Why dont Americans like soccer.

[Scucca]

Sorry Herbert but I've got to get back to more interesting posters.

Hoorah! I knew you'd see sense eventually and stop the nonsensical stalking routine.

I reckon you read about Darren Huckerby and temporarily confused dribble with drivel

 

[Billo_Really]

Give it time.

 

[Scucca]

Give it time.

Quarters with time for telly adverts.

 

[ludahai]

Houston Dynamo rocks.

The Revolution will get you this time ... or become the Buffalo Bills of MLS in the process.

 

[ludahai]

There's less fights...on the green...Americans barely ever fight in the stands. It's a real rareity.

While Latin Americans are far better known for their off the pitch violence, recent events in Italy are a serious cause of concern. I will never forget what I saw when Inter played Milan at the San Siro in a Champion's League match two years ago (maybe three). The officiating was AWFUL - true, but the behavior of the Inter fans was unconsionable.

Also, the racism in European football in recent years is highly disturbing - something that is ALMOST unheard of in North American sports nowadays.

 

[ludahai]

You guys don't have travelling support though.

Who would the fans fight?

Ever been to a game between the Red Sox and the Evil Empire (Yankees)? Plenty of travelling support due to proximity. ALso, when I was a grad student at the University of Georgia, I went to many road games in the SEC. PLenty of road support in SEC football. Never once saw a fight between fans - even when they were in a drunken stupor.

 

[ludahai]

I think he meant in the States. About 70,000 attended a game in LA a few years ago when the Mexican national team was playing some American team. Of course they were nearly all Mexicans and boo'd the American flag and anthem giving soccer a black eye and confirming that having 25 million illegal Mexicans in the country really sucks.

I was at the 1996 Olympics gold medal game in Athens, Georgia and there were nearly 90,000 present. A couple of days earlier, I was at the women's final between the USA and China, and about 76,000 were present. Don't forget also, that the 1994 World Cup in the USA was the best attended World Cup in history, despite the later expansion of the tournament.

 

[ludahai]

I was responding to:




Soccer seems to do it on a grand scale.


It still sucks. Is full of diving babies and is an embarrasment of an activity. :lol:

Soccer is a great sport - however, the dirty play of the Mexicans, the diving of the Brazilians, and the violence of Italian supporters - among other things - takes away from the greatness of the game - but it doesn't mean that it isn't a great game (and I am American by birth)

 

[ludahai]

they aren't really "people"

Exactly the type of response I would expect from an Obama supporter. :doh

 

[ludahai]

I'm not sure wht you mean, but I think I disagree.

The set-up of American sports by and large does make the teams more competitive than in European football.

Especially with Free Agency in North American sports. The US used to have superdominant teams like the Celtics in basketball and the Evil Empire in baseball. However, look at soccer - with Real Madrid just having clinched its gazillionish primera liga title and look at how dominant ManUre (Man U - sorry, I like Arsenal) has been in the English Premiership and how the SPL is always a two horse race between Rangers and Celtic.

I DO like the relegation/promotion system in soccer (and wish baseball and hockey would adopt it along with US soccer), but there are too many superdominant teams in the sport of soccer. Even now in England, it is always a four horse race - no other team gets a chance, and Lyon is about to win its seventh consecutive Championnat title.

 

[ludahai]

Yes, they are. We even have tracks in the north. I used to live 15 minutes from Chicagoland speedway.

Me not liking NASCAR makes me the odd man out.

I grew up less than half an hour from the New Hampshire International Speedway, the biggest center of auto racing (including NASCAR) in New England.

 

[ludahai]

Yeah, so does welding or iron working. Is that a sport?

Tony Stewart doesn't look like an athlete.

David Ortiz doesn't look like an athlete either, but man can he ever hit the rawhide out of a baseball.

 

[Slainte]

While Latin Americans are far better known for their off the pitch violence, recent events in Italy are a serious cause of concern. I will never forget what I saw when Inter played Milan at the San Siro in a Champion's League match two years ago (maybe three). The officiating was AWFUL - true, but the behavior of the Inter fans was unconsionable.

