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Sixpipes
06-22-2010, 12:03 AM
is a great starting sport for kids. Kids don't have to be terribly skilled to enjoy the game and both girls and boys can play on the same team. Lets the little buggers burn off energy that could be used destructively around the house. It was the first team sport my boys ever played and they were better than average at it. But even at an early age, it was a boring sport. No doubt skill is required at higher levels. If you aren't very good at the basic American sports, then soccer might be for you.

I'm keeping up with the World Cup mainly because I work for a European owned company and they have posted a World Cup "Football" bracket on our world-wide portal. Never mind that an American Football pot and the NCAA basketball bracket thing is against company policy.

So I started doing a little research into World Cup soccer. I must say, I never noticed how many countries seem to be happy with a tie. As Bear Bryant once said, "A tie is like kissing your sister". Slowly I began to realize that soccer IS the perfect game for most European countries particularly because most men from these countries are a bunch of pussies. I know getting kicked in the chins hurts a bit, but I do not believe it is cause for the dramatics I have seen so far in the tournament. Take a size ten in the nuts and then you may have something to roll around on the turf about.

I think it is really cool to have a US team representing our country, particularly because soccer is a second class sport in this country (professionally speaking) and our team has represented itself very well so far. I would like to see them get out of their group and in to the elimination round, but I won't call in sick to work if they don't make it (unlike most Euros).

I have made friends from a number of different countries in my current job and I don't want to cast aspersions on anyone just because they aren't from the good ole USA. However, I have been seeing signs in this country that are very disconcerting and make me gravely concerned about the direction we are heading. When this country starts supporting soccer as a major sport, you'll know we have fallen in line with the rest of the world. You heard it here first.

I hope it will not be a problem in our culture for guys to be repulsed at the thought of kissing their sisters. Competition is a healthy thing because someone wins and some one loses (unless you happen to be playing soccer). It encourages those that win to work harder to stay on top and also does the same for the loser, who works extra hard to overcome their opponent at the next opportunity. Baseball, football (no wonder we dislike the BCS system), basketball, tennis, and virtually every other sport in the country (Hockey being a notable exception, but hey, it's a Canadian sport) is based on winning and losing and the potential benefit of hard work and sacrifice to achieve a goal. I saw a draw the other night on the WEC and because nobody won, the crowd booed their disapproval. Is this a great country or what?

The chaos that is becoming the World Cup is just the reflection of a world that believes they're entitled to a reward without sacrifice, IMO. What a pathetic scene this is becoming. The French are living up to their heritage and the British press is crucifying anyone and everyone that has anything to do with their team. High international drama maybe, but definitely not what I would call sport. :cool:

Sixpipes
06-22-2010, 03:42 PM
Just a follow up....real classy. :rolleyes:

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/france-s-big-shame-dissing-the-world-cup--fbintl_ro-france062210.html

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Domenech-refuses-to-shake-Parriera-s-hand-wags-?urn=sow,250450

Shiner1
06-22-2010, 04:31 PM
Well said Dennis. When I lived in England I watched games pretty often and enjoyed it then. I'm not a big fan of the US outdoor game. My oldest son plays coed in-door and I find that very interesting to watch as the game is much faster and the scores for the most part are higher. I also have a horse in the race so that may be the difference. But I feel that way about all sports. I have to have some interest in the game in order to not be bored (Mavs, Cowboys, etc..) I can't watch sports for the sake of watching sports. But that's just my opinion, each to their own.

gbgary
06-23-2010, 10:32 PM
there are dog-ass players and teams in u.s. sports too. cheating coaches and athletic departments, drugs, crimes of every sort, greed and violence. fans get just as stupid here as they do in other countries. the world's game has it's faults but it's due to the same human failures that plague just about every walk of life.

call it football, footbol, soccer or whatever...
i love it! my stepson was a star on his high school, club, and college teams and is a full-time youth coach. i'm a huge manchester united fan. love the world cup and have been surprised the u.s. has done as well as it has considering their defense. england (who have my favorite player...wayne rooney) have been horrible but advance none the less. the win today gives the u.s. a very favorable draw avoiding argentina, germany, portugal, and spain. if it comes to it they may have to play brazil though. the last time they played, the u.s. actually had a two goal lead on brazil before giving up the lead and losing in the confederations cup final.



sDnYv5FgFPw

COME ON USA!!

