I <3 watching Ronaldinho play ball. If you like those tricks, you'll love this 17 year old Brazilian named Kerlon - he does a seal dribble in the middle of the game. Makes a run at an opponent, flicks the ballup to his head, and then juggles the ball on his head while at full sprint. It's amazing to watch, and impossible to defend against. I was watching a compiliation of some of his highlights and one time, he flipped it onto his head, accelerated around an opponent and the defender just kicked him full on in the stomach. Which was infinitely funnier than I described it. Kerlon plays for Cruzeiro, if I recall correctly.
Here's the clip of that, it looks like it was during South America's U-17 tournement. http://www.aftonbladet.se/atv/player.html?catID=26&clipID=557 Here's another of him doing it in a different game. http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=wQQ6BojOw6k&search=kerlon
Very well put, fully agree. Soccer is one of those sports that you don't really fully appreciate unless you're a knowledgeable fan, unless you understand its intrinsic beauty; Same could be said of Baseball. If you're a 'casual' fan, it will be difficult to truly appreciate soccer. I agree on the basketball part as well, I think the reason why basketball is catching on as a global sport is because of many of the same reasons why soccer is so popular. I honestly believe that the ONLY sport that has the potential of even coming close to challenging soccer a hundred years from now is basketball. Another interesting thing is that if you ask most foreigners who come into this country (and are for the most part deprived of their soccer fix that they grew accustomed to) what sport they would watch if not soccer, almost every time you will hear them answer "basketball". Have you ever watched Hakeem Olajuwon's breathtaking moves and footwork? Well, that was heavily due to the fact that he played soccer as a youngster and it benefited his career in another sport (basketball); Steve Nash has similarily benefited from his knowledge of soccer and implemented it in his basketball game. I think both soccer and basketball are just skillful, beautiful sports, so no wonder that they are the most popular.
To each his own. Americans prefer football, baseball, basketball, golf, etc. . . over soccer. So what, it doesn't make soccer any less of a sport, and it surely doesn't make Americans more ignorant or whatever else you like to call them. American's are busy people, we work hard. There are alot of options that compete for our entertainment dollar. Soccer is a wonderful sport. Don't be so insecure about it, always trying to hype it up and then call those who don't like it -- "ignorant" In fact I've seen you write how much hate the "Lastros" and "boringball" in reference to our beloved 'Stros. What would one say about you. Don't spit on my sport and then cry that Soccer doesn't get any respect.
When that goal hapened, (i was watcing the game with a couple of my friends at m parents house) i jumped up and started celebrating, after the game two friends and i noticed blood on our hands, we al jumped up so high that our hands hit the ceiling. and we didn't even notice it because of our joy. Bergkamp has made some goals that are just unbelievable. I agree with tigermission1 that yo have to know the game to apreciate it, just like baseball. I know a lot of people who think baseball is boring, but if you get to know the game it is great fun to watch.
You're right, I have an ignorant opinion of baseball because I dislike it so much and I don't refer to the sport as "Boring ball" anymore because to each his own. In my defense though, unlike most americans' attitude towards soccer, I have given baseball a chance and have TRIED to follow it in the 15 years I have lived here and just could not get into it. I can understand why people love baseball, and I now respect that, but I can NOT sit there and watch more than 1 or 2 innings of a game (it is too slow). The thing I don't get is how people can hate on soccer and say it is boring but LOVE nascar, golf, bowling, and horse racing. Oh well, to each his own I guess.
I think it has to do with the passion the country has for the sport and the level of respect the players get from their countrymen (they're worshipped like gods) that drives these young kids to succeed. Also, Brazil is sooooo poor and some of these kids live in such unimaginable conditions that futbol is the only way to get out of the poverty and violence that surrounds them. From Pele to Ronaldo, to Rivaldo to Romario, all of them and many of the other greats grew up in the poorest parts of Brazil.
I agree. Football is so easy to play... a lot of Brazilian kids make their own even and just play in massive matches on the streets. Seeing that it has such a popular base already, that's what most kids tend to play. They also don't exactly have computer games or sports that require facilities as alternatives.
