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[woodchuck]

Soccer's way on the bottom. Most kids get into Rugby or AFL at a young age before even thinking of soccer. I'm not being homophobic here, but this country definately goes by the mentality that 'soccer is gay!'

1. Rugby League
2. AFL
3. Rugby Union
4. Basketball (Has much more kids playing)
5. Soccer (10 thousand people in a 50 thousand seater stadium, for our typical a league, enough said)

But I suppose a lot of American players go to college and do the NFL route but for Soccer. They just don't end up that big. Australians are out of the country by 16 and forget any education. You never know, David Moyes may have started a revolution by signing all of your college boys, I can hope! :lol

ah, i'd have thought cricket would be more popular too since you guys seem to always dominate in that

 

[Desi]

The sport that nobody plays?

Oh and seriously American Handegg is pretty weak compared to Rugby.

is that shit in his pants? so hard he shat himself to the max?

The USA has a population of 300 million people.

I'll use the Premier League as an example. AMERICAN players who play in the EPL are Tim Howard, Spector, Dempsey and Guzan. Two of them are goalkeepers.

Australia, a country with 26 million people, has Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer, Vincenzo Grella, Brett Emerton and Richard Garcia play in the best league in the world.

Now outside the premier league, you have your Darmacus Beasley's and your Landon Donovan's, we have our Harry Kewell's and Mark Bresciano's. Argue players all you want, but with your population, you'd think you'd be considerably outshining countries like us.

k, so all you are saying that if we tried to support soccer we would stomp all over ya'll? hypothetically of course.

 

[AntoneM]

As others have said, it doesn't cripple the player, it'd be terribly unfair to the defense to not have offsides. Imagine some dude sitting in the endzone, waiting for the ball to be snapped so he can make a quick break on the safety and get an easy 30-40 yards. Anyway, every single sport requires a hell of a lot of athleticism, but soccer is one of the few sports that requires you not only be in amazing shape, but also requires people to improvise on the spot. There's a lot of finesse in soccer, and it is totally disregarded by people who don't really understand the game. You don't need strength, at least in the same way as most american sports, so it gets some bias in that regard, but there's no real equivalent for the ridiculous footwork soccer players have.

Honestly, I don't care what people like, I'm actually a big fan of american football, and enjoy hockey too. But most people that shit on soccer are fucking idiots. It may not ever be big in america, and that's fine, but it's a wonderful sport anyway

you mean like Hockey and Basketball, and even to some extent Football?

I agree that in many cases the more athletic team in soccer will lose to the more knowledgeable team, meaning that a team that has more athletic talent versus a team that is simply is better at playing the game. but to be honest, that is true of all popular sports. This is not a unique situation to soccer/football. This is why upsets happen and upset are probably the best thing in sports.

 

[harSon]

ONLY if they learned how to play in Europe or South America.

If they learned how to play in the US, those guys wouldn't be able to do shit on the pitch. The US doesn't teach technical ability. They may be able fly around on the field, but they wouldn't be able to do shit with the ball.



you should check out what the two biggest threads in the OT are

I think our biggest problem is that our biggest sports pool (lower class urban youth) have absolutely ZERO interest in Soccer.

 

[`Moe Joe.]

ah, i'd have thought cricket would be more popular too since you guys seem to always dominate in that

Oops forgot Cricket. Put it at number 2.

 

[DJ_Tet]

Yeah but then Americans would need to watch La Liga not the Premier League.

I figured someone would have something to say about that :lol

As long as we can watch the best I think it could work. If it's La Liga so be it!

 

[Kyoufu]

I think its pretty funny douchebags are saying "lol soccer" just because their country sucks ass at it.

Personally, as a European I find American Football to be superior. Why? Because unlike Soccer you can make some great TV drama out of it. Case in point: Friday Night Lights.

 

[ATF487]

um, how is a save more impressive? he gets a hand on the ball. the guy on the bucs gets a hand on it as well, but he pulls it in for a catch with his qb on the run. keep in mind he's wearing a helmet, padding etc. the soccer dude ain't wearing shit and gets a hand on the ball

and that play i showed you probably wouldn't make a top 50 catches of 2008. just using it to prove a point.

You're missing the point entirely. I know I can kick a ball around 60 or so mph, I'm sure some of the harder strikes can be over 80mph. It's difficult to get a hand on the ball when it's coming at you at that speed, and it's difficult when a ball is bending and curving.