Sixpipes
06-23-2010, 10:52 PM
Yeah, actually ate a little crow today. Seems when its win or go home, the game elevates a bit. The US match today was one of the more exciting soccer matches I have ever seen. Refs almost cost them another win, but the boys kept the heat on until it payed off. The knockout rounds will be good as teams have to win to move to the next round. The Group matches have been dreadful for the most part. :cool:

Really figured I could get somebody stirred up with my opening post, but I guess not. :evil

Watched ESPN's 30 for 30 show on Colombian soccer from the late 80s/early 90s called "The Two Escobars". Awesome documentary.

BC Lightning
06-24-2010, 08:46 AM
To me, soccer is something for people to do who can't play a real sport :icon_mrgreen:

98Cobra
06-24-2010, 10:18 AM
Yeah, actually ate a little crow today. Seems when its win or go home, the game elevates a bit. The US match today was one of the more exciting soccer matches I have ever seen. Refs almost cost them another win, but the boys kept the heat on until it payed off. The knockout rounds will be good as teams have to win to move to the next round. The Group matches have been dreadful for the most part. :cool:

Really figured I could get somebody stirred up with my opening post, but I guess not. :evil

Watched ESPN's 30 for 30 show on Colombian soccer from the late 80s/early 90s called "The Two Escobars". Awesome documentary.

Yea, yesterday's match was really great. I am looking forward to Saturday!

99WhiteBeast
06-24-2010, 03:41 PM
I played a little soccer growing up along with the mainstream sports. Soccer did not get big in this country for kids and girls especially till the late 90's with Women's team winning a gold medal in the Olympics (96/00) the world cup in 99.

I never really followed it or cared for it much till I married in to it. For the past 5 years I've been immersed in it and enjoy watching it if it is competitive (club or HS) soccer.

The two things I dislike about soccer are the TIE's and the Penalty Kicks especially those that decide the final outcome of a game.

When my girls play and they get a TIE they consider it a loss and are dejected.

I love how the sport has helped them to be confident, committed and have very good sportsmanship. There are truly some subjective and BS calls that decide the game but that can happen in most sports.

To say its not a real sport I would disagree. These are some of the most well conditioned athletes of any sport. It also gets very physical at times and the older the girls get this is even more apparent.

Sixpipes
06-24-2010, 05:28 PM
The World Cup teams are supposed to have the most talented players in the world. So how does this happen?

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/video/y-sports-coverage-19013964/#video=20516953

dboat
06-24-2010, 06:52 PM
The World Cup teams are supposed to have the most talented players in the world. So how does this happen?

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/video/y-sports-coverage-19013964/#video=20516953

Even the best can have an off day..

Dana

gbgary
06-24-2010, 07:03 PM
The World Cup teams are supposed to have the most talented players in the world.

yes in that all the best players in the world are playing but team-wise not even close. these world cup teams are made up of each country's best players...that want to play for their country. some teams may only have one world class player, some three or four, some none...like the u.s.. donovan, dempsy and howard are good but not world class. most first division club teams from england, spain, germany or italy, could can beat any country's national team.

Yakubu, who missed that "sitter", plays for everton of the english premier league (the same team that howard plays for). he's scored over a hundred goals for the three teams he's played for in that league alone.

99WhiteBeast
06-25-2010, 10:32 AM
The World Cup teams are supposed to have the most talented players in the world. So how does this happen?

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/video/y-sports-coverage-19013964/#video=20516953

Wow- that is bad.

gbgary
06-26-2010, 04:09 PM
dang it!

had a good run but it's over now. come on wayne rooney and england.

Sixpipes
06-26-2010, 07:49 PM
Yep. was hoping they could get through to the quarters, but the skill level was just not there. Can't complain about the effort and the hustle though. The South American teams look pretty strong as a group. :cool: