows me you played more kickball then soccer.

Please understand that I am ripping you because we are in the smack section.

I do. Or did, until I gave up softball because it was killing my golf swing. And then I gave up smoking.

[Denver Muskie]

Soccor??!! Lay the smack, DC.

Who's everyone follow? I'm a huge Liverpool supporter and can't wait for next week's first game.

[PM Thor]

Soccer is tolerable to me, I can watch some games, sometimes. Same way with baseball.

Thing is, I don't see how anyone could argue that soccer is boring, and then don't admit that baseball is epically as boring. If you aren't into the sport, no biggie, but soccer isn't any more boring over football or baseball, if you aren't into it, it will be boring.

Now please excuse me, I am going to go watch a 6 hour replay of the last stage of the Tour De France.....

[Strange Brew]

I can't take your obviously stupid opinion seriously when you repeatedly spell the sport's name incorrectly.

Anyone who thinks soccer is boring after running track has some serious issues. You must enjoy NASCAR or something. Soccer's more boring then baseball? Do you also play softball and stand in the outfield smoking a cigarette? I stopped playing softball simply because it's baseball with even less action.

I think you can safely admit that weren't very good at soccer. It doesn't take much skill to play American football, unless you are a quarter back. To put on pads and hit people, takes about as much skill as putting boxing gloves on and having your head bashed in. 30 seconds to call a 3 yard dive over the guard. Man catch the excitement! Wait, we have to have a replay, since the 4000 officials on the field couldn't get the correct spot of where the ball should be. Time to get more chips. Man those are tough!

I'm sure you approached soccer as boring, because you simply didn't or couldn't grasp the concept of the game. Your games were probably filled with guys hoofing the ball all over the field and eating orange wedges.

I've seen and been in some terrible incidents on the soccer pitch. To say it's not a rough sports shows me you played more kickball then soccer.

Please understand that I am ripping you because we are in the smack section.


No problem, I am a moron and deserve the ripping for mispelling soccer.


To answer your question I was also a linesman for 5 years as well so I have a decent understanding of the game. I do find it boring, sorry I just do. There's very little scoring and a lot of falling and whining.

You probably find baseball boring because YOU can't grasp the mental aspect of the game and certainly do not pocess the hand/eye coordination required to play baseball.

Like I said, any idiot can walk on a football field but you have to have guts to comeback (guts are not required for soccer). Also, football players are in incredible condition (as are soccer players) and have to be athletes to be able to play. Please tell me that you consider a man who is 6 foot 5, weighs 340 pounds and runs less than a 4.9 40 to be an athlete.

Face it, soccer is not that hard to play........period. While it does contain a bit of understanding a level of skill, it is NOT as difficult to play as say basketball, baseball and yes "american" football. It just isn't that hard. I have played both and that is simply my opinion.

Finally, why does "soccer guy" get soooooooooooooooo upset when people do not agree that it is the greatest sport in the world? It's like arguing with my wife. She gets all emotional and rational thought leaves the building. I guess soccer may attract the female mindset after all :).

[Lloyd Christmas]

You probably find baseball boring because YOU can't grasp the mental aspect of the game and certainly do not pocess the hand/eye coordination required to play baseball.



Finally, why does "soccer guy" get soooooooooooooooo upset when people do not agree that it is the greatest sport in the world?

Why does "baseball guy" get all upset and question "soccer guy's" intelligence when people do not agree that baseball is 3.5 hours of non-stop excitement.

[Raoul Duke]

Face it, soccer is not that hard to play........period. While it does contain a bit of understanding a level of skill, it is NOT as difficult to play as say basketball, baseball and yes "american" football. It just isn't that hard. I have played both and that is simply my opinion.


I don't really have a dog in this fight. Soccer is ok; I get both sides of the debate.

But your statement I quoted is borderline nonsense. First, you're comparing apples and oranges. Soccer and baseball require entirely different skillsets. Are you trying to tell me Prince Fielder could play professional soccer? Ronaldo probably couldn't bat cleaup either.