It's like saying hitting a baseball is easy. It's only going 90mph, why is that a skill? :lol

 

[dorkimoe]

ONLY if they learned how to play in Europe or South America.

If they learned how to play in the US, those guys wouldn't be able to do shit on the pitch. The US doesn't teach technical ability. They may be able fly around on the field, but they wouldn't be able to do shit with the ball.



you should check out what the two biggest threads in the OT are

That doesn't tell me what country they are posting from.

 

[kingkitty]

Sure, America lost to Mexico.

But America did beat Spain and I hear Spain is pretty good. And they almost beat Brazil and I hear Brazil is pretty good too.

So while the Mexican defeat is quite gnarly, I think the way America handled itself against Spain and Brazil gives me hope that maybe the team will give a better showing at the world cup.

 

[Kozak]

ah, i'd have thought cricket would be more popular too since you guys seem to always dominate in that

as far as im concerned everyone except old folks find that sport boring. I'm sure we'll even have some Indians in our national cricket team sooner or later due to diminishing interest.

You're missing the point entirely. I know I can kick a ball around 60 or so mph, I'm sure some of the harder strikes can be over 80mph. It's difficult to get a hand on the ball when it's coming at you at that speed, and it's difficult when a ball is bending and curving.

It's like saying hitting a baseball is easy. It's only going 90mph, why is that a skill? :lol

Exactly. But you know to Americans this requires no skill at all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-662gMmgQh4

 

[DY_nasty]

I think our biggest problem is that our biggest sports pool (lower class urban youth) have absolutely ZERO interest in Soccer.

They don't even have a role model...

The last big thing I remember hearing about US Soccer (not counting the US Women's Soccer team) was the second coming of Pele, Freddy Adu. And I think we've all been thoroughly disappointed.

 

[Narag]

You're missing the point entirely. I know I can kick a ball around 60 or so mph, I'm sure some of the harder strikes can be over 80mph. It's difficult to get a hand on the ball when it's coming at you at that speed, and it's difficult when a ball is bending and curving.

It's like saying hitting a baseball is easy. It's only going 90mph, why is that a skill? :lol

Its not a good comparison anyhow. QB in the vid wouldn't throw as hard as he could, his target is far smaller and mobile, and the receiver was under duress. Goalkeeper knows he's the only person between the ball and the goal when it matters and he's not about to get hassled like an NFL player would.

 

[DJ_Tet]

you mean like Hockey and Basketball, and even to some extent Football?

I agree that in many cases the more athletic team in soccer will lose to the more knowledgeable team, meaning that a team that has more athletic talent versus a team that is simply is better at playing the game. but to be honest, that is true of all popular sports. This is not a unique situation to soccer/football. This is why upsets happen and upset are probably the best thing in sports.

Most complain about the lack of scoring in soccer but to me that means a big/huge upset can happen more often than say in basketball or football. This is especially true in pro basketball, baseball and hockey because of the way the series are set up.

The random aspect in soccer is so fascinating because it would never be tolerated in an American sport. Particularly the 'draws' for the World Cup, a team can be totally doomed if they start out in a bad division. A situation where 3 out of 4 teams might be Top 5 in the world, it happens. If the NCAA Basketball tournament threw three #1 seeds in the same bracket people here would flip out :lol

That combined with the scarcity of goals does give a whole new meaning to 'any given day' though.

 

[Kozak]

They don't even have a role model...

The last big thing I remember hearing about US Soccer (not counting the US Women's Soccer team) was the second coming of Pele, Freddy Adu. And I think we've all been thoroughly disappointed.

You know Adu is only 20..his career hasn't even started.

Its not a good comparison anyhow. QB in the vid wouldn't throw as hard as he could, his target is far smaller and mobile, and the receiver was under duress. Goalkeeper knows he's the only person between the ball and the goal when it matters and he's not about to get hassled like an NFL player would.

....

Now imagine covering that final net. By yourself.

 

[jakncoke]

:lol

who?? who has easily broken into the NFL from your country? i can't even think of any great foreign players in the NFL off the top of my head, so enlighten me

ya seriously, can't think of any either.

