2006 FIFA World Cup
Started by torero
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torero said:
My prognosis: If the US wins the World Cup, it will make, maybe, page 3 in your local sports page.
In America, we have something that those soccer-crazed European and South American countries lack: Options. Our sports landscape is too crowded for what in the end is a really boring 3-hour one-nil snorfest. Many see our (cliched) addiction to youth soccer leagues for 8-year olds as evidence that the US is warming to the sport, but the truth is, nobody cares.
Might as well be curling for me.
Very wrong... the true reason why no one cares in the US is advertisement...
In the last world cup.... US cable companies told FIFA that they would put the world cup fully on TV if and only if FIFA change the rules such that the game is broken into 4 quarters instead of 2 halves.... You know why? So they can run adds in the breaks. FIFA was mad... how can you even call it football if the players don't get tired... you think the players will get tired after 20 minutes running? (You are not even running all of it). The best goals are when both teams are at their last ropes.
FIFA only recently agreed to have TV banners for commercials. Cable companies don't care, they think they can make more money by putting something else on TV... so unless it's the US playing or someone everyone watches, they wont bother. FIFA doesn't care either.. it makes A LOT OF MONEY from the fact that a quarter of the earth human population watches the matches and love them.
Thus.. the US.... will never convert to football watching over American Football watching... and thus people will not care... (You need to be advertised to care.)
Go FIFA! Don't give in to the money grubbing bastards... 😍
In the last world cup.... US cable companies told FIFA that they would put the world cup fully on TV if and only if FIFA change the rules such that the game is broken into 4 quarters instead of 2 halves.... You know why? So they can run adds in the breaks. FIFA was mad... how can you even call it football if the players don't get tired... you think the players will get tired after 20 minutes running? (You are not even running all of it). The best goals are when both teams are at their last ropes.
FIFA only recently agreed to have TV banners for commercials. Cable companies don't care, they think they can make more money by putting something else on TV... so unless it's the US playing or someone everyone watches, they wont bother. FIFA doesn't care either.. it makes A LOT OF MONEY from the fact that a quarter of the earth human population watches the matches and love them.
Thus.. the US.... will never convert to football watching over American Football watching... and thus people will not care... (You need to be advertised to care.)
Go FIFA! Don't give in to the money grubbing bastards... 😍
Faebinder said:
You make a good point. However, I think soccer is too nuianced for the American palate. This is one reason why the sport will never be successful here, in addition to the marketing angle you presented and our crowded and all too accessible sports landscape. We are simple people, really. We enjoy speed, action, and above all else, violence. This is why the NFL is by far the most popular league is this country, and it will stay that way.
Faebinder said:
Fifa is pretty damn money grubbing as is.lol I am in Germany now..they have 16 official sponsors..or something along those lines..none of which are for German beer (went to Budweiser), or german autos (went to Hyndai I think), Coca Cola of course...world cup is the major way fifa makes money. They are charging something like 120 euro for the "official" weltmeisterschaft ball.....I don't care what kind of technology it involves that is pretty ridiculous. I think the major reason really is the fact that all of our best athletes really go to a variet of sports, along with the fact that rules such as offsides really kind of take the fun away from soccer for me. It is fun to watch in large groups (I watched the opening game with a crowd of 10,000 germans yesterday) but it wasn't like awe inspiring for me. It is fun to play...but nothing resembles the feeling of a body crushing underneath me when I hit them with football. I think it is the constant state of suspense that something could happen at anytime as well. With sports like football you get a little bit of a break where your anticipation builds up...soccer, rugby...not so much. IT is just constantly GO GO GO and then as soon as you turn your head around there is a goal..usually an accidental goal that bounced off 9 people before landing in front of the offensive player who kicks it in as if he, himself is surprised.I am almost exhausted of the weltmeisterschaft and it has bareley started..the hype here was killing me.....my prediction Argentina...because I'm tired of hearing about Brazil. Although germany winning would be fun.
Soccer is becoming more popular in the US every year. Look at the press the US team has gotten prior to the WC: covers on SI and ESPN the Magazine, the starting lineup being announced on ESPN, a NY Times WC blog, etc. The fact that US soccer is present in these media entities shows that more people in the US are following soccer.
I agree with above statements that it will be nigh impossible to dethrone MLB, NBA, NFL and NASCAR for American sports interest. However, I could see US Soccer/MLS reaching the level of the NHL as far as popularity is concerned. We won't ever be a "soccer nation" like Brasil or England but I think there is room for another major sport in our pantheon.
I agree with above statements that it will be nigh impossible to dethrone MLB, NBA, NFL and NASCAR for American sports interest. However, I could see US Soccer/MLS reaching the level of the NHL as far as popularity is concerned. We won't ever be a "soccer nation" like Brasil or England but I think there is room for another major sport in our pantheon.
