So, why does it irritate Euros that Americans don't 'get' soccer? ***WC Spoilers***

A recurrent theme, especially during World Cup time, is that we are somehow ignorant or backwards because (as a whole) the US doesn't give a darn about soccer.

It never occurred to me to proselytize to Europe and Africa and Asia that they need to support baseball, hockey, NASCAR or paintball. I certainly don't carry negative feelings towards them because of their choice of entertainments.

Why do y'all care that we don't care?

 

It's not soccer, it's football ! Other than i don't give a monkeys who likes what.

 

You cut out my (as a whole) phrase

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2010-06-13-tv-rating_N.htm

So 93.9% of households didn't give a darn.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/17/entertainment/la-et-world-cup-20100617

Those were the -most- positive articles I could find on TV ratings.

Now if you throw in Univision the numbers probably jump, but we're talking US, not Mexico North.

In comparison, NASCAR is screaming about dropping ratings, and yet

(http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/article/2010-06-15/foxs-nascar-ratings-decline)

 

I stopped and watched 20 seconds of soccer the other day.

That insect noise drove me insane and I flipped the channel. I won't be watching any more soccer.

 

Perhaps that 93.9% had BETTER (or other) things to do???

Folks, there is a life outside of watching sports.

 

The American market is frequently the barometer for traction and success, and even though soccer is globally "mega" (I've always hated that expression) there's a sort of affirmation that comes with US acceptance. I'm sure the majority of soccer fans worldwide couldn't give a rat's ass about how it's received in the States. But it's no different than music, cinema, etc. where cracking the American market somehow represents the Big Time. Something people forget (I like to call it the USGP Syndrome) is the scale of success in this country. 6% of households is still a lot of people!

 

I think you'll find the man on the street doesn't give a monkey's, but the sponsors would love the people of the USA to get into the game.

 

I'll never understand the argument...."But it's the most popular sport in the world."

Doesn't help the argument. I don't like soccer. Never have, never will. Tried it out as a kid, watched it time to time, just don't enjoy it at all.

And the vuvuzela's don't help at all, lol.

 

Can someone please point me in the direction of someone who gives one flying **** about Yanks liking or not liking football?

Would like to say that the US players who have played/play for my club have been top class pro's, decent and respectful people and it's something i wish more Eng top flight players were like.

 

I guess because "we" care, you've got a good team (that could go far with some luck), and "we're" fans trying to get you behind your team?

I'm done with the soccer -v- football debate - It is what it is, and in fairness although the purists bristle every time "soccer" is used there isn't a person on the planet (outside of the US) who doesn't recognize both names as relating to the beautiful game.

I noticed (for the first time) during the Fra -v- Mex game that they seemed to have lost some of their "edge" - It wasn't the constant buzzing of previous matches, and I heard some singing and even some "ole's!" when Mexico were pushing the ball around - In fact, it sounded to me like there were two factions - The singers and vuvu' players going back and forth - Not as good as two sets of fans singing back and forth, but a definite improvement.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Cracking goal, Solvenia 1 US 0

 

Socca

 

Simple answer: We have too many other sports in the US that we find more interesting. Coincidentally many of those sports also require relatively expensive equipment in order to play safely, so they will never be popular in developing countries. Hockey and american football come to mind.

Despite playing soccer for years as a kid, and my first job was as a referee at 15, I find soccer for the most part to be very boring today, especially on television. It is one that is better playing than viewing (hockey to me is the opposite).

IMO, US football is the perfect spectator sport for television. The ball/puck is large and relatively slow-moving so it is easy to follow on tv. There is so much strategy that it makes it interesting (I have heard it aptly described as "chess on grass"). But perhaps most importantly, the way it is played with defined plays allows a viewer to do something else for a few seconds: talk to your buddies, fight with your wife, grab a drink, go to the bathroom, etc. That to me is why it is so popular.

Maybe I should be annoyed that Euros don't understand the NFL?

 

You should you be annoyed that Europeans don't understand something that only amounts to a US domestic sport?

 

You can apply that theory to Cricket, yet cricket is played in many developing and poor countries

 

a score of 1-0 just doesnt do it for be, BORING!!!!!

 

OK. So, you'd have really enjoyed the USA comeback from 2-0 down back to 2-2 then?

Shoulda been 3-2 as well in the end. *Appalling* ref'ing.

Cheers,
Ian

 

*Please* let's not go there again! - I think his comments were meant somewhat "tongue in cheek" as well. Lets move on. Thanks!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Its our perception of your perception.
At least thats how I see it.

 

I just would love to imagine how good our soccer team would be if we soccer was a primary sport. I'm sure we would be a team to beat in every competition and our talent would be in the top leagues in Europe.

 

Interesting how you can sense tone in one person's post but not another's. I also don't need to be told to 'move on' thank you very much.

 

Indeed. The true "athletes" tend to be studs at pretty much all sports, and while they often play soccer when younger, at college scholarship/going pro time are gonna follow the money. Having said that, they're now seeing *big* $ in Europe, and things are changing;

Along with some "tacky shellaque" as mentioned somewhere recently!

Note that 8 of your guys already play in the English prem (generally considered the best), and another 8-9 are in other Euro leagues. Already, only 4 of 'em play in MLS - It's happening, slowly.......

Cheers,
Ian