 

[DY_nasty]

You're missing the point entirely. I know I can kick a ball around 60 or so mph, I'm sure some of the harder strikes can be over 80mph. It's difficult to get a hand on the ball when it's coming at you at that speed, and it's difficult when a ball is bending and curving.

It's like saying hitting a baseball is easy. It's only going 90mph, why is that a skill? :lol

Goalies don't have to run down a field with a DB and Safety draped all over them. They don't wear pads, they don't get their chests caved in.

I don't know why you'd think catching a football is cake. Broken fingers didn't break themselves.

 

[`Moe Joe.]

Most complain about the lack of scoring in soccer but to me that means a big/huge upset can happen more often than say in basketball or football. This is especially true in pro basketball, baseball and hockey because of the way the series are set up.

The random aspect in soccer is so fascinating because it would never be tolerated in an American sport. Particularly the 'draws' for the World Cup, a team can be totally doomed if they start out in a bad division. A situation where 3 out of 4 teams might be Top 5 in the world, it happens. If the NCAA Basketball tournament threw three #1 seeds in the same bracket people here would flip out :lol

That combined with the scarcity of goals does give a whole new meaning to 'any given day' though.

Exactly.

Football goals are like a pressure cooker waiting to go off.

After 30 long minutes of intense waiting and being scared, bang, the goal finally comes; and you feel a relief like no other. Same goes for equalizing.

The reason I don't like sports like Rugby is because its just 'oh hay, now we have 40 points'

 

[DY_nasty]

You know Adu is only 20..his career hasn't even started.

Screw that. Americans don't like wasted hype. Lebron, as much as I hate his game, lived up to it. Adu? He's been on ESPN Top 10 like twice...

 

[Kozak]

Goalies don't have to run down a field with a DB and Safety draped all over them. They don't wear pads, they don't get their chests caved in.

I don't know why you'd think catching a football is cake. Broken fingers didn't break themselves.

Exactly goalies don't have protection at all. Thats why its more risky being a goalkeeper. They literally put their lives on the line.

Ever heard of Petr Cech? No of course you haven't. He put his life on the line to save a ball and he almost died. He now has a permanently soft skull and must wear head gear for all games.

Screw that. Americans don't like wasted hype. Lebron, as much as I hate his game, lived up to it. Adu? He's been on ESPN Top 10 like twice...

ESPN top 10 :lol Cause thats what measures an athletes quality. Seriously Americans won't even hear about Adu now that hes in Europe. Hes probably happy that he left too.

 

[Narag]

Exactly goalies don't have protection at all.

Did the protective gloves fall out of fashion?

 

[Tornado Condor]

I was watching the game and USA got fucking raped. I kinda felt bad.

VIVA MEXICO!

 

[Kozak]

Did the protective gloves fall out of fashion?

If you could call that protection :lol They still break fingers and wrists. Its only there to prevent numbing.

 

[Rewrite]

Too bad Mexico beat us. I guess I will just have to take solace in the fact that the US is not a third world country.

I don't usually say anything negative to another user here, but fuck you. And no, I don't believe your whole 'I was only being sarcastic' bullshit.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Thats HORRIBLE logic.

Australia has 26 million people and the best basketball player they produced is Matt Carroll. Across the US, high school soccer is looked at like a joke. As in, "Damn son! You didn't make the basketball team so you gotta play soccer huh?" or "Dang, I guess you ain't big enough to play football so that only leaves soccer".

And comparing athletes between sports isn't that big of a problem as long as your basing all of your arguments on athleticism. Plenty of high school recruits are seen as top 100 players in the country in several sports because they display the kind of ability that can cross over.

Look at some of the larger club markets, the contracts they get are absolutely ridiculous. And unlike Kobe, they reach a much broader audience because of soccer so their endorsements are that much more ridiculous.

Actually if you want to make money, be a golfer.

Top 50 American Athlete Earners: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/2009/
Top 20 International Athlete Earners: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/2009/index.20.html

Note that the international side includes: Yao Ming, Ichiro Suzuki, & Dirk Norwitzki, all of whom play in American leagues. You should probably still throw David Beckham in for right now, but that's probably not going to last the year. Other questionables include Vijay Singh & Sergio Garcia (I don't know if they play the American or European Tour more).

 

[DY_nasty]

Exactly goalies don't have protection at all. Thats why its more risky being a goalkeeper. They literally put their lives on the line.

