Serie A is unswatchable and boring, but that doesn't mean it's not appreciably superior to MLS - A clusy analogy, but AC Milan are effectively the San Antonio Spurs of UEFA.
Compare the Taj Mahah to soccer is ludicrous, do I even need to point that out? As far as popuplarity in the US, it takes years to build a sport. Baseball started in the 1860s. Basketball 1891 with Dr. Naismith. To expect that soccer can overtake those sports in 30 years is stupid. What does it matter that US can overtake other countries in soccer or not? Maybe we can, maybe we can't. If we don't try, we can't for sure. You are not very good in logic, maybe you should quit trying to make arguments together? It is a waste of time, there are no ways you can match wit with DD.
You do realize rather than everyone talking about the game and what a freaking awesome game it was! We're debating with SamFisher who obviously isn't going to be swayed into giving a positive opinion on MLS soccer or US soccer in general. That's fine, let him like the few sports he likes, while I hope he quits taking in part in threads that obviously don't interest him. The bottom line is MLS is doing better, and drawing better crowds. And it's giving US born players a platform to play on instead of leaving there friends and families to play over seas. For instance, I got scholarships to play soccer at Indiana and Illinois but I didn't want to leave Texas (my choice), so you know what I did... I went and played at UT. It's not a matter of my skill not being up to the level, it's simply my choice. BTW - This goal is unbelievable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qETrlNYxjyM
mahahaha no you don't. And you don't comprehend the argument. LOL, what? Soccer has been played competitively in the US since the Civil War. There have been periodic major and minor soccer leagues since the 1800's. The US has competed internatioanlly for over 100 years, competing in teh very first World Cup. Hell there have been two major soccer leagues in my lifetime. (the NASL and MLS). Hell if you count the MISL it's three. That's precisely my argument. Wow I must have picked the wrong career. Off to get some 65 million dollar pants.
lol I am enjoying this party... continue, SamFisher... they still don't get it... the stands are empty in so many stadiums in MLS because of things you can't explain to these people... and when a Mexican team comes to play against whoever, they fill up the stands... WHO fills up the stands? Not people born and raised here. When FC Barcelona (SPA) came to play CD America (MEX), who filled the stands? Mexicans.
Don't get me started cause I am going to turn my gun around- Mexico does not maximize it's soccer potential either - the domestic league is too popular over there and some players tend to pull "Landons" like Jared Borgetti did. I supppose it is a tradeoff, you can either keep your players home and have a strong domestic league, or send them abroad and have better players overall but a weaker domestic leauge. Look at the Rafa for example - he's a much better player because he plays at the top level and plays in UEFA championships, etc. If the biggest game he ever played in was a superclasico I donn't think he would be the ultra elite player he became.
Are we talking about Mexicans who live here or Mexicans who were born here? You have a link for such claims? Who was the Mexican player who said they were playing for all the Mexicans living in the U.S.?
If your talking about his spell at Bolton then I don't blame him for leaving. He was hardly used and sat on the bench. But he did give it more of a chance the DL did in Germany.
I understand what I read. That is more than I can say for you. According to the story on the Miracle match, there were hardly more than a handful of people playing soccer in the US back then. Most of them recent immigrants. The sport of soccer has not become popular in the US until the 60s. What? Did you say the US should NOT have the MLS nor should we attempt to prmote soccer or did you not? You must have. Really feel sorry for those you work for.
I am not a big fan of the MLS, mainly b/c the quality of play/skill level is not up to par with the big 3 leagues oversees (EPL, La Liga, Serie A) but I attended many Dynamo games last season and every playoff game, including the final and the atmosphere/excitement level at those games were by far better than most regular season rockets and even some playoff games. To say that the league is a waste of time and not worth keeping around is harsh. I think the league has greatly improved since launching in 96 (I think)-that's only 10 1/2 years. They now have tv deals with ESPN/FSC/Telemundo and are going to attract more stars from oversees just b/c of the Becks deal. I do not think MLS will ever overtake the NFL, NBA, or MLB but what's wrong with it being around as #4? It helps develop younger players and gives young american players an incentive to keep playing through H.S. and college as they can strive to become pros. To say soccer's popularity in America is not growing is ridiculous. I believe the last world cup was the most watched ever in the states, prompting ESPN to broadcast all the European Cup 2008 Live. Just b/c you are an EPL only fan, doesn't mean you need to come in here and bash those who appreciate and enjoy the beautiful game from all over the world. That Mexico vs USA game was one of the more enjoyable games I've watched in ANY sport since the Lebron 48 pt game. People need to quit spewing negativity and bashing things just b/c they don't enjoy it. To me baseball is one of the most boring sports to watch, but I don't go into astros talk and bash their sports for the daily yawners. Baseball is so damm boring even the highlights put me to sleep.