I know the game you're talking about but I think you're being a bit harsh. That wasn't fan on fan violence, Milan and Inter fans actually getting on very well all things considered, they share a stadium for christ sake. It was a group of "ultras" throwing flares onto the pitch and the police seemingly unable to stop them. You get way worse behaviour than that.

Fan violence in Italy is a bigger problem in Rome and in the South, the North is pretty civilised.

Also, the racism in European football in recent years is highly disturbing - something that is ALMOST unheard of in North American sports nowadays.

I agree, but it depends where you go.

Northern Europe has very little racism in football, the South has a bit more and the East still has a lot.

Ever been to a game between the Red Sox and the Evil Empire (Yankees)? Plenty of travelling support due to proximity. ALso, when I was a grad student at the University of Georgia, I went to many road games in the SEC. PLenty of road support in SEC football. Never once saw a fight between fans - even when they were in a drunken stupor.

I'll concede that there is more travelling support than I thought, although still not as much as the UK or most of Europe.

 

[ludahai]

I know the game you're talking about but I think you're being a bit harsh. That wasn't fan on fan violence, Milan and Inter fans actually getting on very well all things considered, they share a stadium for christ sake. It was a group of "ultras" throwing flares onto the pitch and the police seemingly unable to stop them. You get way worse behaviour than that.

I am an Inter supporter and I am disgusted by what I saw. I think it was magnified in the eyes of many due to the magnitude of the match. It was the most important match played between the two in a VERY long time. Most Italian top flight teams have their radical fans. England had this problem twenty years ago, but has largely cleaned up its act. A certain Liverpool incident in Belgium back in the 80s and subsequent ENglish ban from European competition cause the English to change the way they do things. Italy needs to take a serious look at this as well.

Fan violence in Italy is a bigger problem in Rome and in the South, the North is pretty civilised.

Agreed, especially in Sicily.


I agree, but it depends where you go.

Northern Europe has very little racism in football, the South has a bit more and the East still has a lot.

Yeah, Spain and Italy are pretty bad. There have been bad episodes in the Czech republic and some Balkan countries as well.

I'll concede that there is more travelling support than I thought, although still not as much as the UK or most of Europe.

You also have to remember the geography. How far is it for a ManUre fan to travel to London for an away date at Arsenal or Chelsea? When the Red Sox play the Angels or Mariners, that is a cross-continental trip. However, for regional rivalries (especially in US football, which is played on Saturdays or Sundays - college and pro), there is plenty of travelling support.

 

[Slainte]

I am an Inter supporter and I am disgusted by what I saw. I think it was magnified in the eyes of many due to the magnitude of the match. It was the most important match played between the two in a VERY long time. Most Italian top flight teams have their radical fans. England had this problem twenty years ago, but has largely cleaned up its act. A certain Liverpool incident in Belgium back in the 80s and subsequent ENglish ban from European competition cause the English to change the way they do things. Italy needs to take a serious look at this as well.

The structure of the clubs in Italy makes it really hard to go after the "ultras" though. Any Club President who tried wouldn't be President very long, those groups have a special place inside the clubs, you'd have to totally reform the structure of the clubs to get rid of them. At the same time if you did get rid of the ultras football would lose some of it's atmosphere and passion. What you really want is for those groups to start to moderate themselves, so they still come to the game hours in advance, prepare the spectacular displays and sing all game, but don't get in fights after the game.

Germany IMO has the best footballing atmosphere in Europe, devoted fans, little violence and cheap beer :mrgreen: .

Yeah, Spain and Italy are pretty bad. There have been bad episodes in the Czech republic and some Balkan countries as well.

Try Russia:

Dick Advocaat has revealed in a Russian interview that he was unable to recruit Brazilian players because the first question Zenit fans asked when a signing was imminent was: "Is he black?"

The former Holland boss added that he would have to ask his fan's permission before buying a black player - and that they were unlikely to give it.

"I would be happy to sign anyone, but the fans don't like black players," he revealed.