Faebinder said:
Have you every played soccer? I've played soccer and football and believe me, getting a break between plays in football is wonderful. Soccer is just as tiring as any sport with constant motion like basketball or hockey.
pathdawg said:
I grew up in latin america; soccer was the only sport i knew until they started making me play baseball, basketball, and dodgeball during gym. I think the beauty of soccer is no in the scoreline, but in the finer details, ie. the grace, heart, and talent of the players, the strategy, the creativity, the history between the two clubs or nations, etc.
unless one has been watching and/or playing for a long time it is difficult to appreciate these. however i believe that america and canada will learn to do so, and the sport's popularity will grow.
however i agree that other sports/competitions will always be more popular here.
My prediction thus far, although a bit of a stretch, is England vs. Mexico in the final with England prevailing. This is without seeing Italy, Brazil, Czech, USA, etc. play yet, but I think the Brits vs. Mexico would be a great game. Don't forget- US plays Czech Republic tomorrow. 👍 😀 👍
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B
b&ierstiefel
I got 4 cents on Trinidad and Tobago going all the way!
Just to show you how the US doesn't "get" soccor. I have never seen more skilled players play like babies... WOW.
Everyone taking long shots.. No one trying to tackle the Czeqs. I mean come on.. think of it as American Football... you got the ball.. NOW FREAKING RUN!!!
Oh well.. useless... you can't push someone to win when they don't want to win as bad as the other side does. I wonder if their player's income will even drop next year from this loss... See when someone from another country plays awful... usually they end up being ignored by the major leagues and now have to settle for more mediocre pay for playing a half ass game.... These guys played like they had no risk from losing this game.. Pathetic. 😡
Everyone taking long shots.. No one trying to tackle the Czeqs. I mean come on.. think of it as American Football... you got the ball.. NOW FREAKING RUN!!!
Oh well.. useless... you can't push someone to win when they don't want to win as bad as the other side does. I wonder if their player's income will even drop next year from this loss... See when someone from another country plays awful... usually they end up being ignored by the major leagues and now have to settle for more mediocre pay for playing a half ass game.... These guys played like they had no risk from losing this game.. Pathetic. 😡
Prediction- US scores single point in this World Cup by tying Ghana 1-1. Watching that Czech game was like rounding on patients in medicine- will this ever end??? Even without their 6'7" striker for the majority of the game, the Czech's pushed the ball through the last minute. The US team looked like they were bored and did not care to be on the field. No one gets the "Charlie Hustle Award" this week.
Faebinder said:
Uh, have you ever watched a soccer game? This is one of my biggest problems with soccer. Everytime someone hits the ground, they roll around and act like they've shattered their leg. It's a freaking joke and really gets on my nerves. For example, take that giant who was playing for the Czech's. He pulls a hammy and then rolls around like someone has hacked off his leg with a dull machete. Usually the only time you see an American football player carrying on like that is if they've dislocated a knee/elbow or they have a bone sticking out somewhere.
I'll usually tune in for the world cup every 4 years to watch the US games, but in the spectrum of sports, soccer is less entertaining than American football, basketball, baseball, hockey, rugby, lacrosse, etc. That's why Americans don't like to watch it. It has nothing to do with advertising or any other reason. It's a pretty fun sport to play, but it's pure drudgery to sit around and watch.
PS There is an episode of The Simpsons where an exhibition soccer game comes to Springfield. It's classic humor and pretty much sums up American attitudes towards soccer.
CameronFrye said:
What are you talking about? Totally different topics from what I was saying... the faking crap will be spotted by refrees so easy.... I am speaking of when the Czechs had the ball and the US players stood there just watching their players float by. DON'T BE A WUSS... GO AFTER THE BALL... GET SOME CONTACT GOING!
I agree with ELK 100%.. i bet they get 1 point only...
I was discussing this garbage today... My impression is that soccor players in the US are not influenced by loss or win in the world cup. In other countries, getting to the world cup and being one of the primary players is like a ticket to richness and happiness... losing will drop how much money you will make.. I get the impression that the US players are not very pressurized by the money factor and hardly any stardom effect..... hence no true heart to win.
Faebinder said:
I knew what you were talking about. I just used that as a transition point into my view that all soccer players act like babies when on the field. Admittedly, most soccer players have the body habitus of a prepubescent girl, so I guess they can't be blamed too much for not being able to take a good shot.
All that being said, I'll still end up watching the next game, so that I can support my fellow Wahoos. Reyna is a UVA alum and Arena won 5 national titles during his 18 year tenure at UVA.
