I love it. always have, but I don't see how it's going to catch on with people that don't like it. That U.S team of 2002 was awesome. I had all three donovan jerseys, and well.. here we are again having that argument if it will catch on with real americans.
score doesnt mean anything in terms of how exciting a game is. a close basketball game in the 70s is just as exciting as in the 120s. if both teams are competing hard score doesnt matter much.
Found a couple videos of the moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfS9kbyfiMM (at a bar) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVNIXNvajUo (some kids at a house)
Please give me the average height/weight of a soccer player. And you're going to tell me they don't look like average dudes? Getting ****ing real. At no point did I say they are not athletes. I said they are not raw/explosive athletes and when people disagreed I said maybe I have a different definition of what explosive or raw means. The next time I see a soccer player bench 400lb or with a 40 inch vertical it will be the first time. Those two things are not the end-all, be-all to athleticism but I've said throughout this thread that's what I want from the athletes in the sports I watch. Thus the reason I enjoy basketball and football the most I suppose.
Just to add, I was having a slightly heated conversation with my future brother-in-law over soccer and much like soccer fans on this forum he just can't accept that I don't like soccer. One of his arguments was "you look like a soccer player!" I'm 5'9" and 165lb. Pretty average.
I am willing to bet any amount of money that there is no player in any other sport with size of Roberto Carlos's legs. I remember watching a game when he played for Real Madrid where he shot a FK and it hit the defender in the wall. The player had to be carted off and taken to the hospital.
Yeah, I just can't identify with this at all. Even in sports like the NBA, I'm more interested in the skill (the part that requires practice) than the natural athleticism, height, or bulk (which can be achieved through steroids and god knows how many other legal "enhancing" drugs). But to each his own.
Some of these players can squat through the roof and are much stronger than the average person. Onyewu is a beast. Your comments are downright silly.
Yes, soccer players can pretty small and are average in height in weight and in fact Messi is the best soccer player in the world and he's 5'5. That doesen't mean they're average people, great soccer players are usually magical with their footwork since they can walk. Lawrence Taylor would never take the ball away from Maradona without tackling him or using his hands, actually not even. Never. Elusiveness, speed, strength.. So much things your underestimating incredibly. <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GyPXm_DX2wI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GyPXm_DX2wI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
Dave78- I think you're just equating size/height with athleticism, which comes from years of watching NBA/NFL. At 5'9", if you're name is not Maurice Jones-Drew or Nate Robinson, good luck making it in either one of those leagues.
I started following the WC in '06. I am also watching this year. I respect the game and its athletes......however, it still has not convinced me to follow the MLS and international soccer. I think the reasoning behind it is the American elitist in me wanting to make all the other countries look like fools... Same reason I root for our gymnasts and figure skaters in the Olympics. All I am going to say is I really feel like I got jobbed when I spend 90 minutes watching a game and it ends in a tie. I mean, if I actually played in the game I would be even more pissed......why play if nobody wins???? What is the point?? C'mon dude......you can't tell me there aren't a few athletes you wouldn't want to chunk a nice fat urine bomb at. My list would start at Kirilenko and end somewhere around Curt Schilling. That probably has more to do with the fact that it is of the least expensive sports to play. Not the exponential growth in the sport as you are insinuating....
This is basically it. American love offense. Simple as that. And I'm not even discrediting it as a valid reason. That's just what we are programmed to like. It's definitely a better reason than general American elitism, which I'd guess is responsible for the majority of the dislike for the game. There was a lot of talk about the NBA going downhill a few years ago simply because the scoring was going down thanks to more focus on defensive philosophies.
Except for the most important fact that in the basketball game there is always a winner and a loser.....
I'm sure many (if not most of these guys) have impressive squat numbers. They just don't have the total package of athleticism I like when I watch a sport and if they do they certainly do not display it (probably has something to do with not using their arms).
I tell you soccer guys what, if any of you watch World Cup or whatever in the West or Northwest Houston area at a bar or pub or whatever let me know and I'll see about attending. I'll give soccer another try and maybe having some of you diehards around will help me appreciate the sport better.
See now, that's a totally different attitude (assuming you're not being sarcastic), if you would've come in this thread like that, maybe us soccer fans wouldn't of completely bombed you. The US is generally a exciting team to watch actually. Saturday. Ghana vs. US, cheer your country on.