Second, you can't categorically say it's 'hard' or 'easy.' The top .01% of any sport, i.e., the professionals, have an ability that the rest of the population could only dream of. So to reach the top level of soccer, or any other sport, is in fact 'hard.' If it's so easy, then why aren't we all making millions playing soccer professionally? Play against the best in the world, then tell me "soccer is not that hard to play........period."

[MADXSTER]

Is Soccer a Feminine Sport? The Answer: When women play it is.

http://www.tdubel.com/skinit/kuvat/evox/soccer_heaven.jpg

[OX09]

Soccer is a fine sport, and although I won't label it as feminine I will admit:

I would rather watch a female soccer game over a male soccer game any day ofthe week.

I feel the same way about tennis and volleyball. It's simply more fun for me to watch the women play these particular sports. Now, someone could claim I simply like watching women in spandex and short skirts/shorts. But these sports seem to possess a type of finesse that I find more entertaining while being exhibited by female athletes.

Meanwhile, I prefer men's basketball, baseball (over fast-pitch softball), football, and hockey.

[DC Muskie]

No problem, I am a moron and deserve the ripping for mispelling soccer.


To answer your question I was also a linesman for 5 years as well so I have a decent understanding of the game. I do find it boring, sorry I just do. There's very little scoring and a lot of falling and whining.

You probably find baseball boring because YOU can't grasp the mental aspect of the game and certainly do not pocess the hand/eye coordination required to play baseball.

Like I said, any idiot can walk on a football field but you have to have guts to comeback (guts are not required for soccer). Also, football players are in incredible condition (as are soccer players) and have to be athletes to be able to play. Please tell me that you consider a man who is 6 foot 5, weighs 340 pounds and runs less than a 4.9 40 to be an athlete.

Face it, soccer is not that hard to play........period. While it does contain a bit of understanding a level of skill, it is NOT as difficult to play as say basketball, baseball and yes "american" football. It just isn't that hard. I have played both and that is simply my opinion.

Finally, why does "soccer guy" get soooooooooooooooo upset when people do not agree that it is the greatest sport in the world? It's like arguing with my wife. She gets all emotional and rational thought leaves the building. I guess soccer may attract the female mindset after all :).

You stood on the sideline and waved a flag up in the air. No wonder you thought the game was boring, you couldn't play, so they stuck you to the side.

The mental aspect of baseball is simple. You hit my teammate in the leg with a fastball, I hit your best player in the head with my fastball. Brawl ensues, manhood restored.

Actually, I was a hell of a baseball player. I could hit anything. Of course,Billy would surely argue that now I couldn't hit anything. Which in a way is true. But back to this discussion, I was a better baseball player then soccer for sure.

Baseball likes to make itself think it's a thinking man's sport. Well when you are out there for so long and had nothing hit to you, you start coming up with ideas like, "Hey if we steal at the same time the guy is going to hit the ball, there would be a huge gap on one side of the infield!" Or, "Hey, if I just stick my bat out and not swing, I could move one guy over to another base. I don't even have to swing! Sweet!"

Signs are the best. I like the "indicator." Now everyone here should know that baseball players weren't the smartest guys on the planet, see Shoeless Joe Jackson, Ty Cobb, Manny Ramirez and just about every single White Sox Player. So now, some guy gives a sign to either, Steal, stay, sit, lay down, or roll over and play dead. But only if the "indicator" was given. That way, the other teams CIA operatives couldn't catch onto that when Johnny's Dad wiped his butt, it meant the next sign would mean gallop around the bases while barking like a dog. Yeah, the nuances of baseball or so complex for this meager frozen Cave Man Lawyer.

I don't understand why it takes guts to play football but not soccer? Seriously, Ted Washington was considered a good football player. Warren Sapp, that dude was just fat.

Why do other people always feel the need to rip soccer? I think because Americans hate things they aren't good at.

Please understand this is all done with the spirit of smack.