Zenit fans are racist, admits Dick Advocaat - Football News - Telegraph

 

[ludahai]

I know I am jumping into this thread late. I am American-born and I straddle the fence on this sports issue as my favorite sports are soccer and baseball.

As a kid, I loved playing baseball the most, and I was a pretty decent pitcher in Little League, but I couldn't hit a baseball to save my life. I was MUCH better at soccer and played at a very high level.

I love the passion and tactics of soccer. I watch the match, watch the runs, passes, etc. and critically analyze everything I see. At its best, soccer really is a beautiful game.

I also love baseball, but for different reasons. The tactics behind every pitch, to swing or not to swing, try to steal, hit and run, defensive formations (i.e the Ortiz or Giambi shift), international walks, etc. It is a thinking man's game. Many EUropeans don't understand it.

Living in Taiwan, people here understand baseball very well. One of the best pitchers in MLB is Taiwanese and Taiwan is one of the big three in the Asia region. Unfortunately, people here don't like soccer as much as in the rest of Asia.

Sorry for the random thoughts - back to your regularly scheduled Americans bash Europeans - Europeans bash Americans thread.

 

[ludahai]

The structure of the clubs in Italy makes it really hard to go after the "ultras" though. Any Club President who tried wouldn't be President very long, those groups have a special place inside the clubs, you'd have to totally reform the structure of the clubs to get rid of them. At the same time if you did get rid of the ultras football would lose some of it's atmosphere and passion. What you really want is for those groups to start to moderate themselves, so they still come to the game hours in advance, prepare the spectacular displays and sing all game, but don't get in fights after the game.

There have been calls for the government to get involved, but as usual, the Italian government is dragging its feet on the issue. As for fan atmosphere, take a look at college football in the US South. Fans show up for hours before the game, tailgate - even on the opposing school's campus, shout, yell, drum up school spirit, show up to the game, and even with some of the most heated rivalries in U.S. college football that exists in the SEC, I have NEVER witnessed a violent episode between fans of opposing teams. It is one big party in which both sides enjoy themselves, shout things at one another, but everyone hopes everyone else has fun. I had been given beer by fans at Auburn, Tennessee, and by Florida fans at the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party - and I had done the same for fans of rival teams. It is fun. Italian football needs to take a similar attitude.

Germany IMO has the best footballing atmosphere in Europe, devoted fans, little violence and cheap beer :mrgreen: .

Never been. I have been to a Barca game at the Nou camp, Marseille, and Inter at home. I hope now to make it to Arsenal at some point (I am trying for next year - though that is a REAL tough ticket these days.)

Try Russia:

Dick Advocaat has revealed in a Russian interview that he was unable to recruit Brazilian players because the first question Zenit fans asked when a signing was imminent was: "Is he black?"

The former Holland boss added that he would have to ask his fan's permission before buying a black player - and that they were unlikely to give it.

"I would be happy to sign anyone, but the fans don't like black players," he revealed.

Zenit fans are racist, admits Dick Advocaat - Football News - Telegraph

Which is unfortunate because Russia is a rising force in the world of European football.

 

[Ethereal]

I like soccer alright. I can't watch anything but the World Cup though. I always root for Ireland and Scotland because that's my nationality, I hate the American soccer team, they blow.

But if you want to see the best fans in the world you can find them at Wrigley Field in Chicago Illinois. World Series 2008!

Nobody gets this crazy...

YouTube - KOSUKE FUKUDOME lst HOME RUN

 

[Jerry]

really? soccer is in constant motion, football has like a 1/10 action/preperation ratio.

Philly's getting a MLS team, i'm excited.

Football is boring also. As is golf and baseball.

 

[ludahai]

I
But if you want to see the best fans in the world you can find them at Wrigley Field in Chicago Illinois. World Series 2008!

Where is the goat? Red Sox - REPEAT! REPEAT!

 

[Ethereal]

No-no, my friend, the stars have aligned; this is our year.

 

[ludahai]

No-no, my friend, the stars have aligned; this is our year.

Don't get me wrong - I would LOVE to see the Cubbies up against our Beantown boys in the World Series - then to meet the same fate the Rockies did last year.