Ever heard of Petr Cech? No of course you haven't. He put his life on the line to save a ball and he almost died. He now has a permanently soft skull and must wear head gear for all games.

How did he get hurt? Unless someone intentionally kicked him in the head, I can't be impressed. At least two NFL players are guaranteed to leave motionless on a stretcher every season.

At least I try and look at sports outside the US every once in a while, you just seem to kind of ignore the fact that Vince Carter put his arm in a rim.

 

[kIdMuScLe]

Was there even one american on this forum that knew* about this game?



*cared

don't get me wrong i loved soccer as a kid. But in America most of us could care less and the fact every time this happens my mexican friend feels the need to rub it in and laugh at the USA.

fuck i didn't care... the only player i knew on there was Brian Ching but he was just using this game as a rehab and fuck i think the rest of the players are either high school or college players... not even MLS pro players man.

 

[DY_nasty]

ESPN top 10 :lol Cause thats what measures an athletes quality. Seriously Americans won't even hear about Adu now that hes in Europe. Hes probably happy that he left too.

He didn't do shit here! Even while playing in the shitty MLS. If he's happy that he's gone, then so are we. We'll only speak of him if he becomes great.

 

[Verano]

I don't usually say anything negative to another user here, but fuck you. And no, I don't believe your whole 'I was only being sarcastic' bullshit.

I'm Mexican and that was offensive as well as uncalled for. What a jerk though.

Did you watch the game Rewry!?

 

[Narag]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPdaRFDCm8Q


Is that the Petr Cech injury? He got kicked in the head? :lol

Clint Malarchuk
Here's a proper injury and its kind of nsfw.

 

[Kozak]

He didn't do shit here! Even while playing in the shitty MLS. If he's happy that he's gone, then so are we. We'll only speak of him if he becomes great.

He left America at 18 :lol

Did you expect him to outperform 25+ year olds when he was 15??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPdaRFDCm8Q


Is that the Petr Cech injury? He got kicked in the head? :lol

Clint Malarchuk
Here's a proper injury and its kind of nsfw.

Way to go and pimp USA using a Canadian.

 

[Rewrite]

Did you watch the game Rewry!?

Of course! It was a great game.

 

[Jamesfrom818]

Did I really read that American football is weak compared to rugby? I'm gonna want fucking padding when 300 lbs of muscle comes bearing down on me at top speed.

 

[ATF487]

Goalies don't have to run down a field with a DB and Safety draped all over them. They don't wear pads, they don't get their chests caved in.

I don't know why you'd think catching a football is cake. Broken fingers didn't break themselves.

I've played football, catching a ball isn't easy. I wasn't the one who belittled a great play from a talented athlete. But saying making a save on a shot like that is easy is absolutely ridiculous.

Generally, my argument is that soccer players do this:

and the closest thing to that in another sport is stick handling in hockey

 

[Narag]

He left America at 18 :lol

Did you expect him to outperform 25+ year olds when he was 15??



Way to go and pimp USA using a Canadian.

I'd wager the Cech injury was a freak accident and very outside the norm but that wouldn't suit your needs to present how dangerous soccer is. :lol If the Cech injury was common, there'd be more protection in place.

 

[DY_nasty]

He left America at 18 :lol

Did you expect him to outperform 25+ year olds when he was 15??

Guys have done many, many great things in sports before the age of 23. The bar is high here. With all the hype he was getting, the average sports fan expected Adu to be averaging 2+ Goals per game in the shitty MLS.

 

[harSon]

I've played football, catching a ball isn't easy. I wasn't the one who belittled a great play from a talented athlete. But saying making a save on a shot like that is easy is absolutely ridiculous.

Generally, my argument is that soccer players do this:

and the closest thing to that in another sport is stick handling in hockey

Uhhh, Basketball? Hell, you could even make parallels between this and Football.

 

[Zabka]

If anyone thinks NFL players don't get hurt, just take a look at someone like Troy Aikman. The guy pretty much averaged 1 concussion per year, and last I heard they didn't force any time off after a concussion. Most players get right back in the same game just minutes after getting hit.

You don't get 10 concussions and just go on with your life. You're fucked up forever.