[boozehound]

I don't understand why it takes guts to play football but not soccer? Seriously, Ted Washington was considered a good football player. Warren Sapp, that dude was just fat.

Why do other people always feel the need to rip soccer? I think because Americans hate things they aren't good at.

Please understand this is all done with the spirit of smack.

Ted Washington and particularly Warren Sapp were in shockingly good shape for their size. It is amazing how fast some of those big guys can run. Just because they are fat, doesn't mean that they aren't athletes.

[DC Muskie]

Ted Washington and particularly Warren Sapp were in shockingly good shape for their size. It is amazing how fast some of those big guys can run. Just because they are fat, doesn't mean that they aren't athletes.

Yeah and John Kruk was not an athlete, he was a baseball player. Built like Ted Washington.

[Strange Brew]

Yeah and John Kruk was not an athlete, he was a baseball player. Built like Ted Washington.

Alright DC. I'm done. In all honesty, I played soccer for 8 years and was pretty good at it. I don't mind soccer, I will even watch it sometimes if there is nothing else on TV. I lived with two XU soccers players in college and enjoyed going to their games and partaking in the best part of soccer: being a hooligan fan. The reason I jumped into the debate because they, like you would get so riled up if anyone else in the house questioned the toughness or said anything negative at all about soccer and its fun to watch soccer guy get his Umbros in a bunch.

You obviously have an inferiority complex when it comes to football and that's cool, you don't have to like it.

Once again, soccer is ok but bringing up Ronaldo (I don't think it was you but one of the soccer guys did) in this forum is probably a bad idea. Wasn't he recently caught with a transvestite (sp) prostitute?

[DC Muskie]

Alright DC. I'm done. In all honesty, I played soccer for 8 years and was pretty good at it. I don't mind soccer, I will even watch it sometimes if there is nothing else on TV. I lived with two XU soccers players in college and enjoyed going to their games and partaking in the best part of soccer: being a hooligan fan. The reason I jumped into the debate because they, like you would get so riled up if anyone else in the house questioned the toughness or said anything negative at all about soccer and its fun to watch soccer guy get his Umbros in a bunch.

You obviously have an inferiority complex when it comes to football and that's cool, you don't have to like it.

Once again, soccer is ok but bringing up Ronaldo (I don't think it was you but one of the soccer guys did) in this forum is probably a bad idea. Wasn't he recently caught with a transvestite (sp) prostitute?

Okay now I get it...you enjoy demonstrating your toughness by questioning the toughness of soccer players. Man that takes some guts. And then you can't take it when your thought processes are called into question. Man do I love to watch you flip out. SWEET!

Soccer is the only sport in America that gets questioned like this. And it has to be the American mentality that we only things we invented or are pretty good. The rest of the world loves soccer? Great, but for America it's the one constant sport to bring behind the woodshed. Did you follow the swimmers or tennis players and call them pussies as well?

I love football. I enjoy college football greatly. I just don't spend my time developing a hobby of knocking another sport. I've even spent time sleeping through the Ashes. But you won't see me or other Americans ripping cricket now do you? Football, just like every sport, has a lot of flaws, but to act as though they have the monopoly on guts and toughness shows me your opinion isn't exactly based on any expertise as much as you think.

[boozehound]

Okay now I get it...you enjoy demonstrating your toughness by questioning the toughness of soccer players. Man that takes some guts. And then you can't take it when your thought processes are called into question. Man do I love to watch you flip out. SWEET!

Soccer is the only sport in America that gets questioned like this. And it has to be the American mentality that we only things we invented or are pretty good. The rest of the world loves soccer? Great, but for America it's the one constant sport to bring behind the woodshed. Did you follow the swimmers or tennis players and call them pussies as well?

I love football. I enjoy college football greatly. I just don't spend my time developing a hobby of knocking another sport. I've even spent time sleeping through the Ashes. But you won't see me or other Americans ripping cricket now do you? Football, just like every sport, has a lot of flaws, but to act as though they have the monopoly on guts and toughness shows me your opinion isn't exactly based on any expertise as much as you think.