Well I do. I've watched America, Chivas, Pachuca, Tigres, La Maquina, and El Tri. I've been to Friendlies, Interliga, and the Gold Cup. I was born here and raised in Texas, so not sure what you mean. Don't forget about us Mexican Americans.
Sam, why don't you just sit back, take a deep breath, relax yourself, try your best to enjoy this wonderful game and then come back to diss the US soccer again? <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/93OAbxtfphc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/93OAbxtfphc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Mexico pours everything into its soccer program ... its best athletes and pretty much all its resources. In the US, soccer is a minor sport (don't disagree with Sam there) with our best athletes choosing any of many other numerous sports, and yet Mexico STILL can't beat the US. Mexico < U.S. in anything and everything.
I don't think some people can even fathom how tough that shot is. A full volley + high arc + outside the 18 pounded into the upper corner of the net... = one sweet @ss goal!
This is the whole point .. and besides, its not like we are talking about a regular season MLS game here. This was 2 national teams that are obviously not up there with the big boys yet, but the game is still important and both of these teams have the players and ability to make a decent run in the 2010 World Cup which is all really any team outside of the top 5 can really hope for. Should all the countries in Europe stop playing Basketball because they are not the NBA? Of course not.
BINGO! GOOOOOOOOOL! GOOOOOOOL! GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL!!!!!! ESTADOS UNIDOS!!! QUE GOL!!!!!! GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL!!! USA: 2 MEX: 1 That's a 15-1 goals scored run by the USA vs the s...lowly Mexican team.
Surely you joke about the Mexican players doing less over there than the American players, SamFisher. Hugo Sanchez and Rafael Marquez... end of story. I am talking both the ones who live here and the ones who were born here from Mexican parents. I can tell you that if they are 3rd and 4th generation Mexican descendants, they don't follow as much. First and second-generation Mexican or... ok, Hispanic overall... will go to more games. ipaman, you fall into THAT category. RocketManJosh, the only place Mexico can't beat the U.S. is in the U.S. and it has been proven time after time... sponsorship will not be the same in another country, so you won't see the Copa de Oro played in El Salvador or in Cuba ever... you know that. I won't say that wasn't a good goal of the Brazilian playing for y'all, Uprising... that was a great goal. I won't deny it. Even Friedel or Goycochea wouldn't have stopped that awesome shot. He is brazilian-born, after all. The referee helped y'all out with the sissy fall by Ching, which was less of a foul than what Gooch did to Omar Bravo on the push near the end. We weren't getting the same calls. I won't say that Mexico is still doing the same thing: allowing the U.S. & A. to win the counterattack game with LD.
If they were born here how does that make them Mexican? I thought that made them Americans? I'm beyond 3rd or 4th generation and I know a lot of Tejanos who are as well and they watch and play soccer. You are painting with a very broad brush there Swoly. oh really: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=4395/results/matches/match=43950053/report.html I won't say that wasn't a good goal of the Brazilian playing for y'all, Uprising... that was a great goal. I won't deny it. Even Friedel or Goycochea wouldn't have stopped that awesome shot. He is brazilian-born, after all. The referee helped y'all out with the sissy fall by Ching, which was less of a foul than what Gooch did to Omar Bravo on the push near the end. We weren't getting the same calls. I won't say that Mexico is still doing the same thing: allowing the U.S. & A. to win the counterattack game with LD.[/QUOTE]
haha ... swoly doesn't let facts get in the way. I guess that's what you have to resort to when you've been owned time and time again. The thing I dislike is that I really do like swoly. He just fell into the bitter trap that Sam laid and the sting of the loss has caused him to resort to Sam's level. I for one believe that Mexico really is at the level of US National Team soccer despite recent results (it has obviously been more competitive than the results), but I think its funny that lots of Mexican's think their team is head and shoulders better than the US team. That's ok ... The US team doesn't need respect, they only need Ws