 

[Kozak]

Did I really read that American football is weak compared to rugby? I'm gonna want fucking padding when 300 lbs of muscle comes bearing down on me at top speed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA7LsuGt3Gg&feature=related

Guys have done many, many great things in sports before the age of 23. The bar is high here. With all the hype he was getting, the average sports fan expected Adu to be averaging 2+ Goals per game in the shitty MLS.

2 goals per game? Fuck you can't even do that in the Australian league and we are 10 years behind your league.

Maybe Athletes have done great things in sport before the age of 23 because that sport is easy? In football a defender usually has to reach the age of 25 before hes even considered a starting position.

 

[harSon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA7LsuGt3Gg&feature=related

Watch any Steelers' game bro

 

[AntoneM]

Exactly goalies don't have protection at all. Thats why its more risky being a goalkeeper. They literally put their lives on the line.

Ever heard of Petr Cech? No of course you haven't. He put his life on the line to save a ball and he almost died. He now has a permanently soft skull and must wear head gear for all games.



ESPN top 10 :lol Cause thats what measures an athletes quality. Seriously Americans won't even hear about Adu now that hes in Europe. Hes probably happy that he left too.

hmm, you do know that, to my knowledge, there have been more than a few players paralyzed due to the NFL (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2832185, not just head gear. Even with all those pads.

Also, to the Aussie who seems to be questioning the US athletic talent versus Aussie athletic talent, do you really want me to bring up the Olympics, both winter and summer? Seriously, piss off.

 

[Narag]

Maybe Athletes have done great things in sport before the age of 23 because that sport is easy? In football a defender usually has to reach the age of 25 before hes even considered a starting position.

In all seriousness, is this a byproduct an exceptionally large talent pool clamoring for the limitied starting positions or the need for experience onfield?

 

[DY_nasty]

I've played football, catching a ball isn't easy. I wasn't the one who belittled a great play from a talented athlete. But saying making a save on a shot like that is easy is absolutely ridiculous.

amazingballhandling.gif

and the closest thing to that in another sport is stick handling in hockey

No. Ballhandling in basketball can be amazing if you look though.

I'm not trying to belittle what the game of soccer is. I have a respect for it. But what you guys keep posting is not athleticism, but displays of guys' amazing work ethic and skill. If you work at any sport long enough you'll develop skills.

 

[woodchuck]

No. Ballhandling in basketball can be amazing if you look though.

I'm not trying to belittle what the game of soccer is. I have a respect for it. But what you guys keep posting is not athleticism, but displays of guys' amazing work ethic and skill. If you work at any sport long enough you'll develop skills.

not true. if erick dampier practiced 24/7 how to catch a basketball, he still couldn't do it.

 

[DY_nasty]

2 goals per game? Fuck you can't even do that in the Australian league and we are 10 years behind your league.

Maybe Athletes have done great things in sport before the age of 23 because that sport is easy? In football a defender usually has to reach the age of 25 before hes even considered a starting position.

You're going to have to start catching the subtlety of my jokes

But you've got to start at least casually looking at our pathetic American sports before you dismiss them as a wimpy byproduct of some watered down farm system for overseas football clubs...

 

[Rewrite]

No. Ballhandling in basketball can be amazing if you look though.

I'm not trying to belittle what the game of soccer is. I have a respect for it. But what you guys keep posting is not athleticism, but displays of guys' amazing work ethic and skill. If you work at any sport long enough you'll develop skills.

How the hell is that not athleticism? Explain, please.

 

[woodchuck]

by athleticism, you're only referring to measurable things like speed and strength right? In that respect, I agree that Wide Receivers and Defensive backs are more athletic than soccer players (but soccer players have WAYYYYY more stamina and endurance).

thank god, there's more to sports than athleticism. otherwise i'd only watch Track and Field and Weightlifting competitions.

honestly, I'd rather watch Dennis Bergkamp controlling a 60 yard pass gracefully than see Tony Parker dribble by Jason Kidd.

 

[`Moe Joe.]

In football young talent must be nurtured and not thrown into the kitchen.

One fucking mistake can ruin the future of an up and comer and de-rattle their confidence.

 

[DY_nasty]

How the hell is that not athleticism? Explain, please.

I'm talking about the clips they keep posting in particular.

Athleticism and skill are not the same thing.

 

[Kozak]

I'm talking about the clips they keep posting in particular.

Athleticism and skill are not the same thing.

I'm definitely sure being a goalkeeper is more athleticism than skill.