Interesting that your response to people questioning the toughness of Soccer players is the question whether or no professional football players are athletes. Is that the standard Soccer guy response to being teased about your sport being girlie?

So other people are wrong for voicing the opinion that soccer is feminine, however it is OK for you to question whether or not a likely hall-of-famer is an athlete? How does that work exactly?

[DC Muskie]

Interesting that your response to people questioning the toughness of Soccer players is the question whether or no professional football players are athletes. Is that the standard Soccer guy response to being teased about your sport being girlie?

So other people are wrong for voicing the opinion that soccer is feminine, however it is OK for you to question whether or not a likely hall-of-famer is an athlete? How does that work exactly?

Let me get this straight, someone decides to pick a fight with an entire sport, just for kicks, and somehow I'm wrong for having fun with Fat Warren Sapp? What would be a better answer you then...

A. He started it.

B. Ray Guy is a likely Hall of Famer

My suggestion is don't start nothin' aint goin' be nothin'.

[boozehound]

I just think that there is quite a departure from "Soccer is feminine" to "Warren Sapp is fat".

[Strange Brew]

Let me get this straight, someone decides to pick a fight with an entire sport, just for kicks, and somehow I'm wrong for having fun with Fat Warren Sapp? What would be a better answer you then...

A. He started it.

B. Ray Guy is a likely Hall of Famer

My suggestion is don't start nothin' aint goin' be nothin'.

Listen DC, like I said I don't really have a beef with soccer. Heck, I went to games in college and I will watch it from time to time. Why I get a kick out of pushing "soccer guys" hair trigger buttons is not to I get my jollies but because he is the only advocate of any sport that becomes totally enraged and irrational whenever someone says ANYTHING negative about the sport.

For the record football does not have a monopoly on "guts" or "toughness" for that matter. Hockey, rugby (especially rugby) and lacrosse also require guts to play. Soccer, requires about as much toughness as track, tennis or swimming (all sports that I appreciate as well). Baseball does not normally require any toughness at all but people have died after being hit by line drives and pitches. The same cannot be said for the before mentioned sports or for soccer (please correct if I'm wrong).

Furthermore, Americans interest or lack there of in soccer has nothing to do with their ability or bias. Americans just simply do not find it to be as interesting as the major sports in this country. They consider it akin to tennis, cycling, swimming, etc. Sports that are popular overseas (swimming is a monster in Australia and cycling, as we know is huge in France) but will probably not catch on here.

Why is soccer denegrated in this country? It may have something to do with people constantly shoving it down our throats (maybe not). If it is worthy of interest here, it will get it. Remember that we live in a free, capitalistic (for now) society. If there is enough interest, advertisers will pay the networks to cover it more. More coverage = more interest = more respect. It may not be right but that is how it works.

So, if you don't like the perception of soccer in the U.S., don't worry, it will catch on if it is interesting to the American consumer. If not, people will view it as we do most international sports (swimming, track and field, skiiing for that matter) and we'll pay attention during the World Cup and the Olympics.

I do not care that you like soccer and it should not bother you SO much that I find it to be a non-major sport. Who knows, in twenty-forty years (if we are all lucky enough to make it) we may be watching soccer at Paul Brown Stadium. I doubt it, but if it happens in 2035 I will be happy to by you a $25 beer.

[waggy]

I went looking for a pic to take up the soccor sucks side of the fight and came across this and was instantly converted, as everyone knows I easily am.

http://jonjayray.googlepages.com/sporty.jpg

[GuyFawkes38]

I went looking for a pic to take up the soccor sucks side of the fight and came across this and was instantly converted, as everyone knows I easily am.

http://jonjayray.googlepages.com/sporty.jpg

Yeah, hmmm, yeah....this converts me to soccer...I guess...Porn.

yeah, this is kind of weak.... If Europe expects to build it's sport on this, then expect a collapse.

[DC Muskie]

I just think that there is quite a departure from "Soccer is feminine" to "Warren Sapp is fat".

So you are now saying Warren Sapp isn't fat?

Okay. I'll look for him at the next body building competition.

[DC Muskie]

Listen DC, like I said I don't really have a beef with soccer. Heck, I went to games in college and I will watch it from time to time. Why I get a kick out of pushing "soccer guys" hair trigger buttons is not to I get my jollies but because he is the only advocate of any sport that becomes totally enraged and irrational whenever someone says ANYTHING negative about the sport.

For the record football does not have a monopoly on "guts" or "toughness" for that matter. Hockey, rugby (especially rugby) and lacrosse also require guts to play. Soccer, requires about as much toughness as track, tennis or swimming (all sports that I appreciate as well). Baseball does not normally require any toughness at all but people have died after being hit by line drives and pitches. The same cannot be said for the before mentioned sports or for soccer (please correct if I'm wrong).

Furthermore, Americans interest or lack there of in soccer has nothing to do with their ability or bias. Americans just simply do not find it to be as interesting as the major sports in this country. They consider it akin to tennis, cycling, swimming, etc. Sports that are popular overseas (swimming is a monster in Australia and cycling, as we know is huge in France) but will probably not catch on here.

Why is soccer denegrated in this country? It may have something to do with people constantly shoving it down our throats (maybe not). If it is worthy of interest here, it will get it. Remember that we live in a free, capitalistic (for now) society. If there is enough interest, advertisers will pay the networks to cover it more. More coverage = more interest = more respect. It may not be right but that is how it works.

So, if you don't like the perception of soccer in the U.S., don't worry, it will catch on if it is interesting to the American consumer. If not, people will view it as we do most international sports (swimming, track and field, skiiing for that matter) and we'll pay attention during the World Cup and the Olympics.

I do not care that you like soccer and it should not bother you SO much that I find it to be a non-major sport. Who knows, in twenty-forty years (if we are all lucky enough to make it) we may be watching soccer at Paul Brown Stadium. I doubt it, but if it happens in 2035 I will be happy to by you a $25 beer.

Shoving it down your throat? Is there some major movement to get people to respect soccer in this country? Is there an NRA for soccer that is demanding that people stop watching another sport and take up soccer? If there is I've missed it.

I don't care that's it's not the same level of interest of the NFL or baseball. I don't ever think it will be here. What I have a problem with is people who think the sport is a bunch of pussies who don't have any more skill then guys who run track.

Again, I'm not aware of your level of competition, but it takes a certain amount of guts to play soccer. It's too bad you don't feel the same way. Again, remember, I didn't start some thread bashing the manliness of football, or how boring it is...and truly, watching a football game can be very boring. But I do enjoy the sport. I just don't get you as someone who now doesn't get his jollies off pissing off soccer fan, but still goes out of his way to make sure he knows that you think it sucks. Good job of just keeping the circle going. Maybe you have friends who hang out with you and start conversations like, "Hey Brew, I just wanted to let you know how awesome soccer is." I doubt that is the case.

And if you think it has nothing to do with bias you are absolutely fooling yourself. Soccer is about as American as sushi. Are you really going to tell me that people just don't like the sport simply because they find it boring? Look at Europe they go crazy for the NFL, but they don't play and they sure as hell don't go around talking about how much it sucks. Americans for the most part, don't particularly like things that aren't American. That's across the board.

We've had a domestic league in this country for 12 years and people are still talking about the failed league of the 1970's. It's like they are trying to tell people that football here was descended from God Himself and there were no growing pains. The league is fine, the game is fine, the coverage is fine, and in twenty years an generation of soccer haters will be dead, while another generation who will grow up with the game is born.

And by the way, that picture is from a Browns game.

[waggy]

And by the way, that picture is from a Browns game.

I believe you're right. It came up on some blog with the title why Brazil loves soccer, or some such.